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Uchiha Graveyard.
As the setting sun cast its fading light, the secluded graveyard grew dim. Itachi lit a candle and bent over his desk by the window, writing intently.
"It’s been a while, Itachi."
A figure appeared soundlessly outside the window, its shadow stretching across the lattice.
"Not that long."
Itachi pushed the window open, glanced up at Kaito, then resud writing without another word.
"So, how’s your masterpiece coming along?" Kaito leaned casually against the windowsill. "After all, I did promise to help you publish it."
"It’s not finished yet."
Itachi set down his brush and began organizing the scattered manuscripts on the desk in order.
"Mind if I take a look?"
Kaito reached out a hand.
"Wait until it’s done."
Itachi weighed down the stack of papers with a few smooth river stones, blew out the candle, stood up, and closed the window.
"..."
Kaito stared at the abruptly shut window for a mont before turning toward the wooden door nearby. "How boring."
Itachi exited the small study, shut the door behind him, and walked silently toward another wooden house ant for living quarters.
Kaito chuckled and followed.
Before long, the interior of the small house was illuminated by the flas dancing in the hearth.
The two Uchiha sat around the fire, their eyes fixed on the kettle hanging from the ceiling.
After a long silence, Itachi spoke.
"Congratulations on your victory in the war against Akatsuki and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
"Wasn’t that inevitable?" Kaito replied. "You knew so of my preparations."
Itachi didn’t respond, rely staring silently at the flickering flas.
"Ah, you probably don’t know yet," Kaito continued unprompted. "I offered Kaguya and the Divine Tree as sacrifices to reopen the Yomi no Kuni, the Land of the Dead."
He turned his gaze toward the graveyard outside the window.
"Now, aside from those who have already reincarnated, the rest of the Uchiha clan reside in Yomi. Many of them have even found work under Enma, the King of Hell."
"Is that so?"
Itachi looked at Kaito, then suddenly spoke with solemn sincerity. "Thank you."
Kaito turned back to him and smiled. "Want to thank on behalf of the clan? That’s unnecessary—this was sothing I chose to do myself."
Itachi lowered his eyelids and fell silent again.
After what felt like an eternity, he spoke once more. "No. I’m thanking you for myself."
He raised his eyes to et Kaito’s, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. "Perhaps, after hearing this news, I’ll be able to sleep a little better."
Kaito didn’t comnt on that. Instead, he regarded Itachi with mild surprise. "You actually didn’t ask about Sasuke this ti?"
Itachi replied as if it were obvious. "Sasuke has grown up. Besides, you’re his only remaining elder relative now. I trust you’ll take care of him—no need for a brother he doesn’t acknowledge to ddle."
"Oh?"
Kaito’s expression turned even more astonished.
"You actually realized that? That’s... unexpected." He chuckled.
"You should’ve understood long ago—children need to grow independently. Guidance is fine, but you can’t mold them into whatever shape you want."
Itachi lowered his head again, silent.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Unfazed, Kaito continued, "Elders who do that just end up being hated. Like how I absolutely despise that old man of mine."
Itachi’s head seed to sink even lower.
’Hah. So this is the weakness of a brother-con?’
Kaito found this mildly amusing.
But as he took in Itachi’s thoroughly dejected deanor, he reconsidered.
’Well, better not push it. What if he actually breaks down?’
"Anyway, I just ca to check on your writing progress."
Kaito stood and walked outside, opening the door.
"I’ll visit again another ti."
With those words, his figure vanished without a trace.
A long while later, Itachi lifted his head and glanced at the now-empty doorway before silently rising to close the door.
---
anwhile...
"Welco to the Hyūga clan, Lord Kaito."
Guided by Hanabi at the forefront, the ever-busy Kaito stepped into the main residence of the Hyūga clan.
Thank goodness for autonomous paper clones.
This particular Kaito—a paper clone himself—sighed inwardly.
’If not for them, the real would be completely overwheld.’
Following the Hyūga clansn through the front courtyard and into the main hall, Kaito’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Lord Hiashi."
He removed his wooden sandals at the engawa and stepped onto the polished floor, facing the man seated formally inside.
"I didn’t expect to see you again so soon."
Kaito took a seat opposite Hiashi, kneeling properly.
"Father has acknowledged my capabilities as clan head, so I invited him to join us."
Hanabi took her place at the head of the room without hesitation.
After the trials of recent tis—especially the world-shaking war—the young girl who had once hastily assud leadership of the Hyūga clan now carried herself with far greater composure.
Hiashi offered no objection to his daughter’s words, rely nodding at Kaito with polite courtesy.
Kaito’s eyebrow twitched imperceptibly.
’So they’re really handing full authority to Hanabi?’
"Lord Kaito."
Hanabi bowed deeply toward him.
"I’ve invited you here today primarily to express the Hyūga clan’s gratitude for your assistance."
"You’re too kind, Lady Hanabi."
Kaito responded with sowhat awkward politeness.
Because...
He was well aware that his past sches regarding the Hyūga clan, while not malicious, hadn’t exactly been altruistic either.
When he first dangled the bait of a solution to the Caged Bird Seal, it had mostly been for his own amusent.
Later, after uncovering the secrets hidden within the seal, his focus had shifted to unraveling the mysteries of the moon.
Now, he couldn’t in good conscience accept their gratitude.
But he also knew that this eting wasn’t really about thanks.
It was about Neji’s Tenseigan.
Though Hanabi, being young, hadn’t participated in the war and might not grasp the full significance, those who had been to the moon—Hinata, Ruka, and Toka—likely already suspected sothing.
Moreover, during the battle in the Land of Rain, nurous Hyūga clansn had witnessed Neji’s ocular evolution and his newfound strength, now only slightly inferior to Sasuke and Naruto’s.
And then there was...
Kaito subtly observed Hiashi’s composed deanor from the corner of his eye.
This man is anything but simple.
With that in mind, Kaito maintained his calm facade, waiting for the other side to make the first move.
Yet what followed was an extended exchange of pleasantries and formalities.
Finally, as moonlight spilled into the room, Kaito—who had been carefully monitoring Hiashi the entire ti—noticed the man discreetly signaling his daughter.
"Lord Kaito," Hanabi began, adopting the tone of a junior seeking wisdom from an elder, though her next words were bluntly straightforward.
"I have one last question. Regarding my cousin Neji’s evolved eyes—though I didn’t see it myself, I’m deeply curious. Can the Byakugan advance like the Sharingan? Could you elaborate?"
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