Yu's Family Status

"Thank you for your concern, Third Hokage!" Itachi smiled shyly.

"Itachi, have you considered graduating early? You have no room for further improvement at the Ninja Academy now," the Third Hokage asked kindly, patting Itachi's black hair.

Itachi's eyes brightened slightly. "Third Hokage, is that really possible for me?" he asked, sounding uncertain.

"Naturally. Given your current performance, you already possess the strength of a near-Chunin."

Upon hearing the Third Hokage's reply, Itachi felt a flicker of joy, but he quickly lowered his head. "But my elder brother... he hasn't chosen to graduate from the academy yet."

The smile on the Third Hokage's face faltered, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. "Itachi, the village is currently hollowed out due to the situation at the border of the Land of Lightning. We are in urgent need of fresh blood. And, well... sigh!" Sarutobi let out a long, weary sigh.

"Third Hokage, what's wrong?" Itachi looked up at him with earnest eyes.

"Sigh! The misunderstandings between the Uchiha and the village are growing deeper. Itachi, you are an Uchiha filled with the Will of Fire, just like my teammate Kagami. You are full of love for the village. I truly do not wish to see the village and the Uchiha reach this point!"

The Third Hokage turned his head with a troubled expression to look at the students leaving the academy classrooms one after another.

"Third Hokage, is there some kind of misunderstanding? Our clan members rarely complain about the village anymore!" A hint of confusion appeared in Itachi's eyes.

The Third Hokage's heart skipped a beat. He was momentarily speechless, staring silently out the window while quickly formulating his next words. Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he turned back to look at the confused Itachi.

"Itachi, that is precisely why I say the rift between the Uchiha and the village is deepening. Is it truly that the Uchiha no longer complain? No, that is merely a sign that they have grown disappointed in the village and have chosen another path to distance themselves from it."

"In the past, although the Uchiha had conflicts with the village, they at least maintained communication. Look at them now—how many Uchiha are still willing to engage with the village?"

Itachi nodded slightly. It was true that the Uchiha had adopted this attitude. Although the clan members' lives were gradually improving, fewer and fewer were willing to interact with the village civilians. It was as if a deep wall had been erected between them.

On one side of the wall were the Uchiha; on the other were the village civilians. Was this kind of relationship truly healthy? Itachi began to sink into deep thought.

Watching Itachi with his head bowed, a hint of a smile flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes. "Itachi, this is why I hope you will graduate early. The village and the Uchiha are in desperate need of a bridge to communicate and understand one another."

Itachi looked up at Sarutobi. "Third Hokage, I actually think that if we are to choose a bridge for communication, my brother would be the most suitable candidate. He is deeply trusted by the clan members."

"Itachi! Do you think I haven't considered that? But that boy Yu holds such deep-seated prejudice against the village. Only you! Only you are an Uchiha who truly carries the Will of Fire!" Sarutobi looked at Itachi with a firm gaze.

Itachi felt deeply moved. For the first time, his thoughts and his will were being affirmed by someone else. He felt a strong impulse to agree to the Hokage's request immediately.

But when he thought of his stern brother, Itachi trembled. The words he was about to speak died on his lips.

"Third Hokage, I am sorry! I cannot agree to your request right now. I must go back and seek the consent of my father and my brother first." Itachi lowered his head in disappointment.

Seeing this, Sarutobi's expression darkened immediately. Looking at the boy with his head bowed, he felt a mix of complex emotions. Can I not even convince a young Uchiha child now?

"But Hokage-sama, I will definitely find a way to persuade my father and my brother!" Itachi raised his head with determination.

Sarutobi immediately put on a kind, grandfatherly face.

"Itachi, do your best! The relationship between the village and the Uchiha depends on you. Once you graduate from the academy, you will be assigned directly to the Anbu. I believe that under the guidance of the Anbu seniors, you will soon become an exceptionally talented Jonin."

"Yes, Third Hokage!"

Itachi stood dazed beside Yu, lost in thought about his conversation with the Third Hokage.

Yu watched his brother, who was once again daydreaming, and felt a surge of irritation. He couldn't help but land a heavy fist on Itachi's head. "Itachi! Have you forgotten how to even thank your elder brother?"

Itachi felt a sharp pain in his head; even with his current skills, he couldn't help but tear up. He quickly covered his head, where a bump was already forming, and gave Yu a resentful look. "Thank you, Brother!"

Little Sasuke, standing next to Itachi, shrank back at the sight. He didn't know when it had happened, but his big brother's punches had become incredibly painful!

Even though it didn't look like he was using much force, it hurt so much. After being hit once for being mischievous, Sasuke never wanted to experience it again.

Besides, his brother had given his punch a nice name: the Iron Fist of Love. Every strike embodied his brother's love for his younger siblings!

In any case, Sasuke didn't want to be "loved" by his big brother. Even when he saw his beloved second brother getting hit, Sasuke didn't dare to say a word. After all, the one doing the hitting was their big brother.

"You guy, you're always lost in wild thoughts. You should learn more from little Sasuke. Look at how happy he was when I gave him his New Year's gift." Yu shifted his gaze to little Sasuke, who was currently shrinking his neck.

Sasuke immediately put on a happy expression. "Yes, Brother, I am very happy."

Itachi immediately pulled a long face. "Brother, I wasn't just daydreaming! I just didn't react in time."

"Hmph! You're always full of worries. I don't know what you're thinking about in that little head of yours all day long!" Yu gave a slight, cold snort.

"Brother, I want to graduate from the Ninja Academy early!" Itachi mustered his courage and said to Yu.

Yu turned his gaze back to Itachi, looking puzzled. "You've only been in school for a year. Why are you thinking about graduating already?" Yu asked, confused.

"I also want to earn the recognition of Father and the clan members," Itachi replied, his face flushing.

Yu stared straight at Itachi for a long time, until Itachi lowered his head, before he slowly spoke.

"Itachi, you were never good at lying, were you?" A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Yu's mouth. "Tell me! Did someone say something to you again?" Yu's eyes gradually turned stern.

Itachi's body trembled slightly. "Brother! Is it wrong for me to want to graduate?"

"If that were truly your own thought, I wouldn't stop you. But if someone dared to mislead you, that would be a different matter. Are you going to lie to your brother?" Yu asked calmly.

Itachi struggled internally. He knew that if he told his brother the truth, his brother would never agree. After all, in his brother's heart, the Hokage was synonymous with an enemy. His brother's hatred for the Third Hokage was no less than his hatred for Danzo.

Itachi kept his mouth tightly shut. He didn't want to lie to his brother, but he didn't want to reveal the truth either. He wanted to use this silence to resist his overbearing brother.

"Hoo!" Yu let out a soft breath. Looking at the silent Itachi, a coldness flickered in his eyes—not directed at Itachi, but at the higher-ups of Konoha.

"Since you have made your choice, it would be impolite for me, as your brother, to stop you. Itachi, I hope you do not regret your decision!"

With that, Yu took hold of Izumi, who was still looking slightly worried, and left the backyard.

Itachi let out a slight sigh of relief. Beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead; the pressure from his brother's gaze was simply too overwhelming!

Little Sasuke watched the scene unfold from the side, his young heart further cementing the image of his eldest brother's imposing authority. He hadn't dared to even draw a full breath just now, too terrified to utter a single word in defense of his second brother.

In this household, Mother was the gentlest, and his second brother doted on him endlessly. Father carried a sense of sternness, yet he usually wore a faint smile whenever he was in the presence of his eldest son.

Only his eldest brother, who was typically frivolous and easygoing, could plunge the entire house into a suffocating silence the moment he grew angry.