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When Orochimaru returned to his laboratory, it was already late at night.
Two Root members stood at the entrance, motionless as statues.
Orochimaru paid them no mind.
He walked straight into the laboratory and continued his research.
He was almost at the final step.
Once it was complete, he would leave Konoha, and he would have no attachments.
If he had to name one...
There was only anticipation.
Anticipation for the Living Corpse Reincarnation, for the pursuit of the truth of life.
Anticipation for that girl...
"In Laboratory 3, there is a child named Tenzō."
"Take him to Danzō... when he sees him, your mission will be over."
Ridiculous.
Sending two pawns like this to stand behind me...
With such a narrow vision and capacity, he still deludes himself into pursuing that hypocritical position.
Is this a sorrow common to the human species?
Orochimaru's eyes were filled with disdain.
Dealing with people like Danzō always reminded him of his disciple.
Her all-seeing vigilance.
And that unparalleled purity...
A pity.
The girl still chose not to leave Konoha with him.
But that was to be expected.
A person with a soul like that was destined not to be easily controlled.
He couldn't do it.
Konoha couldn't either.
Who would be the girl's final answer?
Itachi? The one for whom she awakened her eyes?
Perhaps...
But before that, the girl's body would undoubtedly be his.
Undoubtedly!
Fanaticism once again filled his eyes.
Orochimaru continued his work, pursuing his unorthodox ninja way.
And behind him.
The two Root members exchanged a look, then silently departed.
The dim underground passage was once again filled with screams...
.....
In the Uchiha Clan District.
The small forest where the two of them used to train now held only a single figure.
Itachi was still tirelessly practicing his shurikenjutsu.
But...
Even after obtaining the Sharingan, gaining unparalleled dynamic vision, Itachi's aim had not improved in the slightest.
"If there's something you want to do, you should just do it. It's best not to keep it bottled up."
Finally, with a sigh, Shisui jumped down from a tree, speaking helplessly.
"Shisui-san?" Startled as if from a dream, Itachi stopped his training. "You're here."
"Who else would it be, Haruko?"
Seeing the fleeting disappointment in Itachi's eyes, Shisui put a hand to his forehead, even more exasperated.
"She took such a great risk to find you. Although the Hokage didn't hold her responsible for leaving the village without permission, don't forget..."
"Haruko's teacher is the renowned Lord Orochimaru."
"While there might not be any severe punishment, going out for a while is probably impossible... right?"
As he spoke, he noticed Itachi's face growing more and more downcast, and Shisui trailed off.
The failure of that mission was too great a blow for Itachi...
Although he only had a written description, Shisui could feel how much of a shadow that battle had cast on the boy.
If Haruko hadn't arrived in time...
But the crucial problem seemed to lie right there.
Being protected by the person he was supposed to protect.
That feeling... was ten thousand times worse than losing.
Shisui could roughly understand that feeling.
"It's all my fault."
Itachi lowered his eyes, his voice even more somber than his expression.
"That person... seemed to be after me."
"It's because of me that the target died, and I even nearly got Haruko killed..."
"Shisui-san, can you tell me why it's like this?"
As he spoke, Itachi raised his head, his calm eyes looking at Shisui.
It seemed he wasn't that desperate for an answer.
He had originally wanted to seek answers from his father. But what he got was his father's ecstasy over him awakening his Sharingan.
What his father cared about... had never changed.
Even if he occasionally compromised, it was only because his training yielded results.
He could probably understand how Haruko felt when she awakened her eyes now...
So, it felt this painful.
No wonder Haruko trained so hard...
But... every time he thought of those people who should have reached the Land of Rice Fields safely.
Every time he thought of... the person who died because of him.
His feelings about training were always shrouded in a shadow.
He didn't dare to continue...
Maybe.
Being weak isn't so bad?
Even if Haruko leaves me further and further behind...
At least, it would keep Haruko a little safer.
It's fine to just watch from behind...
Seeing his usually energetic junior in such a state, Shisui felt a headache coming on.
He wanted to say something.
But it seemed nothing he could say would work now...
Maybe if that little girl Haruko came over, it would help a little.
But Itachi would probably refuse to be disturbed...
So difficult.
Are all geniuses this hard to communicate with?
Shisui thought helplessly, but soon, his eyes lit up as an idea struck him.
"Itachi, your talent is no less than mine. You are a junior I have high hopes for."
"Your future shouldn't be what you're imagining, but right now, if you really can't find a way out of this..."
"Then come with me. There's a place that should be able to help you." Shisui said sincerely.
As if influenced, a glimmer of light finally flashed in Itachi's eyes.
"Where?"
"The Naka Shrine, the most sacred place of the Uchiha Clan."
"There... you might find out why those eyes of yours awakened."
......
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, another half a year had passed.
In the courtyard, basking in the sun, Qingchuan lay on the roof, a rare moment of not training.
Orochimaru hadn't been back for several days...
Qingchuan knew, Konoha was about to change.
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