Mother's Words

"Did we win? Why don't I feel happy at all?"

"Maybe this is only natural. Fighting that Kage-level puppet left me so badly injured. It seems I'm still far too weak."

Uchiha Matsuzaki gazed at the petals drifting past the window and thought to himself.

For the next few days, Chestnut Snow took good care of him.

The doctor had said he could be discharged after two weeks, but Uchiha Matsuzaki had an extraordinary ability to heal. In less than a week, his injuries had almost completely healed.

After a week, the only thing he still had was a few bandages wrapped around his hand.

"I'm finally out of the hospital. I feel so much better now. I felt uncomfortable everywhere after spending a week in there."

"You really are something. The doctor said you needed to rest for a while longer, but you insisted on leaving."

"I really can't do anything with you. Still, seeing that you're doing so well makes me feel relieved."

Chestnut Snow walked beside Uchiha Matsuzaki and said this to him.

"Zixue, thank you for taking care of me all this time. If you hadn't been there with me, I might really have ended up staying in the hospital for two weeks!"

Uchiha Matsuzaki said with a smile.

"You're welcome. You're the hero of our little group, after all. But you still have to treat me to a meal."

Chestnut Snow pursed her cherry-red lips and said this.

"Sure. Let's all go out to eat tonight."

"It's about time we celebrated graduating from the Academy."

Uchiha Matsuzaki smiled as he looked at Yamamoto Takeshi and the others standing at the hospital entrance.

"Matsuzaki."

"Team Leader."

"Welcome back."

Flower Dance held a flower in her hands and smiled as she spoke.

"Thanks, everyone!"

Uchiha Matsuzaki took the flower and smiled.

With the others accompanying him, Uchiha Matsuzaki returned home.

"Big brother, you're back!"

As soon as Uchiha Ke saw Uchiha Matsuzaki come home, she excitedly ran over and hugged him.

"Ow! Ow!"

Uchiha Matsuzaki was in so much pain that he couldn't even speak.

"Sorry, big brother. I was just so worried about you!"

Uchiha Ke hurriedly let go and apologized to Uchiha Matsuzaki.

"Matsuzaki, you're back!"

When Uchiha Matsuzaki's mother saw her son return, her eyes grew moist.

"Mom, I'm sorry for worrying you!"

"It's all right as long as you're okay. Xiao Ke, hurry and help your brother inside!"

Just like that, the three of them were together again.

Only when he was home did Uchiha Matsuzaki feel truly relaxed.

He'd also felt very guilty lately, since he'd made his mother and younger sister worry for so long.

"Silly boy, don't ever get hurt this badly again, okay?"

Uchiha Matsuzaki's mother looked at her son with concern.

"Okay, don't worry, Mom. I'll be careful from now on. I won't let this happen again."

"By the way, I don't have to attend classes at the Academy anymore. I can join the Anbu!"

Uchiha Matsuzaki spoke to his mother, sounding very happy.

"T-The Anbu?"

"That's wonderful. Mom is so proud of you. Be careful there from now on. It's not like the Academy."

Uchiha Matsuzaki's mother seemed a little dazed when she heard the words "the Anbu," but then she smiled.

After hearing what his mother had just said, Uchiha Matsuzaki felt that something was a little strange.