The next day.
Konoha Martyrs' Cemetery.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the eulogy: "Last night, Konoha was attacked. In order to protect the village... many people lost their lives, including the Fourth Hokage, Minato, and his wife, Kushina. Though the exact cause of the incident remains unknown, let us now pay our respects to our comrades who died bravely."
Remembering the fierce battle from the previous night, everyone present felt weighed down with sorrow.
Many family members of the fallen shinobi were in tears.
Yet five-year-old Itachi Uchiha was already pondering the meaning of life.
Life was born...
Life died...
What was life, really...?
He looked like a philosopher. Even Sasuke couldn't help rolling his eyes at him.
Suddenly.
"Master Sasuke." Setsuna's voice sounded in his mind. "For some reason, I sense malice coming from beneath the gravestone in front of you. Could it be a ghost?"
??? Beneath... a gravestone?
Sasuke froze.
Could someone not be quite dead yet?
No, could it be a White Zetsu?
He spoke to Setsuna in the Soul Space through their mental link. "Are you sure?"
"Mm, I'm sure! Setsuna can't be mistaken. It's right in front of you, beneath the third gravestone."
Right in front, the third gravestone... Sasuke looked toward it, his gaze flickering. "If I'm not mistaken... that should be a White Zetsu..."
"A White Zetsu?" Setsuna relaxed. "I thought it was a ghost, or a corpse coming back to life..."
That thing doesn't seem to have a soul... If I can kill it, I wonder if I can imprison it in the Soul Space... Should I try? Thinking this, Sasuke linked his consciousness with Setsuna's, then used the Nine-Tails' unique ability to sense good and evil to pinpoint the White Zetsu.
He spoke to Setsuna through their mental link. "Setsuna, if you can, see if you can lure it back to the Uchiha Clan Compound."
"You mean you want me to draw it into following us?"
"Yeah. Can you do it?"
"I'm not sure. I'll try."
A short while later.
Hm? This feeling... Have I been discovered? The White Zetsu suddenly felt as if something had fixed its gaze on him.
Following that feeling, he looked toward Itachi Uchiha. Could it be him?
But no matter how he looked at him, Itachi didn't seem to have noticed him. His gaze hadn't even turned toward his hiding spot. Clearly, Itachi wasn't the one watching him.
Then who is it?
Could it be my imagination?
As for Sasuke? Heh, just a baby... The White Zetsu dismissed him outright.
Before long, the memorial service ended.
Fugaku Uchiha said to Itachi, "Itachi, take Sasuke home first. Your mother and I have something to take care of."
"Make sure you look after Sasuke," Uchiha Mikoto reminded him.
"Don't worry, Dad, Mom," Itachi said with a nod. "I'll take good care of Sasuke."
"All right. Sasuke's in your hands. See you later."
"Okay, see you."
After his parents left, Itachi carried Sasuke and walked slowly away from the gravestones.
Seeing him leave, the White Zetsu promptly followed.
Setsuna sounded delighted. "Master, it's following us!"
"Mm, I know. Keep it interested, then find a chance to strike." Sasuke had noticed it too, since he was already linked to her.
"Okay!"
Konoha's reconstruction was in full swing. On the way back to the compound, the shouts of workers and the sound of hammers striking wood could be heard everywhere.
The noisy surroundings gave Sasuke a perfect opportunity. When Itachi reached a corner and had just turned it, Sasuke said, "Do it!"
In the next instant, Setsuna appeared out of thin air behind Itachi. She sprang forward and reached the White Zetsu in a flash. Her right claw swelled rapidly, then stabbed forcefully toward the ground. The sharp fox claw pierced straight through the earth, impaling the White Zetsu before it could react!
Done!
After landing the blow, Setsuna sprang away and vanished from sight.
Sasuke then gave a mental command:
Contain White Zetsu!
Ding!
White Zetsu successfully contained!
Hearing the notification in his mind, Sasuke seemed a little surprised.
At that moment,
That just now was... Having just turned the corner and taken two steps, Itachi seemed to notice something. He turned around in confusion, his gaze sharpening.
Just as he was about to turn back, Sasuke began to struggle. "Waaah!"
Itachi was immediately distracted by his crying. He gently patted Sasuke's back with his right hand. "Is it too noisy around here? There, there. We'll be home soon. Don't cry."
As he spoke, he gave up on turning around to investigate. Still soothing Sasuke, he continued walking toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.
After walking several hundred meters, Setsuna appeared behind him, then vanished as she entered the Soul Space.
Itachi turned around in confusion, but naturally saw nothing.
Strange. Could the Nine-Tails' attack yesterday have made me too jumpy?
Without thinking any more about it, he saw that Sasuke was still crying and could only keep soothing him as he continued toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Sasuke must have been frightened yesterday. Usually, a little comforting is enough to stop him crying...
Suddenly.
"Itachi!"
Hearing the voice, Itachi turned around.
Sasuke's heart stirred too. Uchiha Izumi?
Then he cried even harder!
"Waaah!"
Uchiha Izumi ran over and first said to Itachi, "Um... um... thank you so much for last night. You saved me."
Itachi shook his head. "It's fine. You already thanked me yesterday."
"Mm, I just thought I should thank you more properly." Noticing Sasuke crying, Izumi asked in confusion, "What happened to Sasuke? Why is he crying so hard?"
"He must've been a little frightened yesterday..." Itachi's expression grew troubled. "Sasuke's usually easy to soothe. He's never like this."
Frightened, huh...? Izumi's heart stirred, and she held out her hands. "To thank you, Itachi, let me try to soothe little Sasuke."
Remembering how Sasuke had clung to Izumi the previous night, Itachi's expression turned stern. He immediately turned away, avoiding Izumi's hands like a guard protecting a valuable treasure. "No need. Mom and Dad just told me to take good care of Sasuke."
Izumi's expression stiffened, then she puffed out her cheeks. "What's that supposed to mean? I wouldn't take good care of him? I looked after him really well last night! And look, he's still crying. What's wrong with letting me try? Maybe he likes being held by girls better."
I'm worried you'll take too good care of him... Remembering how Sasuke had clung to Izumi the night before, Itachi stood firm and said nothing.
"Eeya!" Sasuke struggled and reached out toward Uchiha Izumi.
Seeing his movement, Izumi smiled brightly. "See? Sasuke really does like girls better!"
With that, she went around to stand in front of Itachi and took Sasuke from him. Smiling, she said, "Hehe, little Sasuke, do you remember me? I'm Uchiha Izumi."
Of course he remembered... Wasn't being held by a pretty older girl better than being held by Itachi? Unable to speak, Sasuke immediately stopped crying and beamed, babbling happily.
"Hehe, little Sasuke is such a good boy."
Stare!
Itachi stared straight at Uchiha Izumi, his face expressionless.
"Itachi, little kids prefer girls. Look, he stopped crying right away," Izumi said as she turned around.
Then she came face-to-face with Itachi's poker face.
"Um..." Izumi stiffened.
Had she done something she shouldn't have?
Before you continue