"Is the life of a leaf… only meant to return to its roots?"
Uchiha Itachi lowered his head.
Looking at the cherry blossom petals scattered on the ground, he murmured unconsciously.
"Itachi."
Uchiha Ryu spoke lightly, pulling Itachi back to reality.
"Ah! Uncle—sorry!"
Itachi was startled and quickly apologized.
"Thinking too much only brings trouble," Ryu said calmly.
"It's been a while since I tested your strength."
"Let me see how strong you've become."
Ryu took a few steps back, then lightly hooked his finger at Itachi.
"Alright, Uncle!"
Itachi nodded seriously.
Without hesitation, he instantly drew a kunai from his pouch and threw it straight at Ryu.
Seeing the kunai flying toward him, Ryu smiled faintly.
He slowly raised his right hand.
Just as the kunai was about to hit him—
Ryu's index finger opened.
In the next instant, his finger slipped perfectly through the ring at the end of the kunai's handle.
The kunai stopped dead in midair.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
Suddenly, three more kunai flew toward Ryu at high speed.
Ryu gently rotated the kunai in his hand, held it firmly, and flicked his wrist.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Three crisp sounds rang out as metal collided.
All three kunai were knocked aside.
Seeing his long-range attacks fail, Itachi didn't lose heart.
He pulled out another kunai and rushed straight toward Ryu.
"Haha…"
Ryu chuckled softly.
His body didn't move at all.
He even closed his eyes.
In the next moment, Itachi was already in front of him.
He leapt into the air and slashed the kunai toward Ryu's neck.
Whoosh!
The kunai sliced through the air—
And missed.
Without pausing, Itachi swung again midair.
Yet it was as if Ryu could see the future.
He casually avoided every strike.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
All three attacks missed completely.
Just as Itachi was about to land—
Ryu suddenly opened his eyes.
His arm shot out, instantly grabbing Itachi's ankle.
With a slight twist of his wrist—
"Ah!"
Itachi's vision spun.
The world flipped upside down.
In the next moment, he was hanging in the air by one ankle.
"Well done," Ryu said approvingly.
"You've grown much stronger during this time."
He gently lowered Itachi back to the ground.
After steadying himself, Itachi shook his head.
"Compared to you, Uncle… I'm still far behind."
He had given it everything he had.
Yet in front of Ryu, it hadn't been enough.
"Hahaha…"
"You're the future genius of the Uchiha," Ryu said warmly.
"One day, you'll surpass me."
He rubbed Itachi's head gently.
"Well then, Itachi. I should be going."
Ryu looked at the boy, whose eyes had regained their spark.
He knew that something inside Itachi had already changed.
Without saying anything more, he gave a final nod and quietly left.
After watching Ryu disappear, Itachi looked down at the cherry blossom petals beneath his feet.
After a long moment, he whispered softly,
"Is the life of a leaf… only meant to return to its roots?"
That day was special for Uchiha Itachi.
It was a deeply shocking day.
And also a strangely joyful one.
Two heavy knots that had troubled him for a long time had nearly been untied by his uncle.
Regarding war—
He still didn't fully understand his uncle's explanation.
But at least, he had been given a direction to think toward.
As for the meaning of life—
His uncle had given him a sentence he couldn't yet comprehend.
He didn't understand it now.
But he felt it mattered.
As he stood there, Itachi slowly recalled what his uncle had taught him since childhood.
Uchiha Ryu had always told him—
Put yourself and your family first.
Anyone who harms you or your family is an enemy.
Thinking of this, Itachi felt conflicted again.
Because not long ago, Uchiha Shisui had taught him something entirely different—
That the interests of the village must come first.
Even if it meant sacrificing himself.
Even if it meant sacrificing the Uchiha.
Both viewpoints seemed reasonable.
Yet they directly contradicted each other.
Itachi fell into even deeper confusion.
That day, he stood beneath the cherry tree.
He spoke to no one.
His body barely moved.
From day to night—
He remained there.
Only when darkness fully descended did Itachi finally return home.
He lay on his bed for a long time before falling asleep.
The next morning—
Itachi left home early.
He stopped in front of a large mansion and waited quietly.
Bang.
The door opened from inside.
A handsome man wearing a green vest stepped out.
"Hm? Itachi?"
Ryu looked at the boy in front of him, surprised.
"Why are you here?"
"Uncle," Itachi replied respectfully, though he looked a bit exhausted,
"My father asked me to invite you to attend the Konoha Commendation Ceremony with him."
It was obvious he was still troubled by yesterday's thoughts.
"Alright," Ryu nodded.
"Let's go."
The two headed toward Uchiha Fugaku's home together.
Along the way, Itachi seemed like he wanted to say something several times—
But every time the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back.
"Itachi," Ryu said kindly while walking,
"If you have something to say, just say it."
"…Uncle," Itachi finally asked,
"Is the life of a leaf really only meant to return to its roots?"
This was the question that had haunted him all night.
Ryu had once said that falling leaves symbolized death.
So what Itachi truly wanted to ask was—
Is a person's life only meant for death?
"Haha… you really are something."
Ryu chuckled and lightly scolded him.
"Itachi, you're still a young sprout."
"It's far too early for you to ask that question."
With that, he stopped responding and continued walking ahead.
Itachi followed closely behind.
Before long, they arrived at the entrance of Uchiha Fugaku's home.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw a beautiful woman watering flowers and trees.
"Sister-in-law, we're here," Ryu said softly.
"Oh! Manye!"
Uchiha Mikoto looked overjoyed when she saw him.
"What are you standing there for? Come in!"