Naruto: Becoming Stronger through Bonds

Chapter 6: Conflict

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"Ervin, the purpose of the shuriken training class is to improve your throwing accuracy. Wouldn't it be meaningless to rely on detonating talismans?"

Despite Ervin's influential background, Kazama couldn't help but lecture him.

Detonating talismans were not cheap. Each one cost about 300 ryō, and during wartime, prices rose further due to material shortages.

For context, 300 ryō could buy three bowls of Ichiraku ramen—a non-trivial expense. Most ninjas carried only a modest amount of ryō during missions, and equipping each shuriken with a detonating talisman would be outrageously extravagant. In fact, the cost could easily outstrip the earnings from the mission itself.

Shimura waved dismissively. "Teacher, as long as the goal is achieved, the method doesn't matter. It's just a detonating talisman—I can afford tens of thousands of them."

Kazama was left speechless, his words caught in his throat. The rest of the class, meanwhile, was stunned by Ervin's casual display of wealth.

[Host establishes a bond with Kazama Shuichi: "I have a rich student" and receives the reward: "Earth Attribute Chakra (Good)"]

[Host establishes a fear bond with Classmate A and receives the reward: "0.1 Standard Genin Chakra"]

[Host achieves a speechless bond with Classmate B and receives the reward: "Swordsmanship Talent (Normal)"]

The system prompts rang out one after another, and Ervin's eyes narrowed with satisfaction.

Of course, he had already mastered the art of throwing shuriken, and his accuracy was quite good.

But to make himself stronger and leave a lasting impression on others, Ervin occasionally resorted to dramatic, unconventional methods.

By now, he had nearly completed all the first-stage bonds in the class.

Except for one.

Ervin glanced at the ever-expressionless Itachi, narrowing his eyes slightly.

As expected of someone who started contemplating the meaning of life at four years old. His emotional stability is off the charts.

---

In the blink of an eye, the school day ended.

Ervin and Izumi walked out of the school gates together. Invited by Izumi, Ervin was on his way to her house for dinner.

The two chatted and laughed along the way, paying no attention to Itachi, who silently followed behind them.

Ervin was well aware of Izumi's family situation, which wasn't exactly ideal.

Izumi's father had been a foreign ninja and a son-in-law to the Uchiha clan. He died protecting her during the Nine Tails Rebellion.

Her mother, an ordinary Uchiha, was only a Chūnin and hadn't even awakened the Sharingan.

Clans like Uchiha and Hyūga typically prioritized preserving their bloodline through intermarriage. If Izumi's father hadn't been a son-in-law, there wouldn't have been any possibility for him to join the clan. Even so, the rest of the Uchiha clan treated Izumi's family coldly and frequently ostracized them.

When the trio arrived at the Uchiha compound, they were stopped by two Uchiha clan members standing guard at the entrance.

"Stop! This is Uchiha territory. Outsiders are not allowed to enter!"

The two guards, standing like stone-faced sentinels, stretched out their arms to block Ervin and Izumi. Their expressions were arrogant, radiating an air of superiority that could rival even the third Hokage or Madara's disciples.

No wonder the Uchiha clan has such a terrible reputation.

In addition to the fear and subtle actions of the higher-ups, the Uchiha had many faults of their own. They looked down on others, treating the rest of the village as if they were trash compared to themselves.

Who could like such people?

"Senpai, Ervin is my friend," Izumi said hurriedly. The two guards, however, shook their heads coldly. "Rules are rules. You can go in alone."

Ervin chuckled. "For those who know, Uchiha is part of Konoha. For those who don't, it might seem like Konoha belongs to the Uchiha. I can walk into the Hokage's office whenever I want. Are you trying to be independent?"

The guards' expressions darkened, and even Itachi, who had just arrived, frowned slightly.

Before anyone could respond, a deep, authoritative voice rang out from the gate:

"This young friend must be joking. Uchiha is naturally part of Konoha, and friends are always welcome to visit."

The guards turned to see the speaker. Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads as they bowed respectfully.

"Clan leader Fugaku."

"Father," Itachi greeted as he stepped closer.

Fugaku nodded briefly at his son, then ignored the guards entirely. He walked over to Ervin and Izumi, offering a warm smile.

"You must be Ervin," Fugaku said softly. "I've heard Itachi mention you often. Welcome to the Uchiha clan."

"Really welcome?" Ervin tilted his head, his face full of childish confusion. "Then why were these uncles so fierce?"

"They misunderstood my instructions," Fugaku replied smoothly. "The guards are here to identify spies, not to stop friends."

"Tsk." Ervin shook his head with a sigh. "What's the use of subordinates who can't even follow orders? You should let my grandfather train them for a few days. I promise they'll obey you perfectly after that. He's very good at this."

Fugaku's smile froze.

Let Danzo train them?

He could already imagine the result—these two guards would likely return blind or otherwise incapacitated "for various reasons."

"Don't worry, young master Ervin. I will discipline them myself." Fugaku's tone was calm, but his glare at the guards was fierce, his Sharingan nearly activating.

[Host and Uchiha Hiro establish a hostile bond: Reward - Yin Attribute Chakra (Good)]

[Host and Uchiha Takashi establish a hostile bond: Reward - Yin Attribute Chakra (Good)]

[Host and Uchiha Fugaku establish a bond: Reward - Yin Attribute Chakra (Genius)]

[Host and Uchiha Itachi establish a bond: Reward - Special Talent: "One-on-Seven Combat Talent"]

Ervin's body tensed briefly at the influx of rewards, though he quickly suppressed any reaction. He silently instructed the system not to merge the talents yet, maintaining a calm demeanor. Smiling at Fugaku, he turned his gaze to Itachi, his expression shifting slightly.

A fat sheep...

If Kakashi is considered the "50-50 ninja," capable of holding his own against nearly anyone, Itachi is the exact opposite.

Those weaker than him are dealt with instantly. Those stronger are outmaneuvered or even defeated by his terrifying pupil techniques and tactical brilliance.

While the Mangekyō Sharingan was undeniably critical to his strength, Itachi's natural combat talent couldn't be overlooked.

Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan degraded after just a few days of use, yet Itachi wielded his for years, a clear testament to his superior skill and control.

Even if Ervin disliked Itachi's actions as the so-called "filial son," he had to admit one truth:

Uchiha Itachi, like Namikaze Minato, stood at the very peak of Kage-level strength.