Naruto: Forbidden Arts and an Immortal Agenda

The next day was a weekend, bright and clear.

The announcement to relocate the clan had been made, and the Uchiha compound became buzzing with activity.

The move had a one-week deadline, but many Uchiha couldn't wait and had already begun.

Though not as physically strong as members of the Senju Clan, thanks to their inherited genes even ordinary Uchiha possess extraordinary stamina.

Clothes, books, daily necessities—none of these required much effort. Even large furniture could be carried with one hand by an Uchiha.

Wealthier or more skilled Uchiha stored their furniture inside sealing scrolls, while others just borrowed a horse-drawn cart and tossed everything into it.

Itachi walked alone, observing the bustling scene and feeling quietly pleased.

He believed that at the new compound, the clan would develop in new directions.

Before long, Itachi reached the edge of the compound.

Looking at this spacious residence, he hesitated.

When Shisui was around, he used to quite enjoy coming here.

But now, only Aozora lived inside.

He felt a bit reluctant about meeting Aozora.

This wasn't dislike or hatred.

It was just that he felt they held different beliefs.

Why did Aozora hold such strong resentment against Konoha?

Weren't the Uchiha a part of Konoha themselves?

Why couldn't everyone widen their view on things?

With Konoha currently engaged in war against Hidden Cloud, why couldn't they set aside clan ideologies, cooperate sincerely, and work together to protect Konoha?

Itachi looked down at the book in his hand, then up at the towering courtyard walls before him.

High fences. Large wooden gates.

For him, this place was no longer a playground—it had become a fortress.

Like a small figure clad in black armor, he marched forward slowly but firmly.

"Thud! Thud!"

Inside the courtyard, Aozora heard light footsteps, followed by a knocking sound.

From the steps alone, he accurately deduced the visitor's build and thus figured out his identity.

"It's you, isn't it, Itachi? No need to knock; just walk in."

Pushing open the door, Itachi entered and saw Aozora practicing taijutsu in the courtyard.

Aozora was different from other Uchiha—he didn't follow the Leaf-style taijutsu but instead moved slowly through a series of full-body motions.

His movements were slow, almost like an elderly person's exercise routine, yet Itachi noticed a kind of coordination.

It was harmony within the entire musculature, synchronization with the surrounding environment.

After completing his form and exhaling deeply, Aozora disrupted that balance by speaking.

Smiling at Itachi, he said, "You're here. Relax and feel at ease."

Somewhat awkward, Itachi stepped forward. "Aozora… no, Teacher Aozora!"

As soon as he spoke, he tried to kneel in a formal apprentice's bow, but Aozora caught him.

In a place like Konoha, where some shinobi were known for betraying their teachers, Aozora hesitated to accept such a formal bow from anyone—especially from someone like the dreaded Itachi who had already killed his own parents.

Aozora said, "I'm barely older than you. If I can offer some advice from experience, there's no need for such a formal apprenticeship."

Itachi himself hadn't been eager either, so upon hearing this, he didn't insist.

Seeing this, Aozora understood—Itachi had merely wanted to follow Fugaku's wishes rather than genuinely becoming a disciple.

He brought Itachi into the living room.

After both sat down, Aozora said, "Itachi, since I'm not your teacher and don't have the ability to teach you, we can just discuss things together."

"Two heads are better than one."

Upon hearing this, Itachi replied, "Aozora-nii, you're joking. I'm mainly here to listen to your teachings."

As he spoke, he placed the book in his hand on the table.

The four large characters 'Will of Fire' were particularly eye-catching on the pages.

"Aozora-nii," he continued, "I'm having some difficulty understanding the Will of Fire. Could you please explain it to me?"

Aozora gave Itachi an amused look.

This kid really knows how to play—trying to brainwash me?

He casually opened the cover of The Will of Fire and immediately saw the familiar opening phrase.

"Wherever leaves dance in the wind, fire continues unceasingly. This flame will continue to illuminate the village, allowing new leaves to sprout."

Aozora slowly recited, full of expression.

Itachi listened with a smile, then looked directly into Aozora's eyes and asked, "Aozora-nii, what does this sentence mean?"

He naturally already understood its meaning, but wanted to hear Aozora say it himself.

"The meaning is quite simple. It uses a metaphor: burning fallen leaves represent the older generation who bravely sacrifice themselves, while the new leaves symbolize the youth.

Overall, it expresses the hope that when facing danger, the elders of the village should believe in the younger generation and be brave enough to sacrifice themselves to better protect their growth.

An elder's sacrifice is never meaningless; the young will gradually become the pillars who support and defend Konoha."

After finishing, Aozora asked, "Itachi, do you think my understanding is correct?"

A triumphant smile couldn't help but appear on Itachi's face as he said, "Your understanding is very accurate, Aozora-nii, but there are still some points you haven't fully covered."

He had already forgotten what he'd said earlier about having difficulties with understanding.

Aozora didn't expose him and simply said, "Oh? Please continue."

Itachi's face flushed with excitement as he explained, "Besides describing the cycle from one generation to another, the Will of Fire also talks about the relationships between different clans within the village.

The Will of Fire hopes the village's clans can eliminate misunderstandings and work together for the good of the village. Every person from every clan should not merely sacrifice themselves only for the benefit of their own clan, but instead take the bigger picture into account and contribute to the village. We must protect our fellow villagers because everyone in the village is family—no one should create hierarchies based on which clan is outstanding or which is ordinary."

Aozora gave a fake smile and praised, "Wonderful explanation! Your understanding of the Will of Fire has truly reached Hokage-level. You're only six years old, yet already think just like the Hokage himself!"

Now Aozora finally understood why Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Itachi so highly in the original story.

Self-delusional and preachy—a kid like this who genuinely believes in the Will of Fire? Where would you even find someone like that?

Unaware of Aozora's fake smile, Itachi exclaimed joyfully, "So Aozora-nii agrees with what I just said?"

"Of course!" Aozora replied.

"But then," Itachi hesitated before asking, puzzled, "why does Aozora-nii incite conflict between the clans and Konoha?"

"That was me?" Aozora responded. "Wasn't it actually the higher-ups in Konoha pushing us into it?"

Itachi frowned slightly, saying firmly, "You still haven't grasped the true meaning of the Will of Fire!"

Aozora didn't defend himself. Instead, he shot back, "I may not fully understand it, but have the Konoha elites truly understood it either?"

Without waiting for Itachi to respond, he continued, "The First and Second indeed embodied the Will of Fire, leading from the front and sheltering future generations beneath their sky. But what about the top leaders like the Third Hokage? Their slogans shook the heavens, yet their actions were as light as a feather!

"The Second War was won blade by blade by the Sannin and White Fang, yet all the glory went to the Third's reputation as the strongest Hokage.

"White Fang sacrificed his mission for his comrades, only to be forced into death by Konoha's leadership.

"When the Nine-Tails attacked the village, the Third Hokage, a veteran leader, didn't sacrifice himself—instead, the Fourth Hokage, in the prime of his life, gave everything."

Aozora slammed his palms on the table and leaned forward as he roared at them.

"They spout the 'Will of Fire' with their words, but where's the proof in their deeds?

"They keep throwing kids under ten into war, time after time letting the young fight while they hide behind them and take all the credit.

"They use the sacrifices of the young to illuminate their own paths forward!"

Itachi's eyes widened in shock, his face freezing instantly.

The shining world within him had started to crack.

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