"Quit talking nonsense to me."
"You better stick with Tsunade tomorrow."
"Let me know the moment you hear anything."
Sakumo sighed. Since he couldn't stop this from happening, he had no choice but to offer his support.
"I'll complete the mission, no doubt about it."
Kawaki raised two fingers and tapped his temple.
Sakumo was momentarily taken aback by the stylish gesture. This brat had always come up with strange hand gestures ever since he was a kid.
"Cut the crap already."
"And don't forget tomorrow."
Natsuki waved one last time before saying goodbye. She knew Sakumo wouldn't rest easy until he heard news about tomorrow's experiment.
"Big Sis, don't worry. I'll make sure Kawaki remembers."
Tsunade's confidence was obvious. As for tomorrow's experiment, deep down, she wasn't afraid at all.
"Hearing that does put me at ease," Natsuki said, easing the tension while gently touching Sakumo's arm.
He looked intimidating when he stayed silent, his face set in a stern expression.
"You two keep chatting. I'm going to the ancestral hall for a bit."
With no mood to continue the conversation, Sakumo got up and started to leave.
"Wait up, Big Bro! Let me come too!"
Surprisingly, Kawaki hurried after him.
He only visited the ancestral hall a couple of times a year, while Sakumo had been there countless times throughout his life—every time Kawaki got sick, every time he went on solo missions...
Being the head of the family hadn't been easy for Sakumo.
"Let them have some time alone. We should go for a walk."
Taking Tsunade's hand, Natsuki led her outside, ending their discussion about tomorrow's experiment.
"Big Bro, feels like it's been ages since we last knelt together in the ancestral hall."
In front of the ancestral tablets, Kawaki and Sakumo knelt upright side by side. At the front, the broken White Fang still lay enshrined.
With his eyes closed and mumbling softly, Sakumo ignored Kawaki completely.
After a long silence, he finally opened his eyes.
"It's been six months and seven days since the last time."
Sakumo spoke slowly but clearly. He remembered every detail.
"Big Bro, you've worked really hard all these years."
Kawaki felt moved. Sakumo wasn't much older than him, yet he'd looked after Kawaki like a father would.
"We're brothers. No need for this mushy stuff."
Sakumo gave a soft sniffle. Kawaki rarely talked like this.
"Stop crying already."
"What's that look for?"
Before Sakumo could finish feeling touched, Kawaki suddenly switched tone.
"You brat."
Sakumo chuckled half-irritated and smacked Kawaki lightly a couple of times.
"Hey hey~"
Pretending to struggle, Kawaki dodged left and right.
But Sakumo hadn't quite satisfied his urge with just those two hits.
Facing their parents' ancestral tablet, Kawaki wouldn't dare fight back anyway. Wasting this chance would be a sin.
"Alright, alright."
"You messed up my hairstyle."
Blocking with one hand, Kawaki used the other to fix his hair.
"You're just asking for it."
Knowing when to stop, Sakumo didn't press further.
"If our parents were still alive, they'd surely be very happy."
Kawaki said sincerely. What parents wouldn't want to see their family grow with kids and grandkids around?
The Hatake family wasn't exactly small anymore either.
With so many disciples and two grandsons, the old man must have been happy every day.
"Yeah, they'd be proud of us too."
This was something Sakumo would never say in front of others—he wasn't without his pride.
He himself was the head of the Anbu, his younger brother had married the Hokage herself.
Right now, the Hatake family was definitely one of the most powerful clans in Konoha.
"I hope wherever they are now, they can find peace too."
Kawaki stood up and lit an incense stick.
Since it wasn't a formal occasion today, there was no need to stick to the usual ritual order.
"They definitely will."
Sakumo followed closely and also lit an incense stick.
The two brothers ended up talking for a long time in the ancestral hall before finally stepping outside, each still feeling like they hadn't said enough.
As they got older, moments like these—heartfelt talks among family—had become rare indeed.
Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade – Please bookmark: (m.