Some time passed, and the day of Sasuke's birth arrived.
Xuanhui brought Pakura over early to wait.
Naturally, nothing unexpected happened, and everything went smoothly.
Only after everyone had seen Sasuke did Itachi finally arrive, having finished his mission.
Itachi's eyes lit up at the tiny life in his mother's arms.
"Sasuke... my little brother..."
Itachi held his little brother and gazed at him for a long time before putting him back down.
When he turned around, Xuanhui was nowhere to be seen.
"Dad, where's my teacher?"
"Xuanhui? I think he just stepped outside."
Itachi opened the door and found Xuanhui leafing through a book, looking something up.
"Itachi? Why aren't you staying with your little brother?"
"Teacher, I'd like to talk to you."
Xuanhui casually put away the Complete Sealing Jutsu Compendium and patted Itachi's head.
"Go ahead. Is there something you're wondering about?"
"Teacher, when I look at my little brother, I feel a sense of responsibility.
I want to give him all my love, and I can't help imagining his happy, smiling face.
Would you call that responsibility?"
"Of course that's responsibility.
But, Itachi, there's something I want to tell you."
Itachi raised his head and looked into Xuanhui's eyes.
"Never shoulder everything alone. Trust the people who love you and the people you love.
No one can succeed entirely on their own."
Patting Itachi on the shoulder, Xuanhui turned and went back inside.
Itachi was left alone, watching the relatives coming and going in the hallway.
They were all busy caring for their loved ones in the hospital rooms. Their love and their responsibility kept them going.
At that moment, Itachi seemed to understand something.
He held out his hand and looked at his five fingers. For the first time, he felt they were utterly perfect.