By the time Shisui returned to the Clan District, Itachi was already waiting at the gate.
His little notebook lay open.
The departure time was written down.
The time of arrival outside the Old Outpost was written down.
The return time was blank.
Only when he saw Shisui appear did Itachi fill in the final field.
Before noon, Shisui returned.
Did not deviate from the registered route.
After writing those words, Itachi visibly relaxed.
Shisui noticed and smiled.
"You were more nervous than I was."
Itachi said earnestly, "Because without this line, someone else could write something different for you."
The smile faded from Shisui's face.
"You're right."
Itachi closed the notebook, but did not put it away immediately.
"Shisui."
"Hmm?"
"If I ever think I can handle something alone, can you remind me?"
Shisui looked at him.
That request did not sound like something a child would say.
But Shisui knew Itachi was not saying it casually.
He remembered what Gen had said the night before.
Someday, it'll be your turn to stop someone else.
Shisui nodded.
"I can."
Itachi asked again, "Then I'll remind you too."
Shisui smiled.
"All right."
This was no formal procedure.
It had not been entered into the official record.
But this simple promise mattered more than many fine speeches.
Someone who tended to shoulder everything alone was beginning to let another person remind him.
And another, younger child was beginning to admit that he, too, might someday need someone to stop him.
In the Conference Room, the records from the Old Outpost were spread out.
The broken kunai.
The Root Mark.
The break in the Barrier Line.
The gap in the patrol route.
With the four records placed together, the real problem finally emerged.
Uchiha Gen did not look at the kunai first.