Konoha Notes

Chapter 381 Itachi Uchiha at Thirteen

June 9th, Konoha Year 59.

Uchiha Itachi filed the last document, and the clock on the wall pointed exactly to two o'clock.

"That's it."

The silver-haired Jonin, unusually, didn't slack off but was working diligently.

"A birthday should be celebrated like a birthday, Itachi."

Yes.

Uchiha Itachi is thirteen years old, starting today.

Kakashi originally wanted to give him a full day off, but Itachi insisted on finishing the work he hadn't completed yet.

The final compromise was half a day – completing a few urgent tasks in the morning and leaving in the afternoon.

Itachi began to tidy up the desk, arranging the pens in the pen holder according to their length, and pushing the chair back to its original position, restoring everything to the way it was when he first arrived.

"Then, I'll take my leave first."

"and many more."

Kakashi took an envelope out of the drawer.

"Although it's nothing valuable, it's a bookstore voucher that my colleagues in the department prepared together. I can occasionally browse something to relax."

Itachi accepted the envelope with both hands: "Thank you very much."

He went to the corridor, where Hongdou was already waiting.

"It's too slow! I've been waiting for ages!"

"Senior Red Bean".

"Here, a birthday present!" Red Bean stuffed the gift box into Itachi's arms. "It's a super sweet version. You're not as picky as Shuji, which is really great."

"I just need to do a little more for myself."

Next came the gifts from each department: coffee beans from the Kirigakure office, candied dates prepared by the Sunagakure, high-end apples from the Iwagakure, and chocolates from the Kumogakure.

Each gift comes with a short greeting card, signed with the official name of the respective department.

Itachi bowed deeply to each of them, carefully placing the gift boxes in his arms. By the time he left the secret service building, the gifts in his arms were piled higher than his eye level, and he had to tilt his head slightly to see the road ahead.

He walked along the main road of the stadium area towards Konoha headquarters. The pile of gifts in his arms was quite high, obstructing part of his view, so Itachi had to slow down.

After walking past two street corners, a figure emerged from a side alley.

Uchiha Shisui stood there, looking at the pile of gift boxes in Itachi's arms.

"Looks like I don't need to prepare a gift."

"Shisui."

"Just kidding." Zhi Shui stepped forward and naturally took half of the gift box.

With his free hand, he took a small wooden box from his ninja tool bag and placed it on top of the pile of gift boxes.

"I have no oil for skincare."

"Thank you."

Shisui and Itachi walked forward side by side.

Is Sasuke still sulking?

“…The training is tough,” Itachi said. “The students who were chosen by their seniors and included in the special training program all have their own talents. He was just under too much pressure.”

“There’s no way to rush things like eye power,” Shisui said. “Everyone has their own troubles.”

"Just like you and me back then, we always thought about relying on ourselves to solve problems."

They parted ways in front of the clan leader's mansion. Shisui handed the gift box back to Itachi and patted him on the shoulder.

Happy birthday, Itachi.
-
When I opened the door, there were already several pairs of shoes in the entryway.

"I am back."

"Welcome back, Itachi."

Mikoto Uchiha peeked out from the kitchen, an indigo apron tied around her waist, her hands still dusted with flour. She saw the pile of gift boxes in Itachi's arms and smiled gently.

"It seems you received a lot of blessings."

Light footsteps echoed from the living room. Uchiha Izumi appeared at the end of the corridor, jogging along. She was wearing light-colored casual clothes today, and her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail.

"Happy birthday, Itachi-kun!" Her eyes curved into crescents, and she clasped her hands together. "Aunt Mikoto and I are preparing dinner. Today we'll have salt-grilled salmon and Chikuzen simmered fish!"

"sorry to bother you."

"No trouble at all, I'm on vacation today anyway." Quan waved his hand, turned around and went back into the kitchen.

Itachi took off his shoes and put on indoor slippers, intending to take the gift back. As he walked down the corridor, he caught a glimpse of his father, Uchiha Fugaku, sitting in the Japanese-style room with several documents spread out in front of him, but his gaze was not on the papers.

"Father."

How's work?

"Everything went smoothly. Kakashi-senpai granted me a half-day off."

"Hmm." Fugaku's gaze swept over the gift in Itachi's hand and the markings on it. "It seems that your position in the secret service has been recognized by all parties."

He put the gift back in the room, and when he came out again, Quan was carrying a plate of freshly made rice balls out of the kitchen.

"Itachi-kun, you've come at the perfect time! Help me taste it—ah, Aunt Mikoto said there might be too much salt..."

Itachi took the rice ball. The glutinous rice was still warm, and a few black sesame seeds were sprinkled on top. He took a bite; the saltiness was indeed a little stronger than usual, but still within an acceptable range.

"delicious."

"Really? That's great!" Izumi breathed a sigh of relief, her smile growing even brighter. "Then I'll go back to helping out; dinner will be ready soon!"

She trotted back to the kitchen. Itachi sat down at the low table, listening to the unusual sounds coming from the mansion.

A long-lost emotion quietly washed over my heart.

As evening fell, a sound came from the entrance hall again. When Sasuke returned, he was covered in dust, and his bangs were soaked with sweat and clung to his skin.

"I am back."

His voice was a little muffled, and after speaking, he went straight back to change his clothes.

Fugaku's gaze followed his second son's retreating figure, and he shook his head.

After dinner was prepared, Sasuke finished washing up and changed into clean clothes. He sat down opposite Itachi, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.

"Happy birthday, brother."

"Thank you."

The atmosphere at dinner was fairly harmonious. Mikoto would occasionally serve food to Itachi and Sasuke, while Izumi talked about the recent events that had happened to the police department.

Fugaku occasionally chimed in with a word or two, and it wasn't until halfway through the meal that he casually mentioned, "The village is currently preparing for a plan to cultivate immortal arts."

Itachi put down his chopsticks: "Yes."

"Sage Technique?" The word caught Sasuke's attention. He looked up. "What's that?"

Fugaku glanced at his second son.

That gaze was calm, yet it made Sasuke unconsciously purse his lips.

"It seems you haven't been chosen yet." The clan chief's voice was devoid of emotion.

Sasuke's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the chopsticks.

"Sage Techniques are advanced techniques that combine natural energy to enhance oneself," Fugaku explained briefly.

Natural energy...?
Sasuke didn't know exactly what it was. But looking at his father and brother talking, they both clearly had a considerable understanding of the term.

—Mr. Shuji visited the training ground a few days ago.

—Yesterday, Hyuga Neji was kept behind for a private talk by Guy-sensei.

Fragmented pieces pieced together in his mind. Sasuke suddenly understood something; a belated realization crept up his spine.

It turns out that above the special training class, there was another threshold that he had never noticed and had never been invited to cross.

He lowered his eyes, staring at the half-eaten rice in the bowl, and said nothing more.

Dinner continued in a somewhat somber atmosphere. Fugaku did not bring up the topic of Sage Mode again, but instead inquired about the details of Itachi's work in the secret service—the recent movements of the representatives from various ninja villages, the progress of preparations for the joint meeting, and the revisions and discussions regarding border crossing permissions.

Itachi answered each question.

Sasuke ate his meal in silence, occasionally glancing at his brother before quickly looking away.

"I'm stuffed."

When dinner ended, Sasuke was the first to put down his chopsticks. He rose to leave, but Itachi gently called to him:
"Sasuke."

The boy stopped what he was doing, but did not turn around.

“Sage Mode training is extremely difficult.” Itachi’s voice was gentler than usual. “Once you graduate from the Ninja Academy and your physical foundation is more stable, you’ll be more suited to…”

Sasuke didn't hear the rest of what was said. He strode away from the restaurant, his footsteps quickly fading into the distance and finally disappearing with the soft click of the door closing.

Mikoto gazed in the direction her second son had left, a clear look of worry on her face. Izumi's smile faded, and he looked helplessly at Itachi, then at Mikoto.

Only Fugaku calmly picked up his teacup and drank the last sip of the now slightly cool tea.

"Let's continue. Regarding the objections from FogHidden regarding the spore detection process..."

"Yes."
-
By the time I took Quan home, night had completely fallen.

The streetlights on both sides of the street lit up one after another, casting a warm yellow glow on the stone pavement.

“Sasuke-kun…he’s been having a tough time lately,” Izumi said softly.

"Ah."

“However, if it’s Itachi’s younger brother, there’s definitely no problem.” She turned to Itachi and gave him an encouraging smile. “After all, he’s worked so hard.”

Itachi did not answer, but simply nodded slightly.

After saying goodbye in front of Izumi's house, Itachi returned alone. When he reached a corner a few dozen meters from his own residence, he saw that familiar figure leaning against the wall.

Shuji seemed to wait a while, holding a long, narrow object carefully wrapped in dark blue cotton cloth.

"It's not too late to offer my congratulations now, is it?"

"senior."

“I specifically timed it.” Xiu Si walked over, his footsteps very light. “I didn’t want to disturb your precious family time.”

He handed the cloth bundle to Itachi.

Itachi took it with both hands. It was somewhat heavy, and its shape was hard and slender. He untied the ropes binding it and unfolded the cotton cloth.

Wind Demon Shuriken.

"The gift I promised you before should be more appropriate to use now," Shuuji said. "However, there probably won't be many occasions to use it in the future."

He looked at Itachi: "When I went to Aoki's place to buy something, I realized how much time had passed."

Shuji stretched out his hand, palm down, and gestured at chest height.

"When we first met, you were already here, weren't you?"

Then he raised his hand and gently placed it on Itachi's head. It wasn't a pat, just a very light touch, the warmth of his palm passing through the hair.

“Although I thought you seemed to have grown up…” Shuuji withdrew his hand, “but thinking about it, it doesn’t really count.”

"You've worked hard these past few years, Itachi."

Uchiha Itachi lowered his head.

He gripped the Wind Demon Shuriken tightly. Something felt stuck in his throat, but in the end, he simply lowered his head further, letting the strands of hair on his forehead obscure his eyes, which might betray his emotions at that moment.

"--Won't."

"You're the senior, thank you for your hard work."

(End of this chapter)