Shisui opened the tattered curtains, and a corner of the tattered wooden sign of the Uchiha Ni-san's chat group had already slipped off.

"Shisui -nii-san?"

Uchiha Xiuxing stood in the middle of a desolate courtyard. She smiled bitterly at Shisui. "I didn't think there would be people here."

When he received the news from his summoned beast, he couldn't believe it. He didn't think there would be anyone on the way here.

After all … since Itachi stopped coming two years ago, this place gradually became deserted.

A few more Uchiha youths walked in.

There were a few who didn't come. Some couldn't come anymore. Some, perhaps, were no longer her older brother …

"Shisui -nii-san, why did you suddenly call us here?" Uchiha Xiuxing asked Shisui. Her eyes were filled with fatigue.

"Ah, it's nothing. Sako is back. I heard Itachi mention this place before …" Shisui scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

The expressions of her brothers, who had been somewhat deep, suddenly loosened. "So, Zuo Zi has come back." In the soft words, there was an indescribable emotion quietly floating inside.

Uchiha Xiuxing smiled. "That's great." Her eyes were a little swollen. She suddenly felt relieved.

"Shisui -nii-san, are you going to be like Itachi and show us Sako's daily life? If so, I won't hold back," Uchiha Xiuxing said jokingly. She lightly punched Shisui.

"Ah, I won't. It's too troublesome to interact with children. I actually called you here to learn from you," Uchiha 'No Brothers' 'Sooner or Later' 'Shisui' said.

When they parted, Uchiha Xiuxing patted Shisui's shoulder. "I say, don't mistreat our little princess Sako. After all, when Itachi was here, he treated her like his own daughter."

Uchiha Xiuxing said with a complicated expression. She couldn't help but shiver when she thought of Itachi's mature wrinkles.

God knows how much they were afraid that Itachi would take Sako as his own child after finding a girlfriend.

Eh ~

"Okay." Shisui was speechless. He slapped Xiuxing's hand away. Why didn't anyone care about him?

"Hey, isn't this Sako?"

Sako turned around and saw a conspicuous silver broom head walking over.

"Ah, Kakashi."

He reached out his hand and patted the girl's head. "How rude."

Kakashi muttered and didn't care that his hand was waved away. "Why are you shopping here alone?

"Where's Shisui?"

"How would I know where Shisui went?" Zuo Zi said with some dissatisfaction as she tidied up her hair that was messed up by the other party.

Kakashi sighed and felt that he couldn't get rid of this trouble. "What else do you want to buy?"

"Hmm?" Sako blinked, not understanding what he meant.

"Tomatoes … I guess."

Kakashi thought of the bag of tomatoes he saw last time and felt a toothache. "Kids shouldn't be picky. Let's go, I'll buy you some saury."

Sako looked at Kakashi who was picking the saury by himself in confusion. She opened her mouth but didn't say anything in the end.

"Let's go, I'll send you back." Kakashi said lazily to Sako with two bags in his hands.

Zuo Zi secretly raised her head and looked at Kakashi. He helped her buy a lot of vegetables, and then refused her to pay for it himself.

Although he seemed a bit cold, unexpectedly, he was a good person.

"Kakashi, why are you …?"

Shisui looked at the junior who was carrying a pile of things behind Zuo Zi and was inexplicably horrified.

"Ah, senpai, at least spend some time shopping with Sako. Doesn't it hurt to let a kid run errands?"

I'm not, I'm not.

Shisui took the food with a complicated expression.

After rejecting Shisui's money, Kakashi waved his hand and left.

Sako turned around and looked at Shisui who was holding the bags with both hands with an awkward expression.

She laughed. "Shisui nii-san is really an idiot."

He stared at Zuo Zi with an aggrieved look. The tall and big man pursed his lips innocently like a child.

"Let's go."

Sako pushed Shisui into the renovated kitchen. She took out the newly bought menu and showed it to Shisui proudly. "Look at what I bought. Today, Lord Satoko will make you a feast."

Shisui looked at Sako's bright smile and his eyes softened.

Itachi, I also hope that I can replace you and make Sako happy forever.

…

That person … what was his name again?

Sako looked at the boy by the lake. Long black hair, white eyes. Eh?

Byakugan, from the Hyuga Clan?

Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Panting, Ning Ji rested his hands on his knees, the memory of that day resurfaced in his mind.

He forgot who attacked him, he forgot what the girl looked like. The only thing he remembered was the feeling of helplessness.

Feeling someone's gaze on him, Ning Ji turned around abruptly. The girl by the lake was wearing a navy kimono, just like a vague reflection in his memory. His mouth opened and closed involuntarily. "Sako …"

Sitting side by side with Ningji on the dock by the lake, Zuo Zi swung her legs from time to time.

Ning Ji was a bit reserved, his hands were on his knees.

"You're also here to practice your family's ninjutsu?" Sako turned around and looked at the boy's handsome face.

"Yeah." Ning Ji nodded. Also?

Ning Ji secretly looked at Sako. Could it be?

"Yeah, I'm also here to practice my Katon. I want to get stronger quickly and then go find my brother."

"Uchiha Itachi isn't …" Ning Ji frowned and looked at Sako with some worry.

"I know, you all think my brother is dead.

But I don't believe it. I won't believe anyone until I see his body with my own eyes. "

That's right, although everyone thought that Uchiha Itachi died together with the mysterious person, the Anbu didn't find his body after that night, and there was no Uchiha Itachi's memorial tablet in the martyr's tomb.

Ning Ji looked at Sako who smiled and said that, a string in his heart moved.

Perhaps, he wasn't the brave one all this time.

Two years ago, it was this child … who protected him …

Walking side by side with Ning Ji on the way home, Sako quite liked the hard-working and reliable little brother next to her.

Although the memory was a bit blurry, it seemed like he protected her before.

Noticing Ning Ji's questioning gaze, Sako smiled and shook her head. "Nothing." Sako stopped staring at him and smiled secretly.

In front of the intersection, the boy stood under the dim light and silently looked at Sako with a stubborn expression.

"Naruto …?" Memories from a long time ago suddenly swept through his mind.

The memories that she had forgotten, buried in the corner, suddenly appeared in front of her.

The emotions from the past were so distant that it felt strange.

Clearly, at that time, she was so pure and innocent in love with him …

Ning Ji looked at Naruto in front of him and turned to Sako. "Then I'll go first."

Sako didn't know if Ning Ji left or if she said goodbye. She just stared at the blonde boy in front of her.