The Uchiha Clan District.
This place is located at the edge of the Konoha Village.
When the Konoha Village first divided the residential areas for various ninja clans, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, allocated the largest living area to the Uchiha clan, a prestigious ninja clan, which resulted in their district being located at the edge of the village.
Decades passed.
The Konoha Village expanded into several areas.
Six years ago, the Nine-Tails' attack caused severe damage within the village. The higher-ups of the Konoha re-divided the residential areas for the ninja clans. Shimura Danzo helped relocate the Uchiha clan to an even more remote area, surrounded by larger training grounds.
The Uchiha clan's district, always located at the edge of the village, coupled with the clan's inherent pride, made it a place few villagers were willing to visit. The Uchiha increasingly isolated themselves, even preventing villagers from entering their district.
"The scenery here is nice."
Akihara Kagura spoke, complimenting the view.
"This place is more majestic than the Uchiha district of the past."
Hatake Kakashi nodded and then turned to an old man sitting at the entrance of a shop, "Excuse me, where is the home of Uchiha Fugaku, the Head of the Konoha Police Force?"
"Just go straight down this road…"
The elderly of the Uchiha clan were quite patient.
In contrast, the younger members of the Uchiha clan were noticeably more temperamental. Seeing Akihara Kagura, the Wood Release ninja who had defeated Uchiha Itachi, their expressions inevitably turned sour. However, seeing that Kagura was just a child, they refrained from causing any conflict.
"It seems they don't welcome us."
Akihara Kagura noticed the reactions of the people they encountered on the road.
"They don't welcome anyone."
Hatake Kakashi, who had long experienced the Uchiha clan's style, softly reassured the young boy, "It's not just you. Any outsider is unwelcome here."
Back when Kakashi was younger, he often visited the Uchiha district to find the tardy Uchiha Obito, and he didn't care much about these attitudes.
Akihara Kagura asked the question he was most curious about, "Which member of the Uchiha clan will go with us to the Mist Village? Uchiha Shisui, perhaps? His abilities are quite good..."
"It's not him."
Hatake Kakashi shook his head and found an excuse for Uchiha Shisui: "Uchiha Shisui is an elite Jonin of the village, and he has other important missions to undertake..."
Before the Chunin Exams, there was a possibility that Uchiha Shisui might accompany them to the Mist Village. However, during the Chunin Exams, after Uchiha Shisui demonstrated the technique of Susanoo, it became inconvenient for him to leave Konoha Village on missions.
For the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Shisui's power could influence the balance between the Uchiha and the Konoha Village; for the higher-ups of Konoha, Uchiha Shisui, being a pacifist inclined towards the Konoha, his power could be used by the Konoha and even considered as a strategic weapon.
In summary,
Uchiha Shisui temporarily found it inconvenient to leave the village at will.
Hatake Kakashi, noticing the somewhat dispirited expression of Akihara Kagura, said, "However, you know the person who will be going with us to the Mist Village…"
"Uchiha Itachi, that kid?"
Akihara Kagura, familiar with only a few Uchihas, mentioned a familiar name, even assertively saying: "I only know Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi... and maybe that little one shouting and yelling in the Chunin Exam arena, what was his name, Uchiha Sasuke?"
"How can you refer to Uchiha Itachi as a kid..."
Hatake Kakashi glanced at Akihara Kagura, unable to help saying: "I remember you are about the same age as Uchiha Itachi, right?"
"But our statuses are different now."
Akihara Kagura leisurely countered, distinguishing himself from Uchiha Itachi: "When I was his age, I had already become a member of Konoha's Anbu."
"This is your second day in the Anbu, right?"
Hatake Kakashi adjusted the ninja headband on his forehead and continued: "Judging from the time you reported to the Anbu, it's not even been twenty-four hours…"
"We've arrived."
Akihara Kagura stopped in front of a house.
The house was quite large, and one could even hear the sound of a stream in the courtyard.
"Sorry, Itachi is not home."
Uchiha Mikoto came out to greet them and expressed her apologies in a low voice, her gentle eyes revealing a hint of worry: "This morning, Itachi went to the training grounds."
Since losing to Akihara Kagura in the Chunin Exam, Uchiha Itachi has become even more diligent and hardworking, spending most of his time at the training grounds.
Uchiha Mikoto is very concerned about her son, but she cannot speak out to stop her child's efforts. She even feels fortunate that her child did not become depressed or hateful due to the defeat.
She is a gentle mother.
In fact, the members of the Uchiha Itachi family are quite admirable.
Uchiha Fugaku has always been proud of his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi. Even when Itachi lost to Akihara Kagura in the Chunin Exam, Fugaku did not blame his son.
Uchiha Fugaku is very aware that this was not his son's fault. He even believes that Itachi finally has a peer rival, encouraging Itachi to diligently train his Sharingan, confident that he will eventually defeat his rival Akihara Kagura.
As for the younger brother...
There's even less to say.
Uchiha Sasuke, the little kid, stood beside his mother, his cheeks puffing up angrily, glaring at Akihara Kagura: "Hey, don't get too cocky, my big brother will defeat you sooner or later!"
"Sasuke."
Uchiha Mikoto quickly stopped her younger son's impolite behavior, gently educating him: "Don't say such impolite things…"
"It's normal for kids to be ill-tempered..."
Teenager Akihara Kagura acted like an adult, forgiving little Sasuke with great magnanimity. He even bent down to kindly pat Uchiha Sasuke's head.
"Kid, don't always expect others to help you..."
Akihara Kagura, looking at the still angry Uchiha Sasuke, continued slowly: "If you have the spirit of a little man, when you grow up, help your big brother take revenge…"
"Okay!"
Little Sasuke showed great spirit, waving his little fists: "When I grow up and participate in the Chunin Exam, I will definitely defeat you in front of everyone!"
"Alright..."
Akihara Kagura, patting little Sasuke's head, nodded with a smile: "It's just a pity that when you grow up, I might be the examiner of the Chunin Exam. I could find a reason to eliminate you, never allowing you to advance to Chunin…"
"..."
Little Sasuke was astonished.
For many years, Uchiha Sasuke, this little fellow, had always been dearly loved and never encountered someone with such a vile character. He was so scared that his eyes turned red.
"Hahaha…"
Uchiha Mikoto covered her mouth and chuckled softly, gently comforting her young son: "Alright, Sasuke, your senpai is just teasing you…"
"We should go find someone first."
Hatake Kakashi hurriedly tried to pull away Akihara Kagura, not wanting to see this young man bully a child anymore, lest they lose face for the Anbu.
"Kakashi-senpai, Kagura-kun."
Just at that moment, Uchiha Itachi appeared on the street, politely greeting Hatake Kakashi and Akihara Kagura.
Because his father, Uchiha Fugaku, had sent a message to him at the training ground, asking him to accompany an investigation into Uchiha Obito's matter, Uchiha Itachi quickly rushed home to pack his belongings.
Uchiha Itachi's gaze fell on Uchiha Sasuke, whose eyes were red with tears, revealing a touch of heartache. He quickly approached to comfort his younger brother.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?"
"Maybe he thinks the life of a future Genin is too hard?"
In front of everyone, Akihara Kagura spouted nonsense, urging Uchiha Itachi, who was comforting his brother: "Alright, hurry up and pack your things. There's no need to waste time comforting this little guy here. Anyway, you're about to leave with us, and he's definitely going to keep crying…"