Surrender without a fight?

Itachi's tone did not carry a hint of sarcasm, but the simple four words undoubtedly aroused the fighting spirit of the two Uchiha.

But soon, their fighting spirit was extinguished by Itachi's next words.

Is the focus not on the result, but on the improvement and perception of each other in the process?

This sentence sounded very ordinary, but whether it was Uchiha Qi and Uchiha Zencho who had not yet fought each other, or the Uchiha Zen who had already fought each other, they were all a little stunned by these words.

If someone else in the Uchiha said that, they might think it was boastful and contrived.

But when these words came out of the mouth of the ferret, and with the plain face from beginning to end, they felt very sincere.

The people of the Uchiha clan are generally a little arrogant in character, especially the clansmen who have become ninjas and those who have awakened the Sharingan, and their arrogance will become more and more arrogant as their strength increases.

Even when friends talk to each other, they will occasionally taunt each other, compete with each other's strengths, perform tasks, and so on......

These things are something that the Uchiha themselves are aware of, but it's like a family tradition, and in this way it inspires each other to grow as quickly as possible.

But at the age of five, Itachi easily defeated these few shinobi of them, and he didn't look arrogant at all.

He was humble and polite......

……

"Itachi, do you usually practice alone?"

Approaching late at night, Itachi accompanied Uchiha Hui and others to have a simple treatment at Konoha Hospital, and then prepared to have a supper together.

On the way, Uchiha Zen asked Itachi with some curiosity, "Because my father is also a member of the Konoha Garrison, I have heard him mention it." ”

"In order to be on duty, the patriarch often lives in the Konoha garrison and does not go home."

Itachi nodded, "Well, my father's work is very busy. ”

He didn't explain much, just replied casually.

"Huh?"

Rin Uchiha, whose arms were wrapped in bandages, looked at Itachi with some surprise, "So...... Itachi, did you grope on your own and become so strong? ”

Itachi pondered for a moment, "Although my father didn't have time to teach me, he had a lot of books and scrolls in the house. ”

"Then it's still self-taught."

Several people looked at the weasel with some admiration.

Each of them had a brief sparring with Itachi, and the result was ......

Older and successfully graduated from ninja school, they were easily knocked out by Itachi.

Even from the beginning to the end, they did not have a chance to launch an effective offensive against the ferrets.

And that includes Uchiha Teru.

Originally, he didn't want to fight, but under the forced gaze of Itachi, he had to go on the field and became the most complicated injury among the several people.

His injuries were all on his face.

Compared to Rin Uchiha, who had a broken hand, Hui's cheeks looked a little blue and swollen even if they were treated.

"But there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

At this point, Itachi stopped and looked at them with some solemnity.

Uchiha Zen and the others also stopped.

"Don't, don't, if there's anything you want us to help with, just ask."

Among them, Uchiha Hui waved his hand, "As long as we can help, we will do our best." ”

The others nodded and agreed with Hui's statement.

Anyway, after experiencing these sparring sessions, they were very impressed by Itachi's strength and talent.

In Uchiha, strong people are always easy to be respected, not to mention Itachi's performance has always been so ...... is gentle and elegant, and every word and deed makes them feel as beautiful as a spring breeze.

Even the usual relatively mean and sarcastic words, now in front of the ferret, they are a little speechless.

Itachi looked at them calmly, "I hope you can help me keep it a secret and not publicize my strength too much." ”

Keeping it a secret?

"Why?"

Uchiha Teru was the first to ask, "Don't you want to show your strength in the clan and be respected?" ”

He was a little puzzled.

And so it is for everyone else.

If Itachi has such strength, they can't wait to set up a ring in the Uchiha and challenge the heroes of their peers in the clan with great fanfare.

After all, in Uchiha, only strength can be respected, and only strength can win status.

"Strength is not the only reason for gaining the respect of others, it is just a condition for it."

Itachi thought for a moment, "Anyway, I hope you can help me keep a secret, or...... This can also be an engagement between us. ”

"If you defeat me one day in the middle of the sparring practice, then you don't need to help me keep it a secret."

"On the other hand, if you can't defeat me, then please help me keep this secret until I don't want to show myself."

Although he rarely had close friendships with the people in the clan, he was still well aware of some of the customs in the clan.

Therefore, instead of asking them to help keep the secret at the beginning, Itachi waited until he had subdued them with his strength now.

As for Itachi's request, although Uchiha Zen and the others couldn't understand it, they still chose to agree.

After all...... They lost to Itachi.

"Wait...... What does that mean, can we still practice with you in the future? ”

Suddenly, Rin Uchiha grasped some of the points in his words.

"Of course."

Itachi nodded, "You guys are very experienced, and I have seen many different tactics. ”

"If we can do a little more sparring with everyone, we can improve each other."

"If that's the case, why should I refuse?"

He doesn't want to expose his strength, so there are fewer and fewer people to fight against.

Aside from Uchiha Teru, these people who know their strength are the best sparring partners.

"Then ...... tomorrow"

Uchiha looked at him hesitantly.

"Tomorrow I will practice in the forest on the outskirts of Konoha and you can come with Hui at the specific location."

Itachi replied casually.

While speaking, they had come to the junction of the outer and inner perimeters of Konoha .

This food street is so lively day and night.

I found a ramen restaurant casually, and Uchiha Zen waved his hand to say that he was in for a treat today.

Immediately afterwards, the group ate until the early hours of the morning before hurrying back to the clan land.

They dispersed, and they went home.

And on the way home, Uchiha Zen and the others were a little complicated in their hearts.

In just one night, the ferret was no longer a child's image in their eyes.

On the contrary, his mature posture and tone made them have a solemnity and seriousness when facing their elders when talking to him.

Especially Uchiha Zen.

He was the oldest and most experienced of the people, so he saw a lot of things that Hui and the others had not studied in detail.

"Father, Uncle Aomon."

Back at home, Uchiha Zen saw his father sitting in the wooden aisle between the courtyards with a grim-looking man.

The expressions on their faces were all melancholy, as if they were in a very low mood.

"Why is it so late?"

Uchiha Maji frowned and looked at Uchiha Zen, who was applying burn ointment on his body, "Are you injured?" ”

"For the rest of the day, our team plans to rest for a while."

Uchiha Zen respectfully explained, "So I got together with Hui and the others, and we practiced sparring together, and I got a little burned in the process. ”

"It's good to get together more."

Uchiha Aoto took another sip of wine, "You boys, it's almost time to enter the guard team and take up your duties, don't follow those people in Konoha anymore." ”

Uchiha Zen's heart tightened, "I'm going to apply for the assessment of the middle ninja after a while, so ......"

"Okay, okay, I didn't let you leave the team now."

Uchiha Maji waved his hand, "Go in, don't bother me drinking with your Uncle Aoto." ”

"Father's ......"

Uchiha Zen suddenly thought of something and looked at Maji.

But he opened his mouth, and finally gave up the thought in his mind, "Okay, you can rest early, too." ”