The Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre

At noon that day, the sun blazed overhead. Lu Yu lounged on a chair, basking in the sunshine as he barked orders at Naruto and Sasuke, who were doing push-ups.

"Naruto, what are you doing? You've barely done a few and you're already giving up? Keep going!"

"I only put a few small rocks on your back. You can't handle that? And you still want to be Hokage?"

Naruto glanced helplessly at the dozens of pounds of rocks on his back and pursed his lips.

Boss, we're not you. These rocks are already heavy enough!

After scolding Naruto, Lu Yu turned his gaze to Sasuke.

"Sasuke, what were you doing while I was talking to Naruto? Why did you stop doing push-ups? Slacking off, are you? Fine, do another hundred!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth helplessly. Though his arms were already trembling, he kept pushing himself to do more push-ups.

Over the past year, both boys had gotten a little tanner, but they'd also grown much stronger.

Lu Yu put them through the wringer, but there was no doubt their strength had improved.

When they took another test six months ago, they were clearly much stronger than the other students.

That was why they gritted their teeth and stuck with it.

Watching them continue their training, Lu Yu stretched out on the chair. He glanced at the motionless fishing float, picked up some sweet spring water from the mountains, and took a satisfying gulp.

Lu Yu stretched contentedly, crossed his legs, and sank back into thought.

It really was true that human desires had no limits.

With his eyes half-closed, feeling the breeze brush past him, Lu Yu's thoughts began to wander again.

Spending every day with two boys wasn't ideal, after all. It would be nice to have an obedient girl around, too.

"Big Brother Lu Yu~"

Yes, yes, that was exactly the sort of sweet, delicate voice he liked.

Then Lu Yu caught a girl's fresh scent, followed by a pleasant sensation on his shoulder.

That was it. Heaven really understood him. This was exactly what he wanted. It would be perfect if a girl could massage his shoulders or something.

Wait, was someone really here?

Lu Yu fought against the pleasant sensation in his shoulder and struggled to open his eyes. A familiar face came into view.

"Ino?"

"Hehe, Big Brother Lu Yu, it's me~"

"Yikes..."

Hearing Ino speak like that made Lu Yu's scalp tingle. She only called him Big Brother Lu Yu when she wanted something from him.

Realizing this, Lu Yu hurriedly got up from the chair and let Ino sit down. He asked curiously:

"What is it, Ino? We're practically family. Do you need help with something?"

Ino scooted to one side of the chair and gestured for Lu Yu to come sit beside her.

Without a hint of hesitation, Lu Yu stretched out on the chair and eyed Ino curiously, wondering what she was up to...

Seeing Lu Yu lie down beside her, Ino ingratiatingly massaged his calves and said in a sweet voice:

"Big Brother Lu Yu, I can't stand being at school anymore. I want to—"

"Hold it!"

Lu Yu hurriedly cut Ino off.

"Ino, don't mess around. You're a good girl. If Uncle Inoichi finds out I helped his precious daughter skip school, how do you think I'll end up?"

"Dad isn't nearly as scary as you make him sound!"

Ino pouted in protest and lay down beside Lu Yu, looking pitiful.

"Big Brother Lu Yu, please help me. I know you can figure something out. I'll do anything if you help me."

Looking at the girl's pretty face so close to his, and hearing her pitiful tone, Lu Yu let out a helpless sigh.

"Fine... But while you're here with me, you have to do as you're told. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss."

"Mm, don't worry. I'll do whatever you say."

Overjoyed, Ino threw her arms around Lu Yu and rubbed her little head against his chest.

"I knew you were the best, Big Brother Lu Yu..."

Lu Yu affectionately tousled Ino's hair. He already had a plan in mind.

Three days later, Lu Yu left Iruka's office feeling as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. No one knew what he'd said to Iruka. Somehow, Ino was now free to do as she pleased.

With Ino around, Lu Yu suddenly realized just how limited his experience had been.

His two future strongest Shinobi World lackeys grilled the fish, while Ino took it, peeled it, and fed it to him. Now this was the life.

With Ino around, Lu Yu's life had improved by more than a little.

Mountain spring water and fine tea that Ino had stolen from her father—it was a pleasure beyond words.

When he got tired at noon, someone would massage his shoulders and back. When he napped in the afternoon, he had a fragrant cushion to hug. Lu Yu truly hoped those days would last forever.

Unfortunately, beneath Konoha's outward calm, undercurrents were already stirring. The Uchiha Clan's rebellion was imminent.

As the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre drew closer, Lu Yu found himself unusually troubled.

The Uchiha Clan's rebellion couldn't be stopped. Too many people were set on it, from Uchiha Fugaku down to the other Uchiha Clan members. They all wanted to stage a coup and overthrow Konoha's rule.

If they were allowed to rebel and clash with Konoha, then with Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan, even if Konoha won, it would be a devastating victory.

The Land of Fire would be weakened, inviting the other four nations to take advantage. At best, it would be forced to accept all kinds of unequal treaties; at worst, the other four nations would carve it up.

That was why the massacre carried out by Uchiha Itachi and Obito was actually the best solution. Though the Uchiha Clan would be wiped out, Konoha would be preserved as much as possible.

That way, the people living in the Land of Fire would be spared the ravages of war.

Beyond that, even Lu Yu couldn't think of a better solution. On one side was Konoha, where his father was; on the other was the Uchiha Clan, where Sasuke was. Whom could he help?

Other than staying neutral, keeping quiet, and watching things unfold, there didn't seem to be any good options.

If he stepped forward and tried to suppress them by force now, Lu Yu would become a thorn in both sides. He wasn't afraid for himself, but his parents would undoubtedly be affected.

Being ostracized would be the least of it. There could be endless attempts on his life, and then what? Revenge?

If Konoha tried to assassinate him, would he slaughter Konoha? If the Uchiha tried, would he slaughter the Uchiha? That would send him down a path of no return.

It was because he'd considered all these possibilities that Lu Yu was so troubled.

At this point, events were moving with the tide of history. No one could change them.

That day, Lu Yu made the three of them stay a little longer than usual. Only after the cruelest part had passed did he let them go home.

Lu Yu watched Sasuke's retreating figure with a complicated expression. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, then vanished at once...