"Itachi..."
"It's been a long time..."
After Hyuga Wuye parted ways with the three, including Uchiha Kagami, Uchiha Shisui returned to the clan and found Itachi Uchiha sitting alone beneath the corridor.
The way he greeted him seemed awkward...
"Shi... Shisui..."
Itachi Uchiha's eyes widened so much that even his Mangekyō Sharingan emerged.
"Don't... don't get worked up..."
The one-eyed Uchiha Shisui scratched his head. "I thought I was going to die too... but then Lord Hokage fished me out downstream... uh..."
Before he could finish, Itachi Uchiha suddenly stood and pulled him into a tight embrace!
"Shisui..."
His voice trembled uncontrollably. "Y-you're all right... that's all that matters..."
Feeling his heartfelt excitement, Uchiha Shisui was moved as well.
"Mm, I'm fine. Don't worry." He returned Itachi Uchiha's embrace.
But Itachi Uchiha could not calm down right away and continued holding him tightly.
"Brother! I'm back!"
At that moment, six-year-old Sasuke came running in, only to see the two embracing beneath the sunset.
"Big Brother Shisui? Brother? You two..."
Uchiha Sasuke looked utterly dumbfounded.
Itachi Uchiha hurriedly let go of Uchiha Shisui, casually wiping the moisture from the corners of his eyes before giving Sasuke a gentle smile. "Sasuke, Mother has already prepared dinner. Go help bring it to the table."
"Oh..."
Sasuke kept looking back at the two of them with every step, taking a full three minutes to walk those few short paces.
Itachi Uchiha silently watched Sasuke's retreating figure, his face filled with profound tenderness.
"Shisui... it's truly wonderful that you're alive..."
He said softly, "After I defect, Sasuke will be in your care..."
"Sasuke..."
Uchiha Shisui hesitated before saying, "He's special. He can't take part in the plan we made with Lord Hokage."
"Why?!"
Itachi Uchiha abruptly raised his head, his gaze blazing. "Lord Hokage clearly