Flying with Izumi

"Get up, Brother Retsuyō!" Hane gently helped Uchiha Retsuyō up from the ground.

"Hane... Young Clan Head! Please forgive me for what happened before!" Uchiha Retsuyō bowed solemnly.

Hane smiled faintly. "Brother Retsuyō, how could I resent someone who has always acted for the sake of the clan? Let us work together to restore the Uchiha Clan's former glory!"

Yeah! How could he possibly blame such a huge leek?

Just this one duel alone had earned him nearly ten thousand Disgust Points. Especially that critical blow at the end, when Uchiha Retsuyō's thinking had been turned around—it had brought him five thousand Gratitude Points!

As he spoke, spiritual energy rapidly gathered in Hane's hand, and a five-colored glow enveloped Uchiha Retsuyō.

Feeling warmth spread through his body, Uchiha Retsuyō let a tear mingle with the blood on his face. At that moment, his remorse reached an unprecedented height.

He was a bastard. This youth possessed such breadth of mind, yet he had tried to make him die young. If he had truly succeeded, he would have become the Uchiha Clan's greatest sinner.

"Young Clan Head, I have wronged you!" Uchiha Liehuo looked at Hane with both admiration and shame.

Hane gently patted Uchiha Retsuyō on the shoulder. "Everything is for the clan's great revival. When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact? It's nothing. Change into some new clothes. Let's have dinner together!"

Hane stuffed the new clothes his mother had brought over into Uchiha Retsuyō's hands.

"Brother Retsuyō, the clan is currently divided. With this child's body of mine, I lack the strength to unite everyone's hearts. I hope you will put more effort into that, Brother Retsuyō. Bring the divided Uchiha back together. Only by standing united from top to bottom can we advance when the time comes and retreat when necessary amid the great changes ahead!"

Hane looked earnestly at Uchiha Retsuyō. "When you return, don't tell your grandfather that I defeated you. I don't want it to affect your standing in the clan. The Uchiha's future will ultimately belong to our younger generation!"

Uchiha Retsuyō instantly felt his nose sting again. Strength and reputation were the lifeblood of the Uchiha, yet Hane had cast them aside for his sake without hesitation. So this was Hane? Gentle, yet powerful. "Young Clan Head, wouldn't this be too unfair to you?"

"Brother Retsuyō, compared to what we are doing, what do individual honor and disgrace matter? I am still a child. No matter how strong I become, the older generation will only see me as a little brat. But you are different, Brother Retsuyō. Not only are you a powerful ninja, you are also the leader of the Hardline Faction among the younger generation. Therefore, I leave the heavy responsibility of uniting the clan's young people to you!"

Hane looked at Uchiha Retsuyō with a solemn expression.

Uchiha Retsuyō stared blankly at Hane, unable to put the gratitude in his heart into words.

"Hane... Young Clan Head, I will follow any order you give. I, Uchiha Retsuyō, will brave fire and boiling water for your great cause!"

Uchiha Retsuyō lowered his head excitedly. A man would die for one who truly understood him. Though he did not really know that saying, it did nothing to diminish his resolve to pledge loyalty to Hane.

That night, when Fugaku returned, he saw an utterly shocking sight: his old rival's son was serving Hane with the expression of a fanboy.

Every movement was filled with a clear sense of rank and deference.

When everyone saw Fugaku return, the laughter around the dinner table abruptly fell silent.

Uchiha Retsuyō quickly led his two subordinates in a deep bow to Fugaku, their posture like a full prostration.

"Clan Head Fugaku!"

Fugaku stood there blankly for a moment, unable to understand what had happened.

Since when had his old rival's son become so respectful toward him?

Yet the composure he had cultivated over years as clan head made him appear exceptionally calm.

He merely nodded faintly at Uchiha Retsuyō and the other two, then looked in confusion toward his smiling wife.

Mikoto raised one finger to Fugaku and made a quiet gesture, signaling that she would explain later.

Seeing this, Fugaku could only suppress his curiosity and stiffly sit down beside his wife.

After bowing to Fugaku, Uchiha Retsuyō turned his gaze back to Hane. "Young Clan Head, we have troubled you enough today. Wada, Zongxuan, and I will be leaving now! Please take good care of yourself, Young Clan Head. Do not exhaust yourself too much over the clan's affairs!"

Seeing Uchiha Retsuyō being almost excessively respectful, Hane could not help but smile helplessly. "Brother Retsuyō, I'll walk you out!" With that, Hane prepared to stand.

"Please remain here, Young Clan Head. This is the most important time for you to reunite with your parents today. I do not wish to disturb you because of my affairs!"

Looking at Retsuyō's serious refusal, Hane helplessly shook his head. This was the Uchiha Clan. As long as you were stronger than them and gave them enough respect, their lives would be yours.

Watching the three figures leave, Hane sighed inwardly. They could now be considered his first true power base within the Uchiha Clan.

Especially since Uchiha Retsuyō had awakened the Mangekyō. That was a considerable force, and it would be important support for Hane's future control over the Uchiha Clan.

Fugaku watched the scene calmly. Only after the three of them had disappeared from sight did he turn to Hane. "Hane! Shouldn't you explain yourself?"

Seeing Fugaku still forcing himself to remain calm, Hane could not help but laugh. "Ask Mother. She knows everything. I need to take Izumi home first."

With that, Hane looked at the exceedingly shy Izumi. "Izumi, let's go!"

Izumi nodded shyly without saying a word. Fugaku's presence put far too much pressure on her.

Fugaku was furious, but when he saw the shy Izumi, he swallowed the words he wanted to say. He watched helplessly as Hane held Izumi's little hand and walked out of the hall.

Only this time, Itachi did not follow them out. His little face was as dark as water as he shoveled mouthful after mouthful of rice into his bowl, his pupils unfocused as though he did not know what he was thinking.

Hane and Izumi walked along the quiet path. Looking at the bright full moon overhead and the stars scattered across the sky, neither of them spoke.

It had to be said that the Ninja World, free from industrial pollution, possessed a sky capable of leaving people awestruck. Looking up at the night sky, countless stars glittered brilliantly. As Hane gazed at it, he gradually felt even more at peace.

"Izumi, do you want to fly?" Hane suddenly asked.

"Huh? Hane-kun! How would we fly?" Izumi's little face flushed. Clearly, she had also become immersed in the unique atmosphere around Hane.

"How about we go up into the sky and look at the moon and stars?" Hane looked at Izumi with a mischievous smile.

Izumi lowered her head under his gaze. "Hane-kun, can you do that?" Her shy voice carried a trace of anticipation.

"As long as Izumi wants it, there is nothing Hane-kun cannot do." Hane spoke with a hint of teasing.

Izumi lowered her little head even further. This was her first time alone with Hane-kun, and beneath a sky full of stars at that. As a Konoha girl mature beyond her years, she unconsciously slipped into the mindset of a couple.

"Yes!"

Izumi's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum.

A teasing smile appeared on Hane's lips. "Then, as the Divine Dragon, I shall grant Izumi this wish!" As he spoke, Hane summoned the Fire Sword from within his Divine Sense.

The Fire Sword floated lightly beside Hane. Then, in an instant, its blade widened until it resembled a platform.

Hane scooped up the at-a-loss Izumi and leaped onto the Fire Sword. Her small body was incredibly soft and carried a faint fragrance.

"Ah!"

Amid Izumi's startled cry, Hane stepped onto the Fire Sword and poured spiritual energy into its blade. Flames in the shape of a phoenix burst forth from the sword, and it instantly shot into the sky like a meteor.

Though the flying sword moved extremely fast, Hane and Izumi felt almost no wind upon it. All the rushing air was blocked by the phantom phoenix surrounding the Fire Sword.

"Hane-kun! Am I dreaming? We're really flying!" After her initial panic faded, Izumi felt the Fire Sword seeming to pierce the heavens as it flew toward the moon. Her face was filled with excitement and exhilaration.

She did not notice at all that her small body was still half-reclining in Hane's arms.

As the moon grew larger and larger, an entranced expression appeared on Izumi's lovely face. It seemed as though the entire starry sky was reflected in her large eyes.

"It's so beautiful! Hane-kun, how wonderful it would be if life could always continue like this!" Izumi looked at Hane somewhat blankly.

"Don't worry, Izumi. I will shoulder the clan's responsibilities and protect you and the rest of the clan! The clan will never rot away amid a pile of dead branches and fallen leaves!" Hane's expression was exceedingly calm, as if everything were under his control.

Izumi stared blankly at Hane's profile. "Hane-kun, I believe in you!" Then she gently rested her little head against Hane's shoulder and quietly watched the bright full moon. At that moment, time was so peaceful...