At that moment, on the outskirts of the Uchiha Clan Compound, two people were crouching atop a utility pole. From a distance, one had a tuft of blond hair, while the other had black hair. That was right-these two were Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
They had finally managed to escape from Iruka, after which Naruto had dragged Sasuke over to crouch on this utility pole. Sasuke really could not understand what Naruto was trying to do.
Especially after what had just happened, Sasuke wanted to go home. It was simply too embarrassing.
Just moments earlier, a mother and son had passed beneath the utility pole. He and Naruto had already been crouching up there for quite some time.
"Mom, what kind of animals are those?"
A little boy pointed at Naruto and Sasuke on the utility pole and asked his mother innocently.
The mother gave the two crouching atop the utility pole an indifferent glance and spoke with utter disdain.
"Sweetie, those are losers. Don't be like them. Come on, let's go home for dinner."
"Okay, Mom."
Those two paid absolutely no attention to Naruto and Sasuke crouching atop the utility pole. They really did not care whether the two survived this embarrassment. If it were not to stop Uchiha Itachi from slaughtering the Uchiha Clan, would Naruto have come here to humiliate himself?
Sure enough, the thin-skinned Sasuke was the first to crack. In just this short time, plenty of people had pointed at the two of them, and some even knew them. Sasuke wanted to die. He could already imagine the absurd rumors that would spread tomorrow, like the Uchiha Clan Head's second son going crazy in the middle of the night and running up a utility pole to take a piss...
Sasuke trembled all over at the thought and could not help asking Naruto.
"Naruto, why won't you let me go home tonight? What did you bring me up a utility pole to stand around for?"
"To watch a show."
Naruto's brief reply left Sasuke utterly baffled. What normal person crouched atop a utility pole at night to watch a show?
"A show? What show?"
Not long after Sasuke asked that question, Naruto spoke.
"The star of the show is here."
"The star? What star?"
Now Sasuke was even more confused. He seriously suspected that Naruto was not the same age as him. Otherwise, why could he not understand anything Naruto said?
While Sasuke was still pondering this, Uchiha Itachi appeared. When he saw the two standing atop the utility pole, he was rather dumbfounded. Faced with Obito's threat, Itachi had no choice but to comply with his wishes. After all, a thief could keep plotting for a thousand days, but no one could stay on guard against one for a thousand days.
So, having made up his mind, Itachi had found himself here without realizing it. He had intended to get a good look at the surroundings. After all, the view here was unobstructed, and he would definitely be able to catch Sasuke on his way home eventually.
But who could have imagined that two people would be crouching atop the utility pole at this hour, with one of them being his own younger brother, Sasuke? Now, besides Sasuke, there was another bewildered person.
Before Itachi could speak, however, Naruto's and Sasuke's questions came one after another.
"Oi~ You want to crouch up here too?"
"Nii-san, what are you doing here?"
Sasuke did not notice anything wrong with Uchiha Itachi at all. An innocent smile was on his face. Since his brother had come out now, did that mean he had escaped that person's threats?
Having arrived here, Itachi could not shake the feeling that he should never have come out today. Otherwise, he would not have run into Sasuke. For a moment, he had no idea what to do. At a loss, he looked at Naruto beside Sasuke, vaguely guessing that Sasuke's presence here had something to do with him.
At the same time, he wondered why Naruto Uzumaki knew about his plan when he had never revealed it to anyone else, and had even brought Sasuke here to intercept him.
This Naruto Uzumaki was strange. The feeling he gave him was strange.
"Itachi, stop while you still can, before you get in too deep."
Alarm bells rang in Itachi's head at those words, further confirming his suspicions. This Naruto Uzumaki definitely knew something, or he would never have said that. Itachi had originally intended to put on an act, knock Sasuke unconscious, and then, once he woke up, let him see the sight of his entire clan slaughtered. Under that kind of shock, he should be able to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, right?
But now the plan had changed. This little blond kid in front of him seemed to know something...
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"As for why I'm here, can't I take a stroll after dinner?"
"Huh, Nii-san, dinner's ready at home? But I haven't gone home to eat yet."
Hearing Itachi's words, Sasuke responded foolishly, making Naruto so annoyed that he smacked him on the head.
"Idiot, he's lying to you! What normal person takes a stroll on a utility pole after dinner?"
Only after getting hit did Sasuke realize that his brother was lying to him. He stared at Itachi in disbelief.
"Nii-san, why? Why are you lying to me?"
"Sasuke, I..."
Itachi did not even dare look Sasuke in the eyes. After all, he would soon become scum who slaughtered his own clan and murdered his parents. He had already worked out his plans for afterward: shoulder all the hatred and let Sasuke grow up in hatred, so that he could live a better life. As for himself, he would join that organization the man had mentioned.
But when he saw Sasuke again, Itachi admitted that his heart had softened. He truly could not bear to leave Sasuke alone in Konoha, without a single relative, all by himself.
"Itachi, take my advice. Maybe you've been deceived!"
As Naruto said this, flecks of light flickered in his eyes.
This time, Itachi truly fell silent. Thinking it over carefully, there were far too many holes. If that mysterious Masked Man could slaughter the Uchiha Clan all by himself, why would he need his assistance?
Then there was his claim to be Madara Uchiha. The more Itachi thought about it, the more things seemed wrong. Even his gaze cleared. He looked at Naruto before him with guilt in his eyes. To think that a grown man like him could not see things as clearly as a child.
Naruto also noticed the change in Itachi and secretly sighed. Good. As long as he listens. Now it's time to give him a stronger dose.
"Itachi, I take it you've realized something's wrong. Now think about Sasuke. If you really do that, your little brother Sasuke won't have a single relative left. In all of Konoha, there won't be one family member left for him. He'll also grow darker and darker. You wouldn't want him to end up like Danzo, would you?"
"I..."
"Besides, your Uchiha Clan is a major clan. If things really reach that point, do you think no one will bully him? When the time comes, the Uchiha's enemies will all go after him, the Uchiha Clan's sole orphan. Don't believe any crap about that old fart Hiruzen Sarutobi protecting Sasuke for you. Look at how even I'm living. You might not know my real identity, but could your parents not know? Do you see anyone daring to help me?"
"I..."
"When I was little, even getting a hot meal was hard. The villagers beat me and cursed at me at the drop of a hat. All I had at home was expired milk and instant noodles. No one dared look after me. Do you think anyone will help you take care of Sasuke? It's not like that man is Sasuke's dad."
With a boom, thunder seemed to explode in Itachi's mind. That's right. If I really slaughter the entire Uchiha Clan, what kind of situation will Sasuke be left in?
He did not dare think about it. He simply did not dare. He could not imagine what would happen to Sasuke afterward.
Sasuke, standing to the side, was completely dumbstruck. Was Naruto this amazing? He had actually talked his older brother into speechlessness. But from the fragments of their conversation, he had also guessed that they seemed to be discussing his future.
"Naruto, you... you actually care this much about me. Seriously, I could cry."
Naruto and Itachi paid absolutely no attention to Sasuke Uchiha, who was busy moving himself to tears beside them. The two were still deep in heated discussion, except that Naruto was doing all the talking while Itachi nodded furiously.
"Now you get it. They definitely aren't up to any good."
Itachi nodded, inwardly shocked as well. This little fellow before him was only the same age as his younger brother, yet he understood so much. It was truly astonishing.
"All right, I understand. I've made up my mind. I won't believe them anymore, or Sasuke will end up like you too."
"Mm-hmm, you're a promising student. Huh? Wait, what do you mean, end up like me? Are you insulting me?"
Naruto looked at Itachi, speechless. This guy really knew how to hit where it hurt, but at least he had listened to reason.
"To think that the great Uchiha Itachi would be stopped by two little brats."
Just as Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, Obito arrived. After waiting so long without Itachi returning, he had grown impatient and come out to look for him. He had not expected to find them here.