Chapter 212 The Innocent, Obedient, and Naïve Uchiha Itachi

What is jealousy?

"For example, if I have a string of dumplings but don't give them to Itachi, and instead give them to other kids, Itachi will feel unhappy. That's jealousy."

Hearing her use her favorite three-colored dumplings as an analogy, Itachi Uchiha was transported into the scene Haruko described. Recalling that image, Itachi's displeasure multiplied.

"So this is what jealousy is. It's really unpleasant..." Itachi Uchiha pouted in a rare childish way.

Haruko was amused by him and coaxed him, "But when Itachi gets home and finds out that Mom bought you dango, Itachi will be happy right away!"

Thankfully, Mikoto did buy three-colored dumplings to celebrate Itachi's first day of school, which relieved Haruko.

Uchiha Itachi frowned on his cute face and stubbornly said, "But I want the string of dumplings that Haruko gave me."

This was something Haruko hadn't anticipated, and without much hesitation, she decided to reluctantly give up her beloved dumpling, "Then I'll give my dumpling to Itachi today!"

Seeing that he was still shaking his head, Haruko was at a loss. "Then what does Itachi want to do?"

“Haruko’s dango belongs to Haruko, and I can give my dango to Haruko too, but Haruko can’t treat others better than she treats me,” Itachi Uchiha explained logically.

Having understood what he meant, Haruko couldn't help but laugh. "Of course! I was just giving an example. I'm only this nice to Itachi!"

Uchiha Itachi stared at her for a few seconds. "Haruko, you're not lying to me this time?"

"I haven't lied to you before, have I?"

Seeing that she wouldn't admit it, Uchiha Itachi began to list her misdeeds on his fingers, "When we were little, Haruko lied to me and said the sweets weren't good and she ate them all by herself. She also lied to me and said she had to make offerings to the flower fairy and took all my allowance. Last time she lied to me and said there was a river god who wanted me to catch fish for her. The time before that was..."

As each crime was bluntly revealed, Haruko's lips twitched. She quickly reached out and grasped his hand, which he hadn't finished counting, and gave him an awkward yet polite smile.

"Itachi has a really good memory..."

“After all, what Haruko did is too memorable.” Itachi Uchiha’s eyes were full of sincerity.

Sensing the child's innocent accusation, Haruko grabbed his hand and led him forward.

"...Go home, go home."

On their way out hand in hand the next morning, Itachi Uchiha suddenly told her some sad news.

"Haruko, you don't need to pick me up anymore."

"Huh? Why?!" Haruko exclaimed incredulously, as if struck by lightning. "I only witnessed Itachi attend school for one day, and he's already being disliked?"

Itachi Uchiha shook his head. "No, I think it's better if I pick Haruko up after school."

"Why?" Haruko was a little confused when the roles of pick-up and drop-off were suddenly reversed.

"While I'm happy to wait for Haruko to pick me up, I'd rather greet her with anticipation all the way," Itachi Uchiha said solemnly. "So, from now on, can I pick up Haruko every time?"

The main reason was that Itachi didn't want her to notice any other children he knew, and when he saw Haruko struggling to greet him among the parents, Itachi felt inexplicably sad.

It's just a simple pick-up and drop-off; there's no need for Haruko to go to such lengths...

Itachi Uchiha's masterful use of language successfully persuaded Haruko to accept his proposal, so much so that she was powerless to resist when she belatedly realized that her position as his aunt was merely nominal.

...

Back to the present, Obito Uchiha is still unwilling to admit defeat and wants to turn the tables.

"You little brat, you should call Haruko auntie!"

“But Haruko said I can call her whatever I want.” Itachi Uchiha retorted with an innocent face, and then added as if it were unintentional, “Uncle Obito.”

Obito Uchiha was furious. "Who are you calling uncle?! How do I look like an uncle? You should call me brother!"

Uchiha Itachi calmly clarified the relationships between the characters, "But Haruko is her aunt, so as her teammate, you should be her uncle, right? Am I wrong?"

“…” Obito Uchiha was speechless and shut up.

Is this natural black skin? No wonder he's my little nephew!

Haruko inwardly applauded.

Looking at the innocent and pitiful Itachi Uchiha and the shameless Haruko Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake thought with schadenfreude: Obito's good days have finally arrived.

Shamelessly following beside the aunt and niece, Obito Uchiha provocatively took Haruko's other hand right under Itachi Uchiha's nose and even sneered at him.

"..." Itachi Uchiha pondered for a few seconds, then looked up and asked Haruko, "What is the relationship between Haruko and Uncle Obito?"

Upon hearing his words, it was clear that he was up to no good. Obito Uchiha's sharp eyes swept over him, but Itachi Uchiha completely ignored them.

Unaware of their open and covert attacks, Haruko enthusiastically introduced, "Obito is my long-term meal ticket and guardian, and also has the title of 'walking wallet'!"

What should have been an introduction that would have infuriated him turned into a triumphant one. Instead, facing a formidable rival like Itachi Uchiha, Obito Uchiha looked at him with an air of pride, as if it were an honor.

Unaffected, Itachi Uchiha continued, "So, it's just a relationship of friends or teammates, right? Is it okay for people in that kind of relationship to hold hands?"

Startled by his question, Haruko was confronted with a question she had never considered before.

Right, logically speaking, she really shouldn't be so close to Obito. What if she sets a bad example for Itachi?!

Finally showing a bit of aunt-like conscience, Haruko coldly withdrew her hand, saying, "I'm sorry, Obito."

After witnessing his series of actions, Obito Uchiha was dumbfounded and couldn't even utter a curse.

Uchiha Itachi, that scheming brat!

Haruko thought her little nephew was innocent and naive!

Pah!

Filled with resentment, Obito followed behind them when he suddenly saw Itachi turn around and look at him, giving him a strange smile.

...It's revenge, isn't it? He's getting revenge on me, isn't he?!

Obito Uchiha got angry in a fit of rage.

*

"Wow, it seems having a little kid at home is quite fun."

After listening to Haruko's recent stories, Takeuchi Mirei ate her popsicle with great interest.

Sitting on the bench in front of the shop, Haruko watched the crowds coming and going, but she didn't feel bored at all. "Itachi has really grown into the person I hoped he would be. He's not only well-behaved and obedient, but also smart!"

"Does becoming a parent create a biased view?" Mirei Takeuchi wondered.

She could tell from his words that this Uchiha Itachi was clearly a natural-born cynic; perhaps only Haruko thought her little nephew was naive and clueless...

Haruko reflected seriously for a moment, then affirmed, "This is just my normal aunt's perspective!"

"well--"

At first, I was just curious about how she could recognize me just by feeling. When we met again and she pointed out my inner thoughts while I was queuing up, I couldn't help but become interested. Later, we would occasionally meet up to chat.

Mirei Takeuchi herself never imagined that one day she would become friends with a younger girl who was so much younger than her.

This seemingly fragile relationship stubbornly lasted for several years, even prompting Takeuchi Mirei, who had initially just been watching the spectacle, to take their relationship seriously.

Glancing at her subtly, Takeuchi Mirei spoke in a leisurely tone: "Has Haruko considered her future plans?"

"The future?" Haruko pondered for a moment, then decided to speak her mind. "I don't really like thinking about the future. I prefer to cherish the present rather than the unpredictable future."

"Cherish the present moment..."

Following her words, Takeuchi Mirei conjured up images of her life after joining the Anbu, and chuckled softly, interrupting her wandering thoughts, "That seems to make a lot of sense."