On the Orphanage playground, Shingetsu, who had grown tired of all the games, was patiently teaching the children how to throw shuriken.
Sunlight fell across her face, casting a soft halo over it. Amid the interplay of light and shadow, the girl's delicate, clear features were so beautiful that one scarcely dared look directly at her.
Before they knew it, the children around her were completely captivated by her beauty. They stared at her in a daze, and even their favorite shinobi games lost their appeal.
As for what Shingetsu was teaching them, they hadn't heard a word. They were too busy counting her eyelashes.
Looking at Shingetsu, then thinking of handsome Izuna and Uncle Madara, who was scary but incredibly good-looking, the children all arrived at the same thought-
The Uchiha are so pretty! When we grow up, we're definitely going to marry an Uchiha boy or girl!
"Uncle Izuna, what took you so long?"
Suddenly, Shingetsu's gaze swept past the children and landed squarely on Izuna, who had been gone for quite some time. She immediately smiled and bounded over to greet him.
But just as Izuna opened his arms and Shingetsu was about to leap into his embrace, she abruptly stopped. Though Izuna appeared perfectly normal, concern crossed her face.
"Are you unhappy, Uncle Izuna?"
Shingetsu had always been a sensitive, perceptive child.
Although Izuna still wore his usual cheerful smile, behind that almost masklike expression, a trace of bitterness seemed to linger in his black eyes, so subtle it was easy to miss.
Izuna froze for a moment, then surprise surged through him. She had seen through the emotions he was trying so hard to hide with such ease!
"...It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered something from the past."
Izuna stroked Shingetsu's head and reassured her