As soon as Sasuke said this, both Fugaku and Itachi looked at him in surprise, their eyes full of astonishment.

Facing their questioning gazes, Sasuke already had his own plans in mind.

The reason he agreed to go to the police department wasn't just because of his father's stern insistence.

He had deeper reasons.

The police force was short-staffed because of the Chunin Exams, leaving everyone overwhelmed. His father and brother, being key figures in the department, would spend the entire day handling its affairs.

If he didn't go with them, wouldn't that be wasting a perfect chance to seek guidance from his brother?

It was undeniable Itachi was the strongest person Sasuke could currently learn from when it came to using the Sharingan.

Sasuke desperately wanted to grow stronger, to uncover the secrets of the Sharingan, and to gain the power to change his destiny.

And at this stage, Itachi was undoubtedly the best teacher he could hope for.

If he accompanied his brother to the police department, he would have a legitimate reason to stay by Itachi's side, watch him closely, and learn from his every move. He could also take the opportunity to ask questions about training and Sharingan techniques. Wasn't this killing two birds with one stone?

As for the so-called dangers…

As long as he became stronger, a little risk didn't matter.

In fact, if there really was danger, it would be even better.

He needed real experience.

With this thought, Sasuke's eyes grew even more resolute.

Seeing Sasuke's own determination, Itachi had to temporarily set aside his worries.

He looked at Sasuke deeply, as if trying to read something hidden within his brother's gaze.

Finally, after a moment of thought, he nodded. "Since Sasuke is willing, let him come with me. I happen to need a patrol partner. If he's by my side, I can watch over him and ensure his safety."

Hearing this, Fugaku's stern expression softened slightly. The corners of his tight mouth lifted in faint approval. He gave a heavy nod. "Good. Sasuke, since you've made up your mind, don't slack off. Learn well from your brother, and don't bring shame upon the Uchiha clan."

"Yes, Father!" Sasuke straightened his back and answered loudly.

And so, the matter was settled.

After a simple breakfast, Sasuke followed Itachi out under his mother's worried gaze, beginning the first "patrol mission" of his life.

The moment he stepped outside and onto the stone-paved street leading toward the bustling center of the Uchiha district, Sasuke froze in shock. For a second, he wondered if he had walked into the wrong place.

Just yesterday, he had only seen Konoha from a distance, like a moviegoer catching glimpses on a screen. He hadn't felt the true vibrancy of its streets.

But now, as he entered this world that was both familiar and unfamiliar, the reality struck him.

There were far too many people!

The streets were packed. Countless voices overlapped, blending into a lively wave of noise that nearly drowned the entire village.

Shops lined every corner, flags rippled in the breeze, the air was filled with the smell of sizzling foods, and chatter rose from every direction. The liveliness was overwhelming many times more prosperous than the Konoha of his real-world memories.

What's more, Sasuke quickly noticed that most of the crowd wasn't even from Konoha. Many wore strange outfits and forehead protectors from other villages.

They spoke with different accents, their faces lit with curiosity and excitement as they wandered the streets, clearly newly arrived.

No wonder the police department was so short-staffed. Faced with such a massive, complicated flow of people, it was easy to imagine the enormous pressure of maintaining security and order in the village.

Sasuke followed behind Itachi, weaving his way through the bustling crowd while observing everything with curiosity.

At the same time, he seized this rare chance to ask his brother many questions about the Sharingan.

"Nii-san, in battle, besides copying ninjutsu and reading an opponent's movements, does the Sharingan have other, more powerful uses?"

"Can the Sharingan's insight really see through every genjutsu?"

"After activating it, how can I control chakra output more efficiently and extend the Sharingan's duration?"

…

From the conditions required to awaken the Sharingan, to the differences between one, two, and three tomoe, to the practical applications of its basic powers, and even advanced chakra control and how to maximize its advantages in battle

Sasuke unleashed all the questions that had been piling up in his mind.

Itachi answered each one patiently, explaining in simple and clear terms that Sasuke could easily grasp.

Occasionally, he offered on-the-spot guidance during patrols, using real examples to help Sasuke understand more intuitively.

Sasuke was captivated by his brother's words. His vision broadened, and he felt he was gaining invaluable knowledge.

Every sentence from Itachi was sharp, precise, and full of insight, deepening Sasuke's comprehension of this kekkei genkai.

Sasuke absorbed the knowledge greedily, burning with the desire to wield the Sharingan's power as masterfully as his brother.

The two patrolled along the village's main road twice, checking important areas and crowded spots. They were preparing to move to the next sector when a police department member suddenly came running around the corner, gasping for breath.

He rushed to Itachi, saluted, and reported urgently, "Captain Itachi! It's bad! We've discovered… several faceless ninja corpses in the forest outside the village!"

Hearing this, Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. A sharp gleam flashed within his normally calm gaze.

He stared at the unfamiliar officer before him and asked in a low voice, "Who are you? I don't recall seeing you in the police department before."

The man looked to be in his early twenties, with neatly cut gray hair and thin-framed glasses perched on his nose.

Facing the scrutiny of the Uchiha captain, he explained steadily, "Captain Itachi, the police force has been severely short-staffed because of the Chunin Exams. I was temporarily transferred from another department by the Fourth Hokage to help."

"The bodies were found in the outer area of the forbidden forest east of Konoha."

Itachi gave a small nod, asked nothing further, and said to Sasuke and the officer, "Let's go and take a look immediately."

The group set off at once, quickening their pace toward the forest outside the village.

Before long, they arrived.

The scene was a quiet clearing deep in the woods, ringed by tall, dense trees. Sunlight filtered down through the canopy, scattering mottled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

And in the center of the clearing lay several corpses.

Each one wore the standard combat uniform and forehead protector of Kusagakure.

But the most horrifying detail

Every corpse's face had been brutally sliced away by some razor-sharp weapon, leaving behind gaping, bloody holes where features should have been. Even white bone showed through the carnage.

....

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