Inside the barbecue restaurant, Shisui had already been waiting for quite some time. As expected, the usually quiet-looking Itachi Uchiha was sitting beside him.
"Yuzuru, long time no see." At the sight of Yuzuru Hyuga, Shisui could barely hide his delight as he smiled and waved to him.
Itachi Uchiha was more reserved. He merely gave Yuzuru Hyuga a slight nod, but the concern he felt for his friend was clear in his eyes.
Yuzuru Hyuga joining the ANBU was no secret to Shisui, who was also in the ANBU. Though it had not been publicized, it was not difficult for people of their status to find out.
Itachi Uchiha looked his friend over several times from head to toe, yet felt that nothing about him had changed—didn't people say that becoming a ninja, especially an ANBU ninja, changed a person profoundly?
He could not help recalling his earlier conversation with Shisui. When he had mentioned wanting to graduate early and become a ninja himself, Shisui had firmly opposed it, even warning him in grave terms that joining the ANBU would have an enormous impact on his life.
Before Itachi Uchiha figured out what path he wanted to take in the future, Shisui did not want him to become a ninja too soon, even though Itachi Uchiha was already more than qualified to be a Genin.
"Long time no see." Yuzuru Hyuga seemed equally pleased. There was not the slightest awkwardness between them despite their long separation. After naturally taking a seat across from the two of them, he smiled and stared at Itachi Uchiha.
It was not until Itachi Uchiha awkwardly turned his head away that he said, "What are you looking at me for?"
"My little brother seems to have grown a bit." Yuzuru Hyuga's eyes behind his