[Hokage] A rose in mourning for the summer moon

Did I mention that a lot of the people I know are good people?

I've met a lot of great people.

Father gave me a second life;

Zhishui, encourage and love me like a brother;

Mikoto, a gentle woman, wants to be a good mother even if her emotions are biased;

Sasuke, once a lively and lovely young master, later awkward and withdrawn, but has always been a gentle and kind child;

The third generation, indecisive, has been confused, but has never lost his integrity;

Kakashi, lazy and decadent, but reliable at critical moments;

Tianzang, the seemingly indifferent Anbu, has actually been silently protecting me;

The fifth generation, strong and delicate, said he didn't trust me, but tolerated a lot of my waywardness.

And Shin, Asma, Hong...and many others, all good.

And Itachi...he's good too.Always good.

Some of them have long since died, and the rest have their own pain and sorrow.But even so, I hope they can all be happy in the end.

What is happiness?Live first, and get what you want second.If you can do these two things, you will be very likely to be happy.

A good person will live happily.

This is my wish and my obsession.

Since Itachi woke up, I was in a slightly excited state, like falling into a sweet dream, surrounded by flowers in full bloom.

No matter how strong the enemy is, what does it matter?Just hit it.We have the army, we have Gokage, we have Senjin, we have Nine Tails, and we have Susano.

I don't know who also used the technique of reincarnation of the dirty soil to summon the Hokage of the past dynasties.I was standing on my Susanoo at that time, and I thought about who summoned it for a while, and then I saw Orochimaru and suddenly realized.Just to put it bluntly, if you kill a snake without removing its roots, it will regenerate when the spring breeze blows.

The battle was chaotic and far beyond my initial expectations.Ask yourself, if I had known that the ultimate goal of the enemy was to summon aliens to descend, maybe I would have started seriously studying how to build a spaceship to leave this planet.This is definitely not Earth, I promise.

Kidding.

I was surprised to see the original Hokage again in such a short period of time, but also very happy.He is also a good person. He not only helped protect us for a while, but also helped write a letter to the Fifth Hokage.If it weren't for his help to speak, the Fifth Hokage probably wouldn't agree so easily with my "Uchiha devotion" statement.

I greeted him with a smile, and the first Hokage looked at me, but sighed.

Why have I always made people around me sigh in recent years?Can't figure it out.

Itachi looked at me between battles, his eyes became more and more worried every time.I don't know why, so I can only smile back.

Most of the encounters in life are unknown, but a smile is the universal answer.

The enemy turned back temporarily?Keep smiling.

Enemy infighting?Keep smiling.

Alien princess?Sage of Six Paths?Reincarnation struggle?This... just keep smiling.

The battle was fierce and escalating, but it ended very quickly.Anyway, we won.I still have time to look at the injuries of the ninjas, and treat patients with the doctors and ninjas.Since I don't have to worry about chakra consumption, I'm used to using "Feng Yunye" at will.

Itachi was also injured, but luckily the injury was not serious.Orochimaru came to save the scene halfway, brought the cells between the columns, and gave Itachi and Sasuke a shot.I think Itachi will not have to worry about blindness in the future.In this way, Orochimaru actually has a bit of pleasing to the eye.

I smiled and healed Itachi carefully. "Fengyunye" is also very useful for catalyzing cell vitality and accelerating wound healing.He looked at me silently, his eyes were dark, but his face turned pale little by little.

"Does it hurt? Did you wait too long?" I felt a little distressed, but I could only persuade him earnestly, "There is no way, you are slightly injured, and others are seriously injured. They have to come in order. Give you a blow, okay?" Okay? Don't be coquettish."

Sasuke and Naruto were not far away, they both stared at us with twitching corners of their mouths.It seems that they are also in pain, alas, there is no way.

"...Why would Sister Xia Yue talk to Itachi like this?"

"...How do I know. The two of them seem to be like that."

"Hey - it's disgusting!"

"Who is to say disgusting!"

"But—but! It's very strange to look at! It doesn't look like sister Xia Yue at all!"

Ignoring the young people's coquettishness, I only focused on the emotions of the person in front of me.He looked really bad, with a thick layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead, but he was gritting his teeth desperately, all the strong emotions were hidden in his eyes, and he did not express them.During these days, his emotions have obviously relaxed a lot. Even though he still shows a dignified look for the war, he no longer has the self-sufficiency he used to bear.

Now, what is it for?

"Itachi?" I was confused and worried. I couldn't help poking his forehead knowing it was useless. "What's wrong? Tell me."

A shadow came down.It's the original Hokage.Fine dust was flying around him, and each grain contained powerful chakra.The body reincarnated from the filth is completely different from the living; if you look closely at the familiar faces and clothes, you will know that they are all dust.This is the boundary between death and life, the law of nature.

Even if a person who has died can return to his soul temporarily, he will eventually return to ashes and ashes to ashes.

"My lord, what can I do?" I understand that you should be polite to those who have helped you.

"Sorry, can you give us some more time?" Itachi, who had been reluctant to speak, suddenly spoke at this time.

I was a little dazed, and went to see him again.

It was a very sad look.The heavy sadness, and being held back hard to maintain the superficial calm, but not knowing that it falls into the eyes of the insider, makes people even more sad.

I seem to have seen such a look somewhere before, let me think about it... Ah, there is.That is the look now, nine years ago on a full moon night, when he sent the blade into my heart.

"Oh……"

I remembered.How could I forget it.It's all because of being too happy for a while.

That's right.

"I'm sorry, the first generation of adults, I forgot." I stood up, knowing that it was unnecessary, but habitually patted the dust on the skirt, "I've been waiting for a long time, I'll come right away."

The first generation looked tangled, his eyes moved between us, and finally nodded to Itachi, saying that he would wait for us over there.

Itachi also stood up.Now he is half a head taller than me.It's a pity that he was tortured by diseases when he grew up, otherwise he should have been taller.However, good health.I couldn't help but draw the height difference between us, but he grabbed my wrist.

"Why?" he asked, "Xia Yue, why did you do this?"

The voice was a little soft and erratic, as if he couldn't bear to disturb anything.

"I... everyone survived, isn't it great?" I said with a smile.

He looked at me stubbornly.The lips seemed to be trembling.

"why."

"Oops, what's the 'why' for..."

"Xia Yue!!"

Never heard him reprimand anyone so loudly.I was stunned, and everyone else around me was also stunned.Sasuke came over and stood next to me, with a sense of defense, he said dissatisfied: "Itachi, can't you talk to Xia Yue properly?"

"Get out of the way, Sasuke." He didn't even look at his brother, his face was terribly cold and pale.

"Hey, Itachi, what's the matter?" Sasuke refused to back down.

"...Forget it, Sasuke." I patted the young man on the back, he has grown up, which is really gratifying.

"Itachi, what answer do you want?" I asked.

"Xia Yue, why did you do this?" He closed his eyes.I thought that in the next second I would see a pair of blood-red eyes, in which there would be a black pattern resembling a shuriken floating and spinning, seeing through all disguises.but no.When he opened his eyes again, they were still pitch black, oppressive like the sky before the storm, and even faintly...

Hidden something?What kind of emotion is that, I don't quite understand it.

"Because, I want you to live." It doesn't matter if you don't understand him, I just need to express my thoughts.We've always gotten along like this.I wiped my face casually, and my hands were dry without a single tear.That being the case, I still face him with a smile.

"Itachi, I want you to live and return to Konoha dignifiedly."

"I know what ending you chose for yourself, but I still prefer the ending with you alive."

"Sasuke, what do you say?" I turned my head, looking for an ally, "Itachi wants to use his own death to fulfill your 'credit', do you want it?"

In a conditioned reflex of a teenager, he said of course not.

"Xiayue... just for this reason?" Itachi's eyes widened, as if he couldn't understand, and murmured, "You don't have to."

This "don't have to" instantly hit the deepest pain in my heart.He once sent a blade into my heart.Years have passed, the real wound has long since healed, leaving only the scar on the chest, but some coldness has always stayed there, and they spread every time I think about it.Sometimes I feel like my heart is cold and empty, and every heartbeat is just the echo of the cold wind.

All along, why do I always get "don't have to"?

no need to worry.

It is not necessary to know the truth.

Don't worry about the misery he bears.

I often feel that I don't even need to love or hate, because love or hate has nothing to do with him.

Who is it related to?My feelings are related to who in this world?

No one really cares.In fact, you really don't have to care.

"It doesn't have to be..."

Don't you already understand?Why do I still feel wronged at this moment.But grievances are useless, who cares?

Just laugh.Smile at him when you can.

"I have to," I told him. "Just as you have your choices, I have my own."

His face was so pale that there was no trace of blood, and the darkness of his eyes was set off even more, like the deep night.I am nostalgic for this piece of night, even if it is so far away.

"Itachi, I have always understood your choice, and I am willing to listen to you. If you don't want me to join Anbu, I won't go; if you don't let me listen to family meetings, I won't listen. You have to execute orders to kill Me, you choose to let Sasuke survive, it’s okay, it’s okay, I understand.”

You see, I am very reasonable.

"If you don't say anything, I'll just investigate a little bit by myself. If you want to bear it alone, I'm also willing to help you."

"You never left me anything, you didn't reserve a place for me in your life. You didn't choose me. But I accepted. That's who you are, you have your own things to do."

"But I don't accept death. How can you decide to die alone?"

Only this thing is absolutely impossible.

He chose to die where I couldn't see him, leaving his eyes to my younger brother, but he didn't even give me a word.Such an ending... In fact, I have long been mentally prepared.

"It's the only option I absolutely don't accept."

She was clearly reasoning with him, but her voice trembled for no reason.

"How could you, how could you..."

He hugged me.

what happened?I feel very bewildered.I wanted to look up at his expression, but couldn't because he hugged him too tightly.

It turns out... Uchiha Itachi would hug someone desperately like this.Isn't he gentle, restrained, and forbearing?it's wired.It is clearly the night that faces each other far away, and the back of a crow flying farther and farther away.I never knew who he could hug so hard.

Know it now.

I heard his pulse, which was the powerful contraction of the heart; the blood flowed steadily under the skin to maintain the body's functions.He survived, as I wished.What more can I ask for?

If this hug is an unspoken sentimentality, then...

"...Forget it." I calmed down and gently hugged him back, "That's enough."

--What exactly is going on?First Generation Lord?

——That Uchiha girl...has long since died.

--What did you say? !

—— Xia Yue died long ago.

—— Orochimaru, why did you...!

——She has been transforming her body, wanting more chakra, and then I helped her transform into a body similar to Renzhuriki.I told her long ago that mortals who pursue the limit will only perish early.

——Then, what we see now...

——Before she resurrected Itachi, she first summoned me with the reincarnation of the dirty soil, so that I could call back her soul through the reincarnation of the dirty soil after she died.Her kaleidoscopic powers hypnotize everything, right?That's why you can pretend to be a living person.

——That kind of thing, why...

--how come……

—— Xia Yue! !

Yes, I am dead.After all, I am just a mortal, and having a kaleidoscope Sharingan is already the most remarkable thing.Even though I tried to transform my body again and again to gain more power, when I used the "Golden Crow Feather", my body reached its limit.

Apart from taking this life, I can't find any other way to save him.Sand Ninja Village's "Self-Reincarnation Technique"?It's similar to mine, and that kind of secret technique is almost impossible to get.Tenseiyan and "Reincarnation"?I don't have the qualifications to evolve the eyes of reincarnation, so I might as well use my kaleidoscope to write sharing eyes.

After all, it is just a broken body, but his life, health, and eyes can be exchanged. To me, this is a very good deal.

I am certain to die, so I have to summon the first generation of Hokage in advance.Fortunately, he was a person who kept his promise and was willing to perform the technique of reincarnation after my death, which gave me some more time.

"Itachi, don't blame yourself. This is my own choice... I have no regrets."

Itachi hugged me tightly.He had always been a good boy, would grieve the loss of his life, and wanted everyone around him to be safe, whether he liked them or not.He must be blaming himself for me...he is such a good person, willing to feel the pain of others.

It's a good thing that he's alive and still has someone to hug.The only pity is that I can no longer feel the body temperature of a living person.But good people should--could--live a good life, I firmly believe that.

I calmed down, but he seemed to be unable to maintain his calm anymore, and even his body trembled slightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." He kept repeating his apology, just like back then, "Xia Yue, I'm sorry."

Such a good boy.

"Isn't that already answered?" I said, "That's enough. No need to apologize, Itachi."

Nine years ago, since he made that decision, he has abandoned all ties with me.To him, I am the past that he killed with his own hands. It doesn't matter whether I am alive or not—it has nothing to do with him anymore.

There was only one last bond left between us, his own life.

It's that I can't give up on him, it's that I can't forget him.For me, that he was alive - that was very important in itself.

Maybe I had an illusion halfway through.When the crow perched on the balcony, when Yoshiwara kissed me in the dim candlelight, when we met again and the golden bell he carried rang, I had the illusion that there was more between us, that he He also cherishes me and himself.

My illusion is really too much.

In the end, it was easy for him to give up his life.Who will cherish what they have given up long ago?It was me and only me that held on.

As early as nine years ago, he had grown up.Sasuke has also grown up.The person who has been stuck in that night and cannot get out, from the beginning to the end is the only one.

I am the only one who can't forget the past and who is nostalgic for the memories of the past.

I am not sad.This is reality, and I have long accepted it.I am not sad.

I can't stop them from growing up, any more than I can stop them from leaving.I have no intention of stopping it either.Life is like this, everyone has their own wishes and goals, there is no reason for others to stop for your life.

So, just forget it.

"Itachi, this time, goodbye for real."

When the Dirt Reincarnation Technique is lifted, there is no need to maintain a disguise.I saw the dust flying up, and I didn't know what I was like in the eyes of others.The body is very light, so the soul is so light?Fly up, where will you go?

I looked up and saw only the dark sky, which was so dark that it was a little scary, but it felt a little peaceful.

"—Xia Yue, that's not the case!"

The cry before leaving, like a flood that had been suppressed for a long time suddenly burst its embankment, erupted in an instant.

"...Itachi?" Did the cry just now really come from him?I'm even a little skeptical.

He stretched out his hand to me, like a hint of retention, but his palm passed through the translucent soul in vain.He looked up at me without crying; when I looked into those eyes, it seemed like I saw a face full of tears.

"I've always liked you very much," he said. "Never a day, never a moment... never forgot you."

"You've always been in my life."

"I've always loved you."

"I thought you knew... I always thought you knew."

I... know?

I'm surprised.

Also at a loss.it's wired.

I know he likes me, but, love...

"I don't know... Is it like this?" I tried to bend down, trying to get closer to him and see his expression more clearly.The wind blowing from Nether Earth stirred up soft broken hair, but his eyes were firm and fixed, looking at me persistently, it was sadness, and...

I've seen that emotion in my own reflection.Is he... desperate?

"Itachi, you never told me. But...don't be too sad."

If what he said is true.If it is true.

Let me think about it, when did it start?I was always confident when I was a kid.He is used to being silent, used to being almost arrogantly speechless, but I am always sure that I know his feelings and thoughts.He is as pure and clear as a gem in my heart, and it only takes one glance to understand.

until nine years ago.That sword shattered all my self-righteousness.I've tried to reconstruct, I've tried to make myself believe what I've seen, felt...

But can't do it.I want the past to return, which means I don't believe in the past.I believe in his loneliness and determination, but I don't believe that there is more behind the silence.

if it is real.

Well, sorry.It's not all your fault.Maybe...if I had asked you earlier.

Some regrets.Thinking about it, I can only smile and sigh.Smile at him when you can.

"Don't be sad, I know now. That way... it's really enough."

If this is true, I really don't have any regrets.

I once loved someone.

How much hatred, how much resentment, how much self-righteous determination.

In the end, he was willing to admit that love has always been there.

I love someone and have always loved him.

Feeling unacceptable, going deeper.

This time, it's probably too late to die.

The author has something to say: Recommended BGM: "たいせせせなきみのために、ぼくにできるいちばんのこと" by Duca

NetEase Cloud Music has it.

A one-sentence summary of this chapter: You thought you got the other party’s point, but you didn’t.

Lesson: No matter how tacit and tacit, you must learn to communicate.However, the two of them really don't have any objective conditions for communication, and they rely entirely on memories and obsessions.

They all want to show that they are ok and strong so don't worry, and then one made themselves into a smiling depression, and the other... is also very confused now.

In the next chapter, Brother Weasel's side story, and then the real ending, don't be square.