Chapter 127: Crying For Real?
“Na na, Menma.” Little Hinata’s timid voice came from behind, interrupting Menma’s thoughts.
Earlier, when they were preparing to go to Ichiraku Ramen Shop for dinner, Naruto suddenly suggested enthusiastically to compete with Menma in eating capacity.
So Menma simply pulled Hinata along to join this big eater contest with only three participants.
The result was that Menma only ate two bowls and then watched from the side as Naruto and Hinata stacked the empty bowls into a small mountain.
Naruto finally collapsed in his seat with a round bulging belly after ten bowls, with soup still hanging from the corner of his mouth.
Although Hinata ate twenty bowls, Menma keenly noticed she still had energy left and just shyly put down her chopsticks.
“What’s wrong?” Menma shifted his gaze from Uchiha Hikari, who had appeared in Konohagakure for some reason, and turned to look at Hinata behind him.
From ahead came Naruto’s unconvinced yelling; he was patting his belly swollen like a ball, vowing confidently to beat Hinata next time.
Hinata covered her mouth and chuckled softly, saying gently to Menma: “It’s about time to go home.”
The sky was getting a bit late, with the sunset’s afterglow casting on the three children, plating them with a golden edge.
“Ah, it’s not dark yet.” Naruto looked up at the gradually setting sun and suddenly spotted Uchiha Hikari not far away.
“Eh, there’s a pretty big sister.” Naruto blinked curiously.
Unlike other villagers, her eyes held no familiar disgust toward Naruto, but instead lingered with faint sadness.
“Then I’ll send Hinata back first.” Menma glanced at Uchiha Hikari standing quietly in the distance.
Then he said to Naruto: “You go home by yourself, Naruto.”
“Ah, wait!” Naruto dashed to Menma and Hinata’s side in one stride, his belly jiggling with the motion: “I’ll walk you home, you’re on the way anyway, I can go back alone after.”
Actually, he just wanted to cherish every minute and second with his friends, even if it was just chatting on the way home, stepping on sunset shadows and laughing.
“Alright, let’s walk together.” Menma didn’t point it out to Naruto and patted his head.
Naruto immediately flailed back in retaliation, but was suppressed by Menma with one hand.
The two goofed around as they ran toward the Hyuga Clan Territory, with Hinata trotting behind, her eyes full of joy.
——————
The sun set in the west, at the Naka Riverbank on the outer perimeter of Konoha Village.
Izumi Uchiha held a paper box containing a few sticks of dango, walking somewhat listlessly on the way back to the clan territory.
“I wonder why Itachi Uchiha hasn’t been seen for so long.” Izumi Uchiha thought of Itachi Uchiha, who a few days ago had refused her invitation citing a more important mission, and a cloud of worry formed between her brows.
Suddenly, an orange cat wearing a small vest strolled past her feet.
“Eh? Is that a ninja cat?” Izumi Uchiha’s gaze followed the orange cat.
She saw the orange cat sauntering catwalk-style to the small dock on the Naka Riverbank and sitting beside a girl.
The river breeze stirred the girl’s waterfall-like black hair, and the Uchiha Clan Crest on her blue coat was particularly striking.
But at the same time, this dock also gave Izumi Uchiha some shadows, reminding her of that endless cycle of the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall that had tormented her for so long…
Izumi Uchiha suppressed a trace of unease in her heart and walked over curiously, wanting to greet the other.
Upon approaching, she discovered the other was hugging her legs with both hands, face buried in her knees, shoulders trembling slightly.
She hesitated and drew near, hearing extremely faint sobbing.
“Um, hello, sister!” Izumi called softly.
The girl lifted her head slightly, teardrops still hanging on her porcelain-white cheeks.
‘So beautiful.’ Izumi Uchiha couldn’t help holding her breath, sincerely praising.
Even as a woman herself, she was stunned by the girl’s beauty.
“If there’s something unhappy, eating some sweets can make your mood a bit better.” Izumi Uchiha sat beside the girl, opened the paper box in her hand, and offered it in front of the girl.
Looking at the dango offered before her eyes, and the same clan crest on Izumi Uchiha’s clothes, the girl hesitated a moment before reaching out to take a stick of dango.
She first sniffed it in front of her nose, then slowly took a bite.
The orange cat obediently curled between the two, and Izumi Uchiha smiled at the girl opposite, asking curiously: “Sister, what’s your name? I don’t think I’ve seen you in the clan territory.”
The sweetness in her mouth dispersed some of the earlier melancholy and sadness; the girl gazed at Izumi Uchiha, who was only seven or eight years old beside her, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: “My name is Uchiha Hikari.”
“My name is Izumi Uchiha.” Izumi narrowed her eyes, her beauty mark under her right eye also lifting slightly.
She didn’t ask too much about why the other was hiding here secretly crying, just enthusiastically sharing the food with her.
In her heart, though Uchiha clan members occasionally seemed cold and proud, they all hid gentle hearts.
For a pretty big sister like Uchiha Hikari, she also felt yearning and wanted to be good friends with her.
“Ara ara, I looked everywhere for you, turns out you’re here.” As the two were chatting, a somewhat lazy voice came from behind.
Izumi Uchiha turned to look and saw a boy in a black jacket with spiky hair, right hand in pocket, left hand scratching the back of his head, walking over.
Menma bent down, sticking his head to Uchiha Hikari’s side, tilting his head annoyingly: “Really crying?”
“Hmph!” Uchiha Hikari jerked her head fiercely, her black hair slapping Menma’s face, carrying a faint fragrance that made his face and nose itch.
“Alright alright, sorry.” Menma sat on Uchiha Hikari’s other side, hands pressing her shoulders: “I didn’t mean to trick you, and it’s not such a big deal anyway.”
This was the first time Menma’s true identity had been discovered; mainly he hadn’t expected Uchiha Hikari, who was supposed to be on a mission in the Land of Rivers, to suddenly appear in Konoha without even greeting him.
Uchiha Hikari bit down hard on a dango, cheeks puffing as she chewed, clearly still angry.
Menma smiled awkwardly at Izumi Uchiha on the other side: “Sorry you had to see that.”
Izumi Uchiha covered her mouth and chuckled lightly; she could tell the two were a couple having a fight, so she offered the box in her hand to the boy opposite: “This is for you, big brother. Cherish such a pretty sister.”
“Thanks.” Menma looked at the two sticks of dango left in the paper box and thanked Izumi Uchiha softly.
Izumi hummed a tune and walked away slowly, tactfully taking her leave.
She didn’t ask for the others’ names either, assuming they were Konoha ninjas.
When Izumi reached the river embankment, she looked back; the boy on the small dock was still coaxing the girl.
‘So envious; if only Itachi could…’ Izumi thought of the person she admired again.
Meow~
The orange cat had followed her at some point and was rubbing against her feet.
“Ah, you don’t want to be a third wheel either?” Izumi squatted down, picked up the kitty, and lightly scratched its chin.
