Naruto: The Shadow Lord of the Nara Clan

Before leaving the ninja academy, Shikakage gave Naruto a copy of his ninjutsu training notes.

It records the system's methods for chakra control and synthesis, as well as some simple ninjutsu techniques.

After all, he has Naruto's shadow template. The faster Naruto improves, the more his shadow soldiers will benefit.

After saying goodbye to the group of children, and with the longing gazes of a group of little girls, Shikakage headed towards the Uchiha clan's territory.

The Uchiha clan is located on the edge of Konoha Village.

Due to its geographical location and the personality traits of the Uchiha clan members, few outsiders come here.

Therefore, when Lu Ying arrived at the entrance to the clan's territory, hostile gazes gathered from all directions.

This feeling made Lu Ying uncomfortable.

But he still stepped through the entrance gate without any hesitation.

As they ventured deeper into the Uchiha clan's territory, the oppressive atmosphere around them became increasingly pronounced.

Everyone remained silent, their expressions serious.

It seems like everyone here has endless things to do and a lot of work to do.

Only a few Uchiha civilians who were doing business gave people a normal feeling.

For example, the Uchiha couple, Jō and Tsubaki, who are selling pancakes not far away.

Shikagami sized up the elderly couple, or rather, he looked at Sasuke, who was buying pancakes and was taking out his money, unaware of his arrival.

"Sasuke."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Sasuke's eyebrows twitched, and he turned around, blinking.

"Brother Lu Ying?"

"Why are you here?"

Lu Ying flicked a coin and said with a smile:

"After all, you paid me, so I have to do my job as a tutor well, right?"

"Having gone so many days without training, has your ninja skill level declined?"

Seeing Shikakage question him, Sasuke pursed his lips and lowered his head in shame.

"Feel sorry."

"It's okay, it's not your fault." Lu Ying walked over and put her arm around his shoulder, comforting him.

"Come on, take me to your house."

"this……"

Sasuke hesitated.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to report to your parents."

"I know your family situation, so I've already informed your parents beforehand that I'll be coming to your house to teach you from now on."

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise:

"Really?"

"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"

Although there was no system notification, seeing Sasuke's smile, Lu Ying felt that his favorability rating had increased by at least one point.

He doesn't care whether he can get the other people's [Shadow Kin], but he must get his hands on Sasuke's template.

Of course, he wouldn't go to such lengths to make a special trip to the Uchiha clan's territory just to gain favor.

He had a more important purpose for this trip.

……

They arrived at the Uchiha clan head's house.

Looking at the courtyard before her, which was even more luxurious and elegant than her own home, Lu Ying couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

—As expected of the Uchiha clan, they remain so extravagant even when ostracized.

With Sasuke's help, Shikakage was able to speak privately with the Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku Uchiha.

Just as Shikakage was about to speak, sitting cross-legged on the dais, he was interrupted by Fugaku Uchiha.

"I'm sorry, I cannot grant your request."

His words were filled with indifference.

Their rejection was blatantly obvious.

Lu Ying was not surprised by this at all.

After all, he knew very well what Shisui's death meant to the Uchiha clan.

This means their situation in the village has become even more precarious.

The clan's power is shrinking, and the village's leadership is putting pressure on them.

In this situation, it was already a very rational thing for Fugaku to remain calm and receive this member of the Hokage's trusted family.

He shrugged and said casually:

"All right."

Upon hearing this, Fugaku was actually somewhat disappointed.

He had thought that Shikakage would value Sasuke more, and if that were the case, Shikakage might be a fallback option for Sasuke in the future.

Just as he was about to see the guest off, Lu Ying spoke up.

"Actually, there's another reason I came here."

"Excuse me, where is Itachi Uchiha?"

Fugaku narrowed his eyes, unsure of Shikakage's thoughts.

—Is he looking for Itachi?

—Is this something to do with the Anbu?

After hesitating for a moment, Fugaku shook his head:

"I don't know where he is."

"But if you need anything, I can pass on the message to him for you."

Deer Shadow Smiles:

"Sorry, this is classified information from the Dark Guard."

--really……

Fugaku frowned, pondering what the Anbu were up to and what the Hokage was planning to do to the Uchiha.

After Shikakage left, Fugaku got up and walked towards the study.

He needs to organize his thoughts.

Then they saw Sasuke sitting in the corridor, staring blankly at the lake.

Hearing footsteps, Sasuke snapped out of his reverie and looked at Fugaku expectantly.

However, his father's answer left him extremely frustrated.

"no."

"...Alright." Sasuke nodded dejectedly.

Fugaku walked past him with no choice.

How could he not want that too?

But Lu Ying's intentions made him very hesitant.

Especially now, when the Uchiha clan is becoming increasingly repressed.

"My brother definitely didn't kill Shisui-ge!"

Fugaku paused, lowered his eyelids, and walked forward without looking back.

How could he not know this?

No one knew better than him how close Itachi and Shisui were.

But the clan members all believe that Itachi killed Shisui.

Even if Itachi didn't kill him, he at least betrayed him...

Thinking about what Itachi had hidden from him before, Fugaku's face was clouded with gloom.

……

Minamigagawa Shrine.

Itachi, upon returning from his mission, did not go home immediately.

Since Shisui's death, that place has no longer been home to him.

He's had enough of facing the accusations of those shallow people every single day.

Thinking of the mysterious man's words, Itachi lowered his eyes and stepped into the shrine's underground area.

Arriving before the ancestral stone tablet, Itachi's eyes were filled with complex emotions. After pondering for a long time, he closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, a scarlet pattern was etched on his pupils, sending chills down one's spine.

Under the power of the kaleidoscope, the writing on the stone tablet underwent unknown changes.

Itachi stared intently, his brows furrowing slightly:

"...Two forces repel each other, yet combine to form one, thus creating the myriad phenomena of the universe."

"See? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

A detached voice sounded beside Itachi.

But Itachi was not alarmed; instead, he nodded as if he had expected it.

"Only by gathering the power of the Uchiha and Senju clans can we save this world."

"So, Itachi, come with me."

"Staying here is meaningless for you, for me, and for everyone."

Itachi lowered his eyes, closed his Sharingan, and said softly:

"I'll think about it some more."

The masked man was not surprised. He gave Itachi a meaningful look, then turned and stepped into the distorted vortex space.

"You can come to me if you need anything."

The sound echoed in the empty shrine. Itachi stared intently at the stone tablet, his shadow flickering in the candlelight.

After a long while, he stood up and went outside the shrine.

Under the trees in the forest outside the shrine, a figure was already waiting.

"Itachi, what is my ANBU assessment mission?"