[Hokage] A rose in mourning for the summer moon

After nightfall, the festival became more lively.Numerous small stalls set up a small world, each with colorful lights and lanterns, embellishing a sea of ​​lights; the sky is also full of stars, which complement the joy of the world.The aroma of food permeates the gap between talking and laughing, enriching the loneliness of the night.

Itachi noticed that Xia Yue was looking at the food stalls.

"Are you hungry, do you want something to eat?" He looked at different foods with his eyes, thinking about the categories that Xia Yue might like.Is it apple candy, or grilled meat, or takoyaki?

"Takoyaki looks delicious." She turned her head, her eyes were shining, she was very cute, "Where is Itachi, what do you want to eat?"

"Just like Xia Yue."

"What about the drink? Do you want watermelon juice?"

"All good. I'll go to line up."

Takoyaki is very popular. When he was queuing, Xia Yue went to buy watermelon juice and brought back a stick of apple candy.When the boss handed him a box of fresh takoyaki, he paid for it, and turned around to find that Xia Yue was staring at the red apple candy in his hand, muttering something like "how can I eat it so big", Like a squirrel holding a nut.

So cute that he wanted to rub her head.

"Didn't you think about it when you bought it?" He couldn't help laughing at her.

"When I bought it, of course I only thought that the candy apples look good." She replied confidently, "Don't worry, I can eat them, look good."

She "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhss .

"Xia Yue, you..." Did you suddenly become a naive child?

She looked at him innocently and smiled at him.Different from the usual leisurely smile, this smile is sweet with apple candy, it almost melts in his heart.

His heart was beating so fast he could barely hear anything else.But he still had to endure and maintain his usual calmness, and took a tissue to wipe off the sugar juice on her face carefully.

She raised her face, kept looking at him, and said with a smile, "Itachi, you are so kind."

Xia Yue at the festival became much more lively, as if she had returned to her childhood.She blew a takoyaki, nodded in satisfaction after eating it, and then blew another one to feed him, making him try it too.He couldn't hold her back—or didn't hold her back at all? ——I can only eat that delicious takoyaki, and try my best to ignore the surprised eyes cast by the people around me.She laughed softly, and her narrow look showed that she did it on purpose, just to see how he would react.

His reaction, of course, was as calm as ever.

After all, the night breeze can cool the heat on your face.

Xia Yue went to watch people play balloons for a while, and went to study catching dolls for a while.He saw her lying on the glass window and kept looking, so he asked her if she wanted the biggest plush teddy bear, but she asked excitedly, "If you want it, can Itachi catch it?"

She asked this question, so he couldn't answer it?Even if he has never used a claw machine, he can still catch the teddy bear with his observation skills.This is the confidence of a genius.

When he handed her the ordinary teddy bear, she smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed, just like the teddy bear she hugged tightly.

"Xia Yue is really like a child." He said.

"is it not OK?"

"...No, it's cute."

always like this.He wanted to tease her a little, but in the end it was himself who blushed.

Every detail of the festival can attract Xia Yue's attention.Not long after, he had a windmill, a clay figurine, a balloon, and of course the teddy bear she asked for just now.And she herself was only carrying a small and exquisite handbag, looked left and right, and finally squatted on the goldfish fishing stall with a group of children, and looked up at him with bright eyes again.

This look is the origin of everything he holds in his hand.

Itachi wanted to sigh helplessly, but found that the corners of his mouth were raised.

"Xia Yue, I can't take it anymore..."

"I come!"

She took the teddy bear and the clay figurine, put the windmill in the teddy bear's arms, rolled her eyes again, and asked him to hold out her hand with a smile so that she could tie the balloon string to his wrist.A group of children next to him yelled "Oh oh oh" strangely, saying, big brother, what will you do in the future if you dote on your girlfriend so unprincipled.

girlfriend……

He secretly observed Xia Yue's reaction, just in time to see her also look over.Both of them were taken aback.But this time it was Xia Yue who turned her face away first, her cheeks were flushed, but her smile was even bigger.

"Does it need to be said?" She replied briskly to the group of children, "Of course I continued to spoil them unprincipled."

He had never felt more fulfilled than at this moment.There is some hot emotion filling the heart, it seems to be very intense, but it does not have a kind of quiet power.

Meeting her gaze, he smiled resolutely. "That's right." He said, and he didn't realize that his voice was too gentle. "Just keep pampering me."

He fished her goldfish, and the booing children watched from the sidelines.The boss didn't know him, and when he handed him the paper net, he smiled and advised him not to be careless. Fishing for goldfish is a test of skill, and even a ninja may not be able to master it immediately.When he caught Xia Yue's fancy two spotted goldfish in one go, the boss made a bitter face, and moaned and told them to show mercy.

"Two are enough." Xia Yue took the plastic bag containing the goldfish, grabbed his sleeve and shook it, "Thank you, Itachi, I like them very much."

The brats booed again, "Oh oh oh".Some people found the family crest of the flame fan embroidered on their clothes, and shouted that it turned out to be Uchiha's ninja, which is really no wonder.More people looked curiously, and as a result, acquaintances exclaimed.

"Brother? Sister Xia Yue?"

"Huh? What? That's Sasuke's brother? And sister Xia Yue?"

"Wow, Sasuke's brother is really handsome, and he feels so gentle..."

"Ah—Sakura! I'm handsome too!"

Three teenagers in bathrobes stood not far away, their faces full of surprise.The boy in the middle has inherited the blond hair and blue eyes of the fourth Hokage, and has a lively expression; the girl on the left has pink hair and green eyes, besides surprise, she also has yearning and envy; It's not an exaggeration.

The younger brother stared, almost losing his grip on the kebab in his hand. "Brother, sister Xia Yue...Although I expected it a long time ago, my brother actually has such a side. Is it really my brother? Am I wrong?"

He muttered to himself, although the voice was soft, but it was transmitted word for word.

His teammates were very blunt: "Sasuke, your brother is so nasty... Aww, Sakura, why are you pinching me!"

"Don't talk nonsense, Naruto! That's obviously gentle and considerate! If only Sasuke could be like this..."

Being seen by an acquaintance is naturally more embarrassing than being seen by a stranger, let alone being witnessed by a beloved brother.Itachi was silent for a moment, then calmly waved to his younger brother.

The young man didn't doubt that he was there, and walked over quickly, with an innocent and lovely trust on his face, just right for his brother to poke him in the forehead.

"Brother, you—"

The younger brother's expression changed, and he suddenly went to look at Xia Yue, and said righteously, "Sister Xia Yue, look, brother is the kind of person who will suddenly tease others like this, why don't you think about others?"

What?His face must have changed; because after counting breaths, his younger brother and Xia Yue laughed together.

"Sasuke..." He let out a sigh of relief, thinking that his younger brother had really grown up and found a way to defeat him in no time.

The younger brother snorted and raised his chin, taking advantage of the victory to pursue: "Sure enough. Although I concealed it very well, I can see it—brother likes sister Xia Yue very much, right?"

The younger brother's pride and complacency were too obvious, but it calmed him down.

"That's right, Sasuke." Seeing his younger brother's surprised expression, he took the pile of small gadgets from Xia Yue and smiled calmly, "I really like Xia Yue very much, and I don't intend to hide it. at this point."

Naruto poked his dazed younger brother and winked: I lost—Za———

"I didn't lose—Naruto, you're an idiot."

"Obviously lost, lost to Brother Itachi! Sasuke, you big idiot!"

"Okay, Naruto, Sasuke-kun, let's go, don't disturb sister Xia Yue and Mr. Itachi's date!"

The teenagers walked away noisily, and after a while they became happy about other things.Itachi smiled and shook his head, and was pulled at his sleeve by the girl next to him.

"What's wrong, Xia Yue..."

The unexpected kiss on the cheek made him stay where he was.

"This is a response to what I said just now." She turned her hands away as if nothing had happened. "Now, we can go to the river to watch fireworks. The time is almost up, right?"

A few leaves fell from the big tree nearby.A white-haired ninja wearing a mask squatted on a tree branch, teasing lazily, "It's nice to be young, but I choose to continue reading novels"; Xia Yue looked up and asked Kakashi-senpai what are you doing, and the other party replied that the police force is not manned enough , Temporarily transfer his old bones to do security.

"Forget it, it's the teacher's request after all." The former dark army captain sighed and waved to them, "I'm going to the river too. Young people, remember to send me an invitation card when you get married, but I don't Guaranteed to be there on time…”

After the senior left, both of them sat silently under the tree for a while.

"Senior Kakashi is really..."

"Ah, it is indeed Mr. Kakashi's character."

"So, what does Itachi think?"

By this time, he could finally look at Xia Yue.She also looked at him, with a slight smile on her lips, and her eyes were as blue as the deep sea.

He took a deep breath in his heart, like this three times.The blood has absorbed enough oxygen to carry the saturated emotions flowing from the heart, and finally turned into a calm word.

"If you're going to a wedding, it's better to be there on time."

She blinked slowly, her nonchalant look was exactly the same as his own.

"Yeah." She turned her head and said calmly, "I think so too."

As the firework festival approached, the crowd gradually flocked to the Nanhe River.They walked side by side, walking unhurriedly, and neither seemed to be thinking about taking a good position.

"If you walk over like this, I think there is no suitable viewing point. What do you think, Itachi?"

"It seems to be true. I know a place where it is very suitable to enjoy fireworks, and there are not many people."

"Sounds good. How about we go over there?"

"it is good."

Breaking away from the crowd, Xia Yue put away her lively and lovely appearance just now.Itachi felt a little regretful, and began to secretly think about how to make her show more innocence and intimacy in the future-that look is so cute.

"Isn't this the top of Huoying Rock...Indeed, watching the fireworks from here is clean and comfortable." Xia Yue walked to the edge of the cliff stepping on wooden clogs, as light as a deer, but her steps were steady.

There is only a single lamp on the top of the mountain.Without the hustle and bustle of the lights, the natural silence enveloped them.The night wind passed by, and the moonlight fell; the forest "sanded" and murmured, making it even more quiet.Itachi remembered the bleak night when he left the village five years ago, and recalled the scene when he saw Xunfeng for the first time: "Luoyangping" beside the small town of Chuanuoguo was covered with silver and moonlight in the night , is somewhat similar to the scene tonight.With such an association, the night faded from the desolation, and only looked lovely.

At this moment, Xia Yue took out two sweet-scented osmanthus candies, waved them in front of him, and asked with a smile: "Crow, how about having a taste of sweet-scented osmanthus candies?"

It is this kind of banter that comes at hand, that makes the disguise and performance so vivid every time.No matter how dangerous the situation is, with such a vivid dress, she can easily save the day.This is Xunfeng; this is Xiayue.

Itachi took the sugar, just like the first time.

"Of course, it's my pleasure."

When the sweet-scented osmanthus blooms in the mouth, the first firework also rises from the other side of the Nanhe River.The flames blooming in the night sky are naturally beautiful. Looking at this scene, Itachi suddenly felt touched at a small node deep in his memory.

"Xia Yue..."

"how?"

"No, just remembered something. When I was a child."

Her eyes were fixed on his face, a signal to wait.He smiled, but said no more.

"Hey? Itachi, what did you think of? Don't say half of what you said." She lost her calm and calm appearance, and began to act cutely again.He looks very calm, but it's all superficial; he tends to act like a baby when he treats people close to him.Did she notice this feature herself?

He should have discovered this sooner.

"Itachi—tell me!"

She stared at him for a while, then narrowed her eyes suddenly, turned her head with her hands behind her back, and started to put on a show again. "Since you don't want to talk about it, forget it." She said, "I'm not that curious either."

Even so, Yu Guang was still watching him quietly.The fireworks that bloomed in the distance were reflected in her eyes, flickering on and off, just like a memory that is suddenly near and far away.In this way, his memory became clearer.Yes, she was already like this when she was a child.

That happened more than ten years ago, in his second year in ninja school.Itachi entered school at the age of 5, which was the end of the third Ninja World War. It was originally planned to become a ninja after graduating at the age of 6, but the war ended in the second year, and the minimum age for ninja school graduation was also raised to 7 years old.For many families, this is a good thing to breathe a sigh of relief, but for Itachi, on the one hand, he is relieved that the war is over, and on the other hand, he is dissatisfied with the delay in graduation.

It was in such a mood that he took a cunning approach: attend classes in school as a shadow/body, while he practiced in the forest in the northwest.There is a shooting range and a lake over there, which is suitable for a Uchiha to practice shuriken throwing and fire escape.

One day, he suddenly felt that the shadow part/body disappeared.Judging from the memory of the feedback, it was a classmate who failed to raise the knife and drop the knife when he practiced killing chickens. As a result, the stabbed rooster ran around the field with blood spilled everywhere. The culprit chased the rooster while sharply They yelled, causing chaos; I didn't know who stepped on whom first, but a large group of students fell into a ball and threw Itachi down.

As a result of that incident, Itachi and the culprit obediently accepted the punishment.They have to stand on the playground until the sun goes down, and they have to copy the ninja school rules five times when they go back.It was said to be "punishment to stand", but itachi was the only one who stood up straight; the ineffective culprit saw the teacher walk away, so he squatted down happily, and sat cross-legged on the ground after a while, holding his hands in his hands. Cheeks watching the sunset.The setting sun was glowing red, and her eyes were also glowing red, but the eyes were filled with the deep blue sea water, which was extraordinarily beautiful against the rays of the sun.

She said listlessly, I'm sorry, Itachi-san, I've troubled you.He replied in a flat tone, it was none of other people's business, it was because he didn't practice enough that he was discovered.

She thought about it, and asked him sharply if he didn't know her name, so he used "others" to refer to her.The ability to see through the truth with that glance surprised him a little.

Facing his silence, she nodded knowingly.

"My name is Natsuki, Taki Natsuki."

"I'm Itachi Uchiha."

Even though her eyes were still red and there were tears on her face, she laughed and said that no one in school knew Itachi, you really don't know how famous you are.

"That's right, Itachi-san."

"Student Xia Yue?"

"If the weather is fine tomorrow, can you ask Itachi-san to guide me in cultivation?"

"...I'm very busy, Xia Yue should ask others for advice."

"Don't refuse so quickly."

She smiled even more heartily, and she didn't know anything worthy of her happiness.She yawned and said divinely, "What if it rains tomorrow?"

The next day turned out to be a cloudy and rainy day.When it was drizzling, he stood by the lake and watched the dark clouds roll; the rain made countless ripples on the lake, and he spit out a fireball, and the countless ripples turned into countless white mist.At that time, he thought unexpectedly: If the classmate who is the culprit appears now, it seems that it is not impossible to ask him to give advice.

Of course she didn't show up.

They never met again.

That small past, like all other trivial things, was quickly drowned in the ninja's life.It was only after more than ten years that he was touched by familiar people, and he was surprised to find that they had had a conversation so long ago.I thought it was an insignificant past, but the mood at that time is still vivid and clear as yesterday.Why can he remember how he silently thought by the lake back then, if classmate Xia Yue appeared, he could also teach her ninjutsu?

maybe……

"Itachi, what are you thinking about?" Xia Yue turned to him, took a handful of sweet-scented osmanthus candies, and said shrewdly, "Tell me what exactly you think of, and I'll exchange it with sweet-scented osmanthus candies."

The person in front of him is already a mature ninja like him.It's a bit regrettable to think about it.

"I was thinking, if I had agreed directly at that time, maybe I could have known Xia Yue earlier."

"At that time? Promise? We knew each other earlier?"

Judging by the way she doesn't know why, you can tell that she must not remember.But that's okay too.

"Xiayue, sweet-scented osmanthus..."

"Ok?"

He looked into the man's eyes and saw his own shrunken shadow.It must be serious.

He asked very seriously: "Osmanthus candy, can you make it for me alone in the future?"

The fireworks are still going off.One after another, it belongs to the public, exaggerated excitement, far away on the other side of the river, leaving the quiet to his side.Just like his life, he always walks alone on the other side of the ravine, and occasionally glances at the noisy people across the way, feeling a little bored, but he also feels that boring peace is also good.

Now, there is one more person beside him.When she smiles, there is a lively shadow, but her eyes are always peaceful.She makes the whole world bright and peaceful.

"It's only for one person... so greedy." She laughed, but her eyes were still peaceful and soft, "But, yes, I agree."

"Then it's settled."

"Well, it's settled."

He gently kissed the smile.It was a smile that had been in his heart a long time ago, and it will always bloom in the future.He will take good care of that smile.

"... Itachi, if the weather is fine tomorrow, let's go climbing together."

"Is that so... what if it rains?"

"What's so embarrassing? If it's raining, just come to my house and listen to music. There's tea and snacks, and interesting books."

Memories from many years ago drifted past again, and he seemed to see the ripples on the lake's surface from the rain, the rolling clouds in the sky, and himself looking up at the rain falling.What a child.If you want to find her, obviously go directly.

"Okay," he said, "I'll definitely go."

Regardless of whether it is sunny or rainy, as long as it is where she is, he will definitely go.

On the day of the engagement, Xia Yue received a gift.It is a set of jewelry made in the shape of ginkgo leaves, with fine veins, pure and elegant.She put them on one by one before walking into a snowstorm.

The man was waiting for her in the courtyard.He was looking up at a branch and leaf, snowflakes fell on his forehead, and his hair as black as a crow's feather was also covered with dots of white.That kind of quiet concentration as deep as a cold pool can only be seen in him.

"Xia Yue."

Even the smile is silent, just as silent as the snow.

She suddenly wanted to tell him a secret.

"Itachi, there is one thing... Actually, I have liked you for a long time." She mustered up her courage, "Before Itachi knew, I liked you earlier."

Why practice hard, why count the time to become a Jonin as soon as possible, why desperately have to pass Anbu's test, why try every means to become the person in charge of contacting him.

All why comes from the only answer.

His eyes are as calm as snow, and his smile is as calm as snow; but his embrace is warm, and his skin and breath are even more scorching.

"For me, then," he answered, "I was destined to like Summer Moon a long time ago."

The author has something to say: this world line ends w

Tell me loudly: Is it sweet?