Chapter 14: Sasuke Comprehends the Mystery of Acting Cool
A campfire blazed by the riverbank.
Hyuga Kiyonari finished processing the remaining three rabbits, skewering them on sharpened sticks and slowly roasting them over the flames.
Sizzle... sizzle...
Fat seeped from the rabbit meat, dripping onto the burning wood with enticing sounds and a charred fragrance.
Kiyonari handed one golden, oil-dripping roasted rabbit to Uchiha Itachi and another to Uchiha Sasuke. "Though it can't compare to the Akimichi clan's skill, I think it passes muster."
Uchiha Sasuke had actually been hungry for a while, but had been holding back for the sake of appearances.
They'd been tracking this wild boar for nearly a full day. Of course, the main reason it took so long was to let him show off his tracking skills in front of his brother. For this, he'd dragged Itachi out of bed early in the morning with only a few rice balls before heading out.
With food as a medium, the atmosphere gradually warmed.
After finishing a rabbit leg, Sasuke's tongue loosened. "Between your Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist and our Uchiha fire release, which is stronger?"
Facing the challenge, Kiyonari only smiled. "I couldn't say, since I haven't undergone Gentle Fist training yet. As for the Uchiha's renowned fire release, I've only heard of it, never seen it myself."
Though he didn't get an answer, Sasuke didn't feel disappointed. Instead, Kiyonari's response sparked a desire to show off.
"But I've already mastered the Fireball Jutsu."
"Really? Sasuke, that's amazing! At the same age as me and already able to master that level of ninjutsu—truly worthy of being called an Uchiha genius!"
This unstinting praise brought a proud flush to Sasuke's cheeks, a sense of satisfaction welling up from deep within. Somewhat embarrassed, he buried his head and took a large bite of his rabbit as camouflage.
As fellow dojutsu clans, the Uchiha and Hyuga had always been somewhat at odds.
In Sasuke's view, receiving praise from a Hyuga—especially in front of his brother—meant this Hyuga guy was personally admitting inferiority.
That's right. Whether dojutsu or ninjutsu, the Uchiha are the strongest!
Hyuga Kiyonari observed all of Sasuke's expressions and movements, laughing inwardly. Child psychology really works wonders.
Across from them, watching his brother try so hard to act mature while unable to hide his smugness, the previously silent Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but curve his lips in a smile.
Lost in the moment, the observer sees clearly. He could naturally tell Kiyonari's verbal techniques.
However... though just pleasantries, considering both their identities, being able to set aside clan concerns and speak such courtesies wasn't easy.
No wonder the Hokage is paying attention to this child.
After a simple barbecue meal, much of the initial awkwardness between the three had dissipated.
Uchiha Itachi drew the shinobi blade from his back, his crimson Sharingan manifesting. He thrust the blade into the boar's corpse, gliding precisely along the muscle grain and bone joints. Thick hide, tough tendons, and large chunks of muscle separated cleanly and efficiently.
The entire process flowed like water, not a single wasted movement or excessive effort.
Next, Itachi cut off an entire hind leg and set it aside, then pulled a blank scroll from his tool pouch and spread it on the ground.
His hands rapidly formed several seals before slapping the scroll.
POOF!
A cloud of white smoke rose. When it dispersed, the small mountain of pork meat had vanished from the ground, while Itachi's scroll now displayed the character for "meat."
This was a storage scroll made using sealing techniques, typically used by shinobi to store ninja tools. But if you had money, you could store whatever you wanted.
Uchiha Itachi tied up the remaining hind leg with rope, then handed the scroll to Kiyonari. "Take it."
Hyuga Kiyonari didn't stand on ceremony, reaching out to accept. "Will just one leg be enough for you two to eat?"
Sasuke stood to the side, hands in his pockets. "Our family doesn't lack food."
"Must be nice being wealthy."
After extinguishing the campfire, the three returned to Konoha Village together. Sasuke remained floating in the pleasant afterglow of Kiyonari's earlier praise, his steps lighter by several degrees.
Just as they passed through the village gates, two unexpected people appeared there. Surrounding passersby instinctively gave them a wide berth, as if proclaiming their extraordinary status.
One was a tall, blonde woman with an impressively generous figure. Behind her followed a dark-haired girl holding a small pig. Her eyes always carried a trace of weariness—until she spotted the approaching trio, when her brow arched slightly with newfound attention.
Two Uchiha brats and a Hyuga... children from these two clans actually hanging out together.
Because of the drift bottle, Tsunade subconsciously paid extra attention to these three before brushing past them without stopping.
After walking a bit further, the three parted ways.
Watching Hyuga Kiyonari's disappearing back, Uchiha Sasuke finally couldn't resist asking, "Brother, you seemed to show him too much consideration. Why?"
Uchiha Itachi led Sasuke toward home. "I observed his quiver and equipment—all quite worn. Plus he came to the Forest of Death alone, which indicates this child lives rather frugally, forcing him to risk entering the Forest of Death to hunt."
"Sasuke, you might not have seen it clearly, but my Sharingan doesn't make mistakes. The arrow that pierced the wild boar's left eye and exposed its opening—that was his."
Sasuke's steps halted abruptly, his entire body freezing. "He... shot that one? How is that possible!"
His cheeks instantly burned hot. Thinking about how he'd been smugly showing off earlier, while the other party had actually accomplished something but hadn't said a word about it—even turned around and praised him instead...
An indescribable sense of shame surged through his heart.
Uchiha Itachi stopped and looked back at his brother, continuing, "He's about your age. You'll probably be classmates at the ninja academy. Sasuke, make lots of friends when you start school."
"Tch."
Uchiha Sasuke forced composure, quickening his pace to catch up with his brother. "I won't befriend those mediocre people. At least... at least it has to be someone like Kiyonari who surpasses me in something."
Besides... this feeling of getting smug in front of someone, only to discover their excellence later through his brother's prompting after parting—it was terrible.
In the future—in the future, I absolutely won't get complacent over small things. At the very least, I need to be like him!
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