Chapter 243 : Naraku: Am I that obvious?
Uchiha Fugaku returned just in time and didn't miss dinner.
The family happily finished their meal at the dining table, and Naraku helped clear the dishes, carrying a stack of plates to the kitchen to wash.
The incandescent light shone especially bright in the night, and the gurgling of flowing water mixed with the clatter of utensils, filled with a comforting sense of domesticity.
Mikoto wiped the stove, her peripheral vision observing Naraku, who was busy by the sink. He looked calm and serene, not showing much emotion, but she just felt that the child was in a very good mood.
Watching him for a long time, she could even see little pink flowers blooming around him, tracing beautiful parabolas before disappearing into the air.
-- This silly child, why has he been so happy these past two days?
Mikoto recalled that this phenomenon seemed to have started the night before last, after Fugaku agreed to take him to the front lines.
At that time, Fugaku's plan was to first go to Lady Tsunade's garrison to deliver a batch of healing talismans, and incidentally, use this opportunity to gather Clan Member fighting in the north to the eastern front.
Considering where Kakashi was currently operating, there was nothing she didn't understand.
-- So that's how it is~
Mikoto nodded smugly, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes, and asked, seemingly casually, "Are you that happy to see Kakashi, Naraku?"
"Eh?"
Naraku subconsciously looked up, meeting Mikoto's teasing gaze.
-- Am I... am I that obvious?
His ear tips involuntarily burned, and he lowered his head, pretending to be busy washing dishes, replying in a voice barely above a whisper: "...Mm, happy..."
-- It's been a long time since I've seen Kakashi.
-- So it's normal to look forward to meeting him, right...?
He tried to convince himself, not very confidently, but the image of that sunset kept flashing in his mind, making him somewhat distracted even with his chores, wiping the same bowl three times repeatedly.
Finally, Mikoto couldn't bear it anymore and, stifling a laugh, reminded him: "You've already scrubbed that bowl for the fourth time, you know."
"!"
His already reddened ears were completely cooked at that moment.
Mikoto quickly walked out of the kitchen, muttering to herself, "Oh dear, I forgot to run hot water for you and Little Itachi~" and "Naraku-chan, remember to take a bath in the bathroom later~"
If Mikoto hadn't left so quickly, Naraku would have almost thrown down the half-washed dishes and fled, escaping the awkward and anxious atmosphere.
After hastily tidying up, he stayed in the kitchen alone for a good while, waiting for the heat on his face and ears to completely subside, before slowly carrying Itachi to bathe.
It wasn't until the two of them, one big and one small, were soaking in the warm bath, burying their faces in the hot water to blow bubbles, that the emotional aftershocks of his panic gradually subsided in his heart.
Naraku straightened his upper body, looking up at the misty, ethereal steam dancing like ribbons, and suddenly felt a strange heaviness in his heart.
In a place he couldn't see, a drop of water fell from his hair tip to his collarbone, slowly sliding along the texture of his skin, like a stream awakening beneath the ice as spring snow melts... Since Iwagakure's betrayal and surprise attack on the Land of Lightning, which resulted in the Third Raikage's death, Konoha's war pressure has been greatly relieved, and the distribution of combat power has been adjusted accordingly.
Minato, after his encounter with the Fourth Raikage Ay and Killer Bee, has been active on the front lines against Kumogakure. Coupled with Iwagakure's significant quietness, Tsunade had no intention of returning him to Jiraiya.
Subsequently, Kakashi and Rin were also transferred by Tsunade to "work like dogs." The two of them were either on missions or on their way to missions; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were constantly on the move.
But this was also good; busyness could make people forget many things, and it could also make people fall into a deep sleep at night without having time to think too much.
After finishing another guerrilla mission, Kakashi and Rin returned to camp exhausted, finding the atmosphere seemed much livelier, with most people sporting smiles to varying degrees.
The last time everyone was so happy was when they heard Iwagakure and Kumogakure had started fighting.
-- There must be some good news again?
After separating from Rin, Kakashi returned to his tent alone, stretched his shoulders and neck, then threw himself onto the slightly elastic cot, covering his eyes with the shadow of his forearm, intending to take a short nap.
The bedding beneath him was softer than when he left, carrying the faint scent of being sun-dried, and his body quickly became warm and cozy.
-- Is it a misconception...?-- I always feel like something is different...
He vaguely pondered what was wrong, but was heavily enveloped by a long-lost sense of peace, as if he had returned to the leisurely times when he and Naraku sat on the veranda, basking in the sun.
-- I really want to see Naraku...
Waves of intense drowsiness washed over him, and Kakashi, unable to resist, closed his eyes, quickly falling into a deep sleep, his breathing gradually becoming light and steady.
After a long while, a figure of similar build to him pushed aside the tent flap, quietly walked in, and, by the few rays of sunlight filtering into the room through the window, saw the faint dark circles already accumulated under his eyes.
The figure let out a tiny, indiscernible sigh, carefully untied the headband, and placed his palm on Kakashi's exposed forehead, a soft green glow illuminating the dimness.
In his sleep, Kakashi felt this touch was very familiar—dry, warm, and soft. He instinctively turned his head to rub against it, his white hair sliding between the other's fingers, intertwining inextricably with the gentle Chakra.
-- It seems you've been working hard lately, Kakashi.
-- Get some good rest.
After tidying the disheveled white hair in his hand, the figure finished the treatment, got up to take off Kakashi's shoes, and then took a new blanket from the cabinet to cover him.
By this time, Kakashi's complexion had improved significantly, and the bluish tint under his eyes had faded to almost nothing... Kakashi slept until the next morning.
When he crawled out of bed, he was even a bit groggy from sleep, unable to tell whether it was morning or evening.
He rubbed his hands hard over his face, trying to wake himself up, and realized something was off when he felt his forehead was smooth. He turned his head and saw his headband and strap placed neatly folded by his pillow.
At this point, even if his mind was dull, he understood that someone must have come to take care of him.
Who could it be?
Who else would treat him like this?
Kakashi threw off the covers, ran barefoot out of the tent, and, with messy hair, looked around, but couldn't see the person he suspected in his heart.
-- I'm really foolish.
-- He's still sick; how could he possibly be here?
Kakashi's shoulders drooped slightly. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard an incredibly familiar call from behind him.
"Kakashi?"
He spun around abruptly, the airflow from his swirling clothes dispersing the dust.
The person he had missed countless times, day after day, stood in the morning light, the tips of his hair reflecting an amber halo, like specks of crushed gold falling into an autumn stream, creating Uzumaki of varying depths in his eyes.
"Kakashi."
The other person called his name again, softly saying, "Good morning."
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