Chapter 224 The Meaning of Life
As always, Fugaku Uchiha kept a straight face and answered her first, "I brought him here to broaden his horizons."
Standing beside him, Itachi Uchiha nodded in agreement, then looked timidly at Haruko, seemingly nervous that he hadn't listened to her and waited for her to return.
Looking at Uchiha Itachi, who was only four years old and had already stepped onto the battlefield, Haruko could hardly maintain her smile. This reminded her of the scene of Nawaki, who was just as innocent and spirited as before, leaping across the battlefield with high spirits, but ultimately dying in the war. She couldn't help but clench her fist.
This is war, cruel yet equal. Whether old or young, successful or unknown, everyone dies, everyone dies eventually...
"Haruko, I'm sorry." Seeing her fall silent, Itachi Uchiha rushed over and hugged her tightly.
Haruko snapped out of her daze and patted his head. "Itachi is brave, but... I'd rather you be safe."
Uchiha Itachi rubbed against her clothes obediently, "I will protect myself, Haruko."
As they walked over, Uchiha's subordinates were discussing something with Uchiha Fugaku. Haruko patted Uchiha Itachi on the shoulder, signaling him to go over and talk to them without disturbing them.
The fully recovered Obito Uchiha couldn't stay calm for even a second. He quietly approached them and showed off his Sharingan to the youngest child present.
"See that?" Obito Uchiha pointed to his spinning two-tomoe sword, beaming with pride. "I'm going to become Hokage, so you'd better carve my signature goggles and Sharingan on my Hokage Rock!"
"Really?" Itachi Uchiha asked sincerely, "Will Uncle Obito still be wearing goggles when he's over twenty?"
Obito choked, his pride instantly extinguished, and he glared at him resentfully, "What do you know, you brat!"
Seeing that the two of them were chatting happily, Haruko returned to Fugaku Uchiha's side and listened to their conversation.
Her subordinate noticed her approaching and paused for a moment before continuing, at Fugaku Uchiha's gesture to let her go. "Too many people have died in the war. The Third Hokage is taking responsibility and resigning. There's a lot of talk about calling for the 'Yellow Flash,' but some people have also suggested that you, Captain, be promoted to the Fourth Hokage."
Haruko was surprised. So the Uchiha already had the intention to fight for power at this time?
Fugaku Uchiha neither agreed nor disagreed, saying, "We finally achieved peace, and although it was short-lived, we must strive to maintain it. This is the responsibility of the Uchiha."
The subordinate answered "yes" and withdrew.
Fugaku Uchiha's leader-like demeanor vanished as he looked at Haruko. He reached out and gently tidied Haruko's hair. "Are you badly injured?"
"It's alright." Haruko shook her head. "I have something I want to talk to Fugaku about. When are you free?"
Noticing that her tone had become more mature and composed, Fugaku Uchiha assumed it was a change brought about by the war and didn't take it to heart.
"Let's wait a few days. Right now, we're busy cleaning up the mess."
"good."
Haruko let out a deep breath, and under his confused expression, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Fugaku Uchiha didn't ask any questions, but raised his hand and touched her head. This was a silence that only the two of them understood.
After Fugaku Uchiha left to arrange personnel, Haruko looked around for Itachi Uchiha's figure, only to see him standing to one side with Orochimaru, and couldn't help but marvel at what a strange combination it was.
As she approached, she heard Itachi Uchiha ask, "What is the meaning of life?"
Orochimaru surveyed the cold, lifeless tombstones and replied indifferently, "It is meaningless to mourn the dead, and life itself is meaningless. If life has any meaning, it only exists when it can be used, when life is eternal."
"Life...has no meaning?" Itachi Uchiha murmured.
Haruko:...?
"Orochimaru, don't you dare corrupt the children!"
Haruko's low spirits vanished instantly, and she angrily rushed behind Uchiha Itachi, covering his ears with her hands.
Sensing the subtle intimacy in her voice, Orochimaru's mind went blank for a moment before he realized what was happening and looked at her with some suspicion.
As Haruko Uchiha, even knowing their original relationship, she couldn't help but be wary and keep her distance when interacting with him.
And now, just because she went to the battlefield once, her attitude towards him has become so much closer...
Suddenly realizing something, Orochimaru frowned and scrutinized her with a sinister expression.
Under Haruko's unfriendly expression, Orochimaru added, "That's why I want to achieve immortality."
Recalling Orochimaru's future experience of defecting from the village due to experimental research, Haruko's lips twitched. "I'm telling you, be careful not to go astray."
It's confirmed.
Orochimaru licked his lips with a hint of excitement, a dark glint in his golden snake eyes. "Even so, you still insist on supporting me?"
“It’s not that I’m insisting on supporting him, it’s just that I think… Orochimaru must have his own reasons for doing this.” Haruko carefully chose her words, trying to suppress his restless thoughts. “Besides, didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t hurt anyone?”
"Is there?" Orochimaru pretended to think.
"..." Haruko suppressed the urge to punch him.
Taking in her series of reactions, Orochimaru suddenly burst into laughter, his eyes even glistening with tears.
Yes, this is her, helplessly and foolishly supporting others.
It was like a one-sided game of recognition. Orochimaru glanced at Uchiha Itachi, who was being carefully protected in her arms, and without saying much, turned and left.
His last lingering thoughts drifted in the air—
"Then let's wait and see together, and see how far I, whom you trust, will ultimately go."
Haruko pursed her lips. No matter what, Orochimaru was a dangerous person. They had to be careful not to let his pessimistic thoughts affect the future of the Uchiha clan.
"Haruko." Itachi Uchiha interrupted her thoughts, looking up at her. "What is the meaning of life?"
Haruko removed her hand from his ear and instead placed it on his shoulder. "Life itself is meaning, and living is full of meaning, just as I welcomed you. We live together, and we are each other's meaning."
"But life fights, it kills each other. I don't understand why they don't respect life?"
It seems like only a short time ago, in her ignorance, she asked Minato Namikaze, and his answer is still etched in Haruko's mind. But now, facing Itachi Uchiha, she wants to offer a different explanation.
"Because death also has meaning. In this era of war, we fight for Konoha, they fight for their village, and we all fight for the hope and future of our village."
"But compared to death, the meaning of living is more profound. Some people choose to die for their beliefs, while others choose to live a life of mere survival. These are all value choices in life. Life is a choice we make ourselves."
"So Itachi, you must remember, never disregard life, and never judge life with your own stubbornness."
Noticing the fleeting pain in Haruko's eyes, Itachi Uchiha fell silent, quietly basking in her warmth.
Don't...judge life?
******
The list of recipients of gratitude as of April 9, 2024:
grateful--
Yuan Sheng's activation gift includes 2 update reminder charms and a bubble tea.
Li Xibai was a gift from a beautiful woman urging her to update her chapters.
K, the one who sent the update reminder charm
I didn't eat the boba milk tea that came with the mango.
A love letter from a bird in the abyss
Flowers sent by Lin Laoji
yyim, Sadeva, Shen Qingfeng, Yue...., It's Xiaoyu, not Xiaoyu, Liang Hong who loves spicy potato strips, Hongyi Xiangyi Saigao, early summer. starry sky, Qiuge0078, cat who loves to eat^o^, Gulu Gulu Miao, Gu Gongzi who loves to eat scallion pancakes, Xuan Chun, Wang Yunchuan who likes sea hedgehogs, Uchiha Xueyi, Jin Xiula from Nanning, Fufu Funingna, Sprite-flavored pig sent for love
Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! Young Itachi is reaching out to you all for a hug (∩~∩)
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