Shisui and Itachi

Yuhi Kurenai heard the sorrowful wailing outside and no longer felt like picking flowers.

Instead, she had Zao Hui choose several white chrysanthemums and wrap them up. Kurenai and Toru each carried a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and went to the cemetery where the ninja who had died on the border were buried, offering their condolences.

Yamanaka Inoichi said to his wife, "Those two children are quite wonderful."

Zao Hui nodded, agreeing with her husband.

After laying down the flowers, Toru and Kurenai went their separate ways.

Toru returned to the Uchiha compound, where several familiar faces stopped him.

"Big Brother Toru!"

Voices rose one after another, all calling him Big Brother. It was Uchiha Dohka and the others.

In the blink of an eye, those troublesome Ninja Academy students had grown into qualified Konoha genin. Among them, Dohka and Tekka stood out even among genin.

"What is it?" Toru noticed from their expressions that they seemed to have something to say.

"Clan Head Fugaku's wife gave birth. A lot of people in the village have gathered there to join in the excitement."

Dohka explained the situation, piquing Toru's interest as well.

"Then let's go together."

Hearing Toru's words, Dohka and the others happily followed him to the clan head's home.

A large crowd had already gathered outside the courtyard, all eager to see the excitement of the clan head having a child. They were all guessing whether the newborn would be a boy or a girl.

At that moment, the courtyard gates opened, and Fugaku emerged with joy written across his face. He said to everyone, "My wife has just given birth to a son. His name is Uchiha Itachi."

Everyone hurried forward with congratulatory envelopes stuffed with money, hoping to build a connection with the clan head's family.

One man shouted, "What a fine name! He'll surely grow into a powerful man like the clan head and revitalize the Uchiha!"

"Yes, yes!"

The crowd echoed their agreement.

But Dohka muttered quietly beside Toru, "Itachi? Isn't that a weasel? Don't those things bring bad luck?"

In traditional beliefs, weasels were indeed animals that symbolized mystery and brought misfortune and bad luck.

Toru smiled faintly and explained, "Weasels are actually formidable predators. They're agile and swift, fierce by nature, and though they're small, they can hunt prey larger than themselves."

"Perhaps the clan head chose that name for this reason, hoping his son will possess those strengths in the future..."

Dohka scratched his head, unable to understand. There were plenty of fierce predators in the world, so why call him Itachi? Wouldn't Uchiha Wolf or Uchiha Tiger sound just as good?

Still, regardless of what Dohka thought, he followed the crowd and called out, "What a fine name! What a fine name!"

By the time the crowd dispersed and the excitement faded, the sky had already darkened.

Toru gave Fugaku a congratulatory envelope. The gift money inside was not much, merely a token of his feelings. After all, the clan head's family hardly lacked his little bit of money.

Fugaku accepted the envelope with delight, patted Toru on the shoulder, and said, "Stay for dinner today. It's a family banquet, not many people."

Toru bowed respectfully in thanks.

With so many people coming to offer congratulations, Toru being invited to remain for the family banquet showed just how highly Fugaku regarded him.

Toru sent a Shadow Clone to Yuhi Kurenai's home to tell her that he would not be going there for dinner that night. Then he followed Fugaku in tidying up the courtyard.

With so many people coming and going just now, Fugaku's courtyard had inevitably been left in disarray.

"You haven't awakened your Sharingan yet, have you?"

Fugaku asked as though casually.

As Toru arranged the scattered items in the courtyard, he answered, "I'm ashamed to say I haven't."

Fugaku said, "There's no need to be ashamed. The Sharingan has conditions for awakening. One must suffer a tragic event, such as witnessing the loss of friends or family, and only awaken it in the depths of unbearable grief."

"That is why the Sharingan is also known as the cursed eye."

"Besides, you've been mature since childhood, thoughtful and steady by nature. A temperament like yours makes awakening the Sharingan more difficult."

Hearing Fugaku's explanation, Toru found it strange.

"Why is the method for awakening the Sharingan so peculiar? The Hyuga next door can awaken theirs just by learning hand seals and controlling Chakra."

Puzzled, Toru asked Fugaku, "Clan Head, could you show me your Sharingan?"

Fugaku set aside what he was doing, turned to face Toru, and met his gaze.

Suddenly, Fugaku's black eyes changed. The dark pupils instantly turned blood-red, and three black tomoe appeared within them, making his entire presence sharp and murderous.

Toru's Six Eyes flickered, immediately uncovering the secret of the Sharingan.

The Sharingan's Chakra is connected to a certain part of the brain. That must be where its secret lies.

Unfortunately, I can't directly tell what that area of the brain does. Otherwise, I should be able to unravel the Sharingan's secret outright.

It seems I can only conduct further research after awakening my own Sharingan.

Toru thought this to himself.

Fugaku then deactivated his Sharingan.

At that moment, another guest arrived outside.

A boy with short, slightly curly black hair entered. He handed Fugaku a congratulatory envelope, then bowed and said, "Sorry, Uncle Fugaku. I was practicing at the Training Ground, so I arrived late."

"It's all right. As long as you came," Fugaku said kindly as he accepted the envelope. "Stay and have dinner with us too."

Fugaku then looked at Toru and introduced him, "Toru, this is Uchiha Shisui, a descendant of Lord Kagami, who once served as the Second Hokage's guard."

"Shisui, this is the Uchiha Toru you've been so eager to meet," Fugaku then introduced Toru to Shisui. After all, every young person admired Uchiha Toru's reputation as a genius.

Shisui faced Toru respectfully. "Hello, Brother Toru."

Toru returned the courtesy. "Hello."

Fugaku looked at the two of them and smiled. "You two are both the future of our Uchiha. I'll be relying on you to look after my Itachi in the future."

Toru and Shisui both agreed.

Fugaku then led Toru and Shisui into the house.

Inside, several servants were diligently caring for Uchiha Mikoto, who had just given birth, and the newly born Uchiha Itachi.

Toru and Shisui first bowed in greeting to Mikoto, then followed Fugaku to the cradle to see the newborn Uchiha Itachi.

"So this is what a newborn baby looks like." Shisui looked at Uchiha Itachi lying in the cradle, utterly unaware of the outside world.

Toru was not particularly interested in babies, but Shisui seemed rather fond of the infant still wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Fugaku gazed at the baby named Itachi. The sharp, murderous look in his eyes had long vanished, replaced by the tenderness and hope of a father's love.

The three of them then enjoyed the family banquet together, dining at the same table.

While they ate, Fugaku said to Toru, "Shisui has just entered the Ninja Academy. He's performed exceptionally well there and has quite the same bearing you did back then."

Shisui repeatedly humbly denied deserving such praise, but Toru commented, "As members of the Uchiha, isn't excellence only natural? Wouldn't you agree, Lord Fugaku?"

Toru's words both gave Shisui a graceful way out and flattered Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head, in the process. It killed two birds with one stone.

The three of them smiled knowingly, and the atmosphere became exceptionally harmonious.

After dinner, Toru returned home and began training.

Only deep into the night did he finally fall asleep.