Izumi: Thank you, Shiroishi-senpai!

This was exactly what Shiroishi had anticipated.

Yet, he hesitated, unable to take the first step to speak. If he did, Uchiha Itachi's nature would undoubtedly lead to suspicion, not just from him but from Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto as well.

Shiroishi knew better. The risk was too great.

But if was Uchiha Sasuke idea, the suspicion would be minimal.

Not long after, they arrived at the entrance to the Uchiha household. The courtyard gate was closed, its silence standing like a wall between Shiroishi and the clan he wasn't yet ready to face.

As they approached, the door creaked open, revealing a figure stepping out. Shiroishi's sharp eyes scanned the stranger, an unfamiliar Uchiha—dressed in standard ninja gear, an aura of competence radiating from him.

The man's gaze fell on Sasuke, lingering briefly on Shiroishi before deciding nothing was out of place. He departed without a word.

"Sasuke, I'll leave you here," Shiroishi said, breaking the quiet.

"Why don't you come in, Shiroishi-senpai?" Sasuke asked, tilting his head with that familiar Uchiha curiosity.

Shiroishi smiled and shook his head. "I've been away from the ninja shop too long. There's still work to be done."

Sasuke sighed but didn't press further. He turned and pushed the gate open, stepping inside. Just before disappearing into the courtyard, he looked back, a small hand raised in a goodbye.

"Goodbye, Shiroishi-senpai."

"Goodbye, Sasuke."

As the gate clicked shut behind him, Shiroishi turned, content.

[46—such a good big brother.]

In a single day, Sasuke's favorability toward him had jumped by 10 points. From 36 to 46.

Shiroishi couldn't help but feel satisfied with the result. If things continued at this rate, Sasuke's trust would climb, even if the increments slowed down over time. Before long, he'd reach his goal of a 90 favorability score.

But unlike with Itachi, Sasuke's situation was less complex. Easier to manipulate, less tangled in the shadows of his family.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed in the alleyway. Shiroishi barely had time to react before something collided with him.

Or rather, it almost collided.

Thanks to his recent enhancements, Shiroishi's reflexes were far beyond what they had once been. With a swift, instinctual movement, he sidestepped just in time.

"Thud!"

The figure that had barreled into him hit the ground with a light crash.

Shiroishi blinked, surprised, as the other person's features became clear.

It was a girl. A young one, about the same age as Uchiha Itachi. She had long, dark hair and a delicate face, marked by a small mole beneath her right eye.

Izumi Uchiha? The name surfaced in Shiroishi's mind. A talented Uchiha, this girl had awakened her Sharingan during the Kyuubi attack. She was destined for greatness—gentle, kind, and considered one of the clan's future prodigies.

"Ugh, that hurt..." Izumi winced, frowning as she rubbed her bruised knee.

Shiroishi knelt down, extending a hand. "Are you okay? Need help?"

Izumi looked up, her eyes meeting Shiroishi's. There was a brief moment of hesitation before she reached out and accepted his hand, letting him pull her up.

"Thank you, senpai."

It was then that Shiroishi noticed the large gash on her knee, where the stone had scraped her skin. Blood seeped out slowly, dirt and sand clinging to the wound. His eyes narrowed.

"That looks bad. You need to clean it up."

"It's just a scrape, nothing serious," Izumi said, attempting to brush it off.

Shiroishi shook his head. "It's more than a scrape. If you don't treat it properly, it could leave a scar. We're close to Nekobaa's Ninja Tool Shop. Let me take you there and fix it up."

Izumi hesitated, her gaze shifting warily. Though they were both from the same clan, not all Uchihas trusted each other. And Shiroishi was still a stranger to her.

Sensing her reluctance, Shiroishi added, "You might not know me, but you've heard of Nekobaa's shop, right? It's trusted by the Uchiha. I'm not a threat."

At the mention of Nekobaa's name, some of Izumi's caution faded.

"Alright... if you insist, senpai."

With that, Shiroishi guided her to the shop.

When they arrived, Shinji Hirako, the resident ninja cat, jumped down from the counter, his sharp eyes scanning the situation.

"Hirako, bring me the trauma kit," Shiroishi ordered.

"Yes, sir," the small cat nodded, quickly scurrying to fetch the supplies.

Izumi's eyes widened in curiosity as she glanced at the ninja cat. "Is that… a ninja cat?"

Shiroishi chuckled. "Yep. He's been around for a while."

A few moments later, Hirako returned with the necessary tools. Shiroishi took them, cleaning Izumi's wound with practiced efficiency. This was something every ninja learned, a basic skill of survival—knowing how to treat wounds in the field.

As he bandaged her knee, he made sure to be thorough. The last thing she needed was an infection slowing her down.

"All done," he said, leaning back.

"Thank you, senpai," Izumi replied, glancing at the freshly wrapped bandage.

"Take it easy for a bit. It's still early, so there's no rush to get home. Let your knee rest before you go running off again."

Izumi nodded, though there was a flicker of embarrassment in her eyes.

"Do you want something to drink?" Shiroishi offered, though he kept his distance, sensing she needed her space.

"No, I'm okay."

They sat in silence for a moment, the open door of the ninja shop letting in a breeze.

After a while, Shiroishi decided to break the ice. "I don't think I introduced myself properly. I'm Uchiha Shiroishi. Graduated from the Ninja Academy over a year ago. Now I'm a genin and run the shop in Nekobaa's absence."

Izumi gave a small nod. "I'm Izumi Uchiha. I'm still at the Academy"

Shiroishi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I wonder if your teacher mentioned a name to you..."

Izumi tilted her head in confusion. "Who?"

"Uchiha Shisui."

Her eyes widened instantly. "Shisui-senpai?"

"Would you like to visit Teuchi's hand-made ramen shop again to build some favor with him? Maybe even strengthen the bond with a ninja cat who's exceptionally skilled in cooking?" Shiroishi mused aloud, his gaze thoughtful.

"Or perhaps other life skills could help. After all, it's not just food that can earn you favor points," he continued. "Food is just one way."

"For now, Alice's cooking skills are enough."

Later that evening, when Uchiha Itachi returned home, his mind immediately focused on one thing—finding Sasuke. His eyes scanned the house quickly before they landed on his younger brother, sitting in the backyard. A small sense of relief washed over him.

"Sasuke," Itachi called out.

The younger Uchiha's head snapped up, a surprised expression crossing his face. "Brother! You're finally back."

Sasuke hurriedly grabbed a small bag beside him, holding it up with excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Brother, I got us some wooden fish rice balls. Will you eat them with me?"

"Of course," Itachi replied with a soft smile.

The two brothers sat down side by side, the cool evening breeze around them as they opened the bag and began to eat. The first bite brought a familiar comfort to both.

"Delicious," Itachi remarked calmly, his gaze fixed on Sasuke.

"Did you have fun at the ninja tool shop today?" Itachi asked, his tone light but genuinely curious.

Sasuke nodded enthusiastically. "It was really fun."

"Tell me about it."

"After you left," Sasuke began, "Shiroishi-senpai stayed with me for a bit. But when a guest came, he had to leave, so he asked Hirako-senpai to hang out with me."

"I practiced kunai throwing in the backyard with Hirako-senpai," Sasuke continued proudly. "Brother, I've improved a lot. Do you want to see?"

Itachi's brows furrowed slightly, hearing the unfamiliar name. "Hirako-senpai?"

"It's Shiroishi-senpai's ninja cat. He's yellow, like an orange cat. Hirako-senpai is really strong! Someday, I want a ninja cat that's as strong as him."

Itachi's expression softened as he remembered the strange but powerful presence of the orange cat. He smiled at Sasuke, masking his thoughts. "Alright, show me."

Sasuke, beaming with excitement, grabbed a kunai, eager to demonstrate his progress.

Later that night, Uchiha Shisui entered the ninja tool shop. But Shiroishi could tell right away that something was off. Shisui looked drained, his face pale and his expression heavy, as if he'd just faced an impossible obstacle.

"Shisui, what happened?" Shiroishi asked, his voice gentle but firm.

Shisui shook his head slowly, slumping down in the nearest chair. "Senior Yatsudai… he didn't agree to our proposal."

"He rejected it?" Shiroishi's eyes narrowed as he handed Shisui a cup of tea.

"What was Yashiro-senpai's reasoning?"