Naruto: Blacksmith

"Forget it." Kuro glanced at the crow in Itachi's hand and remained silent for a moment before speaking, "If you've just become a Rebel and left, why should I raise a crow? Wouldn't that be like telling everyone I'm in contact with you?"

"?"

Itachi squinted, visibly confused. "Why would raising a crow be the same as telling others I'm in contact with you?"

"You're still asking?" Kuro rolled his eyes. "Konoha is so small that you're the only one who raises crows."

"…"

Itachi stayed silent for a moment, processing Kuro's logic.

Finally, he sighed and looked at him calmly.

"I think you're being paranoid."

"What?"

Itachi sighed again. "Konoha isn't so small that I'm the only one raising crows. Besides, I was ANBU, and my movements were always secret. Very few people, probably just some members of my clan, knew I raised crows."

"And, putting that aside, the difference in identity between you and me is so great that no one would associate your crow with me."

"Right..." Kuro admitted, somewhat embarrassed.

"Ahem..."

Coughing lightly to cover it up, Kuro adopted a more serious expression. "Well, in that case, I'll take care of this crow temporarily. But is there anything special I need to do to raise it?"

"You don't need to do anything. Just let it out every day, and it'll find its own food."

"That's perfect. I was already worried that taking care of it would take time away from my training."

Itachi nodded slightly.

"I've said everything I needed to say. I'm leaving."

With those words, he formed a seal with one hand over his chest, and in an instant, his figure vanished in a swirl of black feathers.

.....

That night was a sleepless night for many.

Danzo had died, and Root had been destroyed. Only a few ninjas who were on missions managed to escape.

The news spread quickly among the ninjas of Konoha. Many of them, who were enjoying the festival or resting, received urgent summons.

The shock was widespread.

Not only because of the destruction of Danzo and Root within Konoha but also because the person responsible for all this was one of their comrades.

Itachi Uchiha.

A large number of ninjas were mobilized to patrol the streets and search every corner of the village. Entire squads were sent to the Land of Fire to track down the culprit, with orders to capture him at all costs.

However, all this happened in the shadows.

Most of Konoha's civilians had no idea what was going on. Even some elders who had lived their entire lives in the village were unaware or completely ignorant of the existence of Root.

And Kuro, completely oblivious to the chaos, took a bath and went to sleep.

For him, whatever happened outside had nothing to do with his life.

.....

The next morning.

He woke up early and opened the window. Outside, a light rain was falling softly, forming small droplets that slid down the eaves and branches of the plum trees.

"It's raining a bit…."

He hated the rain, especially this light drizzle. It was annoying and made it difficult to go out and train.

Forget it, I'll practice with the sword in the dojo.

He changed his clothes, washed up, and prepared his breakfast with mechanical movements, still somewhat drowsy. Then, he began a new day of training.

---

Uchiha Residence

Sasuke was sitting in the hallway of the backyard, leaning against a pillar as he stared at the gray sky.

The light rain fell from the dark clouds, forming puddles on the ground in the yard.

Sasuke pressed his lips tightly together as his small clenched hand trembled from tension.

Last night, the village's ninjas came with shocking news.

They said that Itachi had killed Danzo, one of Konoha's leaders, and all the Root ninjas. That he had escaped from the village and was now considered a wanted traitor.

Sasuke couldn't believe it.

How could his brother, always so kind, commit such an act? How could he become a traitor who killed his comrades and betrayed Konoha?

What hurt him the most was his family's reaction.

His father and the other clan members accepted the news with a calmness as if they weren't surprised at all. Only his mother cried secretly when she was alone.

"How could this happen?!" Sasuke slammed his hand on the wooden board beside him, creating a sharp noise.

He remembered how, not long ago, Itachi would go out with him, teach him, and promise to guide him in his training.

Now, that image was crumbling in his mind.

His fists clenched so tightly that a faint cracking sound came from his hands. The veins on his forehead stood out as his expression twisted in anger and pain.

"Itachi... how could you do something like this?"

"Aren't you happy?"

Suddenly, a calm and serious voice broke the silence.

Sasuke quickly raised his head, surprised.

At one side of the hallway, his father, Fugaku Uchiha, stood with his arms crossed and a stern expression.

"Father!"

Fugaku stepped forward, keeping his tone firm.

"Itachi has brought dishonor to the clan. You must not follow in his footsteps."

"Father…" Sasuke bit his lip, trying to hold back his emotions. "Is it true what they say? Did my brother really do something like this?"

Fugaku sighed deeply.

"I went to the scene and investigated. Many of the Root ninjas showed signs of being under a Sharingan genjutsu. So far, only Itachi has that ability in Konoha. Additionally…" he looked toward the sky, his eyes heavy with fatigue, "The Hokage confirmed it personally."

Sasuke's body tensed. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his face filled with fury.

"Itachi... I won't let the clan's scum get away with this."

Fugaku observed him silently before speaking.

"Write this humiliation in your heart. Train, become stronger, and one day, cleanse the dishonor that Itachi has brought to the clan."

"I'll become stronger."

Fugaku looked at him approvingly.

"When the rain stops, come to the training field. I'll teach you clan techniques."

"Understood."

As Fugaku walked away, his eyes, usually firm and majestic in front of Sasuke, filled with melancholy.

He knew that behind Danzo and Root's destruction, there was more to it.

Although he couldn't confirm it, Fugaku suspected that the circumstances had forced Itachi into that decision.

---

March 1, Year 54, Konoha

Spring had arrived, bringing with it cherry blossoms in full bloom. A sweet fragrance filled the air, and Konoha's streets were surrounded by a sea of pink petals.

Countless children, five or six years old, were walking to the Ninja Academy, some alone and others accompanied by adults.

March marked the start of the school year, and today was the admission test day.

Around the Academy entrance, a crowd had gathered. The applicants waited anxiously as the staff organized them for the evaluation.

However, Kuro wasn't among them.

With a direct admission letter signed by the Hokage, he didn't need to take the exam or join the crowd.

He waited patiently under a large tree nearby, watching as the applicants gradually disappeared until the entrance was almost clear.

Only then did he approach the registration window and handed his letter to the teacher inside.

________

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