Aoba had never imagined that the child he had casually lured over with a skewer of three-colored dumplings outside the dango shop would actually be the legendary Itachi God of the future.
He had not paid much attention before, but now that he looked carefully, the boy indeed had two obvious nasolabial folds—or rather, tear troughs—on his face. That was one of Itachi God's distinguishing features.
Add in his fondness for three-colored dumplings...
Aside from the aloof, expressionless face, all the other conditions and features matched.
"You... what's wrong?"
Seeing that the other boy had become dazed and distracted after hearing his name, Itachi could not help finding it strange.
"Oh, nothing. I just thought your name was a little strange. Haha, I'm joking..."
Aoba tried to cover it up with an awkward laugh, but his abnormal reaction still made Itachi frown slightly. Then Itachi suddenly exclaimed, "I remember now! You're that Shimiya Aoba who publicly opposed the Fourth Hokage at his inauguration ceremony and even declared that you would become the Fifth Hokage!"
Itachi had already found the name somewhat familiar, but his attention had been focused on the war orphans at the time, so he had not thought in that direction.
Now that he recalled it carefully, he remembered immediately!
"Uh, keep it down, keep it down! Speak more softly. I'm afraid I'll get beaten."
Aoba's heart tightened at first, but he quickly relaxed. He covered Itachi's mouth and looked around.
Itachi indicated that he understood, then slapped Aoba's hand away and stared at him as though he were looking at a rare animal.
"Ahem, kids say the darndest things. Besides, if people have no dreams, how are they any different from salted fish? Don't tell me you don't want to become Hokage."
"Dreams... Hokage..."
Itachi's eyes instantly grew hazy. He knew that, as someone carrying Uchiha blood, he could never become Hokage. And his dream—to have the Uchiha and the people of the village live together in peace, without discrimination—was even more impossible to achieve.
When he came back to his senses, he instead felt somewhat envious of Aoba.
At least an ordinary civilian dared to loudly state his dream and work toward it.
"Here come the dumplings! The two extra skewers are on the house~"
"Thank you, Big Sis~"
"Aww, what a sweet mouth. I wonder how many little girls you'll charm when you grow up~"
At that moment, the dango shop auntie brought over the three-colored dumplings. Because Aoba was so sweet-talking, she had even given them two extra skewers, making it a pleasant surprise.
It would have been even better if she had not taken the opportunity to pinch his cheeks twice...
"Go on and eat. Don't be shy!"
Aoba rubbed his cheeks, then took one skewer in each hand and began stuffing them into his mouth at lightning speed.
To be honest, those few skewers from earlier had not filled his stomach at all. At most, they had merely kept him from starving to death.
With his thoughts interrupted, Itachi saw how ferociously and happily Aoba was eating. Influenced by him, Itachi also felt a sense of urgency. He immediately picked up a skewer of dumplings and began enjoying them.
Mmm, delicious!
They said that half-grown boys could eat their fathers out of house and home.
The twelve skewers of dumplings were devoured by Aoba and Itachi in a whirlwind, leaving not a crumb behind!
Itachi had never eaten so wildly before. By the end, he had completely let himself go. He copied Aoba, attacking from both sides, and even seemed reluctant to stop.
"Uh, want some more?"
Aoba secretly glanced at his wallet with a pained look, then asked as though he were being generous.
But Itachi's face was clearly not as thick as his. What they had done today was already very 'excessive.' If his father found out, punishment would definitely follow.
So he had to hurry home.
"Thank you for the meal, but I really have to go home. If it's convenient, could you tell me where you live? Next time, I'll treat you to dumplings—enough to fill you up."
After roughly calculating the pocket money he had saved over the past few years, Itachi said this with great confidence.
Aoba's eyes immediately lit up!
It was still necessary to cling to Itachi God's thick leg. At least for the next ten-odd years, Itachi God would be terrifyingly powerful. Leaving behind some goodwill might come in handy someday and save his life.
As for the defection a few years later...
Aoba felt that the village should not go so far as to erase him simply because he had a good relationship with Itachi. That level of brutality was possible only if Danzo became Hokage.
Necessary investigation and surveillance would probably be unavoidable, but compared with what he might gain, that cost was completely insignificant!
There was also the troublesome matter of his undercover identity. Once Itachi joined the Akatsuki in the future, he might discover that identity.
If that happened, their friendship might sink without warning, and Aoba might even end up in danger.
It seemed that after meeting Obito, he would have to make him keep the secret—preferably telling no one. That was the only way to minimize the risk.
After sorting all this out in a few seconds, Aoba immediately said, "Of course. I live at XX in the civilian district. If you can't find me, just shout my name."
"Mm, I'll remember that. Then... see you next time."
Watching the child Itachi quickly disappear into the crowd, Aoba suddenly felt somewhat melancholy. This damn mission, this damn lousy system, damn it!
After cursing the lousy system and its entire family in his Zu'an-style language, he was just about to pay when he discovered that his feet had left the ground...
"Which bastard ambushed me? You've made a grave mistake, you know that?! I'm the Fifth Hokage personally chosen by Lord Fourth Hokage! If you dare touch even one of my fingers, Lord Minato will chop off your dog head even if you flee to the ends of the earth! Scared yet? If you are, then hurry up and put me down!"
Suddenly, Aoba, who had been cursing up a storm, went completely dumbfounded.
Because when he turned around, he saw who had picked him up.
"Jo... Jonin Mikawa? Uh, if I said I was performing comic dialogue just now, would you believe me? Oh, right, how about I treat you to some three-colored dumplings here? I'm telling you, the dumplings here are insanely delicious! I..."
Looking at Mikawa's face, black as the bottom of a pot, Aoba knew that he might be in trouble this time.
Sure enough!
Ignoring his endless babbling, Mikawa simply carried him away.
However, at that moment, the dango shop auntie whom Aoba had always called Big Sis Beauty suddenly stepped forward and blocked their path.
Seeing this, Aoba's eyes filled with tears!
There really was true love in this world, and warmth everywhere! As long as she could save him today, he would be willing to sacrifice this face of his in the future. She could pinch it however she wanted!
Even if she drowned him in her magnificent bosom, he would gladly accept it!
Yet under Aoba's intensely expectant gaze, the dango shop auntie shouted with astonishing force, "Three-colored dumplings, eight taels per skewer! Sorry for the trouble, but please settle the bill!"
P.S. One vote from you, one vote from you—Old Faceless won't have to worry about food. You invest, I invest, and I'll write myself to death in the little dark room!
Before you continue