Itachi revealed a gentle smile and raised a hand to pat Mingyou on the shoulder. "I know, but I believe you have the strength to lead the Uchiha onward. The Uchiha will only grow better and better in the future."
Mingyou smiled and opened his arms, giving his blood brother a hug. "Itachi, I'll take your good wishes. I also hope the Uchiha's future keeps getting better."
"If you're unhappy here, then leave. Go and find the true meaning of your life."
"But you can't just leave and never return. Sasuke depends on you so much, and Dad and Mom love you deeply. I'm sure you can feel that too."
Itachi nodded. Perhaps Mingyou's words had struck a chord in his heart, because the eyes of this Uchiha genius actually turned moist.
He turned to face Fugaku and Mikoto, then dropped to his knees and kowtowed. "Dad, Mom, your son has failed you. I wasn't able to meet your expectations, nor was I able to give my all for the Uchiha."
"Fortunately, there's someone as outstanding as Mingyou. He can take my place in showing filial devotion to you. I will definitely return."
After saying that, Itachi rose to his feet and walked out the door.
At that moment, he still had one unresolved matter: saying goodbye to the younger brother he cherished most.
"Itachi..."
Tears filled Mikoto's eyes as she raised a hand, but in the end, she still did not speak words to make him stay.
Because Mikoto understood clearly that Itachi was a deeply thoughtful child. He knew exactly what he wanted, and once he had decided to leave, he would not easily change his mind.
Fugaku wrapped an arm around Mikoto's shoulders and comforted her softly. "All right, don't be so sad. It's not as if he'll never return. Besides, Mingyou and Sasuke are still here with you, aren't they?"
The Great Elder raised a hand, signaling for everyone to sit down. Then he looked toward Mingyou. "Mingyou, you returned at just the right time. Come discuss the matter of the 'Ninja Crash Course' with us."
"Mm." Mingyou nodded and sat down beside Mikoto.
"Bzzz... Captain Kosuke, this is bad! A large vessel has appeared on the sea and is approaching the coast."
The next day, a member of the Uchiha Military Police Force stood atop a watchtower, holding binoculars as he observed the situation along the coast.
He contacted the captain of the police force below through the radio.
"Bzzz... Received, received. How many people are there? Are they Konoha ninja?"
Uchiha Kosuke picked up the radio handset and questioned the man on the watchtower.
"Bzzz... Please wait, confirming now."
"That's a Konoha ninja forehead protector. Captain, they're all Konoha ninja. There are around one hundred people visible on the deck, and they're approximately five thousand meters from the shore."
Uchiha Kosuke pressed the button on the handset and said, "Bzzz... Received, received. Continue monitoring your position and remain on standby. I'll notify the reinforcement unit."
"Kosuke, what are you doing? Why are you in such a panic?"
Mingyou and Nami had just left the selected location for the Ninja Academy. They were about to inspect the coast when they spotted Uchiha Kosuke racing past.
Kosuke cupped his hands and bowed. "This is bad, Young Clan Leader. Konoha's pursuers have already reached the Land of Waves. I was just about to gather the reinforcement unit."
Shock appeared on Nami's little face. "What? That fast?"
Mingyou's brows furrowed slightly as he asked in a low voice, "How many did they bring?"
"Reporting to the Young Clan Leader, according to the watchtower scouts, a large vessel has appeared east of the coast. Around one hundred ninja can be observed on the deck."
Nami gave a light snort and smiled disdainfully. "Heh, they dared to come after us with only a hundred people? Are they looking down on the Uchiha too much?"
"With Big Brother Mingyou here, even if they brought a thousand people, wouldn't they just be coming to their deaths?"
Mingyou raised a hand and knocked Nami lightly on the head, scolding, "Nami, don't talk nonsense."
"Oh, got it." Nami pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved.
"Kosuke, there's no need to call for reinforcements. Leave these hundred people to me." A smile appeared at the corner of Mingyou's lips. He placed a hand on Nami's fragrant shoulder, and as space before them twisted and warped, he took Nami with him into the void.
Uchiha Kosuke stood rooted to the spot in stunned confusion. He knew the Young Clan Leader was powerful, but he had not expected him to actually dare challenge a hundred Konoha pursuers alone.
"Ah... If only I could have that kind of strength someday. Then I could marry a rich, beautiful woman and reach the peak of life."
Out at sea, a two-deck wooden ship sped forward under engine power. More than a hundred ninja wearing Konoha forehead protectors sat quietly on the deck with their eyes closed, waiting.
At the front of the deck stood an orange-haired man, holding binoculars in both hands as he observed the shore.
"Torune, as far as I know, the Land of Waves is supposed to be a country without ninja, right?"
Through his binoculars, Yamanaka Fu noticed watchtowers erected along the coastline.
He could vaguely see figures moving atop the watchtowers, seemingly observing the surrounding area.
Aburame Torune nodded, puzzled. "That's right. I've come to the Land of Waves on missions before. It truly is a country without ninja, and the people here are extremely poor. Why?"
Yamanaka Fu handed over his binoculars and said in a low voice, "Take a look. From what I can tell, the people on those watchtowers are very likely ninja."
"What?" Aburame Torune's expression shifted slightly in surprise. He took the binoculars and looked toward the coast.
"Just as I thought. There's a watchtower every three hundred meters. Such defensive observation measures clearly show that this place is on alert."
"I think the Uchiha have likely come here."
Yamanaka Fu nodded. "Your judgment matches mine. But the fact that the Uchiha built defensive fortifications so quickly means they were prepared long ago. Should we retreat immediately and report back to Lord Danzo?"
"I'm afraid you'll never have the chance to return!"
The sea before the bow suddenly rippled with a distortion of space. Mingyou and Nami emerged from the void, their feet landing on the churning sea as they stood there silently.
"Big Brother Mingyou was right. You Konoha dogs won't have a chance to return today."
Nami wrinkled her little nose. She had no intention of being polite toward these ninja who wanted to wipe out the Uchiha, and she immediately began cursing them.
"What... What kind of ninjutsu is this? They actually appeared out of thin air!"
Yamanaka Fu's face went pale with shock. Mingyou and Nami's sudden appearance had caught him completely off guard.
"All personnel, be alert! The enemy has appeared! Prepare for battle at any moment!"
Aburame Torune was the first to react. He shouted and issued orders to every Root member on the deck.
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