At the Bridge Builder's Home…
Itachi carried his former captain as the client offered his home to the Shinobi.
"Here there should be enough for you to be split into different rooms. Sorry, it's a little bit small." Tazuna apologized as he made it to the door.
"Think nothing of it. We are thankful for providing a roof over our heads while Kakashi heals." Itachi thanked though he did have enough money for them to stay in a room in a hotel somewhere.
Tsunami, the daughter of the bridge builder was a great help in getting Kakashi into bed as she and Itachi made dinner. She seemed very surprised that a ninja of his caliber would even know how to cook for himself. Such a man of talent, wealth, and fame shouldn't waste his time with trivialities such as chores.
"Well, I enjoy cooking, I like keeping my home tidy with food for me and my brother, and I think it will be good training for when I am wed," Itachi explained as he spotted the boy looking at him with distaste.
It seems that the village has lost hope and the belief in heroes.
As history shows, many heroes die violently, with no happy endings for them. So many were gone because they did the right thing, and this sad truth was instilled in Inari. But who knows? Maybe his beloved Naru will reignite the fire of hope in him and the entire city. She had always had a talent for doing that. Even when Itachi was at his lowest, from the day he lost his clan, most of his family, and his own arm, she was the one to reignite his heart and make him smile again.
It seemed she already made an impression as her rough attitude really surprised them.
He wondered how his former commander was doing as Sakura came downstairs.
"Kakashi Sensei is awake." She informed the group.
"Good, let us see how well he is. I have a feeling you all will need training soon and I would not mind substituting." Itachi informed them as they went up the stairs.
Yes, he had a feeling that they will need to prepare for the worst to come and it will come. From Itachi's experiences in these sorts of fields, it was going to be nasty.
Days later outside…
Kakashi finally recovered from his injuries and overuse of chakra as he and Itachi decided it would be best for the team to learn more abilities.
If the two returned, then they needed to be ready for them. Itachi was once an Ambu long ago and he knew a fake Hunter Nin when he saw one. The needles to kill were all wrong, they only imitate signs of death to escape. Meaning that this wasn't over yet. Once, those two were dealt with, Itachi will gather Gato (Dead or Alive) and the rest of his men before returning home with the others.
Though, the lesson Kakashi chose was one that the elder Uchiha questioned.
"Tree climbing? Shouldn't we attempt something better use for defensive capabilities?" Itachi questioned his comrade.
"It will provide chakra control and discipline. After all, were you not the one who thinks Naru can do anything once she controls her chakra?" Kakashi smoothly explained as Itachi knew better than that.
"And the fact that you are incredibly lazy, and you wish to catch up on your trashy novel you are often reading." Itachi pointed out as Kakashi tried to hide his book from the keen and eagle-eyed ninja that once served under him in their days of their Ambu Days.
"Oh, you're one to talk. I see how you look at that photo of Naru with that makeup she put on for her file." Kakashi countered as the elder Uchiha turned pink.
"What goes on between me and my future wife is none of your business. Besides, I would never do anything indecent to her. We must wait for our wedding night." The elder Uchiha scoffed as he refused to believe himself to be a pervert.
After all, he was destined to wed this girl.
Before they could continue any further in their heated and yet perverted conversation, it was time to teach the team. Itachi sat and watched as Kakashi gave a demonstration on how chakra can give you the ability to climb, trees, walls, and other surfaces without the use of your hands. This technique is proven useful during attacks that require tree battle and your hands, also to gain control over the chakra.
Sasuke could not conjure enough chakra to hold on.
Naru used too much and destroyed the tree.
Sakura was the only one to be able to fully complete the task and on her first try as well. It seemed all those prep lessons paid off for her. Good.
Itachi could tell this would be a competition for Sasuke and Naru on who would complete it next after Sakura taught Naru a few things. Maybe this will be the springboard for their friendship. Day after day, they trained endlessly and feasted faster than Itachi had ever seen them. He really needed to talk to both on the importance of manners and how to speed eating could lead to choking.
"You guys are doom. It's hopeless." Inari told them as Naru had enough and hit him over the head.
Again, Itachi needed to speak with her on that. Hitting people is not the best way to win them over. Though, she has proven otherwise. They learned Inari's story and how a man he saw as a father was burned away by Gato, leaving Itachi to debate whether or not to kill the man.
When he was alone, Itachi and Kakashi decided to speak with the crying boy.
"Why doesn't she quit? Why can't she see that you are all going to die?" He sniffed.
"We know what happened to your stepfather. I am sorry that you had to feel such pain." Itachi spoke as the boy sniffed.
"What can you or she know? That brat never lost anyone she loves." He countered at the two.
"Actually, she's lost everything."
The boy suddenly stopped and looked at Itachi and Kakashi.
"You have your mum and grandpa, but Naruto has never even met her family. They were all slain and she is the last of her clan. What was worse, the people of her village rejected her for something she can never help with. She had been alone since birth. She is even forced to marry others." Itachi explained.
"But she never cries," Kakashi added as Inari was stunned.
"No, she didn't. Instead, she rebuilt her family. She gained the Hokage's love, and mine, and others too through her dedication and hard work. She never loses hope, and she becomes the inspiration of others. The Hokage even gave her a chance to find love, to marry at least three before she becomes eighteen. Naruto learns to never give up. That is her way."
Then they left him alone to think.
The next days…
Itachi was proud that the two of them had finally mastered the skill, but Naru was completely asleep by exhaustion.
They left her in the family's care, though Itachi did not wish to, there was no other choice. As they were traveling with the bridge builder, Itachi noticed that Sasuke's disposition had changed. It seemed he and his bride finally made the connection. Sasuke must have noticed the look on his brother's face as he blushed and scoffed, turning his head away.