Chapter 333: Itachi Upholds the Will to Protect and Joins the ANBU; A Gifted Daughter [HN]

In the afternoon, sunlight was broken into countless golden spots by the dense trees around the Hokage Rock, scattering across the stone steps leading to the Hokage Building.

Uchiha Shisui led Uchiha Itachi through the heavily guarded area, and the two stopped in front of the door symbolizing the center of Konoha’s power.

Shisui still wore his usual bright and cheerful expression, but deep within his eyes was a trace of barely noticeable seriousness.

Uchiha Itachi was only six years old, yet his face carried a calmness far beyond his age, as though he had already placed every burden and disturbance upon his young shoulders.

“Shisui and Itachi?”

Chiya was somewhat surprised.

For the two of them to come together at this time, it certainly was not an ordinary matter.

He waved away the ANBU guards around him.

“Come in.”

The two entered.

After bowing, Shisui habitually moved toward the window and cautiously scanned the area outside.

It was a habit carved into the bones of every ANBU member.

Itachi, meanwhile, walked directly to a spot three steps away from Chiya and stopped.

He raised his head and calmly met the gaze of his teacher and the Hokage.

“Teacher.”

Itachi’s voice was clear and steady, without the slightest trace of a child’s nervousness.

“I want to apply for early graduation from the Ninja Academy and join the ANBU to carry out missions.”

Chiya did not answer immediately.

His gaze slowly swept over Itachi like a tangible pressure.

He saw the firm determination that had settled deep within the child’s eyes.

He also saw the faint fatigue hidden beneath his tightly pressed lips.

As the Hokage and his teacher, he understood all too well what this request meant.

This was not merely the advancement of a genius.

It could also be the beginning of a path filled with thorns.

“Reason.”

Chiya’s voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.

The air in the small hall seemed to grow heavier.

“Have the lessons at the Ninja Academy already become insufficient for you? Or does the Uchiha name make you think you have the right to skip the necessary accumulation of experience?”

There was deliberate pressure behind his words.

The Uchiha Clan had not been completely peaceful lately.

Some more radical voices had begun to emerge.

Although Fugaku had forcefully suppressed them, rumors and discussions would inevitably reach the ears of the village leadership.

Chiya needed to know whether Itachi’s decision had been influenced by certain ideas within the clan.

Itachi shook his head slightly.

There was not the slightest hesitation in his eyes.

“The knowledge taught at the academy is the foundation. I have never looked down on it. The Uchiha name is both an honor and a responsibility, but what I seek is not privilege.”

He paused before continuing.

“My application for early graduation and entry into the ANBU is based on my judgment of my own abilities and… my understanding of the current situation.”

He raised his head, his eyes burning with determination.

“I possess insight and execution ability beyond those of my peers. I believe I can be more useful in the ANBU, grow faster, and help shoulder the village’s burdens.”

He took half a step forward.

His voice became lower, but his words carried even greater weight.

“You taught me that the meaning of strength lies in protection. True protection is not empty talk. It means possessing enough strength to withstand the storm before it arrives. It means becoming a blade capable of cutting through the darkness when it begins to spread.”

“I believe the ANBU is currently the place where I can best practice the path of protection. I want to see it with my own eyes and experience it with my own hands. I want to understand the shadows beneath the village’s bright surface so that I can know more clearly how to protect the light Konoha has fought so hard to preserve.”

His words were logical and clear.

Chiya silently watched him, his gaze sharp as a blade.

He was evaluating him.

He was evaluating whether this determination was genuine and whether it could withstand the cruelty of the ANBU.

Shisui also held his breath beside him.

He knew how strict the Hokage’s judgment was at this moment.

After a long silence, Chiya slowly spoke.

“Do you know what joining the ANBU means? It means saying goodbye to life beneath the sunlight. Your name will become nothing more than a code name in the records. Your hands may become stained with blood much earlier than you expect. What you see will be the ugliest side of human nature. You may have to face the deaths of your comrades and even carry out orders that you do not agree with, but must complete. Are you prepared for all of this?”

“Yes. I am prepared.”

Itachi’s answer contained no hesitation.

His eyes were clear and firm.

“If shadows are destined to exist, then I am willing to enter them and become the torch that illuminates them. If sacrifice is unavoidable, then I am willing to carry the will of the dead and protect the future of the living.”

“Whether I agree with something internally can be temporarily set aside when faced with the overall interests of the village. This is my choice, and it is also my ninja way.”

At that moment, Chiya seemed to see the shadow of another person within Itachi.

Hatake Sakumo, who had once shouldered a heavy mission and protected Konoha from within the darkness.

His heart was slightly moved.

Finally, the serious expression on Chiya’s face softened, and a faint but genuine smile appeared.

He stood up and walked in front of Itachi.

His tall figure cast a shadow over the child.

“Very good. I approve your early graduation. However, if you want to join the ANBU, you still have to pass the assessment.”

“I’ll take it!”

Uchiha Itachi answered seriously.

“As long as you pass the ANBU assessment, I’ll let you join the ANBU.”

For the first time, the calm expression on Itachi’s face could not hide his immense surprise.

He had only recently started attending the Ninja Academy, yet he could now truly participate in the ANBU assessment.

This willingness to break conventions and select people according to ability, along with such complete trust, caused indescribable emotions to surge within his chest.

“Teacher… I…”

The usually calm Itachi was actually at a loss for words.

Chiya patted his thin but straight shoulder, his eyes filled with expectation and warning.

“Remember every word you said today, Itachi. The ANBU is a furnace that tempers blades, but do not let the furnace consume your heart. Keep your mind clear and hold firmly to your path of protection. Someone will teach you the rules of the ANBU. And Shisui…”

He looked toward Shisui by the window.

“As his guide and elder brother, you must make sure he does not lose his way.”

“Yes, Teacher! I will definitely protect Itachi!”

Shisui immediately straightened and answered solemnly, a relieved yet energetic smile appearing on his face.

As the two left, Chiya watched Itachi’s departing figure.

His expression remained calm, but his steps were clearly lighter than before.

There was satisfaction in Chiya’s eyes.

There was also expectation and a faint trace of worry.

Putting a divine weapon that had not yet fully taken shape into the furnace too early could be either a blessing or a disaster.

No one could know yet.

But the tide of the era was already surging, and he needed more talents capable of standing on their own.

…

On the same day that Chiya approved Itachi’s exceptional entry into the ANBU, the Konoha Scientific Academy held a grand presentation of its latest achievements in the central square of the village.

The person hosting the presentation was Orochimaru, who wore a white research coat and possessed a gloomy temperament mixed with the unique charm of a scientific fanatic.

The square was packed with people.

The villagers were extremely curious.

After all, this was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.

After appearing, Orochimaru did not exchange many pleasantries.

He directly presented the first batch of science ninja tools intended for civilian use.

“Chakra insulated baby bottle!”

Everyone’s attention immediately turned toward it.

The demonstrator poured cold milk into the bottle.

After injecting only a small amount of chakra, the bottle began to emit a soft white glow, and the temperature inside quickly stabilized at the level most suitable for a baby to drink.

“Portable baby carriage defensive barrier generator!”

A small device the size of a palm was activated.

A faint blue light membrane that was almost invisible covered the demonstration baby carriage.

A staff member threw a stone at it with force.

The stone was gently bounced away the instant it touched the light membrane, while the doll inside the carriage remained completely unharmed.

This once again drew waves of astonished exclamations.

“These products are designed to improve the quality of life and sense of security of the villagers.”

Orochimaru’s hoarse voice spread throughout the square through the amplification equipment.

“Let protection begin with every family.”

The crowd erupted.

“I was wondering what this Konoha Scientific Academy was for. So it provides convenience for everyone! The Hokage is really amazing!”

“That’s right. I never expected Lord Orochimaru to have such an approachable side!”

“That baby bottle looks great. It’s really convenient! I have to hurry and buy one. They’re limited!”

“…”

The success of the civilian products greatly reassured the villagers and demonstrated Konoha’s powerful technological capabilities.

However, there was always a shadow moving behind the light.

Not long after the presentation ended, the Hokage’s office became the scene of another disturbance.

“Bang!”

Tsunade slammed her palm onto Chiya’s desk.

The solid wooden surface groaned under the force.

She was holding little Mirai in her arms while glaring angrily at Orochimaru, who was calmly sipping tea across from her.

“Orochimaru! How dare you send something like that directly to Mikoto! Who knows what tricks you put inside it!”

Her voice almost shook the roof.

She was referring to the voice controlled paper crane toy that Orochimaru had privately given to little Chimi.

Mikoto was holding Chimi and stood awkwardly to the side.

She wanted to persuade them to calm down, but she did not know how to begin.

Shizune stood nervously behind Tsunade, ready to deal with any conflict that might erupt.

Orochimaru slowly put down his teacup.

A trace of amusement flashed through his golden snake eyes.

“Heh heh heh… Tsunade, your suspicious nature is still as strong as ever. This is only a harmless little toy. It uses the most stable and safest materials and technology. Do I, Orochimaru, really seem so untrustworthy in your eyes?”

His final words were clearly directed toward Chiya.

Chiya rubbed his temples, feeling a little troubled.

Tsunade’s concern was not unreasonable.

Orochimaru’s previous record was simply too “glorious.”

However, since he had chosen to employ Orochimaru, he had to give him a certain degree of trust, especially now that the Scientific Academy was producing excellent results.

“Tsunade, calm down.”

Chiya spoke in a soothing tone.

“I already had the Sealing Team and Intelligence Division inspect it. There is indeed nothing wrong with it.”

He looked toward Orochimaru with a sharp gaze.

“However, Orochimaru, from now on, you still need to report in advance before directly giving items to members of my family.”

Orochimaru shrugged indifferently.

“As you command, Lord Hokage.”

His gaze fell upon little Chimi in Mikoto’s arms.

He looked at her pure black eyes.

A difficult to describe curiosity, almost like that of a researcher, flashed through his eyes.

“I simply thought this child… seems to have quite a talent for these intricate things.”

At that moment, as though proving his words, Chimi looked at the white paper crane on the table that Tsunade had inspected countless times.

She suddenly made a soft “yiya” sound and pointed at it with her fair little finger.

The motionless paper crane suddenly trembled slightly.

This tiny change went unnoticed by everyone except Chiya, who had been watching Chimi, and Tsunade, whose senses were exceptionally sharp.

It was a chakra thread!

Tsunade’s pupils suddenly contracted.

She looked at Orochimaru with even greater caution.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, revealed an even more meaningful smile.

Chiya’s heart sank slightly.

He trusted Orochimaru’s loyalty to Konoha at this moment.

He also trusted the achievements of the Scientific Academy.

But he understood even better that exploring the boundaries of science would always come with the unknown.

Orochimaru’s obsession with “talent” and “potential” was carved into his very nature.

When that obsession was used for the right purpose, it was Konoha’s good fortune.

But if it ever went out of control…

“Leave the toy here. You can all go back first.”

Chiya spoke to Mikoto and Shizune.

Then he looked at Tsunade.

“Don’t be so nervous either.”

After the women left, only Chiya and Orochimaru remained in the office.

“Orochimaru.”

Chiya’s voice became low.

“I hope you understand that there are some boundaries that must never be crossed. They are my family, and they are also the future of Konoha.”

Orochimaru’s smile disappeared.

His golden snake eyes met Chiya’s gaze.

For once, there was a trace of seriousness in them.

“Chiya, don’t worry. I lost interest in causing destruction a long time ago. Exploring the mysteries of life and power and using them for construction and protection is a path that is far more challenging, and… more interesting, than I imagined. I will not destroy my own foundation.”

His words were half true and half false, but Chiya could hear the sincerity within them.

He nodded.

“I will prioritize the funding and resources for the Scientific Academy next quarter. The Loran Town Regional Adaptive Defensive Barrier must be completed faster.”

“Heh heh heh… As you wish.”

Orochimaru bowed and turned to leave.

The hem of his oversized research coat swept through the air as he disappeared.

Chiya stood alone by the window and looked down at Konoha.

Lights were gradually appearing below, and the entire village was peaceful.

He remembered what had just happened with his daughter.

The toy was small, but it also required precise chakra control to move.

His daughter had only been born for such a short time.

‘It seems she really is exceptionally talented!’