"Oh? Kakashi and Ren, you two are here too."
Kushina looked at the two standing at the living room entrance with a surprised expression, as if wondering why they were there.
"We were invited, why are you so surprised?"
"Teacher's wife, where is Minato Sensei?"
Ren scratched his head, patted Kakashi next to him, and signalled him to quickly change the subject. Kakashi nodded. Then he asked Kushina where Minato Namikaze had gone.
"Minato? He's in the backyard chatting with Shikaku and the others. If you're going to find him, take me with you. I'm a bit hungry anyway, so I'll go eat something. Let's go, let's go!"
Kushina had long since wanted to stop taking care of the child. Hearing Kakashi ask where Minato was, she quickly came up with an excuse, walked quickly to Kakashi, and pulled him outside.
"Uh… me…"
Kakashi, being pulled along, looked bewildered. When did he say he was going to find Minato Sensei? Before he could even ask, he was already pulled out of the house by Kushina and headed straight for the backyard.
"Kushina is really something. She's already a Jonin, yet she's still so carefree."
Uchiha Mikoto shook her head, feeling helpless about her best friend's personality.
She felt that Minato would have a hard time in the future.
"Aunt Mikoto, this must be Itachi."
Ren curiously looked at Itachi lying in Uchiha Mikoto's arms. So Itachi was this cute when he was little.
"Yes, Ren, do you want to hold Itachi?"
Uchiha Mikoto said with a smile, then offered Itachi forward.
"Eh? Can I?"
Ren was surprised but also a little excited. After a moment of hesitation, he took two steps forward and carefully took Itachi from Uchiha Mikoto's hands.
After Ren picked up Itachi, Itachi's big eyes stopped darting around and instead looked up at Ren, who was holding him. He smacked his lips a few times.
So, so soft…
This was Ren's first thought after picking up Itachi.
It was strange; Itachi, who had been crying and fussing in Kushina's arms, was now very quiet in Ren's embrace. His two small hands even suddenly grabbed Ren's collar and held on tightly.
"It seems Itachi really likes you, Ren."
Uchiha Mikoto looked at the two in front of her with some surprise, her smile unwavering.
"Is, is that so?"
Ren stared blankly at Itachi in his arms, and the young man and the child began to stare at each other.
At this moment, Itachi in his arms let go of Ren's collar, his hands and face pressed against Ren's chest, and his small mouth spread into a grin.
With a sound of "Ah!", he smiled!
So, so cute…
Uchiha Mikoto was immediately charmed by her son, and Ren was also slightly lost in thought, staring blankly at the pure smile on the baby's face.
"You two seem to have a strong connection."
Uchiha Mikoto touched Itachi's forehead, then looked at Ren and said.
"Let's go to the yard. Itachi is entrusted to your protection, Ren."
"Eh? Eh!"
Ren subconsciously questioned, then realised, looked down at Itachi, who was holding him tightly, and Uchiha Mikoto, who was already almost out of the living room. He could only smile wryly, hold Itachi firmly in his arms, and follow Uchiha Mikoto outside.
Behind the courtyard was a large lawn with a dozen tables set up. As expected of the Clan Head Uchiha's house, such a large lawn was their backyard. They were indeed wealthy and influential.
Currently, there were about a hundred people gathered in twos and threes on the lawn, chatting. The arrival of Uchiha Mikoto and Ren also attracted the attention of some people.
"Ren… you, what is this?"
"Brother Ren, you…"
"…"
Ren looked at Ryufeng, Shisui, and Kakashi in front of him, who were all looking at him with strange expressions. He found a nearby chair and sat down, his hands protecting Itachi in his arms.
"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a bodyguard before?"
"Pfft."
"Hahahaha, Ren, you're killing me."
Two loud laughs came from behind. Soon, Asuma and Obito walked up to Ryufeng and the others, supporting each other while laughing uncontrollably at Ren. Although Shisui and the others weren't laughing, their shoulders were shaking wildly, on the verge of bursting into laughter.
Ren's face darkened as he looked at Asuma and Obito, who were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. He held his hands in front of him, as if holding something.
"Let's have a sparring match in a couple of days, you two."
"Ha, just kidding, Ren, don't be serious. If you want to spar, you can spar with Asuma, I'll pass."
"Hmm???"
Asuma was full of question marks, and his laughter abruptly stopped.
"I, I haven't been feeling well these past two days. Let's talk after I recover."
"Alright, the banquet is about to begin. Let's sit down first."
Ren rolled his eyes, pointed to the empty seats around him, and said.
Asuma chuckled, then found a seat with Obito and sat down. The others also took their seats one by one.
Just then, Uchiha Mikoto, who had left for a moment, returned, followed by Uzumaki Kushina.
"Ren, give me Itachi. The banquet is about to begin."
Uchiha Mikoto looked at Itachi in Ren's arms, extended her hand, and prepared to take him.
Who knew that as soon as Uchiha Mikoto picked up Itachi, Itachi, realising he was separated from Ren, immediately began to cry "waa waa," frantically flailing his hands towards Ren. Once he touched Ren's sleeve, he refused to let go.
The venue, which had quieted down because the banquet was about to begin, instantly shifted its attention here due to Itachi's crying.
"Be good, Itachi, be a good boy…"
But no matter how Uchiha Mikoto tried to coax him, Itachi just cried and fussed, his hands clutching Ren's sleeve, his body twisting in Uchiha Mikoto's arms.
"What's wrong, Mikoto?"
Uchiha Fugaku walked over from a distance. He had been about to start the banquet but noticed that his wife seemed to be in some trouble, so he came to check.
"Nothing, it's just that Itachi seems to really like Ren and won't go to anyone else now."
"Uh…"
After learning the whole story, Uchiha Fugaku also felt a bit helpless. Seeing his son flailing and crying in his mother's arms, wanting Ren to hold him, forcing him away didn't seem like a good idea either.
"I have a good idea."
"Hmm?"
The few of them all looked at Kushina, who had spoken.
Kushina looked at Ren, revealing a mischievous smile.
Ren shivered. Why did he have a bad premonition…
"Welcome everyone to the Uchiha Clan to celebrate my son Uchiha Itachi's full moon banquet. This is my son Uchiha Itachi…"
Uchiha Fugaku stood on the one-meter-high stage that had been set up, speaking endlessly to the guests below. The guests below all had strange expressions, some even turning red and their shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
On the stage, next to Uchiha Fugaku, Itachi hung from Ren's chest like a koala bear. Ren had a baby carrier hanging on his chest, and he supported Itachi from below with both hands, forcing a smile at the crowd below.
"Pfft."
No one knew who started it, but instantly everyone burst into laughter.
Below the stage, Uchiha Mikoto looked at Kushina, who was holding her stomach and laughing, then looked at Ren on the stage, and suddenly let out a "pfft" herself.
These two children are so cute!
Itachi, hearing the commotion behind him, tilted his head and looked at the roaring crowd. He patted Ren's chest twice with his hands.
When Ren lowered his head to look at Itachi, the little guy grinned again. With an "Ah!" sound, he smiled again!
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