At dusk, on the western outskirts of Konoha, at the camp.
"Then take good care of yourselves. Don't work too hard."
Kushina looked at the two disciples seeing her off and could not help reaching out, gently placing her hands on their heads and giving them a vigorous rub. Only after their soft hair had been mussed into little tufts did she slowly withdraw her hands.
And from her lips came words tinged with reluctance.
"Yes, Teacher Kushina!"
Hearing this and feeling their teacher's warm hands slowly leave their heads, Yukina and Hirohiko spoke almost in unison.
Their voices, too, carried a hint of reluctance.
It seemed Hirohiko's mental state truly was not something she needed to worry too much about. This child was different from the other Uchiha.
At this point, Kushina, who had been worried about Hirohiko, finally let go of the concerns in her heart. The shadow cast by what she had learned from the previous generation about the Uchiha Clan had finally dispersed.
Still, this child... he had lost so much weight.
After completely setting her mind at ease, Kushina instead felt a pang of heartache. The disciple before her had clearly become much thinner. Though he looked quite healthy, compared to before, the weight loss was still obvious.
"Well then, I'll be heading back first."
However, Kushina did not say anything more. After she could not help rubbing their heads once more and smoothing down their sticking-up hair, she turned and left.
"Be careful on the way back, Teacher Kushina!"
With Hirohiko and Yukina's call following her, Kushina slowly stepped onto the main road leading back to the village.
"Let's go back."
Hirohiko watched Kushina all the way until she was out of sight, then spoke to Yukina beside him, who could not see