Chapter 56: The Return
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The main gate of Konoha.
Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane were busy registering the various merchant caravans and ninjas entering the village. Suddenly, Izumo looked down the road leading away from the gate.
Tap, tap, tap!
Leading the group was a young man with a ponytail and a sword strapped to his back, followed by three teammates wearing ninja flak jackets. They were approaching with steady steps.
Izumo nudged Kotetsu. "Hey, it's Hayama and Tonbo. Those two actually went on a mission together."
Kotetsu looked toward the gate as his two former classmates drew closer. "Damn it... Hayama and Tonbo are already partnering on missions, and here we are, still acting as doormen. It's so unfair!" He felt a bit dejected; he wanted to be out on missions too.
"Hi, old friends! Playing doormen again? Honestly, why can't I ever get lucky enough to pull that shift!"
As the four approached, Tonbo Tobitake greeted his former classmates. Hayama Shirakumo also nodded at them with a smile.
Izumo finished the registration for the four and sighed. "Stop with the sarcasm. I'd love to be like you, running all over the different countries!"
"I don't like running around at all," Tonbo scratched his head. "Aside from my work at the Intelligence Analysis Division, watching the gate is actually my dream."
Why run around? He'd seen plenty over the years. It was exhausting, and he didn't get to see his wife. Thinking of her, he felt a surge of impatience to get home.
"Big brother!"
Just then, a cute child with spiky hair appeared, shouting happily toward Itachi Uchiha. He ran forward with small, hurried steps.
Swoosh!
The child stepped on a pebble and a look of terror crossed his face as he began to stumble. Itachi suddenly appeared in front of him and caught him.
"Sasuke, don't be so restless." Itachi picked up the now-smiling Sasuke.
"He heard that today was the day you were returning from your border patrol, so he came early specifically to wait for you." Behind Sasuke, Mikoto Uchiha watched the harmonious brothers and chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.
She then looked toward Hayama. "Thank you for looking after him."
Hayama nodded. "There's no need for that. He's my teammate, not my student—it wasn't a matter of 'looking after' him. Besides, he is very capable; truly a genius ninja of the Uchiha."
In Itachi's arms, Sasuke's big eyes sparkled with excitement upon hearing someone praise his brother. "Brother is the best!" he cheered, waving his small hands.
"So cute!" Anko Mitarashi grinned and stepped forward, intending to pinch Sasuke's cheek.
Slap!
Sasuke patted her hand away, then rested his head on Itachi's shoulder, staring at her without blinking. Anko's face froze. She forced a smile and said, "I'm your brother's teammate! I took great care of him during the mission, you know. Let me pinch your cheek, okay?"
Sasuke didn't say a word, burying his head deeper into Itachi's shoulder.
"Be good, Sasuke. Play with Anko-nii-san," Itachi said.
Sasuke: "No."
Anko: "..."
"Then let me hold you for a bit?"
Tonbo looked at the three-year-old Sasuke. Those big, innocent eyes were a world away from the emo persona he'd have later. Tonbo reached into his pouch and pulled out some long strips of bamboo silk.
As Sasuke watched, Tonbo's hands blurred as he wove the materials together. Under Sasuke's curious gaze, a figure slowly took shape. Feet, ankles, waist, torso... and finally, the head.
A mini, chibi-style Itachi appeared in his hand. Sasuke's eyes lit up as he looked at the toy that looked exactly like his brother. "It's Big Brother!"
"How about it? Looks just like him, right? If you play with me, this is yours." Tonbo dangled the mini-Itachi toy, smiling at Sasuke. Gotcha, kid.
Anko bit her lip. This guy... dammit, I lost to him again! She decided she'd have to learn some crafts in her spare time too.
"I don't want it!"
Just as Tonbo sensed Sasuke's intense interest and thought he was about to agree, Sasuke turned his head away and rejected the offer. However, his eyes remained glued to the mini-Itachi.
"..."
"Heh, my 'multi-talented' teammate, looks like you failed too!" Anko suddenly felt delighted. Her previous annoyance vanished instantly. Maybe I don't need to learn crafts; I'll save my money for three-colored dango instead.
The bystanders laughed. They had never imagined members of the Uchiha could be so adorable. This was completely different from the stern faces of the Military Police Force!
Itachi also smiled. If the Uchiha can slowly integrate into Konoha like this, maybe things can still be saved. Seeing Tonbo showed him that there were ninjas in the village who bore no ill will toward his clan.
"Darn it, kid, I'm giving you face! You're taking this whether you want it or not! Do you think you can refuse something I give out?"
Tonbo suddenly reached out and plucked Sasuke from Itachi's arms, holding him up by the back of his shirt so he dangled in front of him. He shoved the mini-Itachi into the boy's hands.
You think you can escape my grasp?
Hmph. In the future, I can brag that I'm the man who once held Six Paths Sasuke by the collar. Who else can say that? Tonbo felt another burst of satisfaction. That arrogant teenager, that defiant youth who loved to act cool... right now, he was like a puppet in his hand.
As they say, if you're going to hit someone or play with them, you have to do it while they're young. When he grows up, heh...
"Waaaaah!"
Sasuke stared at the bandage-wrapped face inches from his own. After a moment of processing, he suddenly burst into loud wails. Tears streamed down his face, but his hands gripped the mini-Itachi toy tightly.
The others looked at Tonbo, speechless. Was it really necessary to bully a toddler?
Mikoto Uchiha gave a strained smile, thinking to herself: I hope this man with such warped humor didn't corrupt my Itachi during the mission.
Itachi was even more certain now. He had suspected his powerful teammate had a streak of mischief, but now his theory was confirmed. Tonbo Tobitake was a man with some very strange quirks.
A man who upholds the Will of Fire having some 'colorful' personality quirks... that should be normal, right? Probably... Itachi could only hope.
"Waaaaah! Bad man!"
Looking at the wailing Sasuke—who was still clutching the toy—and feeling the judgmental stares of everyone around him, Tonbo maintained a stoic face and stuffed the boy back into Itachi's arms.
"Fine, fine, crybaby. Back to your brother. Consider the toy a gift."
Looking at the adorable Sasuke, Tonbo's heart had already flown home. It had been over three months. In seven months, his own baby would be born, and it would definitely be cuter than Sasuke. He felt that when Sasuke grew up and started acting cool in front of powerful people, he still wouldn't be able to compete with his own child.
"Brother..."
Back in Itachi's arms, Sasuke gripped his brother's shirt with his right hand while holding the toy in his left. His crying stopped, replaced by joy. With a runny nose and a big grin, he looked down happily at the little Itachi in his hand.
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