Yu's Place in the Family

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Third!" Itachi smiled shyly.

"Itachi, have you considered graduating early? At this point, there is little room for you to improve at the Ninja Academy." The Third gently stroked Itachi's black hair and asked kindly.

Itachi's eyes brightened slightly. "Lord Third, can I really do that?" he asked uncertainly.

"Of course. Judging by your current performance, you already possess strength close to that of a Chunin."

Hearing the Third's answer, Itachi first felt a flicker of joy, then lowered his head again. "But my brother has not chosen to graduate from the Ninja Academy yet."

The smile on the Third's face stalled slightly. For a moment, he did not know what to say. "Itachi, because of the situation at the Land of Lightning border, the village is understaffed and urgently needs fresh blood. And besides, sigh..." Sarutobi let out a soft sigh.

"Lord Third, what is it?" Itachi looked at the Third with earnest little eyes.

"Sigh! The Uchiha's misunderstanding of the village is growing deeper and deeper. Itachi, you are an Uchiha filled with the Will of Fire. Like my teammate Kagami, you are full of love for the village. I truly do not wish to see the village and the Uchiha come to this point!"

With a troubled expression, the Third turned to look at the Ninja Academy students gradually leaving class outside.

"Lord Third, is there some misunderstanding? There are already very few clan members who complain about the village now." A trace of confusion appeared in Itachi's eyes.

The Third's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt a bout of Nothingness. He silently looked out the window, quickly considering what to say next. Then a glint flashed through his eyes, and he turned to the puzzled Itachi.

"Itachi, that is exactly why I say the gap between the Uchiha and the village is growing deeper. Have the Uchiha truly stopped complaining about the village? No, they have simply gradually become disappointed in it and chosen another path to distance themselves from it."

"Although the Uchiha had certain conflicts with the village in the past, they at least maintained communication. But look at them now—how many Uchiha are still willing to communicate with the village?"

After hearing that, Itachi nodded his little head. The Uchiha really had become like this. Although the clan members' lives were gradually improving, fewer and fewer of them were willing to interact with the village's civilians. It was as though a tall wall stood between the two sides.

Inside the wall were the Uchiha, while outside were the village civilians. Was this relationship truly good? Itachi sank into thought.

Seeing Itachi lower his head, a smile flashed through the Third's eyes. "Itachi, this is why I hope you can graduate early. Right now, the village and the Uchiha urgently need a bridge through which they can communicate and understand one another."

Itachi raised his head and looked at Sarutobi. "Lord Third, I actually think my brother would be the best choice for such a bridge. He is deeply trusted by the clan members now."

"Itachi! Do you think I have not considered that? But Hane's prejudice against the village runs far too deep. Only you, Itachi, are an Uchiha who truly carries the Will of Fire!" Sarutobi looked at Itachi with unwavering eyes.

Itachi was deeply moved. For the first time, someone had affirmed his thoughts and his will so strongly. For a moment, he felt a powerful urge to agree to the Hokage's request immediately.

But when he thought of his stern brother, Itachi shuddered. The words he had been about to say stopped at his lips.

"Lord Third, I am sorry! I am Nothingness-capable of agreeing to your request right away. I must first return home and seek my father's and brother's consent." Itachi lowered his head in disappointment.

Seeing this, Sarutobi's expression immediately darkened. Looking at the bowed Itachi, countless emotions surged through his heart. Could he not even persuade an Uchiha child now?

"But Lord Hokage, I will definitely find a way to convince Father and my brother!" Itachi raised his head resolutely.

Sarutobi immediately put on a kindly expression.

"Itachi! Do your best! The relationship between the village and the Uchiha depends on you. Once you graduate from the Ninja Academy, you will enter the Anbu directly. I believe that under the guidance of the Anbu seniors, Itachi, you will soon become an exceptionally outstanding Jonin of Nothingness."

"Yes, Lord Third!"

Itachi stood blankly beside Hane, thinking about his conversation with the Third.

Seeing his younger brother spacing out again, Hane felt a surge of irritation. He could not help but drive a small fist heavily into Itachi's head. "Itachi! Have you forgotten how to thank your big brother now?"

Itachi only felt a sharp pain in his head. Even with his current strength, tears nearly sprang into his eyes from the pain. He hurriedly covered his little head, which seemed to be developing a bump, and gave Hane a resentful look. "Thank you, Big Brother!"

Seeing this, Young Sasuke beside Itachi could not help shrinking his head. At some point, his eldest brother's punches had started hurting especially badly!

Clearly, Hane did not use much strength, yet they hurt terribly, terribly badly. Sasuke had taken one punch after being naughty once, and he never wanted to experience it a second time.

His brother had even given his fists a pleasant-sounding name: the Iron Fist of Love. Every strike embodied his brother's love for his younger brothers!

In any case, Sasuke did not want to be loved by his eldest brother. Even if his beloved second brother was being hit, Sasuke did not dare say a word. After all, the one hitting his second brother was his eldest brother.

"You always overthink things all day long. Learn more from Young Sasuke. Look how happy he was when his big brother gave him a New Year's gift." Hane shifted his gaze to Young Sasuke, who was still shrinking his neck.

Sasuke immediately put on a happy expression. "Yes, Big Brother, I'm very happy."

Itachi immediately made a bitter face. "Big Brother, I was just thinking about something! I didn't react in time."

"Hmph! You always have so much on your mind. Who knows what that little brain of yours thinks about all day!" Hane snorted softly.

"Big Brother, I want to graduate early from the Ninja Academy!" Itachi gathered his courage and said to Hane.

Hane turned back to look at Itachi in confusion. "You have only been in school for one year. Why are you already thinking about graduating?" Hane asked, puzzled.

"I also want to earn Father's and the clan members' recognition." Itachi answered, blushing.

Hane stared straight at Itachi for a long while, until Itachi lowered his head. Only then did Hane slowly speak.

"Itachi really cannot lie." A faint smile curved Hane's lips. "Tell me. Did someone say something to you again?" Hane's gaze gradually turned stern.

Itachi's body trembled slightly. "Big Brother! Can't I want to graduate?"

"If Itachi truly thought as you just said, then naturally I would not stop you. But if someone dares to mislead you, that is another matter entirely. Does Itachi intend to lie to his brother?" Hane asked calmly.

Itachi struggled with Nothingness-like intensity inside. He knew that if he told his eldest brother the truth, Hane would definitely refuse. After all, in Hane's eyes, the Hokage was no different from an enemy. His brother's dislike for the Third was not much less than his dislike for Danzo.

Itachi pressed his lips tightly together. He did not want to deceive his eldest brother, nor did he want to reveal the truth. He wanted to use this silence of Nothingness to resist his forceful brother.

"Hah..." Hane let out a soft breath. Looking at the silent Itachi, there was a hint of coldness in Hane's eyes. Of course, that coldness was not directed at Itachi, but at Konoha's upper ranks.

"Since you have made your choice, it would seem a little rude for me, as your brother, to keep stopping you. Itachi, I hope you will not regret your choice!"

After saying that, Hane took Izumi's hand, though she was still somewhat worried, and left the backyard.

Itachi let out a slight sigh of relief. Beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead. The pressure from his eldest brother's gaze had truly been too great!

Young Sasuke watched the scene from the side, and the imposing image of his eldest brother became even more deeply ingrained in his young heart. Just now, he had not even dared breathe too loudly. He had not even dared to think of saying a good word for his second brother.

In this family, Mother was the gentlest. His second brother doted on him endlessly. Father carried a trace of dignity, yet even he usually had a faint smile on his lips before his eldest brother.

Only his eldest brother, who normally always wore a frivolous expression and had an easygoing personality, could make the entire household fall silent once he became angry.