Uchiha Itachi Returns to the Village

"This kid actually possesses such strength?"

Watching the scene unfolding within the crystal ball before him, Ibiki Morino, a Special Jonin, felt a flash of shock cross his face.

Although he did not know much about Yun Xi, based on the information he had gathered previously, this guy clearly did not seem like a genius.

And yet...

The scene before him was definitely not something an ordinary person could achieve!

A Fire Style jutsu capable of exploding...

It possessed astonishing power while also having a massive range of destruction...

"What kind of Fire Style jutsu is this?"

Plagued by various questions, Ibiki Morino could not help but speak to the Third Hokage; at the very least, in the dozen or so years he had been a ninja, he had never seen such a unique jutsu...

"I do not know."

The Third Hokage shook his head, then turned off the image in the crystal ball. Gazing at Yun Xi, who had already arrived on the main street of Konoha, he muttered, "In my memory, there doesn't seem to be any Fire Style jutsu capable of this. Perhaps it is this kid's Kekkei Genkai..."

"How could a commoner possibly possess a Kekkei Genkai?"

After hearing the Third Hokage's reply, Ibiki Morino voiced his own doubt, then a flash of curiosity crossed his face as he asked, "Lord Hokage, do you need me to go and monitor him?"

"No need, I have already sent someone."

The Third Hokage waved his hand, signaling Ibiki Morino not to act on his own initiative, then said in a grave tone, "There is no issue with the child Yun Xi, but I am worried about whether that fellow Danzo has also discovered his strength. That is why I had you come—to secretly protect this child."

"Understood."

Ibiki Morino was stunned for a moment, then immediately agreed to the task.

"The purpose of that old man, the Third Hokage, calling me here couldn't really just be to have me return to the Ninja Academy, could it?"

Back at home, Yun Xi was still filled with doubts.

Clearly, judging from Anko Mitarashi's previous words, the Third Hokage should be aware that he had some sort of connection with Uchiha Itachi.

But...

He hadn't hinted at it during their previous conversation...

This made Yun Xi somewhat curious.

In fact, at this point, Yun Xi almost wished the Third Hokage would just point it out.

After all, being kept in the dark was never a good thing...

"Forget it, never mind him. I'll just take things as they come..."

After some deliberation, Yun Xi could not figure out why the Third Hokage had met with him, so he stopped overthinking it.

He immediately prepared to begin his training.

The previous tenfold training speed, combined with a twenty percent boost, instantly allowed Yun Xi, who originally had average talent for ninjutsu, to experience the training speed of a genius.

He had only just sat down.

A surging power of chakra instantly poured into Yun Xi's body.

And the flame power brought by the Devil Fruit was also stirring within him...

"A full twelve times the training speed..."

Clearly, even Yun Xi was shocked by such a training speed.

After a sigh of amazement, Yun Xi did not continue to waste time and instead entered a state of cultivation once again.

However, Yun Xi, who was in the midst of training, did not know.

Outside his front door...

Forces from all sides had already appeared...

"Hmm?!"

Watching the several Chunin from different Konoha factions stationed in front of Yun Xi's house, Uchiha Itachi, who had just returned to the village, felt a flash of vigilance cross his face.

"Root Division..."

"Anbu..."

"Hyuga Clan..."

After identifying the origins of these three factions, a trace of wariness instantly appeared on Uchiha Itachi's otherwise calm face...

"Could it be that my deal with Yun Xi has been discovered?"

In an instant, a sense of alertness rose in Uchiha Itachi's heart. After evading the surveillance of the three factions, Uchiha Itachi quietly entered Yun Xi's home.

He prepared to find Yun Xi and ask him about it!

"Who is it?"

Following a slight disturbance, Yun Xi, who was in the middle of his training, instantly opened his eyes, ready for combat!

"Bang!"

In an instant, Yun Xi gathered all his strength into his hand and struck toward the source of the noise.

A heavy thud echoed.

Only then did Yun Xi turn his head to look.

He discovered that the person standing behind him was none other than Uchiha Itachi...

"When did you get back?"

Seeing that the visitor was Uchiha Itachi, a look of shock appeared on Yun Xi's face. He had not expected Uchiha Itachi, who was currently on a mission, to show up at his home at such a time.

Quickly dissipating the aura of flames from his body, Yun Xi immediately spoke up, "Itachi, I didn't expect it to be you. Why are you back at a time like this?"

"The mission was completed, so I came back to see you."

After blocking Yun Xi's attack, a faint smile appeared on Uchiha Itachi's face. He then found a spot to sit down, a flicker of pleasant surprise flashing through his eyes.

"Yun Xi, I didn't expect your strength to have increased again..."

Having sensed the chakra within Yun Xi, Uchiha Itachi could not help but offer his praise.

To grow from the strength of a Genin to a Chunin in just over a week...

Uchiha Itachi had seen countless geniuses.

But...

Only Yun Xi gave him such a stunning feeling!

"Hehe, I haven't been slacking off while you were away from the village, after all."

Facing Uchiha Itachi's praise, a smile crossed the corner of Yun Xi's mouth. After putting away the kunai in his hand, Yun Xi asked Uchiha Itachi with a curious expression, "Is the mission over? I thought you wouldn't be back in the village for a few more days."

"Mm, the mission is over, so I came straight to see you after returning to the village."

"It's good that you're back," Yun Xi said with a smile.

"By the way, Yun Xi, have you noticed anything strange lately?"

After a moment of silence between the two, Uchiha Itachi took the lead to remind Yun Xi.

"Have you discovered something wrong?"

Yun Xi, who had been full of smiles, instantly became cautious upon hearing this. He immediately went to Uchiha Itachi's side and told him about his previous encounter with Hyuga Hiashi and the fact that the Third Hokage had summoned him.

"No wonder..."

After hearing about everything Yun Xi had recently encountered, Uchiha Itachi finally understood why there were people secretly monitoring the area around Yun Xi's home.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Itachi no longer held back and directly told Yun Xi about the several factions he had discovered monitoring him earlier.

At the same time, he spoke in a cautious tone, "Yun Xi, it seems you have been targeted..."

"Targeted, huh..."

Thinking of the Hyuga Clan, the Anbu controlled by the Hokage, and the Root organization manipulated by Danzo all lurking outside, the pressure in Yun Xi's heart increased significantly.

However, compared to the stressed-out Yun Xi, Uchiha Itachi did not seem particularly concerned at this moment...

Instead, an inexplicable smile appeared on his face...