Itachi's Quiet Change

The next day.

The morning sunlight infused the Uchiha compound with life and vitality.

Groups of two or three Uchiha clan members emerged from their homes—some swept their courtyards, while others opened their shop doors. The compound gradually grew lively.

A significant portion of the Uchiha Clan consisted of ordinary civilians.

Though they bore the Uchiha name, they were not shinobi.

Children did not necessarily inherit their parents' abilities. Even an Uchiha could have a child with absolutely no talent.

The Uchiha did not forbid marriage with outsiders, but children born from marriages within the clan were more likely to possess talent.

That was how a clan gradually grew stronger.

All the combat personnel had been deployed last night, and many civilians in the compound knew about it.

Many of those combatants were their friends and relatives.

Until they returned, everyone had been anxious.

After all, combat meant casualties.

Fortunately, everyone had returned safely yesterday.

That morning, the civilians quietly discussed what had happened.

However, combat personnel generally did not tell them such things. It would only worry them, so it was better left unsaid.

As for the younger generation, they naturally knew nothing at all.

"I'm full! I'm going to find Nii-san, Sister Saori!"

Sasuke jumped down from the dining table and called out to the family servant caring for him—Uchiha Saori.

Saori had grown up in Fugaku's household and regarded Sasuke as her own little brother.

"Hey! Sasuke, be careful!"

Saori shook her head helplessly.

Five-year-old Sasuke was lively and restless. His favorite things were practicing shuriken with his brother or going out to shoot arrows.

Getting scared stiff by that wild boar last time was so embarrassing. This time, I'll definitely make Nii-san see me in a new light with my shuriken throwing!

His little legs carried him to Itachi's door.

"Nii-san! Nii-san!"

"Let's go practice throwing shuriken!"

Sasuke called out several times, but there was no response from inside.

Shouldn't Nii-san be up by now?

"Sasuke, don't disturb your brother!" Mikoto's voice came from behind him as she grabbed his ear.

"Ow, Mother, it hurts... it hurts..."

Mikoto released his ear and said irritably, "Itachi didn't sleep at all last night. Go practice by yourself."

Sasuke looked aggrieved, his lips pouting enough to hang an oil gourd from. "Nii-san finally has time off at home."

Mikoto sighed softly and stroked Sasuke's hair. As she looked toward Itachi's room, her eyes were filled with affection and complicated emotions.

Itachi had spoken with Fugaku for a long time yesterday, and Mikoto had listened beside them the entire time.

Itachi spoke of his friend's death, and how his father had only cared about him awakening his Sharingan.

He spoke of joining the Anbu, and how much pain he endured every day.

He spoke of how his father had never asked whether he was tired, only demanded that he complete mission after mission.

He spoke of traveling through time and space, of the Uchiha Clan being completely exterminated.

At last, Fugaku understood just how much Itachi had suffered inside, and he also learned of the Uchiha Clan's fate two years from now.

The father and son opened their hearts to one another. Itachi cried until his eyes were red, and after Fugaku fell asleep, he quietly said to Mikoto, "I was wrong."

"Rustle..." The door opened, and Itachi, dressed in pajamas, appeared in the doorway.

"Nii-san!" Sasuke happily ran over and hugged Itachi's arm.

"Why didn't you sleep a little longer?" Mikoto asked tenderly.

A hint of gentleness appeared on Itachi's face. "I can't sleep anymore, Mother. I'll sleep tonight."

Mikoto nodded and headed for the kitchen. "Then I'll make you something to eat."

Sasuke tilted his head up at Itachi and realized that his brother seemed more alive than usual.

"Nii-san, Nii-san, let's practice throwing shuriken together!"

Itachi crouched down. Thinking of how Sasuke would become all alone two years from now, emotions Sasuke could not understand flickered in his eyes.

He gently touched his forehead to Sasuke's. "All right. I'll practice shuriken with you today."

A blush rose on Sasuke's face. Somewhat embarrassed, he ran outside.

"Then I'll go get the shuriken, Nii-san!"

Watching his retreating figure, the fondness in Itachi's eyes turned to determination.

Sasuke, this time, I won't let you grow up alone.

By the time Zhengye woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

However, he did not get out of bed. Instead, he lay there reviewing what he had gained last night.

[Ding, Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku's fates have changed. Lottery draws obtained ×6]

[Ding, gained the approval of Uchiha Mikoto and Fugaku. Lottery draws obtained ×2]

Current lottery draws: 8

Zhengye had no intention of saving them up. He wanted to see what good things he could pull this time!

His consciousness sank into the prize pool as he silently thought, Draw!

Golden light burst forth from the prize pool!

Zhengye's spirits lifted. Something good had come out!

1. Shuriken (pack of 10)

2. Soldier Pill: Healing | Common | Restores stamina, single-use

3. Spirit Attribute Point | Fine | Spirit +1

4. Smoke Bomb | Common | Releases smoke to obscure vision, single-use

5. Healing Talisman | Fine | Slowly self-heals (1%/day), permanent; dries out if rendered ineffective by moisture

6. Flying Thunder God Kunai (Imitation) | Fine | Marks any object; touching the kunai instantly teleports the user to the marked point, distance ≤10 km, 3 one-way teleports

7. Steel Wire (30-meter spool) | Common | Used for traps and restraints, single-use consumable

8. Memory Sand | Rare | Causes another person to lose one hour of memories, single-use

Zhengye's attention lingered briefly on the Memory Sand before he took out the Flying Thunder God Kunai (Imitation).

Its design was that of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze's Ninja Love Sword.

A range of ten kilometers was not particularly far, considering it was only a fine-grade item.

Moreover, the farther the Flying Thunder God teleported, the more chakra it consumed, whereas this one required no expenditure.

Of the other items, only the Healing Talisman and the spirit point were useful. He casually stored the remaining ordinary ninja tools in the prize space without paying them much attention.

He already had two of these talismans. If he got injured, he could see whether their effects could stack.

With that thought, Zhengye used the spirit point first.

[Strength 5, Agility 4, Constitution 4, Spirit 12 → 13]

A cool current flowed in from the top of his head, and Zhengye could not help letting out a comfortable sigh.

The energy he had expended last night rapidly recovered, and the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan increased somewhat as well.

After washing up, Zhengye bought some food in the Uchiha compound and wandered around while eating.

"Zhengye, fresh-baked flatbread! Want two?"

The Uchiha uncle running the stall called out to him enthusiastically.

Zhengye smiled and took out his wallet. "Then I'll take two."

"Come again."

Biting into the savory, fragrant flatbread, Zhengye's eyes shone brightly.

These Uchiha clan members were what made up the entire Uchiha Clan.

Now that I've intervened, the clan shouldn't be exterminated, right?

"Fourth Elder! The Third Hokage's side has announced that a high-level meeting will begin in one hour."

"The clan head is waiting for you to go with him."

Dongyou, who had been the first to approach Zhengye yesterday, flashed before him and reported.

Zhengye nodded. "I'll head over right away."

"Yes."

He let out a breath and looked over the compound, where cooking smoke drifted into the air.

A new round of confrontation is about to begin.