“Aunt Mikoto’s cooking is still as good as ever; the cookies are sweet but not cloying, absolutely delicious.” Shisui squinted his eyes in satisfaction, eating only a small piece before putting the rest down—after all, these were prepared specifically for the children, and it wouldn’t be right to take too much.
Sora shook the tray of cookies; their caramel-colored crusts were coated in sparkling sugar crystals, and a sweet aroma wafted up.
He turned his head to look at Uchiha Itachi, a knowing smile in his eyes.
He knew very well that Uchiha Itachi loved sweets; after all, they shared the same tastes.
Uchiha Itachi’s gaze fell on the cookies, and he subconsciously swallowed.
What relieved him even more was that it seemed Little Sora really hadn’t taken the earlier head-pat to heart.
Just as he reached out his hand, the tray “whooshed” back half an inch.
“Say please~ and I’ll give you some.” Sora raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of mischief, his red hair scattered across his forehead like a smug little fox.
He hadn’t forgotten the memory of being patted on the head just a moment ago; wanting to just brush that aside wouldn’t be so easy!
Uchiha Itachi’s hand froze in mid-air, and the tips of his ears quietly flushed red.
Looking at the youth’s sparkling eyes and glancing at Shisui, who was holding back laughter on the side, he finally lowered his head, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz: “Uh…
I…
please.., Little Sora.” As soon as the words fell, Shisui could no longer hold back his laughter.
“Pfft—!
Hahahaha!
Uchiha Itachi, your expression just now!
I can’t believe you actually said something like that!” He clutched his stomach, unable to straighten up.
In his impression, Uchiha Itachi was always a little adult with a straight face, rarely even smiling, let alone using such a pleading tone.
Coming to find Little Sora this time was a total win!
Sora laughed along, his shoulders shaking, and even his red hair bobbed along with him.
Little Uchiha Itachi, wanted to pat his head?
Got him!
“Shisui is here?
Why are you two so happy?” Mikoto walked out of the kitchen holding a soup bowl, flour still on her apron.
Seeing the two laughing together, she tilted her head curiously.
Shisui laughed as he told her what had just happened, and Mikoto’s laughter soon joined in, as crisp as wind chimes.
“It’s a pity I was in the kitchen and didn’t see Uchiha Itachi’s expression; what a shame.” She walked over to Sora and reached out to pinch his soft cheeks, her fingertips still carrying the warmth from kneading dough.
“Little Sora, tell Auntie in detail~ what was his expression like at the time?” Sora looked at Uchiha Itachi, who was so embarrassed he was practically burying his head in his collar, and the corners of his mouth curled up even higher.
He leaned into Mikoto’s ear, lowering his voice to explain the details clearly.
Shisui added his own input on the side, and the two recounted the scene vividly.
Uchiha Itachi looked at them with a complex expression, feeling that his future was pitch black.
Just then, with a “click,” the door was pushed open.
Uchiha Itachi looked up and saw that his father, Fugaku, had returned.
“Hmm…
what are you all doing?” Fugaku looked at the four people huddled around the dining table, his eyes full of confusion.
Seeing Fugaku, Sora immediately stepped forward and spoke politely: “Nice to meet you, Uncle.
I am Uzumaki Sora.” Although he had seen Fugaku standing with Hiashi at the enrollment ceremony that morning, there hadn’t been any chance to chat then.
Fugaku nodded, deliberately slowing his tone to make himself appear gentler.
“I am Uchiha Fugaku.
Sasuke has mentioned you to me.” He paused and added, “If you’re bored in the future, you can come over to play anytime.
No need to stand on ceremony with us.” Although Sora thought Fugaku’s expression was a bit strange, he could still sense that the other party genuinely meant him well.
But this goodwill felt a bit strange.
Was it just because he was a friend of his two sons?
Although he had doubts in his heart, he still nodded obediently.
“Mikoto, is there enough food?” Fugaku turned to look at his wife, his gaze softening instantly.
“Don’t worry, I cooked plenty; it’s enough for us.” Mikoto smiled and took Sora’s hand, then looked at Shisui.
“Shisui, Little Sora, why don’t you both stay for dinner today and try my cooking?” Sora’s eyes brightened instantly, like a cat seeing dried fish, and he nodded quickly in response.
Shisui also smiled and accepted; opportunities to eat the Clan Leader’s wife’s cooking were rare.
Seeing that both agreed, Mikoto smiled even more happily.
She went into the kitchen and, after a while, brought out all the dishes.
“Well then, let’s eat~” …
On the other side, in a secret underground chamber in Konoha, under dim light, Danzo slammed his cane hard against the ground with a “thud,” shaking the floor as if it were trembling.
“That guy Hiruzen!
He’s really getting more muddled with age!” He clutched the intelligence report from Root, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes beneath the bandages filled with rage.
He had investigated the child, Uzumaki Sora, long ago.
Other than being an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan, he had no special value, and since he had been kept under such tight watch by Hiruzen, he originally couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
But this Uzumaki Sora was getting too close to the Jinchuriki and the Uchiha Clan brats, and that guy Hiruzen was aware of it yet still let it happen.
“Hmph!
This is truly outrageous!” Danzo’s chest heaved with anger.
Ignoring Hiruzen’s warning from a while back to “stop messing with Sora’s affairs,” he turned and headed straight for the Hokage Building—he had to make this clear to Hiruzen!
Inside the Hokage Building at this moment, the Third Hokage was holding one-year-old Konohamaru, smiling like a child.
He pulled at his own cheeks, making a funny face: “Little Konohamaru~ I’m Grandpa~” Konohamaru opened his round eyes wide, watching Grandpa’s scrunched-up face, and suddenly let out a giggle, reaching out his chubby little hand to grab at the Third Hokage’s face, babbling: “Grand…
Grand…
Grandpa…” “Bang!” The office door was pushed open violently.
Danzo’s figure appeared at the doorway, his face so dark it could drip water.
“Hiruzen!
You are being too outrageous!” The smile on the Third Hokage’s face froze instantly.
He quickly placed Konohamaru into the stroller nearby, handed his grandson a rattle, and only then turned around, his expression darkening: “Danzo, don’t you know to knock before entering?” “Knock?” Danzo sneered, throwing the intelligence report onto the table.
“Why aren’t you doing anything about the Uchiha?
Have you forgotten the ‘exploits’ of this clan?” His voice was cold and hard, carrying undisguised interrogation.
The Third Hokage just reached out to grab his pipe, but caught a glimpse of Konohamaru in the stroller and pulled his hand back.
Of course, he knew what “exploits” Danzo was talking about—Uchiha Madara from back then, and Uchiha Setsuna who instigated a coup d’état.
He had never forgotten these things.
“I know.” The Third Hokage’s voice deepened.
“But I have never stopped observing and protecting Naruto.
Agreeing to let the Uchiha children interact with Sora and Naruto this time is also a way to test them.” He paused, his eyes showing a bit more certainty.
“It’s been so long, and there hasn’t been a single unusual movement from the Uchiha side, which shows they have no malicious intent.
There is no need to bring this up again.” “No malicious intent?” Danzo acted as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, slamming his cane against the floor again.
“Hiruzen!
You are truly muddled with age!
Just because they aren’t making a move now doesn’t mean they won’t in the future!
Tomorrow?
The day after?
Or a year from now?
If something really happens, can you take responsibility?” In his eyes, the Uchiha were just a pack of wolves that could never be tamed.
Uchiha Madara left Konoha, returned years later intending to destroy Konoha, and was subsequently dealt with by the First Hokage.
Even so, the Second Hokage didn’t impose any punishment on the Uchiha, and how did they respond to the Second Hokage?
Back when the Second Hokage was in power, Uchiha Setsuna actually led a group of people to stage a coup d’état!
“Danzo, the Uchiha are also a part of Konoha.” The Third Hokage sighed, his tone weary.
“That was decades ago.
Don’t keep dwelling on it.
Give the young people a chance.” He really wanted to take a puff of his pipe now, but looking at Konohamaru playing with the rattle not far away, he held back.
“A chance?” Danzo’s eyes grew colder.
“In my opinion, the graveyard and prison are the most suitable destinations for them!” He took a step forward, closing in on the Third Hokage: “Stop talking nonsense!
Hiruzen, are you really planning to ignore the Uchiha?!” “You don’t need to worry about this matter; I have my own judgment.” The Third Hokage’s tone hardened too—he was the Hokage and had his own judgment.
“What?
Are you brushing me off?” “Danzo, I am the Hokage!” “You will regret this!
Hiruzen!” Danzo glared at him fiercely, turned on his heel, and walked out, slamming the door with a “bang” that made the windows hum.
Konohamaru in the stroller was startled and started crying “waa,” kicking his little arms and legs.
The Third Hokage’s expression softened instantly.
He quickly ran over to pick up his grandson, patting his back gently: “Konohamaru, be good~ don’t cry, don’t cry~ Grandpa is here~” While coaxing his grandson, he looked at the closed door, his brow furrowing again.
He knew Danzo’s stubbornness better than anyone.
He hoped that this matter wouldn’t end up as tense as in the past.
Meanwhile, in the hallway outside, Danzo clutched his cane, his knuckles turning white.
“Hiruzen…” he murmured, his eyes full of unwillingness.
“One day, that position will be mine.”