[Hokage] A rose in mourning for the summer moon

One weekend morning in early winter, when I was about to go for a morning run, I ran into Itachi at the door of my house.He was studying my number plate and seemed hesitant to ring the bell.

"Itachi-kun, why are you here?"

The cold wind of winter rushed towards my face, making me want to shiver.I breathed on my hands and couldn't help but notice that the kid at the door was only wearing thin long-sleeved trousers, not even a jacket.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked.

"The weather is not so cold yet." He said, the tip of his nose moved, and he glanced behind me again.

Itachi said bluntly: "The smell of alcohol is a little heavy. Uncle Takihira is drinking again?"

Takihira is my father's name, and it is also the name written on the wooden sign at the door.Living in the land of the Uchiha clan, here is Uchiha and there is also Uchiha. In order to distinguish the houses, everyone can only write the name of the owner on the house number.

"Last night, I came back drunk and vomited everywhere. I cleaned it up with great difficulty, but he was fast asleep." I shook my sleeves in distaste, "Do I also smell?"

Itachi showed a thoughtful expression, took two steps towards me, took a serious sniff, and then said in a relieved tone: "Don't worry, it's not."

"That's good. Wait, I always feel that the scene just now is a bit funny..."

"Actually," Itachi interrupted me, "I would like to ask classmate Xia Yue to do me a favor."

I looked at him suspiciously.Doesn't this kid think that as long as he puts on such a nonchalant look, I will ignore the fact that he is deliberately changing the subject?

"When I woke up this morning, my mother really wanted to taste the tomatoes. But whether it was the vegetable store in the family land or the supermarket in the shopping street, they all told me that because the commercial roads in the south were harassed by robbers, the roads were blocked. No, the next batch of fruits and vegetables has not been delivered to Konoha yet."

"No wonder there are only a few varieties in the store recently... If Mr. Itachi knows the news, it proves that the village has accepted the task of eliminating robbers, right?"

"Yes. However, although robbers are not to be feared, the shortage of tomatoes is a fact." Speaking of this, the serious and rigid child suddenly showed a little shyness, "Then, I remembered that classmate Xia Yue mentioned before until I grow my own tomatoes..."

It turned out to be the case.

"Please wait a moment, I'll get it right away. It just so happens that the fruit has ripened in the past two days... Itachi-kun will wait for me at the door."

I quickly rushed into the house, ran to the kitchen, and took out the tomatoes I just picked last night.There are five in total. The bright red fruit is full of water and exudes a sweet breath.

After taking out the tomatoes, the already empty refrigerator became even more dry, and only a few bottles of beer by the door were showing off at me, which was annoying.

I slammed the door and heard the glass bottles collide with each other, the sound was crisp.

"Xia Yue... Hey you brat, be careful with my wine!"

The bleary-eyed father strode dazedly, roaring at the sight of his precious beer being damaged.

"Where are you going? Hey, Xia Yue! Tsk... remember to bring two more bottles of beer when you come back!"

Who cares about him.

I ran out without looking back, and closed the door heavily.

Turning around, I saw the child's knowing eyes.That quiet look made me inexplicably depressed.

"Let's go." I patted my cheeks, wanting to cheer up, "I'll take the tomatoes with you."

For a moment, I was actually a little worried.I was worried that Itachi would reject me, and told me politely that he could go home alone.

But Itachi didn't do that.

"Okay." He took the plastic bag of tomatoes from my hand and walked on my left, separating the road from me. "Mother will be happy to see you."

That was supposed to be just a polite remark—that's how I understood it.Mikoto is a gentle and friendly woman, but she is also a ninja, and at the same time the wife of the patriarch, a—this is important—a mature adult; distance.

I thought, I should be right.

Miqin was alone at home, her lower abdomen already had obvious curvature.The moment she opened the door, she gave a gentle smile.

"Itachi said he knew where the tomatoes were, but he didn't expect to find Xia Yue. Really...Itachi, you didn't cause Xia Yue any trouble, did you?" Her words revealed a tactful reproach.

"No, mother." Itachi replied.

Even when talking to his mother, his tone was still flat and cold.

"You're welcome, I'm glad to share your worries." I hurriedly bowed, "Good morning, Aunt Meiqin."

She looked at me, then at Itachi, and smiled again.

"Oh, these two kids... have exactly the same seriousness. No wonder they play together, don't you, Itachi?" She teased.

If you ask me, I think this kind of "seriousness" is caused by those complicated and trivial honorifics.But what can be done, people are social animals, and social etiquette must be followed.Moreover, a big family like Uchiha always regards etiquette as extremely important.In a nutshell: I don't think it's Itachi's fault for being too prudish.

Besides, aren't precocious children cute too?

"We practice together, mother." Itachi said seriously.Sure enough, earnest, almost rigid.

Mikoto was silent for a moment.

"Itachi... you really worked hard. Your father will be proud of you." Mikoto was still smiling, but obviously, her earlier joking mood had faded.

But she recovered quickly.I could see that she was trying to cheer herself up, as I often do myself.

She tried her best to maintain the image of a cheerful and gentle mother.

"However, why don't you take a break today? Xiayue stay for lunch, okay? I will use these beautiful tomatoes."

Itachi looked at me, hesitantly.

"However, I have already delayed classmate Xia Yue's morning run..."

His gentle mother gave a "puchi" smile.Maybe Itachi's dilemma made her relax a little, and her smile was no longer so forced.

"In that case, Itachi and Xia Yue should go for a morning run together. Come back on time for lunch at twelve o'clock." She smiled, but held our shoulders unquestionably, and turned us to the door.

"Okay, let's go play."

Itachi had no choice but to follow her strength and stand outside the door, but then, he turned his head back.He looked directly at Miqin, he didn't have the coquettishness that any child would have, and he couldn't see the closeness and attachment to his parents, let alone the resistance or boredom to cultivation that is common in ordinary children.

"I see, mother." His voice was still so flat and too serious, "Then, let's go to practice together."

We walked on the streets in early winter again, watching the morning light illuminate the roofs of different houses one by one.

"Itachi-kun."

"Student Xia Yue?"

"It seems that not only my family, but Itachi-kun's family also has their own troubles. I mean, it's about getting along with family members."

"Really." He was silent for a moment, then turned to look at me, "Is there?"

His seriousness is clear, and his confusion is also clear.The kid really didn't understand what happened just now.Or, this is the way he is used to getting along.

"Hmm... How about trying to act like a baby with Aunt Mikoto next time? For example, when I got home, I ran to the kitchen and said, 'Mom, I'm starving to death, do you have anything to eat', how about that?" ?”

The child seemed to imagine the scene for a moment, and then frowned.

"No, I don't think so." He said coldly.

"Itachi-kun."

"No need."

"You look disgusted."

"...No, there is no such thing."

Children who cry have candy, but what about those who don't cry?Taking it too seriously - probably really isn't a likable quality.

However, he is a good boy.

He is a good boy who can run around just to find the fruits and vegetables his mother wants to eat.

Uchiha Itachi is a gentle child.I think so.

Always think so.