Uchiha Itachi? Got Him!

"If the clan head asks about your injuries later, what are you going to say?"

Uchiha Chen glanced at Uchiha Inabi and the others, who were standing on either side, timid and afraid to get close. He rolled his eyes and asked with a smirk.

"Cough, cough! It was just us brothers sparring with ninjutsu and we accidentally hurt each other. It has absolutely nothing to do with you, Lord Chen!"

Uchiha Chen's sudden voice startled Uchiha Inabi, who quickly bowed and scraped, offering a flattering smile.

They were joking—how could they dare to report him?

Not to mention that Uchiha Chen was watching them like a tiger stalking its prey, even if they told the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, the truth, Uchiha Chen wouldn't face any punishment.

On the contrary, the five of them would likely be the ones punished, as Uchiha Fugaku had never ordered them to test Uchiha Chen.

Now, they were actually afraid that Uchiha Chen would be relentless and complain to Uchiha Fugaku first; if that happened, their fate would be even more miserable.

"Heh, that's true. But you guys really need to be more careful when you spar. Look at the state you've gotten yourselves into."

"Don't do it again, understand?"

Uchiha Chen nodded in satisfaction at Uchiha Inabi's response and offered his advice with great sincerity.

"Yes, yes, yes! We will certainly keep Lord Chen's teachings in mind!"

Uchiha Inabi and the others felt their eyelids twitching wildly, but they could only continue to echo whatever Uchiha Chen said.

"Sigh, you guys are just too slow. No need to follow me anymore; I'll go find the clan head myself!"

Without giving them time to react, Uchiha Chen leaped away, speeding toward Uchiha Fugaku's estate.

Within a few minutes, Uchiha Chen arrived at the front gate of Uchiha Fugaku's residence.

Seeing the gate was open, Uchiha Chen didn't hesitate and stepped inside.

Upon entering, a massive courtyard came into view, exuding a thick, traditional Japanese aesthetic.

A small stone path stretched forward, leading to who knows where.

He followed the stone path until he reached the edge of an artificial pond.

Uchiha Chen saw a young boy standing before the water, performing hand seals with a serious expression.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

The boy's cheeks puffed out suddenly, and several flames, resembling the seeds of a phoenix flower, shot out from his mouth.

Refined features, long black hair, black eyes, and those iconic tear troughs...

Uchiha Chen recognized him instantly: this boy was Uchiha Itachi!

The moment he identified Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Chen's subconscious reaction was to turn and leave.

For no other reason than the fact that the Uchiha Itachi before him was the madman who would one day slaughter the entire Uchiha clan!

However, just as Uchiha Chen turned to leave, Uchiha Itachi spotted him.

Uchiha Itachi quickly ceased his ninjutsu and ran toward Uchiha Chen with a look of pleasant surprise.

Uchiha Chen: ???

What was going on? Why was Uchiha Itachi running toward him? And what was with that look of surprise? Weren't they meeting for the first time?

"Are you... Lord Uchiha Chen?"

Before long, Uchiha Itachi reached Uchiha Chen, looking up at him with burning eyes and asking cautiously, his fair little face flushed red from nervousness.

"You... know me?"

Uchiha Chen asked back, taken aback.

"Yes, yes! Hello, Lord Uchiha Chen. My name is Uchiha Itachi."

"My father and I were right there yesterday afternoon."

"And my father told me that I should learn from you!"

Uchiha Itachi clenched his fists and nodded vigorously.

Although Uchiha Itachi was only four years old, he had understood the situation yesterday clearly enough.

He had long heard of the great names of Tsunade and Jiraiya, and combined with the praise his father, Uchiha Fugaku, had heaped upon Uchiha Chen, Uchiha Itachi had unconsciously developed a sense of respect for him.

Looking at the little boy with his clenched fists and flushed face, a question couldn't help but rise in Uchiha Chen's mind: Is this person... really Uchiha Itachi?

How was he so different from the description in the original work?

But soon, Uchiha Chen had a realization.

That's right, the current Uchiha Itachi was only four years old—just a sunny, cheerful... little boy who hadn't experienced anything yet!

The current Uchiha Itachi had not yet grown into the madman capable of wiping out the entire Uchiha clan!

Uchiha Chen looked Uchiha Itachi up and down, and a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him.

Now that the main culprit was right in front of him, if he just took care of Uchiha Itachi now, wouldn't the threat of the clan's annihilation disappear?

At that thought, the look Uchiha Chen cast toward Uchiha Itachi turned cold.

But quickly, Uchiha Chen shook his head and dismissed this impractical idea.

Setting aside whether he could bring himself to kill a child, if he truly did so, he would likely be hunted down by the entirety of Konoha, which would also be a dead end.

Since he couldn't touch the boy, why not try to change his way of thinking?

Although the chances were slim, it was worth a try, wasn't it?

Thinking of this, Uchiha Chen's eyes lit up. His gaze toward Uchiha Itachi softened, and he put on what he considered to be a kind and amiable smile.

"We are both of the Uchiha clan; why call me 'Senior'? That's so distant."

"How about this: from now on, you call me Brother Chen, and I'll call you Brother Itachi!"

"Huh?"

"Huh what? It's settled!"

Without giving him a chance to argue, Uchiha Chen crouched down and threw an arm around Uchiha Itachi's shoulder.

"Uh... o-okay."

Uchiha Itachi was still a bit dazed, so he could only nod.

"Right, I think I forgot something. Don't go anywhere; I'll be right back."

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Uchiha Chen patted Uchiha Itachi on the head, dropped that line, and bolted away in a flash!

He left behind a bewildered Uchiha Itachi, who was full of question marks.

Ten minutes later, Uchiha Chen returned, and to his pleasant surprise, Uchiha Itachi had actually stayed put and waited for him!

"Hehe, Brother Itachi, since it's our first time meeting, this is a gift from your big brother!"

"Three-Color Dango—it's delicious, give it a try!"

As he spoke, Uchiha Chen handed a paper bag to Uchiha Itachi.

He had gone out specifically to buy this; building a rapport with Uchiha Itachi was the key!

As for Uchiha Fugaku? He could wait for now...

"Really?"

Taking out the Three-Color Dango to inspect it, Uchiha Itachi found that the scent wafting from the treat was indeed very appetizing.

After a moment of hesitation, Uchiha Itachi placed the Three-Color Dango into his mouth, and before long, his eyes lit up.

"Mm!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Uchiha Itachi's youthful face.

"Brother Chen, thank you. The Three-Color Dango is delicious!"

That "Brother Chen" was called out with genuine sincerity.

"Hehe, you're welcome."

Uchiha Chen raised an eyebrow. See? I've got him right where I want him.