Chapter 88: Uchiha Kagami
Before parting ways with Team 7, Minato warned Liumu that missions like today's would become increasingly frequent.
Dejectedly, he returned home, only to see a man bearing the Uchiha fan emblem standing under a streetlamp not far from his door.
Approaching, the man gave Liumu a slight, polite nod and produced a letter from his ninja pouch.
"Tomorrow is the full-moon celebration for the clan head's son. The head has instructed me to deliver this invitation. He hopes you can attend."
Liumu: "..."
Son?
Full moon?
After a moment's confusion, realization struck.
Could it be… Itachi?!
But…
After the initial thrill, Liumu sent the messenger on his way, then began to wonder. Why would Fugaku, with whom his relationship was… complicated at best, extend an invitation now? Because he was Jiraiya's disciple? That didn't seem sufficient. Fugaku and Jiraiya weren't particularly close. With Jiraiya absent, if Fugaku wanted to curry favor, shouldn't he be inviting Minato? What was the logic behind inviting him?
Regardless, the invitation was here. Liumu had no reason to decline.
Itachi's full moon!
The Itachi everyone hoped for!
"Hurry up, Liumu! We still have to buy a gift!"
Early the next morning, Haku, experiencing her first full-moon ceremony, was buzzing with excitement. She'd been up before dawn, freshening up.
The night before, when Liumu told her he wanted her to accompany him to Uchiha Fugaku's child's celebration, Haku had been so overjoyed she barely slept. Right before Liumu finally drifted off, she was still whispering in his ear, "What gift should we get?"
Liumu, eyes heavy with exhaustion, forced them open to see the pitch black outside his window and felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
Unable to withstand Haku's insistent prodding, he dragged himself out of bed like a zombie. After a perfunctory wash, Haku wouldn't even let him cook breakfast.
"Let's eat out! We can go choose the gift right after!"
Full-moon ceremonies were nothing new to Liumu. In his past life, having avoided the "marriage grave" for a long time, he'd often served as best man for friends. Over time, he hadn't missed a single one of their children's full-moon parties.
But for Haku, this was a first. So when it came to choosing the gift, Liumu let her take the lead.
Finally, the two arrived at the Uchiha district and headed straight for Fugaku's residence.
As clan head, Fugaku's home wasn't as grandiose as Liumu imagined. In fact, the warmly decorated small courtyard felt more like an ordinary, cozy family home.
After presenting the invitation, they were shown to the main hall.
"The clan head will be with you shortly. Please wait here."
Liumu didn't recognize the woman who spoke. After setting their gift to the side, he and Haku sat down calmly.
The courtyard was already filling with guests, most of them members of the Konoha Military Police Force. Representatives sent by Konoha's various clans to offer congratulations gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere, however, wasn't as relaxed as one might expect.
"Liumu!"
Just then, Fugaku entered through a side door, holding a child bundled in a light blue quilt.
Hearing his name, Liumu stood. "Congratulations, Clan Head Fugaku, on the birth of your precious son," he said, offering the gift.
Fugaku smiled, handed the child to the woman behind him, glanced at Haku beside Liumu, and said, "Might we speak privately in the side room?"
Liumu nodded, giving Haku a look. Haku, who seemed to adore children, understood and stepped forward to follow the woman cooing over the baby.
Once inside the side room with the door closed, Liumu and Fugaku sat facing each other.
"Congratulations on your promotion to Special Jonin," Fugaku began, his expression genuinely pleased. "To reach such a rank at your age… you are the first in all of Konoha's history."
"You flatter me," Liumu replied, uncomfortable with such praise. He cut to the chase. "Clan Head Fugaku asked me here today. There must be something you wish to discuss."
Though only in his early teens, Liumu's mature demeanor put Fugaku on guard, as if speaking with a peer.
Fugaku's smile faded slightly. "Since you're direct, Liumu, I'll be forthright as well." He leaned forward. "I heard you saved a member of our Uchiha clan, Izumi, from Kirigakure ninja yesterday?"
"I would save any Konoha shinobi in that situation. It has nothing to do with clan," Liumu stated plainly, unconcerned if his bluntness might offend.
"Nevertheless, he was saved. I must thank you on behalf of his parents." Fugaku gave a sincere, slight bow. There was no pretense in it. As shinobi, even Uchiha with their Sharingan were not immune to death. When everyone wore a forehead protector, mortality was never far away. Izumi was one of the Uchiha clan's rare talents. His death would have been a profound loss.
However, Fugaku's reason for summoning him today surely went beyond mere thanks.
Seeing Fugaku's solemn expression…
"Oh, by the way, has Clan Head Fugaku chosen a name for the child yet?"
At this, Fugaku's brow, which had been slightly furrowed, relaxed into a smile. "Indeed. We decided on a name while Mikoto was still pregnant. Itachi. Uchiha Itachi."
"Itachi…" Liumu repeated the name with a knowing smile, saying nothing more.
He waited, allowing Fugaku to steer the conversation. Sure enough, after a prolonged silence following the discussion of Itachi's name, Fugaku's expression grew grave. "Actually, there is a matter I must ask of you today."
"Me?" Liumu raised an eyebrow. "I'm just an ordinary shinobi. What could you possibly need from me?"
"I want you to look after someone for me."
Liumu: "..." Now he was truly bewildered.
Fugaku offered a bitter smile, shifted his legs slightly, and cast a wary glance at the door before speaking in a lowered voice. "Have you heard the name… Uchiha Kagami?"
"Uchiha Kagami?" Liumu tilted his head in thought, then nodded slowly. "Wasn't he a member of the Second Hokage's guard squad?"
"Correct. But he is… deceased." As Fugaku said this, a flash of unconcealable, icy murderous intent flickered in his eyes, gone as quickly as it appeared. "I dare say, Kagami loved this village more than anyone."
Uchiha Kagami—once a comrade of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō on the Second Hokage's guard. Though scarcely mentioned in the original history, the rare glimpses of his memory hinted at a man of significant strength and profound loyalty.
(End of Chapter)
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