Naruto: Blacksmith

"Agreed!"

Being a ninja isn't just about strength; missions are often unpredictable, and the situations can be as varied as they are dangerous.

That's why a ninja needs more than brute force.

Geography, reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, traps, psychology—everything counts.

A ninja must master a wide range of skills and knowledge.

Without these tools, even the strongest ninja can find themselves in situations where their power is useless.

And when that happens, mission failure is the least of their worries; they will likely end up dead at the hands of a weaker but smarter enemy.

A ninja's battle is never a simple exchange of blows. It is a constant struggle of wits, strategy, and, of course, strength.

Sure, if you have overwhelming power, you can ignore all of this. But even Madara, with strength rivaling the Sage of Six Paths, was betrayed and defeated by Black Zetsu's cunning.

Kuro understands this.

He has never dreamed of becoming invincible by relying solely on brute strength.

"Good," Itachi nodded. "Is there anything else? If not, I'll leave."

"Are you not going to use the crystal here?" Kuro asked.

Itachi smiled but didn't answer.

Suddenly, cracks began forming on his face, spreading across his body as if it were made of fragile glass.

Not just his body—the entire room around him, with him at the center, began to fracture.

Crack… Bang!

The world shattered, like a window splintering into pieces.

Kuro blinked, finding himself staring at the closed door. He glanced down to see a scroll lying at his feet.

"Tsukuyomi…"

He understood what had just happened.

Itachi had drawn him into his spirit-created illusionary space. Within the Tsukuyomi, time flowed differently; what felt like hours inside passed as mere moments in the real world.

A perfect technique for discussing secrets without anyone else knowing.

But… when did he cast it?

Kuro mentally reviewed every moment from Itachi's arrival to his departure until he finally pinpointed it: the instant Itachi activated his Mangekyō to inspect the two objects.

"That bastard… he read me like a book." Kuro clenched his fists in frustration.

He knew Itachi well enough to be certain he wouldn't harm him. But it was clear that Itachi had exploited a momentary lapse in Kuro's focus to trap him in Tsukuyomi unnoticed.

Although he hadn't suffered physically, this incident made one thing clear: if the time ever came to face Itachi in battle, even with a Mangekyō of his own, the odds would be against him if he lost the initiative.

For the first time, he felt the extent of his shortcomings.

Although he possessed the strength and speed of a Jōnin thanks to the "Kurama Ring," and his "Red Lenses" compensated for a lack of reflexes, he lacked real combat experience, tactical awareness, and true crisis anticipation.

A ninja's battle is never just about strength.

"There's still a long way to go…" he murmured, exhaling deeply.

Resigned, he picked up the scroll from the floor and unrolled it.

It was a message from Itachi containing suggestions for his training.

The content was clear: Kuro needed to stop trying to master everything at once.

Though his training capacity in half a day equaled two days for a normal person, dividing his focus among multiple disciplines would only make him less effective.

Moreover, his physical condition was nearing its limit for his age. If he didn't adjust his training, he risked overloading his body and stunting his growth.

Itachi's words were direct:

"If you don't plan to specialize in Taijutsu, maintain proper physical training and focus on acquiring practical knowledge and skills. My advice is to perfect your weapon usage before moving on to other areas."

Kuro nodded.

"In that case… I'll start with shuriken and swordsmanship!"

Kuro agreed with Itachi's suggestion.

Though Itachi had pointed it out, Kuro was already aware that his progress in other areas was stagnating.

It was time to focus on mastering one set of skills at a time, perfecting them to their fullest.

Closing the scroll, he stood up and walked to the wall where he kept his samurai sword. He took it firmly from its stand and began practicing basic movements.

Ninja swordsmanship doesn't rely on complicated or flashy techniques. Its essence lies in simple movements: holding the sword, drawing it, and striking with precision.

Every ninja must master these fundamentals before adapting them to real combat, using accumulated experience to create a unique style.

"One, two… one, two…" he murmured as he swung the sword, keeping a steady rhythm.

With each strike, his clothes became drenched in sweat.

…

After leaving Kuro's residence, Itachi ventured into a secluded part of the forest. There, he donned his cloak and carefully adjusted his mask over his face.

Once ready, he returned to the bustling street and headed toward the Uchiha district.

As he walked, his mind was preoccupied.

The Kotoamatsukami…

How to use this powerful ocular technique to resolve the conflict between his clan and the village.

Since Shisui entrusted him with his Mangekyō Sharingan and explained the scope of the Kotoamatsukami, Itachi had considered using the ability to end the tensions on multiple occasions.

But there was a problem: possessing only one of Shisui's eyes meant the technique could only be used on a single target.

So far, he hadn't found a viable way to apply the Kotoamatsukami to resolve the dispute.

However, the crystal Kuro gave him could change everything. If it allowed him to fully unlock the power of the Mangekyō…

Itachi already had a preliminary plan in mind.

Though it was still an initial idea, he could work on the details and refine it over time.

"Onii-chan, you're back!"

A child's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Itachi looked up to see Sasuke running toward him excitedly.

His younger brother wore a black long-sleeved shirt and shorts, his face radiant with joy. His black eyes and hair accentuated his youthful yet defined features.

Itachi stopped, surprised to realize he had already reached the Uchiha district without noticing.

Seeing Sasuke, his tension eased. He opened his arms to catch him as the boy leapt toward him.

"It's cold, Sasuke. Why are you wearing so little?"

"I was training, so I'm not cold at all." Sasuke clenched his fists and looked at him expectantly. "Onii-chan, train with me! I want to be a ninja as strong as you!"

A faint smile crossed Itachi's face as he ruffled Sasuke's hair affectionately.

"Your brother has important things to do now. But I promise we'll train when I'm done."

"That's what you said last time!" Sasuke protested, frowning in visible frustration.

Itachi observed him, his heart torn between his duty and his love for his brother.

But memories of the conflict between his clan and the village, Shisui's death, and Kuro's crystal weighed heavily on him.

His eyes suddenly hardened with determination.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke. Next time."

Carefully, he tapped Sasuke's forehead with two fingers.

"Ouch!" Sasuke rubbed his forehead, looking at him with grievance and tears welling in his eyes.

But his brother's warm, reassuring smile dissolved the discomfort in his heart.

Then he stepped back, regaining his enthusiasm.

"Then I'll train on my own. I won't dishonor the Uchiha name!"

With those words, he turned and ran toward the training ground in the backyard.

Itachi watched him silently until he disappeared from view.

Sasuke's carefree innocence contrasted painfully with the burden he carried.

His smile, which had remained steady until then, began to fade. His relaxed hand slowly clenched into a tight fist.

"…I must protect it all."

________

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