Konoha Notes

Chapter 61 Can’t Let Go

It would be a lie to say he had no opinion; otherwise, he wouldn't have studied the Uchiha's situation.

But Shuji always kept one principle in mind—a business that is rushed is not a business.

He wants to help, but that doesn't mean he has to fawn over them. It's only meaningful if they come to him willingly.

Shuji strolled home.

Grandma Taohua had returned, but instead of sitting under the eaves to enjoy tea as usual, or pruning the flowers and plants, she stood quietly under the tree, as if lost in thought.

"Mother-in-law."

"Shuji." The old man didn't turn around. "You're back."

"Yes."

"Today," Senju Momoka's voice was soft, "I went to see Kachi and Hayami. The mission center's Torii said that your Class 5 completed an S-rank mission and did a great job."

Xiuji was puzzled at first, but then he suddenly understood.

"Can't you let go?" Tsunade had asked him this question before, but he didn't answer.

“There’s nothing I can’t let go of, Mother-in-law, but now is not the time to do nothing.” He walked to Tao Hua’s side, his voice unusually sincere.

He wasn't the original owner of this body; he didn't truly value the glory of the Senju and was determined to prove something. It's just that the situation he's in is what it is. If he woke up in Boruto, he'd just give up.

This Otsutsuki, that god, I don't understand, anyway, it's useless to do anything, just wait for Master Bo to save the world.

At most, I'll try my best to see if I can become Naruto's brother-in-law; having a sister-in-law would be great.

There's still a chance, there's still something we can do.

Senju Momoka lowered her head, her aged fingers unconsciously stroking the rough bark. She understood when she received the briefing on the training mission from those people.

The dormant flame deep in the child's eyes had not been extinguished; he ultimately did not choose the path of detachment she had hoped for.

Live a good life, stay safe and sound. Wouldn't it be better to find a quiet job in the village? Of all the people still by my side, you're the only one left who's dead.

A long silence filled the courtyard, with only the autumn insects chirping softly in the corner.

After a long pause, she finally said, "Tomorrow, Kachi and Hayami will be back. You should meet them. It just so happens that they wrote the recommendation letter last time."

After saying that, Senju Momoka turned around with a slightly unsteady gait and walked towards the lit Japanese-style room. Her figure looked particularly thin and lonely in the shadows of the corridor.

Shuji stood there, his throat feeling like it was being choked by something, unable to even utter a simple "You should get some rest."
-
On the edge of the Uchiha clan's territory, towering walls cast heavy shadows in the night.

"Itachi, why do you look so lost and dejected?"

Itachi did not step straight into the familiar gate as usual. He simply stood quietly outside the clan's territory, looking up at the closed and imposing outline of the area, illuminated by the lights.

This is a cage, this is a prison.

When another figure appeared beside him, Itachi did not greet him, but remained silent.

Uchiha Shisui didn't press the matter. He silently walked to Itachi's side, stopped, and followed Itachi's gaze, looking at the scenery Itachi was looking at.

The faint sounds of children playing and adults talking could be heard from within the clan's territory, making the two people outside the wall even more silent.

Time flowed silently, so long that Shisui almost thought Itachi wouldn't speak again tonight, when a low, hoarse voice finally rang out like a dream, shattering in the night wind:
"Shisui... I see no hope."

"What's wrong, Itachi?"

Shisui's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned to look at Itachi's face. He discovered that in Itachi's eyes, which were originally only two-tomoe pupils, a third tomoe had suddenly appeared.

Three Magatama Sharingan!

Wasn't Itachi's mission supposed to go very smoothly? The clan even spread the exciting news that "an eight-year-old Uchiha has completed an S-rank mission."

Has someone else been killed in action?
"What... happened?" Shisui's voice turned somber.

“My father wants me to understand the thoughts of my elders as soon as possible, so I just asked him for his opinion…”

Were the results unsatisfactory?
Shisui sighed inwardly. The path for the Uchiha clan to seek external understanding and support was indeed long and arduous. "It's alright, Itachi." Shisui patted Itachi's shoulder firmly, trying to convey some confidence, "Shuji-kun... is ultimately an enlightened person, and things will change for the better in the future."

“That’s not how it is, Shisui,” Itachi interrupted Uchiha Shisui.

"The senior did not show any malice; he simply revealed the reality to me."

Itachi closed his eyes.

"He hoped I could find a way, but I couldn't, Zhishui."

It turns out my senior had already warned me. He had mentioned it back when we were at the barbecue restaurant, but I hadn't understood it then.

Is it too late? Itachi didn't know, and he held no hope whatsoever.

Therefore, he stood there, neither going back nor telling his father, Fugaku, what he had heard that night.

It was no use; the father couldn't make any changes.

At every clan meeting, he could clearly see his father's silence and helplessness in the face of the indignant clansmen.

Itachi understood earlier than the other children that his father was not omnipotent; that the man was trying to solve problems, but was always being led astray by his clan.

They sought to compromise with the village, but to no avail.

Itachi Uchiha's father was an outstanding and powerful ninja, a mature and steady man, but he was not a clan leader who could turn the tide and solve problems in desperate situations.

Shisui understood this as well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have always avoided having too much communication or interaction with the clan leader, preferring to travel alone in his own way.

But at this moment, looking at the deathly stillness in Itachi's eyes and feeling the overwhelming weight emanating from him that was almost crushing him, Shisui knew that things couldn't continue like this.

Tonight, he must take Itachi home, and... he must meet with Fugaku Uchiha.

Without further hesitation, Shisui reached out and tightly grasped Itachi's slightly cool wrist, pulling him around and heading towards the mansion deep within the clan's territory, a symbol of the clan leader's authority.

Itachi did not resist, but simply followed obediently.

He kept his head down, letting Shisui lead him through familiar alleyways, avoiding any potential encounters with his clansmen. Shisui's movements were swift and silent, doing his best to prevent anyone from seeing Itachi's appearance at that moment.

Until they arrived at the solemn patriarch's residence.

"Brother..." The little figure rushed out of the porch with excitement, but froze the moment she saw her brother.

Sasuke was about to pounce when his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, who was rushing up behind him, grabbed him.

"Mom, my brother is back..." Sasuke struggled, confused.

"Sasuke, be good," Mikoto's voice trembled slightly, but her gaze never left Itachi. "Brother is very tired today. Mommy will take you to your room to play first, okay?"

“But…” Sasuke wanted to say something more, but his mother gently but firmly led him away from the entrance.

Only Uchiha Fugaku, solemn and imposing, remained at the entrance.

He looked at Shisui, and then at Itachi, who was being pulled along by Shisui.

He had never seen his most prized eldest son like this before. He didn't ask anything, but simply turned around and walked silently into the inner room, where he sat upright on the tatami mat.

Shisui pulled Itachi inside, then gently closed the paper door behind him, isolating them from the outside world.

Shisui remained silent, unaware of what Shuuji had said to Itachi.

After a brief, suffocating silence, Itachi slowly raised his head.

Three tomoe slowly swirled in his scarlet eyes.

"As my father requested, I have learned about the seniors' attitude..."

He stared directly into his father's Sharingan, which also had three tomoe.

"The following is the senior's response..."

(End of this chapter)