Itachi's Disappointment in His Mother

It was not because of her mood.

It was the change that came after she had officially stepped into womanhood...

The body she had guarded for years had been broken by Shimizu.

And by a child she had watched grow up since he was small, no less.

Yakushi Nonō's feelings were truly, incredibly subtle.

There was a lingering sense of having committed a taboo.

This sensation made her unable to stop herself from recalling the details...

No, no!

Nonō struggled to suppress these memories that shouldn't have surfaced, shook her head, and with a taut little face, refocused on her research.

Yakushi Kabuto stood not far away, feeling that the Director seemed somewhat different.

It was as if a flower, having finally been nourished after weathering a storm, had burst into full bloom, carrying an indescribable maturity and charm.

"The relationship between the Director and Lord Shimizu is truly excellent; just from chatting for a while, her mood has improved."

Kabuto felt a pang of envy toward Shimizu.

At the same time, a surge of intense motivation welled up from within his heart.

Sooner or later, he would also have a relationship this close with the Director he admired.

Several days passed.

Hidden Leaf Village.

A man with tall, spiky white hair and a red haori walked onto the street.

Looking at the bustling crowds, he felt quite sentimental.

Having traveled abroad for many years, returning here, he felt the village was just as he remembered it.

Then, Jiraiya's expression gradually turned grave.

"The old man called me back to run for Hokage, has the conflict between the Uchiha and the village really reached such a degree?"

Jiraiya felt it was a thorny issue.

He had no particular fondness for the Uchiha, nor did he feel any hatred toward