No Education, No Sense

Itachi looked up, still wanting to say something.

But Xuanye cut him off.

"Itachi, you're still young. I can understand your lack of experience."

"The question I'm about to ask will directly determine your punishment, so think carefully before you answer."

"Itachi, tell me: what lesson have you learned from this?"

Itachi hadn't expected Xuanye to ask that. He opened his mouth, then hesitated. "I shouldn't have given the Daimyo any opportunity? I let my guard down because he was an ordinary person?"

Although Konoha's Anbu had complete control of the Daimyo Mansion, no one watched the young Daimyo while he bathed or used the toilet.

They even eased their surveillance a little after he fell asleep.

After all, who would be seriously wary of a child who couldn't defend himself?

That had given him an opening.

Ever since discovering what had happened, Itachi had tripled the level of surveillance.

Sleeping was no exception. Even if the Daimyo had diarrhea, at least two Hyuga ninja had to watch from outside with their Byakugan active.

Fortunately, the Clothing-Belt Edict hadn't come to light while Xuanye was cultivating Senjutsu. Otherwise, Itachi would now be considering whether to commit seppuku in atonement.

Xuanye sat back down. As he listened to Itachi's report, he nodded, then shook his head.

"I'm glad you took corrective action so promptly."

"But it isn't enough."

"A large part of why you came to me was simply to repeat the Anbu's work and ask to be punished."

"Itachi, your biggest problem isn't your decisions or your methods. It's that you think being willing to shoulder everything means you can shoulder everything."

"But there are many things in this world you can't bear. This time, if Konoha hadn't already been prepared, your oversight alone would have caused it serious losses."