Funeral, Traces of White Zetsu Discovered.

The next day.

Konoha Martyrs' Cemetery.

Hiruzen Sarutobi presided over the ceremony and delivered the eulogy: "Last night, Konoha suffered an attack. In order to protect the village... many people lost their lives, including the Fourth Hokage Minato and his wife Kushina. Although the specific cause of the incident remains unclear, let us now offer our condolences to our comrades who sacrificed themselves heroically."

Recalling the tragic events of the previous night, everyone present felt heavy-hearted.

Many family members of the fallen ninjas were moved to tears.

Yet, only five years old, Itachi Uchiha was already contemplating the meaning of life.

Life is born...

Life dies...

What exactly is life...

He looked like a philosopher, and Sasuke couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sight.

Suddenly.

"Master Sasuke." Setsuna's voice echoed in his mind: "For some reason, I sense malice coming from beneath a tombstone in front of you. It couldn't be a ghost, could it?"

??? Beneath... a tombstone?

Sasuke was stunned.

Could someone not be fully dead yet?

No, could it be a White Zetsu?

He spoke to Setsuna in his Soul Space through his consciousness: "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure! Setsuna wouldn't miscalculate. It's right in front of you, under the third tombstone."

Directly in front, the third tombstone... Sasuke fixed his gaze on it, his eyes flickering as he thought, "If I'm not mistaken... that should be a White Zetsu..."

"A White Zetsu?" Setsuna breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I thought it was a ghost or a corpse coming back to life..."

This thing doesn't seem to have a soul... If I can take it down, I wonder if I can imprison it in the Soul Space... Shall I try? Thinking this, Sasuke connected his consciousness to Setsuna and, using the Nine-Tails' unique ability to sense malice, pinpointed the White Zetsu's location.

He said to Setsuna through his consciousness: "Setsuna, if possible, see if you can lure him back to the Uchiha compound."

"Master, you mean you want me to lure it into following us?"

"Correct. Can you do it?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll try."

A short while later.

Hmm? This feeling... have I been discovered? The White Zetsu suddenly felt as if he were being watched by something.

Following that sensation, he cast his gaze toward Itachi Uchiha: Could it be him?

But no matter how he looked at it, Itachi didn't seem to have discovered him; he wasn't even looking in his direction. Clearly, it wasn't him who was watching.

Who could it be?

Is it just my imagination?

As for Sasuke? Heh, an infant... the White Zetsu ignored him entirely.

Soon, the memorial service concluded.

Fugaku Uchiha said to Itachi Uchiha: "Itachi, take Sasuke back first. Your mother and I still have things to attend to."

"Make sure you take good care of Sasuke," Uchiha Mikoto added.

"Yes, Father, Mother, don't worry," Itachi nodded. "I will take care of Sasuke."

"Good, Sasuke is in your hands. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

After his parents left, Itachi held Sasuke and walked slowly out of the cemetery.

Seeing him leave, the White Zetsu followed decisively.

Setsuna said with pleasant surprise: "Master, it's following us!"

"Yes, I know. Keep leading it on and look for an opportunity to strike." Sasuke, already mentally linked to her, had naturally noticed as well.

"Understood!"

Reconstruction work across Konoha was in full swing. Walking on the road back to the clan compound, one could hear the shouts of workers and the sound of hammering wood everywhere.

The noisy environment provided Sasuke with a perfect opportunity. Just as Itachi reached a corner and turned, Sasuke commanded: "Do it!"

Instantly, Setsuna appeared out of thin air behind Itachi. She lunged, arriving above the White Zetsu in a flash. Her right claw expanded rapidly, and she thrust it fiercely into the ground. The sharp fox claw pierced through the earth, impaling the White Zetsu inside before he could even react!

Done!

Having succeeded in one strike, Setsuna vanished from the spot in another blur of motion.

Sasuke immediately focused his intent:

Contain White Zetsu!

Ding!

White Zetsu successfully contained!

Hearing the notification chime in his mind, Sasuke seemed somewhat surprised.

Just then, What was that just now... Having just turned a corner and taken two steps, Itachi seemed to have sensed something; he turned his head in confusion, his gaze sharpening.

The moment he intended to turn back, Sasuke began to struggle: "Waa~ wahhh~"

Itachi was immediately distracted by the crying, gently patting his back with his right hand as he said, "Is it too noisy nearby? There, there, we'll be home soon, don't cry."

With that, he abandoned the idea of turning back to investigate, continuing to walk toward the Uchiha compound while offering comfort.

After walking a few hundred meters, Setsuna's figure appeared behind him, then vanished, entering the Soul Space.

Itachi turned his head in confusion, naturally finding nothing.

Strange, am I just being too sensitive because of the Nine-Tails attack yesterday?

Not dwelling on it, and seeing that Sasuke was still crying, he could only continue to offer comfort as he walked toward the Uchiha compound.

Sasuke must have been terrified yesterday; usually, a couple of words of comfort are enough to stop him from fussing...

Suddenly.

"Itachi-kun~"

Hearing the voice, Itachi turned around.

Sasuke's heart stirred as well: Uchiha Izumi?

Then, he cried even harder!

"Waaahhh~"

Uchiha Izumi ran up to them, first saying to Itachi, "Um... about that... thank you so much for last night. I was only saved thanks to you."

Itachi shook his head. "It's nothing. Didn't you already thank me yesterday?"

"Yes, but I just felt I should thank you more formally." As she said this, Izumi noticed Sasuke crying and asked curiously, "What's wrong with Sasuke? Why is he crying so hard?"

"He must have been a bit frightened yesterday..." Itachi's expression turned troubled. "Sasuke is usually easy to soothe; he isn't like this."

Frightened, huh... Izumi's heart stirred, and she reached out her hands. "To thank you, Itachi-kun, let me help you soothe little Sasuke."

Recalling the scene from last night where Sasuke had clung to Izumi, Itachi's face turned stern. He immediately turned away, dodging her reach as if she were a thief. "No need. Mom and Dad specifically instructed me to take good care of Sasuke."

Izumi's expression stiffened, then she puffed out her cheeks. "What's that supposed to mean? You think I wouldn't take good care of him? I took great care of him last night! Besides, look, he's still crying. What's the harm in letting me try? Maybe he prefers being held by a girl."

It's precisely because I'm afraid you'll take too good care of him... Remembering how Sasuke had clung to Izumi last night, Itachi remained stubbornly silent.

"Iya~" At that moment, Sasuke struggled and reached his arms out toward Uchiha Izumi.

Seeing his movement, Izumi's eyes curved into crescents. "See! I told you, Sasuke prefers girls!"

With that, she stepped in front of Itachi, reached out, and took Sasuke into her arms, laughing. "Hehe~ little Sasuke, do you remember me? It's Uchiha Izumi."

Of course I remember... isn't being held by a pretty girl better than being held by Itachi? Unable to speak, Sasuke immediately stopped crying, babbling with a face full of smiles.

"Hehe, little Sasuke is such a good boy."

Stare!

Itachi remained expressionless, staring straight at Uchiha Izumi.

"Itachi-kun, children really do prefer girls; he stopped crying already." As she spoke, Izumi turned her head.

And then, she met Uchiha Itachi's poker face.

"Uh~" Izumi's body stiffened...

Did she do something she shouldn't have?