Itachi's Gaze

The Thirteenth Person

Outside the Konoha Ninja Academy.

Lin Feng leaned against the old tree on the left, his hands in his pockets as his lazy gaze swept over the students leaving school.

The children came out in groups of two and three.

Laughter, noise, and complaints about homework blended together.

He yawned and shifted his posture.

His eyes never left the school gate.

After waiting about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the crowd gradually thinned.

Then he saw that figure.

Itachi walked out of the school gate alone, his head lowered.

The liveliness around him seemed to have nothing to do with him.

His black hair draped down, covering half his face. His unhurried steps stood in stark contrast to the surrounding clamor.

Lin Feng straightened up, a casual smile appearing on his face as he walked over.

"Itachi, why are you coming out so late?"

Itachi stopped and looked up at him.

His gaze was calm, without surprise.

"I happened to come pick up my little brother, so I waited for you too," Lin Feng said naturally, his tone light.

Itachi glanced at him.

"Mm. I was on classroom duty today."

His tone was flat, as if he were stating something insignificant.

"Brother seems to have been quite concerned about school matters lately."

Lin Feng's heart stirred slightly.

The words sounded casual, but there was clearly a trace of probing in Itachi's eyes.

This kid really was sharp.

"There's been quite a lot of discussion in the Lineage lately." Lin Feng sighed as if in reflection. "It seems everyone is talking about how 'ninjas must put the bigger picture first.' What do you think?"

He tossed out the topic, his eyes casually sweeping over Itachi's expression.

Itachi's gaze shifted slightly.

A moment of silence.

"The bigger picture... depends on whose position you stand from."

His voice was soft, yet it was like a blade.

"What does Brother think?"

Lin Feng froze for a moment.

He had not expected Itachi to question him in return.

And he had thrown the question back so quickly, so directly.

"Me?" Lin Feng smiled, his tone deliberately casual. "I think sometimes the bigger picture is too big. It can crush people to death. But for someone your age to be thinking about this already... that's very much your style."

The corner of Itachi's mouth moved.

The curve was almost imperceptible.

"A ninja's path must be thought through clearly from childhood."

Two seconds of silence.

"Oh, right. Someone has been watching from the building across from the school lately. Brother should be careful."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

The building across from the school?

Root.

Just as expected.

"I understand." Lin Feng nodded, his tone unchanged. "Thanks for the warning."

But his thoughts were racing.

Itachi knew Root existed.

And he had chosen to say it at this moment.

What did that mean?

A warning?

Or a test?

"Then what do you think is right?" Lin Feng pressed.

Itachi fell silent.

Two seconds. Three seconds.

Then he said softly, "One day, Brother will understand my answer."

Lin Feng's heart tightened.

There was something in those words.

They were too heavy.

As if they concealed some secret that could not be spoken aloud.

He wanted to keep asking, but Itachi had already spoken.

"If I don't go home soon, Mother will worry."

His tone was flat, but it carried an unquestionable sense of finality.

Lin Feng opened his mouth, but ultimately did not try to keep him.

"Fine, go on. Don't make Mom and Dad worry."

Itachi nodded and turned to leave.

His pace remained unhurried.

His back soon disappeared around the street corner.

Lin Feng stood where he was, looking in that direction.

The surrounding clamor gradually returned to his ears.

But his thoughts remained on their conversation just now.

Itachi's attitude was vague.

He had neither agreed nor opposed.

There had only been evasion and countermeasures.

And he had brought up Root's surveillance on his own...

What did that mean?

Had he already come into contact with pressure from the higher-ups?

Or had Shisui told him something?

Lin Feng rubbed his temples.

A dark shadow flashed across a distant rooftop.

He caught it from the corner of his eye.

Lin Feng stood still for several seconds without turning to look.

Root.

They really never stopped for even a moment.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to walk in the opposite direction.

His steps were calm.

But his mind was sorting through the information.

First, Itachi had avoided taking a stance on the "bigger picture." There was no solid evidence yet that he had sided with the plan to exterminate the Lineage.

Second, he knew Root existed and knew they were watching Lin Feng.

Third, he was hiding something in his heart and was unwilling to say it.

Fourth, this proactive approach might already have aroused Itachi's vigilance.

Lin Feng's steps paused.

Then he continued onward.

The plan needed adjusting.

He could no longer approach Itachi so directly.

He had to be more careful.

And...

Root's infiltration of the Lineage might run deeper than he had imagined.

Lin Feng looked up at the sky.

The clouds hung low.

The weather was about to change.