Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha

After telling Izumi to stay home and not worry, Yun Yan changed into a more formal outfit and headed out alone.

Come to think of it... was this the first time he had voluntarily left the house in three weeks?

Ah, no. It should have been the second time. The first was when he had carried a dead man's head to cause trouble for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As he stepped outside and walked along the outskirts of the clan compound, taking in the sights around him, Yun Yan felt slightly dazed.

Had I become too much of a shut-in? Was it really okay to go this long without leaving the house?

After reflecting for a moment, Yun Yan immediately came up with a perfectly valid excuse for himself:

It's fine. So what if I'm a shut-in? I don't have any other friends in the Uchiha Clan, nor is there anyone else I want to get to know. Of course I should stay home during my break.

Besides, I haven't just been sitting at home eating and waiting to die during this vacation. I've been researching and training too.

After convincing himself, Yun Yan strolled leisurely toward the center of the clan compound.

Yun Yan's home was located on the outskirts of the compound, while the clan head's home, his destination, was undoubtedly situated at its core.

The Uchiha Clan compound covered a considerable area. Even at a fairly ordinary walking pace, it would take some time to get from the outskirts to the center.

Moreover, the surroundings gradually changed the farther inward he went.

For instance, while he had still been on the outskirts, he had seen a fairly ordinary residential scene: Uchiha aunties shopping for groceries, and Uchiha children gathered in small groups to play.

But as he approached the inner compound, stern-faced, unsmiling, and distinctly unapproachable-looking ninja gradually began to appear with increasing frequency.

The greater number of these people led to another situation:

Yun Yan, who looked rather unfamiliar, was occasionally scrutinized and watched by passing Uchiha ninja.

And because of the Uchiha ninja's universally cold and rigid personalities, Yun Yan felt rather uncomfortable under their gazes.

The looks they gave Yun Yan were mostly suspicious and guarded. After all, he was an unfamiliar face.

After being eyed this way so many times, Yun Yan's expression began to darken.

Still, he was not angry enough to lose his temper. He had never really moved about within the clan before, so it was perfectly normal for these people not to know him.

Fortunately, Yun Yan had the Uchiha Clan's standard black hair and black eyes. Had he looked any different, he would probably have been questioned by Uchiha ninja long ago.

Thus, feeling somewhat annoyed, Yun Yan nevertheless made it smoothly into the heart of the Uchiha Clan compound and successfully found the home of Clan Head Fugaku Uchiha.

Standing outside, Yun Yan gave the house a once-over and immediately came to a conclusion:

Well, it is the clan head's home. It's huge—probably seven or eight times the size of mine.

After briefly marveling at it, Yun Yan did not dwell on the matter. With the mindset of a visitor, he stepped forward and knocked on the clan head's door.

Before long, the door opened.

Yun Yan looked inside and was slightly surprised.

Because the one who opened the door was none other than Fugaku Uchiha's eldest son, Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha was still quite young at this point. He seemed to have graduated from the Ninja Academy only a few years ago and had not been a ninja carrying out missions for very long.

Yet despite his young age, that prematurely burdened air about him had already begun to show.

Yun Yan looked at Itachi Uchiha, his feelings suddenly becoming rather complicated.

Who would have thought? I never expected to meet Itachi Uchiha this early.

If I hadn't transmigrated here, then in a few years, the original owner of this body would have died at his hands along with the entire Uchiha Clan.

For his younger brother and for all of Konoha, he was willing to wipe out his entire clan, even killing his own parents.

What exactly was Itachi Uchiha thinking...?

Considering that this kid's mind was not exactly normal either, and thinking of what he would do in the future, Yun Yan's gaze toward Itachi Uchiha became complicated.

Yun Yan knew Itachi Uchiha, but Itachi Uchiha did not know Yun Yan.

The young eldest son of the Uchiha stood behind his family's door, looking at this clansman in confusion.

Why had this unfamiliar clansman come to his house? And why was he looking at him so strangely?

With those doubts in mind, Itachi Uchiha could not help asking tentatively:

"May I ask, you are...?"

Since the other party had politely spoken first, Yun Yan could not very well remain silent.

He adjusted his mood and expression, restoring his calm demeanor as he looked at Itachi Uchiha.

"I am Uchiha Yunyan, a Konoha jonin. I served as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja outside the village for several years. Now that my duties there have concluded, the Hokage has transferred me back to Konoha. I came today to report to the clan head."

Hearing this explanation, Itachi Uchiha suddenly understood.

So this was a clansman who had returned after completing a long-term mission outside the village, and he was even a jonin.

There was nothing strange about that. Jonin returning from long-term missions would generally pay a visit to his father.

Although he now understood, Itachi Uchiha still felt somewhat concerned about the strange look Yun Yan had given him earlier.

Suppressing his unease and puzzlement, Itachi Uchiha stepped back and cleared the way into his home, making an inviting gesture to Yun Yan.

"So that's the situation.

Please come in. Father is at home. I'll introduce you to him right away."

Seeing that Itachi Uchiha was fairly easy to deal with, Yun Yan separated the matter from the person and nodded in thanks.

"Sorry to trouble you."

Thus, led by Itachi Uchiha, Yun Yan entered the clan head's home and walked into its enormous courtyard.

As he walked, Yun Yan could not help surveying the general state of the clan head's residence.

Not only was it seven or eight times larger than his own home, but its decorations, furnishings, and the scale of its buildings were also far more luxurious and refined.

He was the clan head, after all. It was hardly surprising that he enjoyed such treatment and resources. His family circumstances were far better than Yun Yan's as an orphan of the Uchiha Clan.

Just as Yun Yan was walking deeper into the clan head's residence, another important character appeared.

The world's second protagonist—the man who would spend his life in a love-hate rivalry with Naruto Uzumaki, Itachi Uchiha's younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha—made his entrance!

Of course, Itachi Uchiha was still young, so Sasuke Uchiha could only be even younger.

At this point, Sasuke Uchiha was just a little kid whose mind was far from mature and who depended heavily on his parents and older brother.

This little kid also had black hair and black eyes, and he was quite handsome.

Yun Yan watched as the little kid came running out from inside the clan head's home. The moment he saw Itachi Uchiha, his eyes lit up. Calling out to his brother, he dashed over eagerly and stopped before Itachi Uchiha.

And as soon as Sasuke Uchiha arrived, he excitedly voiced his request:

"Brother! Do you have time to train with me today?!"

Hearing that and seeing the little kid's appearance, Yun Yan understood.

Sure enough, before the Uchiha Clan was massacred, the person Sasuke Uchiha valued and felt closest to most was his older brother, Itachi Uchiha.

And what about Itachi Uchiha? Yun Yan looked again at the eldest son.

As expected, when this complete and utter brother-obsessed man saw his younger brother Sasuke, a rare gentle smile appeared on Itachi Uchiha's normally icy face, and his tone softened considerably.

But what he said was a refusal:

"Sorry, Sasuke. We have a guest at home, and I have other matters to attend to later. I can only train with you another time."

Sure enough, upon hearing that, little Sasuke immediately wilted.

Though dejected, he still accepted reality. The little kid nodded listlessly.

"O-Okay... then I'll train by myself."

After saying that, the little fellow politely stepped aside to make way.

After nodding to Yun Yan, Itachi Uchiha said nothing else and continued leading the way.

Yun Yan did not pay much attention to this other protagonist, merely following Itachi Uchiha onward.

After walking a few more steps and turning twice, Itachi Uchiha brought Yun Yan before a room. It was spacious and refined inside, seemingly a room meant for receiving guests.

Under Itachi Uchiha's guidance, Yun Yan removed his shoes, entered the room, and stepped onto the tatami.

After entering, Itachi Uchiha gave him another instruction:

"Please sit here for a moment. I will inform Father right away."

Yun Yan nodded without saying much.

Thus, under Yun Yan's gaze, Itachi Uchiha turned through another door and disappeared from sight. He had presumably gone to find Fugaku Uchiha.