Chapter 42: Let's Train Together, Itachi

"Captain Shisui!"

The Anbu members also noticed Shisui and immediately came to his side, saying, "Lord Hokage sent us to guard this place to prevent the situation from escalating."

Though they wore masks, Shisui had been in Anbu long enough to know who they were by voice alone.

Confirming they were not Root, Shisui turned to look at the people arguing.

The man at the front was behaving erratically, pointing at the Guard Unit members and cursing, "Why did you Uchiha take so long to come? Aren't you always sticking your noses into other people's business? Why this time, why only this time! If you had come sooner, Shinichi wouldn't have died!"

"Shinichi was that child, only five years old, cut open by a kunai. The body has already been taken away," Hui explained quietly from the side.

Facing the man's accusations, the Guard Unit members felt indignant but had no way to defend themselves. Only Uchiha Hachidai stood expressionless at the front, watching the man.

Though he made no move, merely standing there, his blood-red Copy Wheel Eye calmly sweeping over the crowd brought them pressure like a mountain.

Yet even so, the pain of losing children and loved ones still drove these victims' relatives to scream and roar in frenzy.

Shisui frowned slightly and asked, "What about those two ninja?"

Hui twitched his mouth and glanced at the Anbu members. "Already taken away by Anbu. Word is Lord Hokage will interrogate them personally."

"Anbu?"

Shisui's heart tightened and he immediately looked at the Anbu members.

That person tilted his head, seemingly puzzled, and only said, "It should have been another squad that took them. Lord Third's orders to us were only to guard this place and prevent the situation from escalating."

Shisui clenched his fist inwardly, already forming a guess in his mind.

"Since it's Lord Third's order, the Guard Unit should of course cooperate. Brother Hui, tell Uncle Hachidai to invite these people into the Guard Headquarters to talk things over slowly. Crowding out here will inevitably affect the other villagers."

More and more people were gathering around. If this continued, the situation would only escalate further.

Shisui genuinely felt the Guard Unit was innocent and shouldn't be subjected to such baseless accusations.

But it seemed everyone believed this was the Uchiha's problem, including some Uchiha clansmen standing under the Guard Headquarters.

This gave him a trace of alarm! "Captain Shisui, this..."

The Anbu members were somewhat troubled but couldn't articulate what was wrong.

Hui immediately nodded in agreement and walked toward Uchiha Hachidai, whispering in his ear.

After a moment, Hachidai nodded slightly. "The culprit has already been taken away by Lord Hokage. The results will come out soon. You few wait in the Guard Headquarters for now."

With his flat tone and cold face, how could the crowd agree? They immediately shouted curses: "What? You killed Shinichi and now you want to lay hands on me? Lord Hokage won't forgive you."

"You Guard Unit trash, you've betrayed everyone's trust!"

"Lord Hokage won't let you off!"

The cursing hadn't even stopped when a fierce glint flashed through Hui's eyes. From the corner of his eye he caught sight of Shisui walking past several Anbu members, then giving him a slight nod.

Hui immediately understood his intent and hurriedly said, "Uncle Hachidai, these people are already overwrought with grief. If this goes on, it may harm their health. Let's have them calm down first."

Hachidai paused for a moment and was about to ask, but the man before him let out a cry of pain, grew agitated, then continuously roared and wailed until he fell unconscious, as though deprived of oxygen.

"Quickly carry him up and find a medical ninja. You few go up together as well and wait for Lord Hokage's orders. Anbu will protect you!"

Hachidai waved his hand, and the clansmen standing on either side immediately moved to carry the unconscious man away. The others, startled by the sight, forgot to protest, and hearing the mention of Hokage and Anbu, subconsciously complied with the Guard Unit members leading them away.

Several Anbu members near Shisui paused slightly, then witnessed the scene of the people before them falling unconscious from excessive grief after their clamoring. Without suspecting anything, they immediately asked, "They actually fainted? Captain Shisui, then what now?"

"First disperse the surrounding villagers to prevent the impact from spreading, then go request instructions from Lord Hokage. The rest continue guarding this place."

"Yes!"

The Anbu members immediately carried out the order. Having finished speaking, Shisui also calmed his emotions and turned to leave.

"Brother Shisui, did something happen at the Guard Headquarters again?"

Though Itachi was still young, he had heard and seen too many things from a young age—and these were never anything good. Influenced by these, he was more prone to thinking in a pessimistic direction.

Shisui patted Itachi's head and forced a smile. "Nothing major, just a small dispute. Same as before, villagers came to make a fuss. It's already been resolved."

"I see."

Itachi nodded, looking as though he believed it, but Shisui keenly detected the doubt in Itachi's heart.

So many complicated thoughts at only six years old? "Alright, don't think about these things. It just so happens I have time today. Let's train together."

"Really?"

"Mm~"

Seeing Shisui nod, Itachi smiled again.

The two walked smiling to a nearby forest and trained together, not stopping until evening.

Sitting around a campfire, Shisui handed the grilled fish to Itachi and asked, as if casually, "Itachi is already six this year. Time to go to the ninja academy, right?"

"Huh? Yeah, Father has already arranged for me to enter the ninja academy. But it's very boring there. Father and the others also want me to graduate early. If all goes smoothly, perhaps I'll leave the academy next year."

Fugaku again!

"Graduating in just one year? Itachi... truly a genius. But have you thought about what comes after graduation?"

Ordinary students took six years to graduate, generally around twelve years of age, after which they would participate in ninja examinations. Those who passed would become qualified genin, followed by squad assignment and missions to build teamwork.

"I should be doing missions, I think. That way I can become a qualified ninja sooner and help Brother Shisui."

The firelight illuminated Itachi's face, bright and gentle.

Watching Itachi's earnest expression, Shisui's look shifted. After hesitating a moment, he said, "A ninja's training requires improving more than just strength. I've had some recent insights and really want to find someone to study other things with me."

"Other things? Can I learn too?"

Itachi was tempted. What he learned didn't matter to him, but training together with Shisui interested him greatly.

"Of course you can. But if you graduate, you'll be busy with missions and might not have time."

Itachi scrunched his small face, somewhat hesitant. He rarely refused his father's requests, and there were also voices in the clan hoping he would graduate early to compete with Kakashi.

Seeing his dilemma, Shisui suggested, "How about I talk to Clan Leader Fugaku? If he agrees, you can come find me whenever you're free recently. How about it?"

"Mm!"

(End of this chapter)