This Uchiha Itachi is very lonely

50 Years of Konoha, Summer,

Konoha launched firefights with multiple parties at the same time, and the proportion of battle losses was seriously unbalanced.

Therefore, Sarutobi Hiruzen was forced to sign a peace treaty with Iwagakure, officially announcing that the war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth was over.

As the war gradually stabilized, the commission system in the village began to be slowly reactivated, and more or less commission tasks gradually appeared in the village.

However, the levels of these commissioned tasks are not high, with most being level D and level C.

Many genin teams in the village squat at the mission commissioning office every day, waiting to take over the mission as soon as possible and earn commissions.

In this situation where there were too many monks but too little flesh, Uchiha Teru and his teammates were fighting hard every day, so much so that they only practiced together as promised a few times.

But everything has nothing to do with Itachi,

As a child, he can be free and unrestrained,

He doesn't have to worry about money, let alone the rating of his ninja title.

Moreover, compared to before, my father would control me more strictly and test myself from time to time.

Now, since returning from the battlefield, my father has not guided me in practice for a long time.

He seems to think he has enough self-control.

In fact, Itachi's self-control is indeed very strong.

In addition, now that Artoria is always there to guide him, his daily routine and practice are very planned.

However, Itachi now had something more worthy of his attention than training.

"Mother, what's wrong with you? Are you seriously ill?"

When Uchiha Mikoto came back from the hospital again, Itachi finally couldn't help but ask about his mother's condition in the living room.

It's been two months, right? Why hasn't my mother's condition gotten better?

Compared with Itachi's worries, Mikoto had a smile on her face after hearing his question, and asked warmly: "Itachi, if you had a younger brother or younger sister, would you be happy?"

Younger siblings?

Itachi, who was still worried at first, was stunned.

He glanced vaguely at Artoria next to him.

After getting her affirmative nod, his eyes became a little confused.

In front of him, although his mother's smile was no different from the gentle smile in the past, he could feel some different meanings in it, such as...happiness, expectation?

"I...I'm going to be a brother?"

Itachi's eyes slipped from Mikoto's face to her belly.

There seems to be some slight bulging.

Are your future brothers and sisters being nurtured here?

"Yes, you are going to be a brother."

Mikoto smiled softly, put her arms around Itachi, and put his ears close to her belly, "When your younger siblings are born, as an older brother, you must protect them."

Protect...younger siblings?

Unaccustomed to it, Itachi pressed his face against his mother's belly and listened to the sounds.

Although it was very faint, he really felt a different breath from it.

Just like physical energy, spiritual energy, and chakra, a breath that I have never felt before is gestating in this belly.

This is……

"The breath of life."

This thought came to Itachi's mind.

I have witnessed death and the passing of life.

And this is the first time he has witnessed the birth of life, or rather... is about to be born.

"How long until I see them."

Unable to bear it, Itachi raised his head and asked impatiently.

And his reaction obviously caught Mikoto off guard. This was the first time she saw some... emotions that a child should have in her son.

Just like the impatient for toys, favorite food, favorite people...

Very real, unreservedly real.

It was completely different from the way he always liked to hide his thoughts.

"There are still eight months left."

Looking at her son like this, Mikoto replied softly: "But in about two months, he will become conscious in his mother's belly."

"At that time... if you keep talking to your mother through her belly, maybe when your brother or sister is born, he will know you directly."

Are there still two months left...

Itachi gently pressed his palm on his mother's belly and took it away after a while.

He raised his head seriously and looked at his mother, "Mom, I'm going to practice first."

His demeanor changed so quickly that Mikoto didn't even realize how her son, who was full of anticipation just a second ago, suddenly changed back again.

After a while, she nodded blankly, "Oh, okay, go ahead."

"Mom, please have a good rest."

Itachi stepped back politely, gave a serious warning, and left the living room.

"I think I will have to practice harder next time."

Hurrying back to the bedroom, Itachi took the long sword and prepared to go out and start a new day of practice, "And I think I can already start trying advanced sword practice."

It has been two months since I officially started training with Artoria.

Last week, Uchiha Teru couldn't bear to stay at the commission office every day, so he took a few days off.

During the vacation, when he once again proposed to practice together, he had communicated with him and tried a test of directly resisting the fire escape with his arms.

Although the result was not very satisfactory, as his arm still suffered some slight burns, the strength of his body had been greatly improved.

"I've known you for so long, and this is the first time I've seen you anxious."

Arturia followed closely beside him, "Is it because of my future brother or sister?"

"Well, I have to protect him."

Itachi did not shy away from his true thoughts, "Before he was born, I hoped that I could have a certain level of strength."

Although he may already have the level to fight against ordinary genin, it is not enough, he still needs to become stronger.

When Itachi felt the fetus in his mother's belly just now, he inexplicably felt a sense of responsibility in his heart.

Just like it was his father's responsibility to protect him on the battlefield, just like his mother's responsibility for the daily affairs of the family, Itachi realized that he also had a responsibility.

As an older brother, it is your responsibility to protect your younger siblings.

Compared to the big ambitions like glory, protecting the kingdom, and protecting the people that Arturia mentioned, this simple sense of responsibility gave him more ideas and beliefs about spiritual practice.

“Not a bad start.”

Arturia smiled and replied, "But there is one thing I have to remind you. Your father seems to be very busy during this period. I rarely see him at home."

"If your mother is pregnant, she should be in great need of company during this time."

"In addition to the time for practice in the morning, why not free up the cultural classes in the afternoon and the time in the evening to accompany your mother?"

Her suggestion made Uchiha Itachi, who was running out, pause for a moment, "You're right, my father has been busy with clan affairs during this time, and he really rarely takes care of the family."

"But I don't want to give up on the cultural classes in the afternoon."

"Do you remember that Merlin used magic to guide you in your dreams before? Let your body rest while receiving guidance in your dreams."