Flying with Izumi

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

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

Hane smiled faintly. "Lieyang, how could I resent someone so devoted to the clan? Let's work together to restore the Uchiha Clan's former glory!"

That was right! How could he possibly blame such a huge leek?

Just from this duel alone, he had gained nearly ten thousand Disgust Points. Especially the critical hit when Uchiha Retsuyō's way of thinking had been turned around—that had been five thousand Gratitude Points!

As he spoke, spiritual power rapidly gathered in Hane's hand, and a multicolored glow enveloped Uchiha Retsuyō.

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

He was such a bastard. This young man possessed such magnanimity and broad-mindedness, 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 Leader, I'm sorry!" Uchiha Liehuo looked at Hane with both admiration and shame.

Hane gently patted Uchiha Retsuyō's 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 these new clothes. Let's have dinner together!"

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

"Lieyang, the clan is divided right now. With my current child's body, I have the will but not the strength to unite everyone's hearts. I hope you'll put more effort into this and bring the fractured Uchiha Clan back together. Only by standing united can we advance to attack and retreat to defend ourselves amid the great changes to come!"

Hane looked seriously at Uchiha Retsuyō. "When you return, don't tell your grandfather that I defeated you. It might affect your standing in the clan. The Uchiha Clan's future will ultimately lie with our younger generation!"

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

"Lieyang, what do personal honor and disgrace matter compared to what we're doing? I'm still a child. No matter how strong I am, the older generation only sees me as a little brat.

But you're different, Lieyang. You're not only a powerful ninja, but also the leader of the hardliners among the younger generation. Therefore, the task of uniting the clan's younger generation is entrusted to you!"

Hane looked at Uchiha Retsuyō with a solemn expression.

Uchiha Retsuyō stared blankly at Hane, unable to put his overwhelming gratitude into words!

"Hane... Young Clan Leader, I will follow all your orders. I, Uchiha Retsuyō, will surely go through fire and water for your great cause!"

Uchiha Retsuyō lowered his head excitedly. A warrior would die for one who understood him. Though he did not quite know that saying, it did not hinder his determination to pledge loyalty to Hane.

That night, when Fugaku returned, he witnessed an utterly shocking sight. His old rival's son was serving Hane with the look of an obsessed fanboy.

Every movement was filled with clear deference between superior and subordinate.

When everyone saw Fugaku return, the laughter around the dining table suddenly fell silent.

Uchiha Retsuyō hurriedly led his two subordinates in kneeling prostration and bowed deeply to Fugaku.

"Clan Leader Fugaku!"

Fugaku froze blankly, 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 many years as clan leader made him appear exceedingly calm.

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

Mikoto raised one finger to Fugaku's lips in a gesture for silence, indicating 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 Leader, we've disturbed you enough today. Wada, Zongxuan, and I will take our leave! Please take good care of yourself and do not overwork yourself over clan matters!"

Seeing Uchiha Retsuyō being almost excessively respectful, Hane could not help but smile helplessly. "Retsuyō, I'll see you off." With that, Hane prepared to rise.

"Please stay, Young Clan Leader. 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!"

Seeing Lieyang refuse with a serious expression, 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 leave, Hane felt a surge of emotion. They could now be considered his first true force within the Uchiha Clan.

Especially since Uchiha Retsuyō had awakened the Mangekyō. That was an exceptionally powerful force and would be an important aid in his future control of the Uchiha Clan.

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

Hane looked at Fugaku, who was still pretending to be calm, and smiled. "Ask Mother. She knows everything. I'm taking Izumi home first."

With that, Hane looked at Izumi, who was acting exceptionally shy. "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. His eyes fixed on Hane holding Izumi's little hand as they walked out of the hall.

Only this time, Itachi did not follow them. His small face was as dark as dripping water as he shoveled rice into his mouth one bite at a time, his pupils unfocused, no one knowing what he was thinking.

Hane and Izumi walked down 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 unpolluted Ninja World sky was truly breathtaking. Gazing up at the night sky, countless stars glittered brilliantly. As Hane looked at it, he gradually became calmer and calmer.

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

"Ah! Hane... how would we fly?" Izumi's little face reddened. Clearly, she had also been 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, can you do that?" Her shy tone carried a hint of anticipation.

"As long as Izumi wants it, there's nothing Hane can't do," Hane said teasingly.

Izumi lowered her little head even further. This was her first time alone with Hane, and beneath a sky full of stars at that. As a Konoha girl mature beyond her years, she could not help slipping 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 a divine dragon, I'll grant Izumi this wish!" With that, Hane summoned the Fire Sword from within his Divine Sense.

The Fire Sword floated lightly beside Hane. Then, its blade suddenly widened, becoming like a platform.

Hane scooped up the flustered Izumi and leaped onto the Fire Sword. Her tiny body was incredibly soft and carried a faint fragrance.

"Ah!"

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

Although the flying sword was extremely fast, Hane and Izumi felt almost no wind while standing on it. All the wind from their flight was blocked by the phantom phoenix outside the Fire Sword.

"Hane! Am I dreaming? We're really flying!" After recovering from her initial panic, Izumi felt the Fire Sword seemingly breaking through 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 adorable face. It was as though the vast sky of stars was reflected in her large eyes.

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

"Don't worry, Izumi. I'll shoulder the responsibility of the clan and protect you and our clansmen!

The clan will never rot away amid a pile of withered branches and fallen leaves!" Hane's expression was exceptionally calm, as though everything was under his control.

Izumi stared blankly at Hane's profile. "Hane, 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...