Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 351 Itachi, Be My Son

in the room.

"Brother, it's been so long since I've slept with you like this."

Sasuke lay on the bedding, rolling around.

Itachi was thinking about what Aokiji and their father were talking about in the room, so he didn't respond immediately, neglecting his younger brother.

Sasuke puffed out his cheeks, looking unhappy: "Brother..."

Itachi snapped out of his daze: "What's wrong?"

"I said it's been a long time since I slept with my brother," Sasuke said, repeating what he had just said, his voice filled with dissatisfaction.

"yes."

The weasel lowered its head and looked away, letting out a sigh.

When he first went there, he often slept with his younger brother, but everything changed as he officially became a ninja.

"Brother, you were thinking about Uncle Aokiji just now, weren't you...?"

Sasuke looked at Itachi's profile and whispered.

Itachi's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

Having guessed correctly, Sasuke smiled smugly: "I knew it."

Itachi followed his younger brother's lead: "I've heard that Uncle Aokiji is a very powerful ninja. I think if he comes back now, Father will be able to relax a lot."

Sasuke exclaimed excitedly, "Hey, brother, what kind of ninjutsu do you think Uncle Aokiji will teach me?"

Itachi seemed quite interested in how Aokiji would teach his younger brother: "I don't know, you'll probably have to find out for yourself later."

"I'm really looking forward to the day I can train." Sasuke hugged his pillow, his face full of anticipation.

"yes……"

Itachi felt like he was dreaming that he could still be with his younger brother like they used to be.

"Knock knock..."

A low knock came from outside the room, interrupting the brothers' conversation.

"Who is it?" Sasuke asked.

"It's me..."

A deep voice came from outside the door.

Itachi was startled; it was his father's voice.

Sasuke hurriedly ran to open the door, and soon a middle-aged man with a stern face stood outside the door, his gaze fixed on Itachi inside the room.

Itachi noticed the gaze directed at him and paused slightly. "Father, is there something you need?"

Fugaku nodded and got straight to the point: "Tomorrow you'll accompany your Uncle Aokiji to learn about the village. He just got back and isn't very familiar with some things yet."

A hint of surprise flashed in Itachi's eyes, and he politely declined, "Father, I have a mission tomorrow."

"You can do that kind of task anytime."

"But……"

"I will explain this to the Hokage."

Regardless of his son's attitude, Fugaku set the tone for the matter directly.

He's starting to have some doubts about whether his son is born with a straight backside.

We can't let him stay with the Konoha higher-ups any longer, lest he be turned against us and cause trouble.

"Understood……"

While outwardly yielding to his father's tough stance, Itachi was actually just taking this opportunity to observe his father more closely.

With Aokiji's sudden return, the village's higher-ups will inevitably ask about him, and they may need to get information about him through his testimony.

……

……

The next day.

Aokiji had breakfast with the family of four, and then went out accompanied by Itachi.

"Goodbye, brother, Uncle Aokiji..."

After waving goodbye to Sasuke as he went to school alone, Aokiji turned to Itachi beside him and said casually, "Sorry, haha~~ I told Fugaku not to go to all this trouble to come with me to wander around the village."

"Don't mind... I also want to take this opportunity to learn more about what kind of person Uncle Aokiji is."

Itachi spoke calmly as he sized up Aokiji.

If he hadn't witnessed the aura that Aokiji exuded when he was serious, he would have found it hard to connect the seemingly cheerful white-haired boy in front of him with the person who radiated an aura of dominance over everything.

You'll gradually understand.

Aokiji's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Uncle Aokiji, is there anywhere you'd like to go next?"

"Come with me for a walk around the tribe first."

After that, Itachi accompanied Aokiji as they strolled around the clan compound.

Because of what happened last night, Aokiji's reputation has spread far and wide.

In just one night, everyone knew that the man who only existed in legends had returned. Unless they had urgent business to attend to, they all came to visit Aokiji, casting curious glances at him.

Aokiji's white hair made him stand out among the black-haired Uchiha clan, so finding him wasn't difficult.

"Aokiji-senpai..."

The Uchiha members greeted Aokiji one after another.

After waving goodbye to a member of his clan, Aokiji said in a relaxed tone, "I didn't expect that after all these years, I'd still be quite popular within the clan."

Having explored the village enough, Itachi continued, "Shall we head to the center of the village next?"

Aokiji thought the suggestion was good: "Sure, let's go."

Just as they were about to set off, a girl's voice came from behind them, filled with joy. However, it wasn't someone looking for Aokiji; it was someone else.

"Itachi..."

"Izumi..." Itachi's gaze fell on the pretty girl with a beauty mark at the corner of her eye who called his name.

"Your girlfriend?" Aokiji also noticed the girl, raised an eyebrow, and said in a playful tone, "At your age, it's not good to be in a relationship so early, or I'll tell Fugaku."

When someone said these words in front of the person she liked, even though it was mostly teasing, Izumi still felt embarrassed.

Itachi's gaze remained calm: "We're friends..."

Disappointment showed in Izumi's clear eyes.

Aokiji patted Itachi on the shoulder in a friendly manner: "Just kidding, I won't tattle on you to Fugaku. After all, I'm your uncle, and you already have a girlfriend at your age..."

Itachi: ...

Izumi shifted her gaze from the person she admired to the white-haired boy.

Because of what happened last night, Izumi also knew that Aokiji had returned. He asked uncertainly, "Aokiji...senpai?"

Aokiji hummed in agreement, then teased, "Itachi's girlfriend?"

"Um, oh, no."

Izumi blushed slightly.

Aokiji chuckled twice.

Upon meeting the real person and speaking with him, Izumi found this senior to be surprisingly easy to talk to; she had thought he would be the taciturn type like Itachi.

And why does it look so small?

Izumi was filled with doubts about this.

She was a sensible girl, and she didn't ask any further questions about it.

Because she had other things to do, she quickly left after saying hello to Itachi and Aokiji and introducing herself.

Watching Izumi's departing figure, Aokiji seemed lost in thought.

He remembered this girl quite well.

He turned to Itachi and teased, "She's a good girl, don't let her down."

"We're really not in that kind of relationship..."

"So you don't like her?"

"..."

After a brief silence, Itachi was surprised to find himself hesitating.

In the past, he would have given a no-questions-asked reply.

Even though Izumi supported him unconditionally, he saw it all.

Unbeknownst to him, this girl had already left an indelible impression on his heart...

After a long silence, Itachi lowered his eyes and gave his reply: "Right now, I'm not really interested in this kind of thing."

"Lying...you hesitated just now, didn't you?"

"...Uncle Aokiji, why are you so concerned about my personal feelings?"

"Perhaps it's because I've experienced the pain of loss myself, so I hope my descendants can find happiness in this regard."

Aokiji's voice became inexplicably sad.

"..."

"Just like parents always hope their children can make up for their own childhood regrets, right?"

"..."

"That person is gone, and my heart is dead... I guess I'll never be interested in other women again."

It's because of Tsunade...

Itachi saw the sadness in Aokiji's eyes as tears welled up. Unlike his previous feigned kindness, this time it was a genuine expression of emotion: "Uncle Aokiji..."

"Itachi, can you grant your uncle a wish?"

"Okay, go ahead. I'll definitely do my best."

"Be my son."

Aokiji stretched out his right hand like a white beard.

"???"

"I've lost interest in other women, so I'll probably be childless in the future, so I think... Hey, wait for me, don't go..."

……

……

Despite all attempts to persuade him to stay, Itachi ignored their pleas and left...

Aokiji put his hands on his hips, shook his head, and mocked himself a few times: "Now, this is the only way I can alleviate the pain in my heart."

He looked up at the horizon and secretly vowed: Tsunade, I will definitely revive you.

(End of this chapter)