Sasukae didn't answer Fujiwara Kirito's question but raised his young face and shouted, "Your lover, Uchiha Izumi, also died at the hands of Itachi! Why? You have such incredible power. Why didn't you take revenge and kill him?"
"As for revenge, I took it on the night of the Uchiha massacre. As for Itachi—your beloved brother—I think it's most fitting for you to be the one to kill him." Kirito took off his apron and brought out the dishes he had prepared.
"You already avenged them?" Sasukae was stunned. Then, memories of Kakashi's strange behavior in recent days flashed through his mind. Earlier today, villagers pointed and whispered as they saw him return with Naruto and Sakura, some even giving him sympathetic looks.
He thought back to the massacre. Besides the Uchiha clan, the Shimura and Sarutobi clans had also been wiped out.
Sasukae wasn't foolish. He quickly pieced together the truth.
"You're saying the Sarutobi and Shimura clans were involved in the Uchiha massacre? But they were wiped out that same night. How could they have been involved?" Sasukae's voice quivered as Jiraiya quietly sat at the dining table.
"That's for you to figure out," Kirito replied while serving himself a bowl of rice.
"I can't pursue this, nor do I want to." Sasukae roared again, "If you won't kill Uchiha Itachi, then give me your power so I can take my revenge!"
"You want to become my apprentice?" Kirito narrowed his eyes slightly.
Sasukae hesitated, then looked away proudly before nodding slightly.
"Then call me 'Dad' first," Kirito said, crossing his arms, an amused glint in his eyes.
"Shouldn't I call you 'teacher' if I'm training under you?" Sasukae asked, maintaining his stern demeanor.
"Didn't you just say you'd do anything to become stronger? Or is calling me 'Dad' too much for you?" Kirito teased, refraining from mentioning his role as Sasukae's stepfather.
Sasukae clenched his fists, thoughts of Uchiha Itachi flashing through his mind. He took a deep breath, his eyes firm. After a long pause, he stammered, "D-Dad..."
"Haha! That's my boy,"Kirito laughed, ruffling Sasukae's spiky hair.
"Now, teach me how to become stronger," Sasukae demanded, shaking off Kirito's hand. Inwardly, he cursed Kirito and vowed to make him regret this humiliation once he gained enough power.
"No." Kirito took a bite of his food, his simple response infuriating Sasukae.
"Are you kidding me?" Sasukae shot to his feet, glaring at Kirito.
"Not at all. I never promised to teach you. In a world where betraying teachers is so common, taking a student is like digging your own grave. Just ask Orochimaru or the Third Hokage." Kirito put down his chopsticks and tossed a scroll to Sasukae. "Here, take this."
"What is it?" Sasukae asked, picking up the scroll with curiosity.
"It contains a beheading sword."
Before Sasukae could open it, Kirito's calm voice stopped him.
"It may seem useless now, but it could save your life one day. Keep it safe." Kirito smiled gently as his figure transformed into cherry blossoms and began to fade away.
This was his signature illusion, Three Absolute Sakura. Kiritooften used it to make his entrances and exits dramatic.
"Wait!" Sasukae called out, unwilling to let him leave. He felt lost and desperate.
"You truly crave power that much?" Kirito paused, allowing the illusion to dissipate.
"Yes," Sasukae admitted with determination.
"Then call me 'Dad' three more times. Perhaps I'll teach you a ninjutsu." Kirito held up a summoning scroll he had acquired from Orochimaru.
"It won't be another useless sword, will it?" Sasukae asked skeptically.
"You don't have to scream if you don't want to," Kirito replied, pretending to leave.
"Wait!" Sasukae grabbed the scroll. Gritting his teeth under Kirito's mocking gaze, he called out, "Dad! Dad! Dad!"
By the time Kirito left Sasukae's home, night had fully fallen.
The moon hung bright in the starry sky as Kirito arrived at the Hyuga estate, outside Hinata's room.
"Hey, little Hinata," Kirito called softly, leaning against her window.
Hinata, fresh from a day of training and a bath, sat by the window pressing flowers. Her pure white eyes lit up at the sight of him.
"Big Brother!" she exclaimed with joy.
It was clear this wasn't Kirito's first late-night visit.
"Are you pressing flowers again?" Kirito asked, gently stroking her head.
"Yes." Hinata blushed. "Big Brother, come inside. I'll open the door for you."
"No need." Kirito shook his head. "I just came to say goodbye."
Hinata froze. "You're leaving?"
For over a month, Kirito's visits had been her happiest moments.
"Yes. Things in Konoha are settled, and it's time for me to move on." Kirito nodded.
"Will you come back?" she asked softly.
"Of course," Kirito smiled. "But it won't be as often."
Hinata hesitated before fetching a heart-shaped box from her cupboard. Offering it to him with a flushed face, she whispered, "Please accept this."
Inside, Kirito found a delicate embossed pendant. Understanding her feelings, he smiled warmly as the system prompt echoed in his mind.
(End of Chapter)
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