Chapter 4 (Patreon)

“No.”

Faced with Yujiro’s question, Itachi only gave a quiet reply before falling silent again.

He was simply curious.

Curious how the person in front of him could swing a sword with such freedom.

Such intensity.

“Then eat.”

Yujiro shrugged casually and sat beneath the large tree nearby.

Beside him was the lunch Kurenai had prepared for him earlier that morning.

It was surprisingly rich.

Simple words.

Just “then eat.”

But to Itachi, those words carried an entirely different meaning.

He was inviting him?

A member of the Uchiha clan?

Even without introducing himself, the Uchiha crest on his clothes made his identity obvious.

And yet Yujiro spoke to him so naturally.

As though none of it mattered.

“Stop overthinking it.”

Yujiro sighed helplessly while opening the lunch box.

“You’ll just tire yourself out.”

He picked up a rice ball and started eating casually.

Looking at Itachi’s small face, Yujiro suddenly found the kid strangely amusing.

So serious.

So gloomy.

At five years old, he already looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Honestly, Yujiro almost wanted to tease him a little.

But he held back.

After all, even if his body was five years old, mentally he was already an adult.

Arguing with a child would just make him look pathetic.

“…Thank you.”

Itachi lowered his head slightly and accepted the rice balls Yujiro handed over.

After watching him take a bite, Yujiro spoke calmly.

“Since you ate my food…”

A faint grin appeared on his face.

“You’re helping me train afterward.”

Itachi paused slightly while chewing.

Then, after thinking for a moment, he nodded seriously.

Training…

Maybe that was not a bad thing.

...

After eating, Yujiro stood up and drew the black blade once more.

Right now, what he needed most was a sparring partner.

A capable one.

Kakashi would have been perfect, but considering the timing, he was probably already beginning his mission protecting Kushina.

That left only one suitable person nearby.

Uchiha Itachi.

Besides…

Yujiro was genuinely interested in beating up young Itachi a little.

Whoosh!

Before Yujiro could continue thinking, three shuriken suddenly flew toward him.

Yujiro’s body reacted instinctively.

He tilted his head slightly.

The shuriken passed cleanly beside him without even grazing his clothes.

Yujiro himself had not consciously moved.

His body simply reacted on its own.

So this is the effect of the first-stage Limiter…

A trace of surprise also flashed through Itachi’s eyes.

He had always been confident in his shurikenjutsu.

Originally, he expected Yujiro to block with his sword.

Instead, Yujiro dodged them effortlessly.

“At this level…”

Yujiro casually rested the black blade on his shoulder.

“You’re still too stiff.”

Then, as if deliberately increasing the difficulty for himself—

He closed his eyes.

“I’ll use instinct only.”

Itachi’s expression sharpened immediately.

The afternoon passed quietly like that.

Shuriken sliced through the air one after another.

The sound of steel echoed continuously through the forest.

And every so often—

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for breaking through the physical limit! Limiter Level 1 progress +0.2%! Current Progress: 0.6%!

...

By the time the sun began setting, Yujiro finally stopped.

He sheathed the black blade and prepared to leave.

“My name is Uchiha Itachi.”

Suddenly, the boy’s voice came from behind him.

Yujiro stopped slightly.

“What’s yours?”

Yujiro did not turn around.

“Yujiro.”

After leaving those words behind, he walked away casually.

Soon, his figure disappeared around the corner.

Itachi stood there quietly, staring at the direction Yujiro had left.

After an entire afternoon of sparring, he had not gained a single advantage.

Instead, there were several new bruises on his body.

But strangely enough—

There was no frustration on his face.

No anger either.

A faint smile slowly appeared instead.

...

...

Back at the Yuhi residence.

Kurenai pointed suspiciously at the black sword resting on Yujiro’s shoulder.

“Where did you get that sword?”

Yujiro answered without changing expression.

“I picked it up.”

Kurenai stared at him blankly for a second.

Then she immediately puffed her cheeks.

“You think I’d believe that?!”

Even though she had lived with Yujiro for years now, she still felt like she could never fully understand him.

Sometimes he felt mature beyond his age.

Other times, he acted completely shameless.

“I’m hungry,” Yujiro said calmly.

“Hmph.”

Kurenai crossed her arms and placed her hands on her waist.

“Now you remember you’re hungry?”

Yujiro ignored her and walked into the house carrying the sword.

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!”

Kurenai gritted her teeth and followed after him.

“You’re getting bolder every day, brat!”

Yujiro suddenly stopped walking and looked at her seriously.

“Nee-san.”

“…What?”

“I’m really hungry.”

Then, after a brief pause, he added quietly:

“And I like your cooking.”

Kurenai blinked.

“It tastes good.”

The irritation on her face instantly weakened.

In the end, she could only sigh helplessly.

“…Fine.”

“You sit down first. I’ll make dinner.”

After speaking, she turned and walked toward the kitchen.

Yujiro sat down on the sofa and slowly closed his eyes.

Having a sister really was nice.

Even if they were not related by blood.

Yujiro quietly enjoyed this kind of warmth.

...

Deep within the Uchiha clan compound.

Inside a traditional room, Mikoto looked worriedly at the bruises on Itachi’s body.

“Itachi…”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“What happened to your face? Did someone bully you?”

“No, Mother.”

Itachi shook his head softly.

“I just met someone today.”

“Oh?”

Before Mikoto could ask further, a deep voice came from outside the room.

“Who?”

Uchiha Fugaku stepped inside calmly.

“Father.”

Itachi immediately straightened his posture respectfully.

Fugaku gave a slight nod.

“What was his name?”

“…Yujiro.”

The moment he spoke, the image of the black-haired boy unconsciously appeared in Itachi’s mind again.

“Yujiro…”

Fugaku repeated the name once before silently sitting at the dining table.

He did not say anything else.

“Come eat first.”

Mikoto gently smiled and held Itachi’s hand.

Her movements were warm and full of affection.

...

After dinner—

Fugaku suddenly spoke.

“The injuries on your body.”

His sharp eyes rested on Itachi calmly.

“Did that boy cause them?”

Itachi’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

“…No.”

He shook his head.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes slightly.

Itachi lied.

But why?

Was it pride after losing?

No.

That was not Itachi’s personality.

Win or lose, his son would never hide from the truth.

Then the only remaining possibility…

Fugaku’s gaze deepened slightly.

You’re protecting that connection.

At the same time, Itachi lowered his eyes quietly.

He simply did not want his father involved.

Because among children his age—

Yujiro was the first person who had ever invited him to eat together so casually.

So naturally.

As though being an Uchiha changed nothing.

Even at five years old, Itachi already understood many things.

The distance between the village and the Uchiha clan.

The tension between the Military Police Force and Konoha.

The strange looks from villagers.

His father’s sighs late at night.

Itachi noticed all of it.

He simply never spoke about it aloud.

Then—

Fugaku’s voice sounded once more.

“Is he your friend?”

Itachi’s eyes widened slightly.

He looked at his father in disbelief.

Fugaku’s expression remained stern as always, but his voice softened just a little.

“I trust my son’s judgment.”

“There’s nothing wrong with making friends.”

It was clearly an awkward smile.

As though Fugaku himself was unfamiliar with smiling naturally anymore.

Still—

Itachi understood what his father meant.

A faint light appeared in the young boy’s eyes.

“Yes.”

He nodded firmly.

“He and I…”

For the first time that day, Itachi smiled openly.

“We’ll definitely become friends.”