Chapter 45

Spring has come again, and the branches are full of blooming cherry blossoms.

Almost three or four years have passed since the Nine-Tails' rampage, and Yuki stands in the courtyard.

The sapling that Fugaku and Mikoto planted for Sasuke is growing healthily and vigorously.

She was much taller than Xue, and she lowered her head.

Sasuke, dressed in a black turtleneck short-sleeved clan uniform, hugged Yuki's leg and giggled.

"Doesn't Auntie have to go to work today? Father isn't home either."

"My aunt is off today, so she can keep Sasuke company."

Xue picked him up, and Sasuke naturally wrapped his arms around her neck.

Mikoto kissed her cheek and smiled behind them.

"Sasuke is so big now, does he still need his aunt to carry him?"

Upon hearing this, Sasuke pursed his lips.

He struggled for a moment in Xue's arms, and then Xue put him down.

Xue squatted down and looked at Sasuke, whose hair was a little frizzy at the back of his head.

She reached out and tried to smooth down the upward-sloping strands of hair.

After trying a few times, Xue gave up.

Sasuke noticed her look and pouted, looking somewhat unhappy.

She looked at her mother's straight hair and her aunt's curly hair, and said angrily, "Why is my hair different from everyone else's?"

Xue ruffled his hair: "Perhaps Sasuke inherited this trait from one of his ancestors."

Upon learning that Itachi had joined the Anbu, Yuki instinctively thought of the days when she had served as a spy in the Anbu.

Under Yuki's persistent questioning, Fugaku revealed that Itachi was operating in the Anbu using the eyes of an Uchiha.

Shisui, who was originally in the shadows, was sent by the village to other countries to carry out long-term intelligence missions.

As the sun sets, Kakashi and Itachi, having completed their mission, stand on the rooftop of the Hokage Building.

"The captain's Sharingan didn't awaken naturally, did it? Don't you feel strange about gaining power that's different from your own?" Itachi asked. "You're not a member of the Uchiha clan, but you possess the Sharingan and can use the same power as the Uchiha clan. That eye... it belongs to Uncle Obito, doesn't it?"

Kakashi said, "Yes."

"So, Captain, which side of the ninja do you consider yourself to be?" Itachi asked.

Looking at Itachi, he pondered for a moment and replied, "I've never thought about such a question. This Sharingan was entrusted to me by Obito. He reminded me not to forget my comrades... and to take good care of those whom Obito cherished."

Upon hearing the latter part, Itachi averted his gaze from Kakashi.

Snow doesn't need anyone outside the Uchiha clan to take care of her. That's what Itachi thought.

Late at night, Xue faintly heard the sound of a sliding door.

I got up under the moonlight and saw that it was Itachi, who had washed up and was wearing his pajamas.

Seeing Sasuke fast asleep beside Yuki, Itachi slowed his pace.

Early spring still carried a slight chill, and as Itachi opened the door, a few wisps of breeze blew into the Japanese-style room.

Sasuke instinctively moved closer to the heat source, burrowed under Yuki's blanket, and wrapped his small body around Yuki's waist as if whispering something.

Itachi carefully closed the sliding door and lay down on the other side of Sasuke. Fortunately, the mattress was large enough, and all three of them were relatively slender.

A two-meter-long spring quilt is more than enough to cover three people.

"You're back?"

Xue lay down and gently patted Sasuke's back as he snuggled into her arms.

"Yes, this mission is quite tough."

Itachi's hand covered Yuki's hand that was on Sasuke's back. When did their hands become the same size?

Sasuke, fast asleep, was dreaming about something, and even the corners of his mouth were turned up in a smile.

As Xue looked at the two sleeping soundly beside her, she couldn't help but touch the two shallow tear troughs at the corners of Itachi's eyes.

Itachi opened his eyes, and their gazes met.

For some reason, Yuki always felt like she was younger than Itachi when she was around him.

"Go to sleep, Xue."

Since when did people stop calling her "Auntie"?

-

Summer was fast approaching, and the days for visiting Naruto were gradually decreasing.

Naruto seemed to sense something as well, and each time they met, he became more and more silent.

However, the ANBU members monitoring Naruto remained as competent as ever.

Xue, biting into an ice pop, thought about the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village...

They seemed to be getting more and more incompatible, and as a grid mediator, she often had to go out to the field to mediate.

After the popsicle in her mouth melted, Xue threw the remaining stick into the trash can.

When the two clansmen were unable to persuade the illegal street vendors to stop, they intended to resolve the issue by force.

She stepped forward to stop her tribesmen, looking quite troubled.

"Grandma, the village does have rules against setting up stalls here."

"Isn't this Koyuki? Obito's older sister, I remember her."

The old woman selling vegetables exclaimed "Oh dear!" and slowly packed up her stall.

Xue gestured for the two to help, and they quickly and efficiently dealt with the old woman who had set up a stall on the main road.

After finishing some tasks related to maintaining order, Yuki didn't expect to run into Itachi and Kakashi on the road.

The two appeared to have just completed a mission, as they were not wearing masks, but were still dressed in the uniforms of the Anbu.

Kakashi rarely sees her alone, ever since that time she got drunk.

They were rarely alone; the snow always avoided him.

He doesn't even live in his own house regularly.

Kakashi said, "Itachi, you go first, I have some things to do."

"Isn't Yuki going home?" Unexpectedly, Itachi stepped forward and took Yuki's hand in front of Kakashi, then intertwined their fingers and smiled at Kakashi, saying, "Captain, then I'll go back to the clan with Yuki first. If there's a mission, send me a message."

Kakashi frowned, and it took him a while to realize what was happening.

"Your captain is Kakashi? I've never heard you mention him."

"It's a trivial matter, it's okay not to mention it."

Sasuke heard Itachi and Yuki's voices right outside his door. Without even putting on his shoes, he ran out shouting, "Brother!"

Then Itachi opened his arms and caught Sasuke as he lunged at him.

Sasuke looked up, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Brother, you said you would teach me shurikenjutsu today!"

Then he turned to Xue and said, "Auntie, let's go together!"

Just as Sasuke was leading the two by the hand, about to run towards the training grounds behind the clan compound, Fugaku Uchiha appeared at the entrance, blocking Sasuke, Itachi, and Yuki's path. Fugaku's expression was somewhat somber, and he looked at Itachi, saying in a low voice, "Itachi, come with me."

Sasuke immediately showed a disappointed expression, but at least he still had his aunt.

The two people in front stopped, and Fugaku turned around and said, "Xue, come here too."

Sasuke's face immediately fell, and he looked at Yuki's apologetic expression with a sullen expression.

He lowered his head, kicking at the pebbles at his feet, and said dejectedly, "Every time, every single time. It's always the same. First it was my brother, then it was my aunt."

"None of them spend time with me."

-

Snow rarely visits Zhishui's house, and the house is simply furnished.

Because it is a single-person residence, there are not many other functional furnishings.

Shisui was the last descendant of Uchiha Kagami, with no other collateral branches.

"There's no other tea at home, so please make do with this for now, senior?"

"It doesn't matter."

Xue sat on the veranda of the courtyard and accepted the cool boiled water handed to her by Zhishui, looking at the scene of crows filling the courtyard.

In the Land of Fire, crows, like weasels, are considered to be spiritual animals that bring good fortune.

Shisui and Itachi both have crows as their summoning animals. Yuki touched the rim of her cup, pondering how to bring it up.

The faint afternoon sunlight spilled into the courtyard. Shisui stretched out his hand, and a crow landed on his fingertips, its wings fluttering.

"Don't you find it boring to not go out of the village to carry out missions?" Shisui asked with a smile, as if he were chatting about something trivial. Then, he rested his chin on his hand and said with a touch of emotion, "For some reason, I miss the days when you were still in the Anbu. At least we teamed up quite a few times."

He glanced sideways at the indifferent face of the snow-white figure and said, "Titles like 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' and 'Konoha Snow Princess,' when put together... often lead to victory without a fight..."

"That's because of Shisui, I alone can't reach that level," Xue added.

Shisui couldn't help but laugh out loud, but the gesture of covering his mouth didn't seem feminine on him.

"Then, you can now tell what the clan chief asked Xue to convey."

The boy with short, slightly wavy black hair smiled, his eyes crinkling so much that his pupils were no longer visible.

Like a very dashing silver fox with curly black fur, it is... captivating.

Since Itachi joined the Anbu, Yuki could sense a subtle change in him towards his clansmen, especially towards the more radical young members. His relationship with Fugaku was also different; their conversations became increasingly brief. If it weren't for their somewhat similar appearances, they looked more like superior and subordinate than father and son.

Xue wanted to talk to him, but usually all she got was a faint smile from him.

"Xue is not a combatant and has no connection with the village."

"You don't need to know that much. Just stay home and take good care of Sasuke."

Therefore, Fugaku gave the order.

Let her act as Shisui's ally and persuade Itachi.

After hearing Xue's words, the crow that had been perched on Zhishui's fingertips fluttered back to the wooden stake in the courtyard.

"Eh, does Itachi really think that way about his senior?"

"Haven't you heard of the title your senior held during the Third Shinobi World War?"

Shisui smiled, seemingly completely oblivious to the underlying meaning that Fugaku had asked Yuki to convey.

Yuki wasn't quite sure either; she had been working alongside the Fourth Hokage since Itachi could remember, doing clerical work.

After Obito left, she rarely carried out any combat-related missions.

"I understand, Senior Yuki."

"I've been trying my best to maintain a balance between the clan and the village. So, Yuki... don't worry about Itachi. I'll have a good talk with him. Let's go on missions together once my eyes are better."

Listening to Zhishui's words inexplicably put her at ease.

“That’s true, Itachi… he’s still too young. I really find it hard to agree with the Third Hokage’s so-called Hokage mindset.” Yuki frowned, her face clouded with worry, “Sometimes, I feel that Itachi is too stubborn… Fortunately, Shisui is here.”

Fortunately, there was still water.

Fortunately, you're here.

Shisui was stunned for a moment, and the girl's smile was as radiant as a rose blooming in summer.

My heart skipped a beat, and I didn't even know what to do with my hands.

He unconsciously reached out and pinched Xue's face, which had lost its baby fat and become even more beautiful.

Just like the Fourth Generation and Uzumaki-senpai's wedding that day.

As golden autumn petals fluttered in the air, he mimicked the gestures and words that Xue had made to him.

"Stupid Snow."