Chapter 105: The Reunion of Elder Brother and Younger Brother

At this moment, Naruto wasn't concerned with who the enemy the Uchiha clan would face. It couldn't be said that he completely didn't care; it was just that there were too many enemies, and he needed to focus his energy on dealing with the most urgent one right now. Those aliens and such were still too far away for them.

No one knew when the distant Uchiha clan and the enemies they faced would arrive here. Instead of wasting time and effort on those distant enemies, it was better to focus on solid ground, step by step completing the tasks at hand.

After exchanging information, Itachi bid farewell to Naruto.

Itachi's figure slipped into the mottled shadows of the narrow alleys in Konohagakure Village, but after only a few steps he suddenly halted.

"It has been a long time since we last saw each other, Sasuke."

Itachi spoke softly without turning around, addressing the figure concealed high in the shadows.

"To approach me so silently, even without my notice, Sasuke... you've grown considerably. Perhaps now you are already stronger than I."

In the high shadows, Sasuke's form slowly materialized.

"Brother, why not remain? Would it not be better to stay with your companions?" Sasuke urged. "I now possess both strength and wealth. In the Land of Rivers I hold my own territory, which can serve as our new clan homeland. Regardless of the foe, numbers prevail over scarcity. Our two brothers together with Naruto and Orochimaru's aid leave no reason for failure against any opponent."

Itachi fell silent for a long time before sighing deeply.

"Sasuke, seeing you reach this point fills me with genuine joy. In every respect, you have surpassed me." His voice was low and measured. "Yet the consequences tied to the Shell Organization are my own doing. I have no right to entangle my troubles with yours..."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Sasuke cut him off sharply. "We are brothers—your troubles are mine. You provoked enemies; how could I possibly evade them? Listen to yourself! In my memory, brother, you were never such a naive fool."

Itachi continued slowly, "Then treat me as a dead ghost consumed by utter foolishness. Sasuke, pursue what you must. The troubles I created, I will resolve alone."

With that, Itachi's form dissolved into a swarm of crows, scattering across the sky and vanishing.

"Hmph, such a stubborn fool," Sasuke muttered in displeasure and likewise disappeared.

The following morning, soft sunlight bathed the earth in gentle warmth. The three members of the seventh squad—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—had assembled at the designated spot and now set off together toward the Chunin Exam venue.

Today marked the first day of the Chunin Exams. The morning sun shimmered like threads of gold, filtering through the leaves and casting a dreamlike glow over the world.

When they reached the meeting point, a crowd of other ninja candidates had already gathered. The atmosphere buzzed with lively chatter, more animated than the busiest market. Everyone discussed the coming trials, some brimming with confidence and others showing subtle tension.

Sasuke frowned and scanned the throng, then voiced his confusion. "Where's Kakashi?"

He turned his head, carefully surveying the surroundings. Other teams had their jonin instructors escorting them, the teachers either stern or quietly advising their students. Yet the seventh squad showed no sign of Kakashi-sensei.

At that instant, Sakura, encased in her custom chakra-powered armor, spoke in a muffled tone.

The armor towered two or three meters high and radiated an imposing presence. "Kakashi-sensei did not attend. Following the recommendation a few days past, he declared his duties complete and went to rest..."

Sasuke stared at her in bewilderment, examining the strange armor from top to bottom before exclaiming, "Sakura, what on earth is this? Why speak in such an archaic, antiquated manner?"

Sakura indeed looked peculiar. She had donned this oversized armor and now used archaic vocabulary and grammar, as if she had stepped from another era.

Sakura lifted the heavy arm guard slightly and touched her helmet, still speaking in the same muffled voice.

"Sorry, I know nothing of this circumstance..."

Naruto shrugged beside them and chuckled. "Girls hit the age of chuunibyou! She commissioned this chakra-powered armor from me. I warned her that spear guards are all stiff, serious, and upright types. She must have immersed herself too deeply and started imitating their ancient speech patterns."

As he spoke, Naruto stepped forward and patted the armor at Sakura's waist. "You should come out already! Wearing this, you can't even walk through a doorway—how inconvenient!"

Sakura tried to protest, but before she could finish, Naruto interrupted. "No more of that. Didn't you read the exam guidelines? The first round is a written test. How are you supposed to take it in that armor?"

After considering Naruto's words, Sakura realized they made sense. She finally agreed, slipped out of the armor, and wiped sweat from her brow.

"Oh, this armor is so hot," she said, her voice now normal again.

"Speaking of which, where on earth did Kakashi disappear to?"

Sasuke frowned, still haunted by the question. "After he recommended us for the Chunin Exams that day, he vanished like smoke. I haven't seen him since. What was he doing?"

Naruto scratched his head and smiled. "He went to get rich. After we returned from the Land of Rivers, he turned our house upside down. He actually unearthed several land deeds and even a letter of pacification."

"On the day we registered for the exam, he rushed off to check the family's land. Now he's using the savings he and his father accumulated over the years to order all sorts of machinery in the Land of Rivers' factories."

Naruto shook his head faintly, amused by Kakashi's antics.

He had never imagined the Uchiha ancestors were once samurai. Though the family had served as ninjas for a hundred years, the samurai lineage remained untouched.

The letter of pacification had been granted by the daimyo of the Land of Fire after he seized control of the land.

"I truly don't understand it. They could have lived comfortably as landowners—why become ninjas?"

This was Kakashi's own words.

Kakashi had been overjoyed with his land deed and pacification letter, eagerly heading to inspect his territory.

A few days earlier, he had sent a letter stating that although the land still existed, it had lain fallow for too long and needed reclamation.

Yet Naruto knew Kakashi's refusal to be a ninja was merely a jest. He would never easily abandon what he had now, least of all the profound bond he shared with the three students of the seventh squad.