As Itachi continued reflecting in front of the memorial stone, he sensed someone approaching. Realizing that someone else had come, he decided to step aside. After all, he had already paid his respects to the monument where the names of the shinobi who had given their lives for the village were engraved.
"Don't leave so quickly, young man. It would be nice if you accompanied this old man for a moment."
Hearing that voice, Itachi turned around and immediately recognized the person standing behind him.
"Hokage-sama!"
Itachi lowered his head almost instinctively. He was still a student at the Academy, and ever since he was young, he had constantly heard about the Will of Fire and the achievements of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, a man many considered the strongest Hokage of all time.
Hiruzen smiled slightly and gestured for him to raise his head.
"Tell me, young man. What do you think about this stone and the village?"
Although the question sounded completely innocent, Hiruzen carefully observed the child standing before him. Itachi was one of the most important heirs of the Uchiha Clan's new generation, and Hiruzen wanted to personally see what kind of mentality the boy was developing.
For an instant, an extremely faint killing intent appeared in the old man's eyes before disappearing just as quickly. It was so subtle that no one nearby noticed it, not even Itachi, despite being the one under that silent evaluation.
Itachi thought for a few seconds before answering.
"I believe the village is like one large family, Hokage-sama. Everyone should protect one another and, when necessary, sacrifice themselves for the village."
Hiruzen felt deeply satisfied upon hearing that answer. The Academy's education was working. The constant lessons about the Will of Fire, the teachers' speeches, and all the small changes he had introduced over the years were producing exactly the results he wanted. Even children born into the great clans were beginning to view the village as something greater than their own families.
"An excellent answer."
Hiruzen maintained his gentle smile.
"Even if that meant sacrificing your own family or clan?"
The question was asked so casually that it almost sounded like nothing more than another philosophical thought.
Itachi fell silent. At his young age, he was still deeply influenced by his parents, especially Fugaku, as well as by his identity as an Uchiha. Everything the Academy had taught him suddenly collided with what he felt toward his family. The village was important, but so were his father, his mother, and his clan. If the two ever came into conflict, which one was he supposed to choose?
Itachi didn't know how to answer.
Hiruzen watched his silence and, although his expression remained kind, he couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed inside.
"The Will of Fire still isn't strong enough to overcome his attachment to the clan."
He thought for a moment.
"It seems I'll have to increase the number of lessons about the Will of Fire at the Academy."
If Kiseki could have heard Hiruzen's thoughts, he probably would have started screaming. From his perspective, nearly half of what they were already taught somehow came back to the Will of Fire. If Hiruzen added even more, soon three quarters of the Academy curriculum would consist of explaining why shinobi should sacrifice themselves for Konoha.
Noticing Itachi becoming uncomfortable, Hiruzen gave a small laugh.
"Hahaha. Don't worry, young man. It was only a question. Tell me, what's your name?"
Itachi felt slightly relieved. Instinctively, he had wanted to answer that he would choose his family, but that contradicted too much of what his teachers told him every day. Not knowing what the Hokage expected him to say had left him completely stuck.
"My name is Itachi Uchiha, Hokage-sama."
This time there was a hint of excitement in his voice. After all, not every Academy student had the opportunity to have the Hokage personally ask their name, especially when, in Itachi's eyes, the man before him was still the legendary Third Hokage who had protected Konoha for decades.
"Itachi... that's a good name."
Hiruzen smiled and gently patted the boy's head.
"Actually, I asked your name because I've been hearing about a certain student who skips some classes and leaves a clone in his place."
Itachi's expression changed immediately. All the pride he had felt vanished, and he lowered his gaze in obvious embarrassment.
"Hokage-sama, I can explain."
Hiruzen simply remained silent and waited.
Itachi took a deep breath.
"I do it because I feel like the Academy can't teach me much anymore. I learn faster when I train alone in the forest."
Hiruzen already knew the reason. That was exactly why he had brought it up. He only wanted to see whether Itachi would tell him the truth directly or try to make up some excuse.
Hearing the honest answer, Hiruzen laughed with apparent satisfaction.
"Hahaha. Then tell me, Itachi. Would you like to graduate from the Academy early and officially become a shinobi of Konoha? You could let your Will of Fire shine and protect the entire village."
His voice was warm and majestic, exactly like the image of the Hokage that Itachi had learned to admire since childhood.
The boy's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
He answered firmly.
Hiruzen's smile widened.
"Very good. I'll speak with your teachers and arrange your graduation. I hope you'll become a great shinobi of Konoha one day."
"Yes!"
With that, Hiruzen turned around and began walking back toward the Hokage Building.
Itachi remained there watching him leave. In his eyes, the old man's figure seemed even more impressive than before. The Hokage had spoken to him personally, recognized his talent, and was now even willing to let him graduate ahead of the other students.
Itachi felt a renewed admiration for both the man and the village he represented.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen continued walking calmly as a small smile slowly formed on his face.
"Good..."
His expression remained gentle for anyone who happened to see him.
"A useful puppet for the future."
There was still one problem. Itachi possessed the Will of Fire, but his bond with his family and clan remained too strong.
That could be corrected.
"I can assign him missions and observe his potential more closely. If he proves to be as talented as he seems, I'll bring him into ANBU."
Hiruzen slowly began constructing the future in his mind. Itachi was the son of the Uchiha Clan leader and one of the clan's most promising members. If Hiruzen could influence him from an early age, he would eventually possess someone extremely important within the Uchiha who was firmly aligned with his own interests.
"With enough time, he'll learn to place the village above the clan."
His smile grew ever so slightly.
"Above his own family."
And naturally, within Hiruzen's own mentality, he himself would always remain at the top of that structure. After all, without him, what would become of Konoha?
From that moment onward, the influence surrounding Itachi's young mind would only continue to grow. The Academy's teachings, the Will of Fire, his future relationship with Shisui, and every experience he would go through would slowly mix together, creating conflicting loyalties between the village, the clan, and his family.
Years later, those ideas would eventually reach an extreme that the young Itachi standing before the memorial stone could not yet imagine.
The point where he would be willing to raise his own blade against his clan and his family.