Sasuke, you picked the worst possible moment…
Shisui sighed inwardly.
Sasuke was already seven this year. It was hard to expect him to have much in common with Itachi, who was three or four years older. When Itachi was with Sasuke, he was always more of a big brother than anything else.
The moment Sasuke's voice rang out, whatever quiet, private moment there had been was instantly shattered.
Itachi and Izumi quickly put a little distance between themselves, as if nothing had happened. When Sasuke arrived, Izumi even stepped further back, deliberately making herself less noticeable.
"Sasuke, is school over already?" Itachi asked.
"Yeah! Big brother, teach me shuriken control today! I want to learn how to throw five or more at once!"
Sasuke shouted excitedly.
Itachi crouched down, placed a hand on Sasuke's head, and gave his hair a gentle rub before saying, "Not today. I'll teach you another time."
"Nooo! We have a test in a few days—"
"Today really isn't possible," Itachi said gently. "And as long as you take things step by step, the test won't be a problem at all. With your ability, you'll be fine. You are my little brother, after all."
Itachi smiled.
Sasuke puffed out his cheeks, displeasure written all over his face. His gaze slid past Itachi and landed on Uchiha Izumi behind him—filled with unmistakable hostility, to the point where it looked like he might rush forward and start a fight.
Izumi returned him a gentle, beautiful smile.
Unfortunately, a brat Sasuke's age had no appreciation for that kind of charm. In his eyes, that smile was nothing but a declaration of victory.
Damn it!
Sasuke fumed inwardly.
"Then teach me the Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Forgive me, Sasuke."
As he spoke, Itachi flicked Sasuke lightly on the forehead. He straightened up, preparing to leave with Izumi—but as he turned, he suddenly paused.
Come to think of it…
That line felt way too familiar.
A strong sense of déjà vu washed over him.
After a few seconds, he realized why.
Shisui had used the exact same excuse on him before.
…Well, whatever. Not important.
Coming back to himself, Itachi was just about to head elsewhere with Izumi when she suddenly crouched down in front of Sasuke and softly comforted him.
"Sasuke, I can use the Great Fireball Jutsu and control kunai too. How about I teach you?"
"No!"
Sasuke shouted angrily, then turned and ran off.
From the side, Shisui nearly burst out laughing.
Sasuke was really something…
A textbook brat—terrible at hiding his emotions, and so dependent on Itachi it was almost absurd. This wasn't about learning ninjutsu at all; he just didn't want to see Itachi with anyone else.
Shisui shook his head with a wry smile and turned down another path.
For the moment, he didn't want too much contact with Itachi.
However—
Itachi and Izumi had already sensed him.
After walking a short distance, Shisui tilted his head slightly, glancing back with the corner of his eye.
These two kids…
After a brief moment of thought, he headed toward the Forest of Death.
Itachi and Izumi followed all the way.
Once inside the forest, Shisui finally stopped and said helplessly, "I say, how long are you two planning to tail me? It's getting late—shouldn't you be heading home?"
"Shisui-sama."
"Shisui-niisan."
Izumi and Itachi stepped out from the shadows.
Itachi didn't seem embarrassed at all. He knew perfectly well how powerful Shisui—only a few years older than him—was. His own stealth was nowhere near enough to fool him.
Coming here had clearly been intentional.
After greeting him, Itachi bowed deeply.
"Shisui-niisan, Izumi and I want to join your police force unit."
"Itachi," Shisui sighed, "don't you understand why I've been keeping my distance from you?"
This kid really was stubborn beyond belief.
"I understand," Itachi replied.
After a few seconds of silence, he continued, "But I am me, and Father is Father. I have my own choices. I… I agree more with your interpretation of the Will of Fire."
Shisui felt both helpless and proud.
Teacher and student, comrades and friends—many of Itachi's beliefs had been shaped by Shisui's words and the books he'd shared with him in childhood. His explanation of the Will of Fire was one of them.
A single tree cannot hold up the forest. Only when thousands of trees stand together can the forest endure.
The outer trees shelter the inner ones and all life within. Individual trees may fall, but even in the face of disaster, the forest survives and grows.
That was the unity and protection embodied by the Will of Fire.
Shisui had only mentioned it once or twice when Itachi was young. He hadn't expected him to remember it so clearly.
More importantly, Shisui understood how painful it was for Itachi to stand on his side—
On one side was his family.
On the other, his companions.
There was no need for that burden.
Thinking this, Shisui said, "Itachi, you don't need to get involved. This is a confrontation—and a farewell—between the new generation and the old. The new will eventually overcome the outdated. When we win, you can join us openly. No one will oppose you then."
Shisui understood Uchiha Fugaku well.
Fugaku wasn't foolish—on the contrary, he was exceptionally intelligent. In terms of talent and insight, Shisui believed Fugaku ranked among the very best Uchiha since Madara and Izuna.
His only flaw was that he was too easily swept along by others, too prone to following the current.
Because of that, Shisui knew Fugaku didn't necessarily agree with the elders' ideology—he simply lacked the resolve to sever ties completely.
Izumi nodded softly at the side. She clearly agreed with Shisui as well.
But after a moment of hesitation, Itachi stubbornly said, "That's different."
Shisui looked at him deeply, then turned to Izumi.
"Izumi, I'd like to speak with Itachi alone for a moment."
"Yes."
Izumi vanished in a flash.
Itachi lowered his head, awaiting judgment—yet there was no fear in his expression.
"Itachi," Shisui said seriously, "do you really want to get involved?"
"Yes."
"If you join us, that's not necessarily a bad thing. At the very least, once the head of the clan is defeated, there will be something left to anchor you—you won't go to extremes. But you will bear tremendous pain. You understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
Shisui spoke earnestly.
Itachi was different from him and Inabi. Some things Shisui and Inabi could do, but Itachi couldn't—not as Fugaku's son, raised with trust and affection.
In many people's eyes, his actions would be nothing short of betrayal.
"Being friendly with Konoha is the best outcome for our clan and for the village," Itachi said firmly. "I respect Father, but I don't agree with his ideals. So… I won't regret this."
His resolve was absolute.
Shisui was silent for a few seconds, then sighed.
"Then you and Izumi can report to the police force tomorrow. The system is complete now—even a captain can't add members at will. Whether you can get in depends entirely on your own ability."
"Yes!"
For once, a hint of joy surfaced on Itachi's usually calm face.
Shisui patted his shoulder.
"Joining the police force is one thing. But the final step—think it through carefully yourself. I won't interfere."
With that, Shisui vanished.
Itachi clenched his fist in excitement, took a deep breath, and walked out of the Forest of Death.
"How did it go?" Izumi asked.
"We can apply to the police force together tomorrow. There'll be an entrance exam. We'll train together from now on—your kunai control is good, but your ninjutsu and swordsmanship still need work."
"Mm. Okay."
As the sun set, Shisui watched from the treetops as the two walked away side by side.