Night fell.
A satisfied Kakashi lay comfortably in the wooden hut, picking his teeth with a toothpick, looking entirely content.
"You've really let yourself go—getting food stuck in your teeth from eating fish..."
Watching Kakashi recline like a couch potato, Itachi shook his head and spoke.
Their relationship was somewhat peculiar.
"I haven't let myself go! It's just that if I don't use a toothpick after eating, it feels like the meal wasn't complete," Kakashi retorted, feeling a bit offended by Itachi's tone and expression.
He quickly explained himself.
They were going to spend a lot of time together in the future, and he didn't want to keep seeing Itachi's disapproving glances.
"That's something people do at restaurants. After they finish eating, they use a toothpick to show off—they're trying to act cool. Where did you even pick up this nonsense?"
After hearing Kakashi's reasoning, Itachi looked exasperated.
"Uh, well..."
Kakashi was at a loss for words.
---
"Hand over Naruto's blood," Itachi said flatly as he lay on the wooden bed on the other side, trying to break the awkward silence created by Kakashi, who pretended to sleep with his eyes closed.
"Sure, I'll get it now. But what do you need Naruto's blood for?"
Kakashi retrieved a small storage scroll from his ninja pouch. After unsealing it, a syringe appeared in his hand.
Itachi didn't respond. He opened his palm and made a slight gesture.
With a faint glow of chakra, the syringe was enveloped and floated into Itachi's hand.
Don't ask why Itachi used such an elaborate method—it wasn't just for show.
He had eaten a bit too much, felt bloated, and didn't feel like moving much.
---
Kakashi stared at Itachi, wide-eyed, wondering whether Itachi was planning to inject Naruto's blood into himself.
His mind raced nervously.
But before he could say anything, a soft sound interrupted his thoughts.
Under Kakashi's watchful gaze, Itachi's chakra pulsed faintly, and then he effortlessly completed a series of hand seals.
Itachi completely ignored Kakashi's curious expression.
A small green snake with a rounded head slithered onto Itachi's hand. He gently stroked its tiny head, and the snake hissed softly, looking thoroughly content.
It was strange. In his previous life, Itachi had been deathly afraid of snakes. Who would have thought that in this life, he'd have such a close bond with them?
Itachi inserted the syringe into the snake's mouth.
"Tell Orochimaru to try merging this blood with Hashirama's cells," he instructed the snake, not bothering to hide his words from Kakashi.
---
"What are you doing?"
Only after the snake disappeared did Kakashi finally speak.
"It's better not to ask about things you shouldn't know. Knowing too much isn't good for you. Once Orochimaru has time, I'll have him prepare something good for you," Itachi said, shutting down Kakashi's curiosity with a firm change of subject.
"Something good? What is it?"
Itachi had successfully diverted Kakashi's attention, and the latter asked reflexively.
---
"If it's for you, then it's a gift. When the time comes, you'll find out," Itachi said with an air of mystery, deliberately teasing Kakashi and refusing to elaborate.
"Get some sleep. Good night."
Just as Kakashi was about to press for more details, Itachi ended the conversation like a devil closing the curtain on his curiosity.
Itachi closed his eyes, ready to sleep, leaving Kakashi feeling helpless.
Why did he have to end up with someone like this?
It was truly exasperating.
Kakashi had a naturally curious personality, but soon enough, fatigue overcame him, and he fell into a deep sleep.
The two of them didn't bother setting up any traps or defenses. They simply went to sleep openly in the wooden hut.
Of course, Itachi was only lightly dozing. Any subtle movement around them would wake him instantly.
---
"Naruto, there's a practical combat test today. Be careful—you don't want to lose too badly."
---
While the unreliable Itachi and Kakashi were still fast asleep, the young students were already brimming with energy and attending class.
"Don't worry, I'll knock them all down."
Naruto replied nonchalantly to Sasuke's question, his voice brimming with confidence.
"You... You seem like a completely different person today," Sasuke said, looking at Naruto in surprise.
Although Naruto had been distracted yesterday, seemingly studying something intently, he still sounded like his usual self when he spoke. But today, Naruto was like a fierce little tiger, exuding an intimidating aura.
"Is that so? Maybe it's because of love," Naruto responded, gazing out the window with a wistful look, as if burdened by the solitude of being a master.
...
In truth, the Naruto currently in class was just a Shadow Clone.
Just last night, Naruto had finally mastered the basics of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Naturally, the next day, he sent a Shadow Clone to school.
But compared to the Shadow Clones in the original story, which would argue with Naruto over trivial matters, this clone seemed much wiser and more confident—almost like it wasn't a mere jutsu.
"Damn it, this jutsu is truly worthy of being an A-rank technique. It's so difficult..."
Naruto sat on the floor of his room, surrounded by small water balloons. These were ordinary balloons filled with water.
He had already begun experimenting with the first stage of mastering the Rasengan.
...
"Naruto, you're still young. You should think less about love and focus on your hand signs. It'll slow you down," Sasuke said, struggling to respond to Naruto's out-of-the-ordinary comment. He could only echo what the Third Hokage often said.
"Sasuke..."
Hearing Sasuke's words, the Shadow Clone called his name but found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
"Naruto, if you can't focus on the lesson, then go stand outside and listen from there," Iruka said coldly, not even turning his head as he continued writing notes on the blackboard.
He could tolerate other students chatting during class, pretending not to notice.
But the moment he heard Naruto's voice, an inexplicable irritation filled his heart.
On top of that, memories of his late parents would surface, intensifying his discomfort.
...
In the past, Iruka had also sought attention by acting like Naruto, making a spectacle of himself.
This only made him despise Naruto's behavior even more.
He blamed Naruto for his parents' deaths.
Naruto's attention-seeking antics reminded him of his own embarrassing past, filling him with shame and anger.
Many people struggle to confront their foolish younger selves, and Iruka was no exception.
...
"Naruto..."
Sasuke called his name softly, noticing that Naruto seemed lost in thought. He wanted to snap him out of it.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke and blinked, signaling that he understood.
Meanwhile, Hinata, sitting not far from Naruto, also looked concerned.
She remembered that snowy day when Naruto saved her and took a beating in her place, forever winning her heart. Truly, destiny had brought them together.
"Naruto, stand up and leave the classroom!"
Iruka, noticing that Naruto was ignoring him, slowly turned around and placed the chalk down. His tone was cold and condescending as he looked at Naruto as though he were nothing more than a weed.
This dismissive gaze deeply angered the Shadow Clone, who carried all of Naruto's memories and a slightly altered personality.
That look... It was more unbearable than anger or ridicule.
It wasn't even an acknowledgment of his existence.
Even hatred or fury from Iruka would have been more tolerable than this indifference.
Iruka's attitude perfectly demonstrated what it meant to truly disregard someone.
...
Naruto remained silent, gazing out the window without uttering a word.
Since Iruka couldn't see him, why should he bother acknowledging Iruka?
That air of superiority and disdain…
Naruto's silence was his ultimate expression of contempt.
As the saying goes, silence is the highest form of disdain.
The classroom grew quiet. The standoff between the two created an intense atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.
---