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"Would you like to train with me?" Itachi asked, looking at the two boys his mother had brought.
One had a blank expression, seemingly emotionless, while the other shyly smiled at him. Both were younger than him.
"Yes, Itachi, these are Haku and Kimimaro. Yoichi-kun brought them back as students, and they'll be living with us from now on. They're both younger than you," Mikoto explained gently. They lived nearby, and teaching three children wasn't any harder than teaching one for the clan members assigned to Itachi's training.
"You can think of them as family, like your younger brothers."
"Brothers..." Itachi felt a strange sensation hearing that but nodded to his mother. "I understand, Mother."
Turning to Haku and Kimimaro, Itachi said, "Haku, Kimimaro, follow me. I'll show you around while we wait for the clan teacher."
Kimimaro nodded, remembering what Yoichi-sensei taught him about manners. He awkwardly said, "Thank you."
Haku, well-mannered from his mother's upbringing, smiled and said, "Thank you, Itachi-niisan."
After the three went inside, Yoichi appeared behind Mikoto, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close, feeling her familiar softness.
Mikoto blushed and gently pushed him away. "Yoichi-kun, Itachi might come out any moment."
"You're my wife. What's there to be afraid of?" Yoichi teased. Then, he suggested, "Mikoto, why don't Haku and Kimimaro stay with Itachi? You could come live with me. Itachi is four now, and there are servants for cleaning and cooking. It's only a short distance away, and it would help them bond."
Mikoto was tempted. She often envied Mina's growing belly. But despite Yoichi's nightly visits, she hadn't gotten pregnant yet. Now that Mina couldn't engage in such activities, if she moved in with Yoichi, he'd be with her every night.
"I'll talk to Itachi about it," Mikoto said, already having decided in her heart. She would still be around during the day to train with Itachi, so he should agree.
Yoichi whispered in her ear, "Mikoto, tonight, I want to see you in that cheongsam."
"Don't say that, Yoichi-kun," Mikoto blushed and squeezed her legs together. She decided to find that cheongsam when she got home.
Every day, a Shadow Clone of Yoichi reported to the Hokage's office to assist Sakumo with village affairs, mainly task delegation. D-rank and C-rank missions didn't need much oversight, but B-rank to S-rank missions were issued by the Hokage.
Sakumo shared half his responsibilities with Yoichi, giving him a taste of Hokage duties. Yoichi, however, had no intention of chaining himself to the Hokage desk if he ever assumed the role. For shinobi, power was maintained through strength, not bureaucracy.
Besides assisting with village affairs and training Yugito, Yoichi focused on his underground alchemy lab, developing new ninja-world elixirs. He meticulously recorded the steps for refining enhanced soldier pills, noting every detail from ingredients to fire control.
With the required materials and the process mapped out, the Uchiha clan could mass-produce these pills, yielding significant profit. He procured thousands of different herbs through Mikoto and identified their properties.
After numerous trials, Yoichi successfully developed three new elixirs: Strength Pills, Recovery Pills, and Bone-Healing Pills.
The Strength Pills doubled physical power, while the Recovery and Bone-Healing Pills offered remarkable healing comparable to ten minutes of medical ninjutsu. These simple yet effective elixirs could be mass-produced, providing immense value.
Yoichi convened a small clan meeting to share his findings, including Mikoto for the first time. Despite her previous husband's rivalry with Yoichi, Mikoto had gained influence within the clan, managing their businesses.
At the meeting, Yoichi presented the enhanced soldier pills and new elixirs. The clan leaders were astonished by the results, realizing these could make the Uchiha clan even more formidable.
Yoichi assigned the task of mass-producing these elixirs to Uchiha Junshu, providing detailed instructions and extensive support, including protection by elite clan members and two reanimated guards—Roshi and Han, wielding Lava and Boil Release techniques.
After the meeting, the excited clan members saw a bright future for the Uchiha clan, envisioning it as the greatest in the ninja world.
"Obito, it's bad! Your teammates are being chased by Kirigakure shinobi!" White Zetsu emerged from the rocks, informing Obito.
Obito, who had been training in the dark for months, jumped to his feet. "Take me to them!"
Smashing through the barrier with White Zetsu's help, Obito rushed out, driven by the desire to see Rin and Kakashi again.
"You will return, Obito," Madara stated, knowing the despair awaiting Obito would bind him to his plan. Madara's health was failing, even with the Gedo Statue's chakra. His long-anticipated plan was finally set in motion.
In Konoha, within Yoichi's underground lab, a separate chamber held a kunai marked with Flying Thunder God seals.
A corpse suddenly appeared, triggering the seals and alerting Yoichi. He abandoned his current project and rushed over, finding the severely injured Rin.
Using his Mangekyō Sharingan, Yoichi activated his right eye's ability. "Sanronzanmei!"
(End of Chapter)