With Sasuke agreeing to go, how could Itachi possibly get out of it?
Uchiha Satoru was practically bubbling over with delight.
Across from him, Uchiha Itachi wore a thoroughly helpless expression.
When had he ever said he was going?
Why did this guy always make decisions for him?
Having such a flighty, rowdy little brother was giving Itachi a headache.
What was he supposed to do when his little brother refused to listen?
One good beating would straighten him out.
It would also be a perfect chance to test how much he had improved lately.
Itachi had spent most of his time away on missions, and now he quietly made up his mind.
He would spend the coming days taking good "care" of the little brother he had not seen in so long.
He would treat him to a loving beatdown.
But today, he still had to keep a close eye on Sasuke.
Otherwise, his unreliable second brother might lead him astray.
"Count me in for something this fun."
"Itachi, each of your little brothers is funnier than the last."
Shisui cheerfully watched the helpless Itachi sitting across from him.
Even a genius like Itachi could be left speechless. This was the sort of scene he really ought to record with his Sharingan.
That way, Itachi could not deny it later.
A warm smile rested on Shisui's face.
"Oh, hey, Shisui."
Unable to make out what they were saying from a distance, Kakashi wandered over too, pretending he had simply bumped into Shisui.
He had no choice. He had to finish the assignment the Third Hokage had given him.
He needed to determine whether these people had truly met by chance or whether the Uchiha had some other plan up their sleeves.
Sorry for the trouble, Shisui, old buddy. You're the only one in this bunch I know.
"Senior Kakashi." Shisui paused in surprise.
He had never expected Kakashi, who always wore a cold expression in the ANBU, to come over and strike up a conversation.
Perhaps he was like Itachi, cold on the outside but warm on the inside?
"This is Kakashi Hatake. He's very skilled," Shisui offered stiffly by way of introduction.
The two of them worked in different departments and had only teamed up a few times on the battlefield.
But this man was even colder than the members of the Uchiha Clan, and they had barely ever had a proper conversation.
"Hey, silver hair."
Uchiha Satoru stared at the hair on his head and blurted that out.
"That sought-after hair color, paired with your trademark mask... it really makes a guy jealous."
"But white hair is the true way to go. Besides, my blindfold covers both eyes."
"Come on, let's settle this at the ramen table!"
He fired back without the slightest hesitation, tossing Kakashi an invitation in the process.
After all, a ramen contest would be livelier with more people dragged into it.
Besides, there was nothing to fear from his snooping.
Uchiha Satoru's white hair fluttered in the breeze, a cheerful smile on his face.
Huh?
Was he calling me silver hair?
Kakashi was completely thrown.
In all his years, this was the first time anyone had called him something like that.
Looking at Uchiha Satoru, whose face beamed like a flower in bloom and who seemed to have bizarre cherry blossoms drifting behind him, he was left staring.
For the first time in ages, Kakashi felt utterly speechless.
Uh, is this guy really from the Uchiha Clan?
Are you really throwing away that aloof image of yours?
An image of a bunch of Uchiha huddled together competing over ramen flashed through his mind, and he felt something slowly cracking.
Still, this really was a good excuse to get to the bottom of things.
Even if a ramen contest was a little...
"Well, that sounds pretty exciting. Mind if I join in?"
Kakashi's visible eye curved slightly.
"All right, let's get going, then."
Uchiha Satoru stepped to the front of the group to lead the way.
"Kid, aren't you going to take that blindfold off?"
Watching Uchiha Satoru prepare to lead them, Kakashi could not help speaking up.
Apart from the few rare sensory ninja who could easily perceive their surroundings, everyone else had to burn through enormous amounts of chakra just to tell one direction from another.
If he was not mistaken, this kid was only five.
From a rough estimate, he had very little chakra, too.
There was absolutely no way it could support something like that.
Well, kids these days really are a pain, and impossible to figure out...
He really is a bit like that idiot Obito in some ways.
Kakashi's eyelids drooped as the thought drifted silently through his mind.
"The blindfold is my true self. My true self, get it?"
"Would you take off that mask of yours and let everyone have a look?"
Uchiha Satoru's lips curled playfully. The blindfold covered most of his face, and nothing else could be discerned from his otherwise unsmiling expression.
This is exactly why I can't stand kids like this.
They won't listen to a single word anyone says.
Clearly just a little brat, yet he insists on pulling weird stunts and playing the hero.
Just like I was back then...
Kakashi's mind drifted into memories buried deeper in the past...
Before you continue