The Road to Morning Is Long, and Dawn Is Still Far Away

The weasel's face appeared even more rosy in the warm air, like a flower petal gently touched by morning dew, delicate and fragile.

Perhaps it was the steam in the bathroom that gave his cheeks a faint blush, like the sunset glow.

His skin became even smoother under the hot water, each drop of water like a pearl embedded in his tender skin, shining with a crystal-clear luster.

"Brother~" Itachi called out to Koki in a slightly coquettish tone.

"Brother is here." Koki about his adorable younger brother made all his worries vanish instantly.

Koki picked up a dry towel, his fingers deftly moving between the towel's strands. With a gentle shake, the warmth from the towel was evenly distributed.

He carefully placed the towel over the weasel's shoulders, moving it slowly down his neck, meticulously wiping away every drop of water from his younger brother's body.

Koki's actions were full of affection and patience, as if she were protecting a precious work of art, not allowing the slightest flaw.

The towel seemed to come alive in his hands, gently embracing the weasel's body, taking away the moisture and leaving it dry and comfortable.

This feels so comfortable.

Itachi happily closed his eyes, enjoying the love his older brother was giving him.

His body gradually relaxed as his brother wiped him, and the remaining water droplets quietly disappeared without leaving a trace.

"Alright." Koki casually tossed the towel over, Shisui caught it steadily.

He turned to the distracted Obito and asked, "What time is your date with Rin-nee tomorrow?"

Obito completely unresponsive, like a stone statue.

Koki raised her voice and asked again, "Obito-nii, what time is our date tomorrow?"

"Hmm?" Obito seemed to wake from a dream, replying with a complicated expression, "It's tomorrow morning at ten o'clock."

Ten o'clock? Koki silently calculated the time in her mind.

"It's settled then. I'll set my alarm for 5 a. m. tomorrow to wake you up, and we'll try to leave at 6 a. m., okay?" Koki announced with a beaming smile.

"Why do we have to get up so early?" Obito asked, puzzled by Koki's plan. "Even if our lodging is a bit far from the village, we don't necessarily have to get up at five and leave at six, do we?"

Koki chuckled twice, stood up, hugged Itachi, and walked steadily toward their shared bedroom, not intending to waste any more words with Obito there.

"Don't you know our physical condition?" Koki thought to herself.

Koki was extremely worried, fearing that even the first rays of dawn would not be enough to stop Tsuchiya from arriving late.

Even if you get up at five o'clock, what if you encounter eighty or ninety old ladies on the way? Wouldn't you all be doomed?

Their encounters with elderly women seemed like a curse, causing Koki to shiver involuntarily.

"I'll get up and make breakfast tomorrow morning, you can eat before you leave." Shisui water, came softly from behind, like a warm ray of light in the night.

"No need for all that trouble, I'll just boil an egg and eat that."

"No trouble at all. I get up early to train anyway, it's just a quick thing."

"Okay, thank you, Shisui."

"It's nothing, no need to thank me, goodnight."

"Good night."

"Obito-nii, you should get some sleep!" These were the last words Koki left before stepping out of the living room.

Okay, goodnight.

On the way to the bedroom, Itachi quietly nestled on Koki's shoulder, saddened that his brother wouldn't be able to be with him the next day.

Just as Itachi was caught in an internal struggle, he seemed to hear his brother chuckle softly. Just when Itachi thought he had misheard, the vibration came from the neck that was pressed against his.

Yes, my brother is secretly laughing!

Itachi looked up at his brother, puffed out his cheeks cutely, and asked with displeasure, "Brother, what are you laughing at?"

Koki's gentle voice rang in his ear. "Itachi, no matter where you go tomorrow, my heart will always be with you."

My brother actually found out what was on my mind!

A warm feeling welled up in Itachi's heart, and all his worries and attachments turned into a sense of peace.

He hugged Koki's neck tightly and whispered, "Brother, that's so good."

Koki smiled, his laughter filled with doting affection.

He gently patted Itachi's back and replied, "That's great, Itachi."

The two of them, leaning on each other, walked into the cozy bedroom.

Koki gently placed Itachi on the bed, covered him with the blanket, and then lay down herself.

He turned off the bedside lamp, and the room was immediately plunged into soft darkness.

"Goodnight, brother." Itachi's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Goodnight, Little Itachi." Koki's voice was equally gentle.

As their breathing gradually calmed, the entire room was filled with tranquility and peace.

In this warm atmosphere, the two brothers quickly drifted off to sleep.

In his dream, Itachi seemed to travel with his brother to a beautiful place filled with laughter and joy.

He knew that as long as his brother was with him, wherever they went, it would be the best time of their lives.

As night fell, the bright moon clung to the treetops, casting silvery light that bathed Konoha, transforming it into a tranquil painting.

However, on this night that should have been peaceful, three hearts were in turmoil, unable to find peace.

They lay in bed, tossing and turning, their thoughts as numerous and unpredictable as willow catkins swaying in the wind.

Kakashi lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and tried to dispel the turbulent thoughts in his mind.

Koki's date with Obito was like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart.

Images of Koki and Obito together kept flashing through his mind, and each time this scene reappeared, his heartache intensified.

He didn't understand why he cared so much; maybe it was just a normal date.

However, his heart was tightly bound by some invisible force, making it difficult for him to let go.

Obito tossed and turned in bed, his mind replaying the scene of confessing his feelings to Rin the next day.

He was nervous and scared; he didn't want Koki to see him confess his feelings.

This conflicting feeling kept him awake at night, and he could only pray silently in the darkness, hoping that everything would go well tomorrow.

Shisui also tossed and turned in bed, his heart filled with complex emotions.

He knew he Koki... but he didn't know what it was, and he couldn't express these feelings. He hesitated, afraid of ruining their pure friendship.

In the stillness of the night, he could only bear the weight of this emotion alone, letting it surge and rage within him.

The three people had different feelings, but they all had one thing in common: they couldn't fall asleep.

Their hearts were churning with turbulent emotions, their thoughts a jumbled mess, their feelings like threads of silk. A torrent of thoughts and feelings overwhelmed them, making this night, which should have been peaceful, unusually restless.

They gazed longingly at the night sky outside the window, anticipating the dawn and hoping that the light would unravel the mystery and restore peace to their hearts.

But the road to dawn is long, and the first light is still far away.

They could only continue to struggle in the boundless darkness until the first rays of dawn pierced through the thick night, bringing them new hope.