Chapter 272: A "Friendly" Conversation
The dinner celebrating Tonari's ascension to Hokage had come to an end.
Given that the village was still at war, many of his friends remained on the battlefield, unable to attend. But that was fine. This so-called celebration was merely a form of self-consolation for Tonari, after all the maneuvering and struggles he had endured to claim the Hokage seat.
Under the moonlight, three figures strolled along a forested path.
"You two have been acting strangely today. If there's something on your mind, just say it," Tonari said.
Walking beside him were Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.
"N-No… It's nothing," Shisui immediately denied, his expression betraying a hint of unease.
"Itachi…" Shisui felt a slight tug on his sleeve. The small boy beside him had eyes far too sharp for his age. Unlike most children his age, Itachi lacked the naive innocence of youth; instead, there was wisdom and clarity in his gaze.
Itachi was, without a doubt, one of the most precocious geniuses of the ninja world.
Throughout Tonari's experiences, he had encountered many so-called "geniuses"—after all, in times of war, talent was forced to shine early. But if he had to rank the greatest prodigies he had ever known, only three names stood at the top: Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and the puppet master of Sunagakure, Sasori of the Red Sand.
Each of them had an extraordinary record.
Kakashi had entered the Ninja Academy at five, graduated the same year, became a Chūnin at six, and was promoted to Jōnin at just twelve or thirteen—an age when most children were barely starting their ninja careers. If it weren't for the tragic events surrounding Obito, Rin, and Minato's deaths, along with the burden of the Sharingan, Kakashi would have had a strong claim to becoming the Fifth Hokage, if not the Fourth himself.
Then there was Sasori. In the rough, resource-starved lands of Sunagakure, where educational opportunities paled in comparison to Konoha, Sasori had still managed to graduate from the academy at seven, become a Chūnin at eight, and by fourteen or fifteen, he single-handedly assassinated the Third Kazekage—the strongest in Sunagakure's history. The act itself was a testament to his terrifying intellect and abilities. Even if the Kazekage had hesitated due to sentimentality, the fact that Sasori had accounted for such a possibility spoke volumes about his cunning.
And then there was Itachi.
He entered the Academy at six, graduated at seven, awakened his Sharingan at eight, and—like Obito—immediately manifested two tomoe in each eye. This pace of growth already put him on par with the other prodigies, but his intelligence was what truly set him apart. Even as a seven-year-old, Sarutobi Hiruzen had stated that Itachi could think like a Hokage, viewing problems from the perspective of a village leader.
By ten, he passed the Chūnin Exams alone—a feat never before accomplished in Konoha's history.
At eleven, he joined the Anbu.
Most Anbu operatives were Jōnin before joining. For a Chūnin to be accepted was exceedingly rare, yet Itachi had been among the few exceptions. At this point, his strength had likely already reached Jōnin level, even if he had not yet accumulated the necessary mission record for a promotion.
That same year, after witnessing the suicide of his closest friend Shisui—who had his eye stolen by Danzo—Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Though he couldn't yet fully control its power, this pushed his strength into the realm of elite Jōnin, or perhaps even a low-tier Kage-level ninja.
By thirteen, he slaughtered his entire clan.
The speed of his growth was staggering.
Of course, his Sharingan granted him an undeniable advantage, but even without it, his sheer intelligence and natural talent would have made him one of the strongest ninja of his era.
If Tonari had to rank them: Itachi would be first, Kakashi second, and Sasori third.
Now, looking at this boy in front of him—barely three or four years old—already showing wisdom beyond his years, Tonari couldn't help but feel impressed.
"Shisui, you should just tell him," Itachi urged softly. "We're not in a position to make decisions on our own."
Shisui hesitated, but after a moment's pause, he let out a deep sigh.
"Sensei, promise me you won't get angry."
Tonari smirked. "What could you possibly say that would make me mad? Come on, spit it out."
Encouraged by Tonari's calm demeanor, Shisui finally spoke.
"The clan elders… they want me to use my position as your student to infiltrate the Anbu and create an opening for the Uchiha to gain influence within Konoha's leadership."
Shisui blurted everything out in one breath, his face turning red as he exhaled in relief.
He had been struggling with this for days.
As the most talented young Uchiha of his generation and Tonari's student, the clan elders saw him as their best tool to secure a foothold in the upper echelons of Konoha's power structure.
Yet, Shisui had been raised differently. As the descendant of Uchiha Kagami—one of the most trusted Uchiha under the Second Hokage—Shisui had inherited the "Will of Fire" ideology that prioritized the village over the clan.
This demand from the elders had put him in an agonizing dilemma.
But now that he had voiced his concerns, he felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted.
Tonari's smile froze for a moment.
Seeing the change in his expression, Shisui stiffened and lowered his head.
"Sensei, this isn't his fault!" Itachi quickly interjected.
Smack. Smack.
Two light pats landed on their heads.
Tonari had crouched down, ruffling their hair with both hands.
Itachi, small as he was, was practically shoved down by the motion, making his usually serious face appear unexpectedly adorable.
Shisui blinked in surprise, slowly raising his head to meet Tonari's gaze.
The man was grinning.
Ruffling their hair even harder, Tonari chuckled.
"That's it? That's what you were worried about? You guys really overthink things. I was already planning on getting you into the Anbu."
Shisui and Itachi stared at him in disbelief.
"If anything, I need more trusted people in the Anbu. I just became Hokage, and I need reliable hands. So, Shisui, once you pass the Chūnin Exam, I'll authorize you to join the Anbu directly. It'll be tough, though—make sure you're ready. And you, Itachi—once you become a Chūnin, you can join too, if you want."
The two Uchiha were dumbfounded.
They had expected anger, disappointment—perhaps even a severing of ties.
But instead, Tonari had just… casually accepted it?
"Sensei, you're… not mad?" Shisui asked hesitantly.
Tonari laughed, ruffling his hair again.
"Why would I be? You two haven't done anything wrong. In fact, I'm proud of you for telling me the truth."
Shisui and Itachi exchanged confused glances.
"Remember," Tonari continued. "Konoha belongs to all of us. There are many ninja clans, and some put their own interests above the village. But the village comes first. Without Konoha, the Uchiha wouldn't even have a home."
Itachi's eyes widened slightly. The village before the clan…
Shisui, too, was deep in thought.
After a moment, his expression firmed.
"I understand, Sensei! I'll do my best to earn my place in the Anbu and support you in protecting Konoha!"
Tonari smiled in satisfaction, then looked toward the distant gates of the Uchiha compound.
"Good. Go home and rest, you two."
With newfound resolve, the two boys nodded and jogged off.
Watching them leave, Tonari's smile grew sharper.
"Konoha is the greater whole. And I am the one who will lead it."
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