Just as Shōji was about to leave the area and head home.
All of a sudden.
A small figure appeared in Shōji's field of vision in the distance. As it drew closer and he saw the newcomer's face, Shōji's steps paused slightly, a strange glint faintly appearing in his eyes. The newcomer soon noticed Shōji as well.
"Huh? Brother Shōji, you're back? Father was just saying that the clan members would be returning soon. I didn't expect it to be today!"
The newcomer closed the distance with quick little steps.
Looking up at Shōji, a gentle expression rested on the newcomer's small face as he spoke.
"Yeah, I'm back. Itachi, did you just get out of school? How is it? Are you getting used to life at the Ninja Academy?"
By the time the newcomer reached him, the odd look in Shōji's eyes had completely vanished. He spoke softly with a faint smile.
That was right. Standing before Shōji now was the eldest son of the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku—and the man deemed the craziest person in the Original Work—Uchiha Itachi. To be honest, this was not Shōji's first encounter with Itachi, whether through the original owner's memories or since his transmigration. Yet every time they met, Shōji found it difficult to suppress the turmoil deep in his heart. According to the Original Work's plot, this "demon" before him had personally slaughtered "him," his grandmother, his younger brother, his younger sister, and other relatives.
Even though he had not acted in this life, and Itachi could even be said to still fall within the category of "normal" right now, having only just entered the Ninja Academy, he certainly had not yet been brainwashed by the Konoha High Command. Shōji understood that clearly, but some emotions were simply hard to restrain.