Naruto: Blacksmith

On his way back, Itachi passed a few members of his clan.

But no one greeted him warmly.

Most only gave him a brief, almost mechanical nod, which technically counted as a greeting but lacked any goodwill.

Since Shisui's death, the clan's attitude toward him had shifted.

Many believed he had killed Shisui.

That, in his ambition, he had taken the life of his best friend to obtain his ocular technique.

Itachi felt the distrustful and resentful gazes but did not let them affect his heart.

Instead of anger or frustration, all he felt for them was pity.

They are so pitiful...

The Uchiha Clan within Konoha is no different from its individual members. They have tirelessly fulfilled their responsibilities as part of the village's military force, yet the result has been progressive isolation and constant suppression.

We are all broken creatures, trapped in the same misery.

No one is nobler than another.

No one is in a better position.

There is no reason to hold resentment.

…

Back at home, Itachi heard noise in the kitchen.

Through the paper door, he saw his mother Mikoto moving as she prepared something.

"Sasuke, have you come back already?" Mikoto asked sweetly from the kitchen.

"No, it's me," Itachi replied softly.

The door slid open abruptly, and Mikoto appeared with a spatula in hand and a radiant expression.

"Itachi!"

"ANBU work must be exhausting. Come, rest a bit. I'll prepare some tea for you."

Seeing the joy on his mother's face made something in Itachi's heart crack.

He wanted to refuse, to say he didn't have time, but the words stuck in his throat.

Finally, he nodded silently, removed his shoes, and knelt by the low table in the living room.

Mikoto quickly arrived with a teapot and a cup. She carefully poured the tea and placed the cup in front of him.

"Drink it quickly. It'll help warm you up."

"Mmm," Itachi nodded and took a sip.

The taste wasn't as refined as what his father prepared, but it had something special: warmth.

That warmth only a mother's love could provide.

He gently set the cup down on the table and, in a calm voice, asked, "Where is Father?"

"Out on patrol. He should be back soon."

"Good."

"Understood." Itachi sighed deeply as he stood up. "I'm a bit tired. I'll rest in my room for a while. I'll speak to him when he returns."

"Of course, go rest. Mom will make something delicious for dinner."

Itachi smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

…

In his room.

Upon entering, Itachi closed the door behind him and quickly activated his Sharingan to inspect every corner. Once certain there was nothing suspicious, he took out Shisui's crystal.

Without hesitation, he swallowed it.

The crystal seemed to dissolve within him, and a scarlet energy began spreading through his entire body, coursing through every cell.

But the pain came immediately.

A burning sensation consumed him from within. His blood felt like it was boiling, his chakra expanded uncontrollably, and his entire body trembled.

Itachi gasped, clenching his fists tightly as his Mangekyō Sharingan activated on its own.

The patterns in his eyes began spinning frantically, as if they were about to merge.

The Uchiha are born with chakra far superior to that of ordinary people. Though it doesn't compare to the Senju or Uzumaki, it surpasses other clans.

Shisui's crystal was strengthening Itachi's blood, and his chakra and ocular power were continuously increasing.

Slowly, Itachi's Mangekyō began spinning faster and faster.

"AAAAAHHH!"

A blood-curdling scream escaped his lips. Tears of blood streamed down his face, falling onto the wooden floor.

The pain was unbearable, especially in his head.

His chakra overflowed, and every fiber of his being felt like it was being reconstructed.

Gradually, the pain began to subside. His body calmed, and the Mangekyō in his eyes stopped spinning.

The patterns in his Mangekyō, which had previously been shaped like a three-bladed shuriken, had now transformed into a hexagonal design.

"Eternal Mangekyō…"

Itachi felt the overwhelming power in his eyes.

An immense power, almost impossible to describe, as if he were touching the edge of invincibility.

The most remarkable change wasn't just the strength of his vision but how his body seemed to have transformed.

Before, every time he used the Mangekyō, he felt an invisible weight crushing him, quickly exhausting him.

But now…

Although he hadn't tested it in battle yet, he could feel the difference. Using the Mangekyō still required effort, but it no longer inflicted devastating harm on his body.

"It works," he murmured, clenching his fists. "With these eyes, I'm more confident in resolving what I must do."

Feeling the physical changes and the power flowing through every fiber of his being, this new state not only strengthened him—it consumed him.

When he took the crystal, he thought it would simply replace his eyes with Shisui's. But what happened was far more profound: the powers of both Mangekyō combined, creating something entirely new, something superior.

"Itachi, your father's back. Come eat!"

His mother's voice snapped him out of his trance.

"I'm coming," he replied, sighing as he unclenched his fists.

…

The night deepened, and the snowstorm intensified.

From inside his house, Kuro listened to the wind and the tapping of snowflakes against the windows.

He returned his sword to its stand and walked to the paper door.

Slowly opening it, he let the cold wind and snow hit him. The icy air contrasted with his warm, sweaty body, sending a pleasant chill through him.

He closed his eyes, enjoying the refreshing sensation.

But when the cold began to seep into his bones, he shut the door.

"This damn weather is depressing."

After complaining, he grabbed a towel to dry off and headed to the kitchen. Days earlier, he had bought a good cut of meat and decided to prepare a tomahawk steak.

Living alone didn't mean neglecting himself.

A simple life didn't have to be boring, and he always sought to make it more enjoyable and fulfilling.

…

It was night. Kuro finished eating alone and went to bed.

The next morning.

The alarm clock rang promptly at six. Kuro opened his eyes and, after a sigh, sat up in bed.

He got dressed, walked to the desk, and opened the window. A soft scent greeted him: a plum blossom peeked in from outside.

The wind and snow had stopped, and the world outside was blanketed in white, peaceful and beautiful.

What a beautiful world…

Kuro thought as he stretched, marveling at the stillness of the landscape.

He then headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Afterward, he grabbed a large broom and got to work.

The snow accumulated in the yard and on the roof had to be cleared; if it melted and froze, it could cause damage.

After two hours of work under a clear sky, the yard and roof were clean. Exhausted, he put the broom away and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

However, as he passed near the dojo, he noticed something strange. A scroll lay at the entrance.

He picked it up, unrolled it, and examined it.

"Already finished?"

It contained a training plan Itachi had prepared for him.

For a moment, he doubted whether Itachi had rushed or done a superficial job. But he quickly dismissed the thought: this was Itachi.

That was unlikely.

The initial instructions were simple: Kuro was to focus on mastering the basics. Once he entered the Academy and participated in combat training courses, he could develop his own unique and effective style.

According to the plan, by reaching that point, his combat level would be comparable to that of a Chūnin.

Afterward, the next step would be to expand his knowledge in other areas, enabling him to handle a wider variety of situations. At that point, he could be considered an elite among Chūnin.

Only then would it make sense to focus on ninjutsu to advance to the level of a Jōnin.

However, the plan was clear: combat power wasn't everything. To truly be considered a Jōnin, he would need to complete missions and accumulate field experience.

________

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