"So…"
Minato held up the gift box and smiled at the surprised Shisui.
"Shisui, would you like to visit and see Sasuke with us?"
"No, Hokage-sama."
Shisui, having recovered, shook his head and looked apologetically at the three of them.
"I'm not very convenient today, you all go ahead."
After several days of roughing it on missions, he only wanted to go home and get a good night's sleep; anything else could wait until tomorrow.
"Alright."
After seeing Shisui off, the three set off again, and along the way, Uchiha Clan members they encountered greeted them warmly.
Ren goes without saying; as for Minato, being the Hokage of the village, he often brought his wife to visit the Uchiha.
Kushina was a good friend of their clan head's wife, and she moved in and out of the Uchiha Clan Grounds as if it were her own home.
Thus, the three arrived at Fugaku's house, located within the Inner Circle, amidst a chorus of greetings.
Coincidentally, just as Ren was about to ring the doorbell, the door opened, revealing Fugaku's stern face.
"Hmm?"
Upon seeing each other, everyone was momentarily stunned, standing at the doorway and exchanging glances.
"Uncle Fugaku."
Ren was the first to speak, holding up the items in his hand and smiling.
"We came to see Sasuke, are we welcome?"
Fugaku then reacted, quickly stepping aside, his stern expression softening as he smiled and said,
"Of course, you're welcome."
"Then we'll come in!"
After walking in, Ren put down the gifts and then greeted a figure appearing at the distant entrance.
"Yo, I'm here to see you, Itachi."
"Brother Ren!"
Upon recognizing the visitor, Itachi's face lit up, and he quickly walked through the corridor to approach, helping him retrieve shoes from the shoe rack and handing them over.
"Welcome, Brother Ren."
"Nah, don't be so formal with me."
After changing his shoes, Ren leaned close to Itachi and said with some anticipation,
"Quick, take me to see your brother, I'm so curious."
"Brother Ren wants to see Sasuke?"
Itachi was momentarily surprised, then turned and walked forward, looking at Ren and smiling.
"Follow me, Brother Ren."
Itachi led Ren through the corridor into the guest room, then opened another door, where they saw Mikoto kneeling in front of a cabinet, tidying things, with a baby crib beside her.
Hearing the movement behind her, she turned around and saw Itachi and Ren walking in.
"Aunt Mikoto."
Ren waved his hand and smiled.
"I'm here to intrude."
"Welcome, Ren."
Mikoto stood up and replied with a smile.
"Mother, Brother Ren wants to see Sasuke."
Itachi took two steps forward, looking at the quiet baby crib, and whispered.
"You can, but Sasuke just fell asleep, so be careful not to wake him up."
After Mikoto finished speaking, she stepped aside, and the two quickly walked forward, gathering around the baby crib and looking inside.
Seeing their focused expressions, Mikoto covered her mouth with a smile, then turned and left the room; the two were completely oblivious, their minds solely fixed on Sasuke.
Ugh, so ugly…
This was Ren's first impression upon seeing Sasuke.
The newborn's characteristic light red skin, tightly closed eyes, and a thin layer of soft hair covering his head.
Seeing this, Ren recalled Itachi back then; he had only just passed his one-month mark by a few days, but he had already grown quite a bit and wouldn't stick to anyone but himself.
Thinking of this, Ren's gaze softened, and he subconsciously reached out to touch Itachi's head.
Indeed, the feel was as good as ever.
"Is something wrong, Brother Ren?"
Feeling the touch on his head, Itachi looked up in confusion, then slightly parted his lips, speaking in a way that was almost lip-syncing.
He was so careful, as if afraid of waking his precious younger brother.
"Nothing, I just think you're much cuter than Sasuke."
Ren rubbed Itachi's little face, smiling broadly.
"Eh?"
Itachi was momentarily surprised, then protested softly,
"Brother Ren is wrong, Mother said Sasuke will also become very cute after a while."
A child's face isn't fully developed right after birth; it slowly changes over time.
"Tsk, give it a rest."
Ren glanced at Sasuke, who was breathing evenly in the crib, and scoffed.
"You're not like them."
Itachi was different; such soft hair was unique in the Uchiha Clan.
Madara and Sasuke were all spiky-haired; although Ren also had a little bit of spikiness, it didn't hinder his love for Itachi's soft, long hair.
"Brother Ren…"
Just as Itachi was about to argue with Ren, Sasuke, who was beneath them, seemed to be affected by their presence and suddenly opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of both of them.
His sudden awakening was clearly unexpected by both of them; they looked up and exchanged glances.
And Sasuke, with his big, black, round eyes, rolled them around a few times, then closed them, and before either of them could react, a cry instantly rang out.
"Waaahhhhh!"
"Eh???"
As the two stood at a loss, Mikoto quickly entered the room, walked to the crib, picked up Sasuke, and gently patted his back to comfort him.
Soon, Minato, Fugaku, and the others also walked in together, and seeing Sasuke gradually quiet down, Kushina covered her mouth and smiled.
"Is this little Sasuke? He's so lively!"
As she spoke, Kushina approached, extended her hands towards Sasuke, and looked at him with a smile.
"Come, let Auntie hold you."
Mikoto also handed him over, and as soon as he was in her arms, the quiet Sasuke began to cry and fuss again, waving his hands in the air and spraying tears.
Upon seeing this, Mikoto quickly reached out and took him back, and Sasuke began to quiet down again.
"This…"
Kushina opened her mouth, her gaze somewhat blank as she looked at Minato and subconsciously asked,
"Minato, am I that unlikable to children?"
"Uh…"
Minato scratched his head, unsure how to answer for a moment, and Fugaku next to him also looked embarrassed.
"Tsk, I knew it."
Just then, a remark from Ren caught everyone's attention; he walked over to Itachi, stroked his head, and exclaimed,
"Itachi is still the best; he's been so attached to me since he was little."
No matter what, Itachi was someone he had watched grow up since he was little; he was pleasing to the eye no matter how he looked at him.
"…"
Hearing this, Fugaku's mouth twitched twice, while Minato and Kushina looked somewhat amused and exasperated.
"Brother Ren!"
Even Itachi, being spoken of like this by Ren in front of so many people, felt his face flush; he looked up and said softly with some displeasure,
"I'm not a child anymore."
"Oh, please."
Ren snorted lightly, poked his forehead, then turned and walked out, his voice echoing from afar.
"No matter how old you get, you'll always be my Itachi."