Salted Fish Life

Early that morning, the whole world looked bright and clear, with a faint chill in the air.

A boy wearing a conical hat arrived at the river, carrying a bag.

Beneath the hat, he had tousled hair, dark eyes with a hint of depth, and a handsome, open face. An easygoing air clung to him.

He opened the bag. Inside was a fishing rod!

The boy brought over a reclining chair, set up a sun umbrella, cast his hook far out, and lay back to wait for a bite.

Fish kept taking his bait as though he had luck on his side. Before he knew it, noon had arrived.

"Yoru!"

A man dressed in black, with a long sword strapped to his back, came up beside the boy.

"Itachi, why don't you wait a bit? I'm about to get a bite. We can grill the fish!" the boy said with a smile. He was Uchiha Yoru.

Looking at his younger brother, Itachi finally smiled through his somber expression. Perhaps Yoru was the only person around whom he could truly relax.

"Father's looking for you," Uchiha Itachi said. "He wants to know why you still haven't gone to the Ninja Academy."

"Why would I? I don't want to be a ninja. Whoever wants to go can go. What's wrong with spending my days fishing, eating, and drinking?"

I'd like to work hard too! But I'm already too strong for that. Hanging around those little kids would drive me up the wall!

"I thought you'd say that," Uchiha Itachi said. "There's something I want to ask you. What do you really think of the Uchiha Clan?"

The Uchiha Clan is proud and arrogant. No wonder it'll be wiped out. They can't get along with the rest of the village, and they've got this inborn sense of superiority!

And with the Sharingan on top of that, what leader would want a clan like this under them?

Despite what he thought, Uchiha Yoru smiled and said, "They're great! Everyone's kind, they get along well, and they've been really good to me!"

Watching Uchiha Itachi sink into thought, Uchiha Yoru was baffled. Had he said anything worth pondering?

"Don't forget to come home for dinner tonight!"

"I don't want to see Father's dead-fish face. He always looks like someone owes him a fortune!" Lin Ye said reluctantly.

When he was five, his father had wanted him to learn Grand Fireball, but he refused. He had also wanted him to enroll in the Ninja Academy, but Yoru still wouldn't go. Uchiha Fugaku was thoroughly displeased with him now.

It was as if Uchiha Itachi were his real son and Yoru had been picked up off the street.

"Sister-in-law, save me!"

Uchiha Yoru spotted a beautiful girl with long hair and immediately hid behind her.

The girl blushed at what Uchiha Yoru called her, but neither objected nor denied it.

Itachi can't drag me home now. I practically found him a wife. If he still makes me go back, he's an ingrate!

Hearing Uchiha Yoru's thoughts, Uchiha Itachi was at a loss. How had they gotten onto that?

But Izumi was killed by that Masked Man, wasn't she? Come to think of it, that time must be getting close. Trouble's coming!

Who's the Masked Man? How could Izumi be killed?

Countless questions surged through Uchiha Itachi's mind when he heard Yoru's thoughts, but he couldn't ask any of them.

It had been the same when the Nine-Tails appeared. Uchiha Yoru had seen it coming and made sure he and Sasuke reached safety beforehand.

Itachi worried that if Yoru discovered he could hear his thoughts, he might keep his distance from him. After all, how frightening would it be to have someone know everything going through your head?

"Just listen to Itachi and come home for dinner!"

Uchiha Yoru couldn't argue his way out of it, so he nodded.

"Itachi, if you've got time to look for me, why not teach Sasuke Ninjutsu? You promised him, but you keep putting it off!" Uchiha Yoru muttered as they walked.

"Mom, I caught Little Yoru and brought him home!"

"Izumi, Itachi! Dinner's almost ready. Stay and eat with us!" Uchiha Mikoto called out in her apron.

"Big Brother Itachi!"

Sasuke Uchiha ran over too, delighted to see Itachi home.

Uchiha Yoru took the chance to give Sasuke Uchiha's cheeks a thorough squishing. He was so cute as a kid. How did he grow up to be so hard to like?

"Yoru!" Sasuke Uchiha slapped Yoru's hand away.

"You call Itachi 'Big Brother,' but you just call me Yoru! So much for brotherly love..." Uchiha Yoru shook his head and sighed.

"Come eat! Fugaku has a clan meeting, so he won't be home," Uchiha Mikoto said with a smile as she looked at her children.

A meeting? They're probably discussing their rebellion. But Itachi wasn't invited. Looks like Dad has started to distrust his own son!

He thinks Itachi's sided with the village. Honestly, Konoha's brainwashing is top-notch! Of the Uchiha's two strongest fighters, one had his eyes stolen and killed himself, while the other betrayed the village and endured humiliation in silence!

Every last one of Uchiha Yoru's thoughts entered Uchiha Itachi's mind.

Yoru's strange thoughts had surprised him countless times over the years, but he was still taken aback.

How does Little Yoru know Konoha has already asked me to spy on the Uchiha? I haven't told anyone!

"Itachi, what's wrong? Is the food not to your liking?" Uchiha Mikoto asked with concern when she saw that Uchiha Itachi hadn't touched his meal.

"No, no!"

After dinner.

Uchiha Yoru went back to his room to sleep. He was full and content. With weather this nice, how could he not take a nap?

In his previous life, getting into a good elementary school had only meant working toward a good middle school, then a good high school. The pressure had left him struggling to breathe again and again. His days among the Uchiha had been the most comfortable time of his life.

"Little Yoru, can I come in?"

Someone stood outside the door.

What does Itachi want with me? Uchiha Yoru wondered.

He didn't know how to face this older brother of his. On one hand, Itachi loved him and Sasuke deeply. On the other, he was one of the people responsible for the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Whether he had acted under orders or threats, his hands were stained with the blood of their family.

"Come in, Itachi!" Uchiha Yoru called.

As soon as Itachi came in, he sat down in front of Yoru, his expression grave.

"Why so serious, Itachi?" After all these years, Yoru could tell when his brother was being earnest rather than merely stone-faced.

"Yoru, I want to ask you something, and I need a serious answer. What should we do if the conflict between the village and the Uchiha becomes impossible to resolve?"

"What do you—"

"Answer me seriously. What would you do?" This time, Uchiha Itachi didn't even want to listen to his thoughts. "I know you've always been more mature than most people. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be so cheerful when people in the Uchiha Clan constantly speak ill of you behind your back!"

Uchiha Yoru was about to object, but Uchiha Itachi cut him off.

System, if I get involved in the Uchiha Clan Massacre, will I lose time from my Salted Fish Life?

[Depending on how deeply you get involved, a portion of your Fish Reward will be deducted!]

For the Uchiha Clan, I guess I have to.

He didn't want to see the familiar faces around him disappear, either.