Itachi, From Today Onward You Will Be Hayato's Disciple

"What?"

Hayato looked at Fugaku before him, unable to help but knit his brows.

"The Hokage Building has issued a document; the Uchiha need to submit a new list of candidates for promotion to Jonin."

Fugaku picked up the teapot to pour cups for Hayato and Shisui before speaking slowly.

Hayato and Shisui, who sat to the side, couldn't help but exchange glances. Jonin?

Although their strength was sufficient for the rank, they had truly never thought about this matter.

"Clan Leader, is there something going on?"

Hayato asked in confusion. The village had always kept a tight lid on the number of Jonin slots for the Uchiha clan, as it was not a good thing for Konoha if the number of Uchiha Jonin increased.

The Jonin Council was the primary assembly where Konoha legislated and discussed major affairs.

And every Jonin represented a single vote.

He did not believe the village was being so kind as to take the initiative to ask the Uchiha clan for a list of potential Jonin.

"It was proposed by the Council of Elders and the Third. They claim that since the Night of the Nine-Tails, the number of Jonin promoted in Konoha over the past few years has been too low, which might lead to an inability to effectively deploy forces for certain matters."

Fugaku said quite flatly, though he paused before looking at Hayato. "I have a guess; it should be regarding the border situation."

Hayato nodded thoughtfully; he had also suspected that was the case.

However, this was a proposal from the Council of Elders.

"They really are rats in the gutter, jumping out every now and then," Hayato said, rubbing his temples with a sigh.

There was no need to think twice; this matter was certainly proposed by Danzo and those other two. Just because he couldn't come forward himself didn't mean the other two elders couldn't.

Fugaku did not respond, clearly aware of Hayato's thoughts as well.

"Actually, I also hope that you can be promoted to Jonin."

The following sentence made both Hayato and Shisui look up at Fugaku.

"Itachi is about to graduate, and he will be assigned to a team led by a Jonin. Therefore, I hope that you, Hayato, can take charge of Itachi."

Fugaku looked at Hayato, his expression very formal.

"Clan Leader, I am not suitable..." Hayato wanted to refuse without a second thought. His opinion of Uchiha Itachi was not exactly favorable.

Sent to the battlefield by Fugaku at the age of four, he had witnessed the cruelty of war, and later experienced the events of the Night of the Nine-Tails.

Uchiha Itachi was simply not an ordinary child.

Compared to Shisui, he was even harder to handle.

"Hayato, let me finish."

Fugaku interrupted Hayato and continued on his own. "Actually, ever since I saw that scene, I have been thinking about where I went wrong to cause that result to happen."

Hayato remained silent, while Shisui wore a complex expression. As the only three people who had seen the Night of the Massacre, they had always deliberately avoided bringing up this topic.

"Even with Itachi, I have been deliberately avoiding him lately," Fugaku said with a bitter smile. "Actually, I think I have the answer."

"The fact that it happened, that I didn't stop it and even allowed it to happen, must be due to my own weakness and my methods of upbringing."

Hayato's expression was strange. Could it be that Fugaku's idea to entrust Itachi to him was something he had caused himself?

Was this digging a hole for himself?

"So, Clan Leader, you mean for me to become a Jonin and subsequently lead Uchiha Itachi?" Hayato's mouth twitched slightly.

Fugaku nodded slightly, looking at Hayato with a formal expression. "Itachi is still young, even if he might do those things in the future. But here, I want to ask you, Hayato—since this hasn't happened yet, I want you to guide him as much as possible."

His gaze carried a request—the request of a father.

"I understand."

Taking a deep breath, Hayato stared at Fugaku. After a moment of thought, he agreed.

Hearing Hayato's reply, Fugaku also smiled. As long as Itachi could change, perhaps that ending would not come to pass.

It wasn't that he hadn't been willing to try; he had tested it using his own Mangekyo. No matter what he did, the outcome was always that same ending, or even more tragic.

But only with Hayato—on the night he decided to promote Hayato to Deputy Clan Leader—had he used the power of his Mangekyo to test it.

Although it was only a brief glimpse of the future, the prosperity he saw gave him great peace of mind, which made his resolve even firmer: as long as Hayato could guide Itachi, perhaps Itachi could escape that fate.

"Thank you, Hayato."

"However, Clan Leader, I must state some things in advance: Itachi's guidance and his daily life must follow my lead."

Hayato directly put forward his requirements. If Itachi was truly to be entrusted to his guidance, he wanted the boy under his own watch.

Although he wasn't sure what the mental state of a seven-year-old Itachi was, at the very least, under his watch, he could clearly know his actions and who he was in contact with.

"No problem."

Fugaku did not object and agreed immediately.

"However, Clan Leader, regarding the other children of the Uchiha clan, my proposal is that they complete the full six-year basic curriculum at the Ninja Academy."

Hayato considered another point: if they wanted to change the Uchiha, the next generation was the key. They shouldn't be graduating and becoming ninjas at only a few years old when their basic understanding of the world was still unstable, especially given the significant mental health issues inherent to the Uchiha.

It would be far better for them to spend a few years properly grounded in the Ninja Academy; they weren't exactly lacking the combat power of these little brats right now.

Fugaku nodded at these words, raised his hand, and lifted the isolation seal with a flick of his finger. "Mikoto, go bring Itachi here," he said.

"Very well."

Mikoto, who had been waiting outside the whole time, responded softly before rising to leave.

A moment later, footsteps approached, and both Hayato and Shisui turned to look.

A small figure walked in from outside the door, dressed in the dark blue clan attire, his black eyes fixed on Hayato and Shisui.

"Father, Hayato-senpai, Shisui-brother."

Itachi bowed slightly, his voice calm and composed.

Hayato nodded, while Shisui composed his expression, stood up, walked over to Itachi's side, and reached out to pat his head.

"Itachi, from today on, you will take Hayato as your master. From now on, you will follow him and address him as Teacher."

Fugaku gestured toward Hayato as he spoke to Itachi.

"Yes, Father."

Itachi was momentarily stunned by the news, but he quickly bowed to Hayato and said, "Teacher."

Hayato couldn't help but twitch internally at the title.

Good grief, he had only intended to lead him as a squad captain, yet Fugaku had gone and made Itachi his direct disciple.

This title and the seniority it implied were entirely different matters.

"Rise," Hayato said with a nod.

"Very well, I shall head to the Hokage Building to submit the list of jonin candidates for this mission. Hayato, Shisui, I leave things here to you."