Yamanaka Flower Shop.
As he watched Shion push the door open and leave, Yamanaka Inoichi turned and glanced at the money in his wife's hand.
"I thought you'd let him have it for free."
Rino shot her husband a sharp look.
"He may be a pitiful child, but we're not exactly living easy ourselves… food, drinks, supplies, every day…"
Her muttering was endless, and Inoichi hurried to change the subject.
"That kid… he's not just some Academy student, you know."
Rino blinked.
"Another prodigy like Kakashi?"
Inoichi nodded slightly.
"Perhaps even more than Kakashi. I heard his special chūnin assessment was a match against Kakashi himself. And… Kakashi lost."
That made Rino freeze in surprise. That child was really that strong?
Inoichi smiled faintly.
"The Uchiha really are fortunate. Not only Shisui in this generation—but now Uchiha Shion as well."
"I've also heard that Uchiha Itachi from Minazuki's squad awakened the double-tomoe Sharingan a year ago. The new Uchiha generation… they can no longer be ignored."
Rino laughed lightly.
"Well, it has nothing to do with the Yamanaka anyway. Since the Warring States era, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio has always stood together. No matter what happens, no one would dare target us."
Inoichi nodded.
"Since Root was dismantled, Fū has been able to stay within the clan. Whether it's Lord Third or Lord Fourth, both have their own bottom lines."
Just then, the little girl in his arms tilted her head curiously.
"Papa, what was that big brother's name?"
Konoha Memorial Stone.
Shion placed the chrysanthemums before a small stone tablet.
Because their bodies had been blasted apart along with Orochimaru's summoned serpent, there had been no remains. All that lay beneath the memorial was some of their spare clothing.
"…Haa…"
Letting out a slow breath, Shion gazed at the unfamiliar names etched into the stone. "Neko" and "En" were only ANBU code names. Their true identities were revealed only here.
Tap.
A faint sound came from nearby. Shion turned his head and saw Kakashi setting down two bouquets of chrysanthemums before two other tablets.
Standing between them, Kakashi wore his usual expression of quiet grief, as if speaking inwardly to the dead.
Obito and Rin's memorials?
So it seemed the Fourth Hokage still hadn't told Kakashi the truth about the masked man from three years ago.
Their eyes met briefly. Shion walked over.
"Your former teammates?"
Kakashi nodded.
"This Sharingan of mine… it was given to me by him at the moment of his death. Uchiha Obito."
"He entrusted me with Rin's protection, but in the end… I failed that promise."
…
A two-tomoe Sharingan and a not-yet-mastered Chidori… against Madara's schemes, that really wouldn't have changed much.
Kakashi glanced at him and added,
"You're here to honor your teammates too, aren't you? Neko and En—I heard from the Fourth about that mission. I don't fully agree with what you did, but… you handled it well."
Shion scratched his head.
"Why do I feel like ANBU missions are supposed to be secret, yet half the village seems to know? Inoichi-senpai, and now you too."
Kakashi answered evenly,
"Inoichi only knew someone from ANBU died yesterday and was added to the memorial. As for me… it's because of my teacher."
"Obito once said: in the shinobi world, those who break the rules are trash. But those who fail to value their comrades… are worse than trash."
Then he looked directly at Shion.
"I do agree with what you did, but be careful with your Mangekyō. At this point, the Uchiha cannot afford the loss of a single pair of Mangekyō Sharingan."
Shion gave him a curious look.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Kakashi shook his head slightly.
"My teacher always said: only with power can you make your enemies sit calmly across the negotiating table. Right now, the Uchiha possess enough strength. All you need is an opportunity to step back into the heart of Konoha.
But if you lose that strength, then the Uchiha—stripped of both threat and influence—will be ignored."
After that, the two fell silent for a long time.
Before long, the mourners who had come with sincerity—and those who came only for appearances—had all finished their offerings.
But on their way back into the village, Shion and Kakashi noticed two boys arguing near a playground.
One had black hair, with the Uchiha fan crest on the back of his shirt—little Sasuke.
The other was blond, wearing plain clothes but with a spiral crest—the Uzumaki clan symbol. It was little Naruto.
"My brother graduated early—he's a genius ninja!"
"My dad's the Hokage!"
"My brother's shuriken go whoosh-whoosh and hit every target!"
"My dad's the Hokage!"
"My brother's Fire Style is super strong—he could burn this whole forest down!"
"My dad's the Hokage!"
Sasuke pouted.
"All you ever say is your dad, your dad!"
Naruto grinned smugly.
"And all you ever say is your brother! Hmph! Besides—you don't even have a dad!"
The words hit like a kunai. Sasuke burst into tears on the spot.
"Waaah… You said I don't have a dad! I'm never playing with you again!"
Naruto froze, unsure whether to chase after him or not. He wanted to apologize, but pride held him in place.
"Sa… Sasuke…"
He stretched out a hand, but as soon as he touched him, Sasuke bolted, crying all the way home.
Naruto stood alone, staring blankly at the swaying swing set. Just moments ago, they'd been best friends—and now Sasuke said he'd never play with him again.
Did I say something wrong?
But… it was true, wasn't it? He didn't have a dad. That's what all the other kids said.
Fwoosh.
Appearing at Naruto's side, Kakashi gave Shion an apologetic glance.
"I'll have our teacher discipline him later. Sorry about that, Shion."
Shion rubbed the back of his head.
"Kids fight all the time. Who knows—by tomorrow they'll probably be playing together again. It's not such a big deal."
Kakashi chuckled softly—then his expression turned stern as he looked down at Naruto.
"To say something like that… I think your mother needs to hear about it."
"Eh?"
Just imagining his mother's scolding made Naruto's knees go weak. But knowing he'd done wrong, he still took Kakashi's hand and walked home with him.
Shion, meanwhile, looked toward the distant, retreating figure of little Sasuke and sighed.
Has Asura's and Indra's chakra already begun to stir? To clash this early?
Still… Naruto's words had been cruel. After all, Fugaku's death was tied to Naruto's birth and the Fourth Hokage's desperate choices.
Come to think of it, if not for me… Fugaku might not have died so early.
With that thought, Shion flickered away in a body flicker, appearing beside little Sasuke. He placed a gentle hand atop the boy's head.