Life as Uchiha Itachi

This time, the two of them were traveling even more slowly than usual. 

It was as if they were cherishing the little time they had left. 

"Kid, this time I'll roast the meat for you," said Juzo with a grin. 

Watching as Juzo prepared to grill the meat, just as he always did, Itachi thought to himself, If Juzo didn't make himself look so unconventional, he'd actually be pretty handsome. 

Juzo's cooking skills were far from great. It was no wonder that the first time they were outside the village, Juzo suggested eating ration pills to regain their strength. 

As Itachi chewed on a piece of meat that was charred black in some parts and yellow in others, he didn't show any signs of displeasure. 

Instead, he found the meat to be a rare delicacy. 

The combination of the burnt flavor, the aroma, and the seasoning created a unique taste. 

"This roast meat isn't bad," Itachi remarked after finishing every last bite. The ground around him was scattered with bones, completely stripped of any meat. 

"Really?" Juzo beamed with joy at the compliment, feeling a rare sense of satisfaction in his cooking. 

"Yeah, really. What would I do if I couldn't eat such delicious roast meat again?" 

Itachi's words were meant to affirm Juzo's efforts and subtly sow doubt in Juzo's resolve to die. After all, if someone truly wished for death, no one could save them. 

"Heh, kid," Juzo muttered, clearly understanding Itachi's intent. Instead of responding directly, he simply chuckled and called him "kid" with a knowing look. 

"Honestly, you have the potential to be a top chef. Stop being a ninja and work as my personal cook. I'll even pay you a salary," Itachi joked, trying to lighten the mood. 

"Kid, don't be like this. Be your usual sharp-tongued self. That sarcastic version of you is way more charming. Right now, you're saying things you don't mean, and it's making me uncomfortable," Juzo replied bluntly. It was clear that Itachi's uncharacteristic comments were giving him chills. 

"Uh…" Itachi was at a loss for words, momentarily stunned by Juzo's frankness. His mind raced as he tried to find a response. 

"This meat you made is terrible! It's the worst I've ever had. Can't you put some effort into learning to cook properly so I can have a decent meal for once?" 

"…" 

"Kid, are you bipolar or something? Just a moment ago, you said it was delicious, and now you're complaining," Juzo grumbled, feeling utterly exasperated. 

He glanced at the half-eaten piece of unknown meat in his hand, deep in thought. 

"I think it's pretty good, though…" Juzo murmured hesitantly before taking a big bite of the charred part. 

The strong burnt taste assaulted his senses, leaving his tongue bitter. He froze for a moment, suddenly recalling that Itachi's portion also had a large charred section. He couldn't understand how Itachi managed to eat it so calmly. 

Juzo stared at the young Itachi in front of him, feeling an inexplicable lump in his throat. 

"Kid…" 

His voice was slightly choked, and his eyes stung for reasons he couldn't quite explain. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, or maybe something deep inside him had been touched. 

Noticing the black smudge on the corner of Itachi's mouth, Juzo slowly reached out his hand and used his thumb to wipe it away. 

"If you don't like it, just tell me. I'll make you another one. A child who loves bitterness won't find happiness… You've got to learn to cry and make a fuss sometimes. That's how you get the candy," Juzo said with a mix of complexity and sincerity. 

"It's too hard to be happy," Itachi replied softly, his gaze steady as he allowed Juzo to wipe his mouth. 

"If happiness is too hard to achieve, then I hope every day of your future will be peaceful and healthy," Juzo said with a broad smile. 

"Are you full? Should I make you another one?" Juzo asked, lowering his hand and instinctively wiping it on his clothes. 

After a brief pause, he suddenly realized what he'd done and quickly unbuttoned his coat, intending to wash it. 

"Don't…" 

Before Juzo could remove his coat, Itachi crossed the fire pit without hesitation and grabbed Juzo's hand to stop him. 

"You look really handsome in that robe. It's so late—why don't you stop working and get some rest?" 

Itachi, noticing Juzō's confusion, explained his somewhat hasty actions. 

"Oh, I accidentally got it dirty, so I just needed to take it off and wash it," Juzō said softly. 

"You're someone about to die. Why are you still worrying about things like that? Just go rest already." 

Hearing Juzō's words, Itachi spoke with mild annoyance, though his eyes remained firmly fixed on him, worried Juzō might do something rash. 

Even if Juzō was destined to die, Itachi thought, he needed to make it back to his homeland. He couldn't let him perish here—not like this. After all, Akatsuki uniforms weren't meant to be discarded so casually. 

"Go to sleep. I'll rest later," Juzō said, deciding not to push back against Itachi's demands this time. 

He walked over to the campfire, sat down, and spoke again. 

Itachi watched Juzō sit by the fire and then took out a piece of wood, beginning to carve another sculpture. 

"What are you carving?" Itachi asked with curiosity—something rare for him. 

Hearing this, Juzō paused, momentarily at a loss for words. It was the first time Itachi had ever shown interest in his wood carvings. In the past, he had silently watched without asking anything. Now, this sudden question gave Juzō an unexpected sense of satisfaction. 

"Well, since you're asking so sincerely, I'll be kind enough to tell you…" Juzō said in a playful tone, trying to coax a smile from Itachi. 

However, noticing the strange look on Itachi's face, Juzō blushed with embarrassment, feeling like he had just died of secondhand awkwardness. 

To break the tension, Juzō pulled a wooden carving from his pouch and tossed it to Itachi. 

"This carving was originally supposed to be of my mother. But she died when I was very young, so I don't really remember what she looked like…" Juzō explained quietly, sharing the meaning behind the sculpture. 

Itachi listened silently, then looked at the wooden carving in his hand. 

"I carved this while you were asleep. At first, I was planning to find out your birthday and make you a special birthday gift. But seeing how things are now, I figured it's better to just give it to you now," Juzō said softly as he watched Itachi examine the carving. 

The sculpture depicted Itachi in a moment of sleep. His head was tilted slightly upward, with small bubbles added humorously to show him snoring. 

"I originally wanted to carve you smiling, but unfortunately, I've never seen you smile genuinely. Even when you're asleep, your brow never relaxes," Juzō said, his tone tinged with sadness as he looked at Itachi. 

"This must be what you call a keepsake. I like it very much. Thank you," Itachi said, suppressing the sorrow in his heart. 

He didn't want to dwell in sadness any longer. 

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