After all, today was the first day of the Academy’s new term.
Any family with a little money to spare had brought their children out to celebrate.
Qiyu, Izumi, and Itachi followed the crowd and waited in line for nearly half an hour before they finally reached the young shopkeeper dressed in a spotless white chef’s uniform.
“Izumi, are you here by yourself again today?”
Izumi nodded.
“Mom and Dad are both away on missions.
Inada, I came with my friends today!”
She gave Inada a sweet smile.
“That’s wonderful.
Izumi has made friends too!”
Inada looked at her with heartfelt delight, his hands never pausing as he worked.
“The usual?”
“Qiyu-kun, do you prefer sweet or savory?”
Izumi turned to ask him.
“I’ll have the same as you.
As for Itachi, give him a little extra sugar.”
Qiyu answered casually.
The moment Izumi heard his reply, her young face lit up, her eyes narrowing into happy crescents.
Behind him, Itachi tugged at Qiyu’s clothes.
“Big Brother, why didn’t you ask me?”
He sounded a little unhappy.
“You’re so young, yet you spend every day frowning like an old man.
A little more sugar might improve your mood.”
Qiyu turned around and gently stroked Itachi’s head, his voice exceptionally warm.
Itachi silently nodded.
He did not object to his brother’s decision and behaved as obediently as a little puppy.
Before long, the three of them received their freshly made dango from Inada.
Mindful of Izumi’s limited spending money, Qiyu allowed her to buy only two skewers for each of them.
Holding a skewer in each hand, the three children happily made their way back toward the Uchiha compound.
“Qiyu-kun, is it good?”
Qiyu took a small bite.
It was slightly too sweet for his taste, but when he saw Izumi’s expectant expression, he suppressed his discomfort and smiled gently.
“It’s delicious.
It seems you really like sweet things, Izumi.”
“Mhm!
Inada’s three-color dango is one of the best treats in Konoha.
It’s so soft and chewy.
Qiyu-kun, let’s come back and eat dango together again next time!”
With one hand behind her back, Izumi walked backward as she invited him.
“Of course.
But next time, Itachi and I will treat you.
Izumi, you’re not allowed to refuse.”
Qiyu narrowed his eyes at the playful girl.
Izumi’s expression stiffened slightly, and her large eyes blinked.
When she noticed the seriousness in Qiyu’s gaze, she hesitated before reluctantly agreeing.
She had originally planned to treat Qiyu several more times.
But from the determination in his eyes, she knew he would never agree to let her pay again next time.
Seeing her disappointment, Qiyu smiled faintly.
“Izumi, we’re friends now, aren’t we?”
Izumi nodded.
“Friends should give and take.
If you invited Itachi and me to eat dango because you wanted to thank me, then we’ve already accepted your kindness.”
“But I don’t want you doing this only because you feel grateful.
I think you’re adorable, and I want us to be real friends.
After all, you’re the first girl as cute as you that I’ve ever befriended.”
“Qiyu-kun!”
Izumi’s face instantly turned as red as a little apple.
She covered her cheeks, looking like a frightened white rabbit, then turned and ran away without looking back.
“See you tomorrow, Qiyu-kun!”
Her voice drifted back from afar, carrying a trace of secret delight.
As the system continued awarding him 100 gratitude points at a time, Qiyu felt a flicker of satisfaction.
As expected, gentleness was the deadliest weapon against an Uchiha.
Qiyu turned and looked at Itachi, whose eyes sparkled as he ate his dango.
“My adorable little brother.
All of you are my invisible wings!”
Besides the treasure girl he had found today, the little fellow behind him was also an enormous source of experience.
Gratitude Points +1,000
Gratitude Points +1,000
“It looks like I’ll have to feed Itachi more sweets from now on.
With an older brother by his side in this life, he’ll surely suffer far less.”
Qiyu sighed inwardly.
“Itachi, Big Brother will bring you here for dango again next time.”
“Mhm!
Big Brother!”
With that, the two brothers continued toward their residence.
Just as they were nearing home, however, Qiyu spotted the person he least wanted to see.
Aside from Fugaku and Qiyu himself, the person who had influenced Itachi the most since childhood was the figure standing in the middle of the road.
“Big Brother Shisui!”
Itachi suddenly cried out in excitement.
“Itachi!
Qiyu!
I finally found you!”
Shisui waved at them cheerfully.
“Well, if it isn’t our ever-busy Big Brother Shisui.
You actually found the time to come and see Itachi and me today.”
Shisui gave a bitter smile.
“Qiyu, today was your first day at the Academy.
I wanted to see you off this morning, but I was held up by a mission.
I came over as soon as I finished.”
“Yes, yes, I know.
Nothing in heaven or earth is more important than a village mission.
Itachi waited for you at the entrance for half the day.”
Qiyu’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“Big Brother, I didn’t!
Stop making things up!”
Itachi hurriedly denied it while Qiyu held his hand.
He understood that Shisui worked hard for both the village and the clan.
He would never blame him over something so trivial.
“Hmph!
Itachi, what do you know?
Look at his flak jacket.
He’s only a special jōnin.
How could he possibly have so much work to do?”
Shisui was rendered speechless, a bitter feeling rising in his heart.
“Qiyu, the village belongs to everyone.
Each of us should do everything within our power to contribute.”
Qiyu immediately put on an exaggerated expression.
“Of course!
With great ability comes great responsibility.
If everyone possessed your noble awareness, world peace would already be within reach.
The village refusing to make you Hokage is nothing less than an insult to your talent!”
“The higher-ups of Konoha must be blind.
You and Minato Namikaze both distinguished yourselves during the Third Shinobi World War.
He became the Fourth Hokage, while you…”
Qiyu gestured at Shisui from head to toe.
“Look at our dear Big Brother Shisui.
He runs himself ragged for the village, yet he’s still only a special jōnin!”
“So I have just one question.”
Qiyu’s gaze sharpened.
“Were all your achievements eaten by dogs?”
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