"I'm here. How's it going today?"
Kawakaze walked straight into the laboratory, where he found Orochimaru and Misaki busy at work.
On the side, Itachi was quietly working on the assignnts Orochimaru had given him. The mont he heard Kawakaze's voice, he imdiately straightened up.
"Lord Kawakaze."
Kawakaze smiled and nodded at him.
"Didn't I tell you already? Call uncle."
"Don't be as stiff as your father."
Although Kawakaze spoke kindly, Itachi was still a little tense. It took him a mont before he finally managed to say, "Uncle..."
"That's more like it."
Kawakaze stepped forward and ruffled his hair. A seven-year-old Itachi was still pretty adorable.
"Finished your howork?"
Just as Kawakaze was about to continue chatting with him, Orochimaru's cold voice interrupted.
"Sensei, I'll get back to work now."
Itachi's face tensed up as he imdiately turned back to his assignnts.
"You, I get that you ignore , but do you really have to scare the kid?"
"Is that fun for you?"
Kawakaze could tell at a glance just how much of an intimidating figure Orochimaru was in Itachi's eyes.
Giving up on disturbing the boy further, he casually walked over to Orochimaru.
"Didn't I tell you this would take so ti?"
"Do you really need to co here every day?"
Orochimaru glanced at Kawakaze, clearly unimpressed by his persistence.
"And what's wrong with that?"
"Every brick and tile here belongs to . What's wrong with taking a stroll?"
Kawakaze had long since grown immune to Orochimaru's disdain and didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed.
"No big deal, as long as it makes you happy."
"After all, Lord Kawakaze is rich and powerful."
"Just the other day, you put on a grand display of strength, crushing Madara Uchiha."
"Now, the entire ninja world knows your na."
"Such a sha, though... You still let him escape in the end."
Orochimaru's signature sarcastic tone was as steady as ever.
"Cut the nonsense."
"How many more days? If it's taking too long, I'm not waiting for you."
"I'm not here to waste ti."
Kawakaze had to admit that Orochimaru was getting under his skin a little. His patience was wearing thin.
"You'll have your results tomorrow."
"At the current progress, it should be a success."
"If you're that impatient, go ahead without —I won't stop you."
A sly smile curled at Orochimaru's lips.
He had won this round.
"Who said they couldn't wait? Who?"
"Misaki, did you hear anything?"
Kawakaze's expression shifted in an instant, completely denying his own words from just a mont ago.
"Pfft~"
"Nope, I didn't hear a thing."
Misaki couldn't hold back her laughter but still played along with his act.
"You see? No one said they couldn't wait."
"What ti tomorrow? I'll be there on the dot."
With a shaless grin, Kawakaze leaned in close to Orochimaru, looking as if he was asking to get smacked.
"Tomorrow at noon," Orochimaru replied coolly.
"If everything goes smoothly, we'll proceed with the transplant right away."
With a look of distaste, he reached out and pushed Kawakaze away.
"Great, it's settled then."
"I'll go wander around so I won't 'bother' you."
Despite saying he wouldn't interfere, Kawakaze still patted Orochimaru on the shoulder before disappearing.
"...That guy."
Orochimaru's hand twitched at the unexpected pat, causing liquid to spill from one of the test tubes. He shook his head with a helpless smirk.
"Orochimaru-sensei, you and my brother-in-law seem really close."
"If you didn't look so different, I'd think you were actual brothers."
Misaki teased, clearly envious of their dynamic.
"Brothers? What nonsense."
"Knowing him is just my bad luck."
Despite his words, as Orochimaru recalled the battles he had fought alongside Kawakaze, a faint smile unknowingly appeared at the corner of his lips.
At so point, their relationship had beco so natural, so seamless.
He had never considered himself soone good at forming bonds.
"Your mouth says one thing, but your face says another. You might want to wipe that smile off," Misaki quipped.
"What smile?"
"You must be seeing things. Get back to work."
Orochimaru quickly erased his expression and urged Misaki to focus.
...
Kawakaze left the lab, still in high spirits as he returned ho.
Naturally, Nayuki and Tsunade weren't back yet from their shopping trip.
anwhile, in the courtyard, Sakumo was playing ninja gas with the kids.
A towering man of over six feet, rolling around on the ground, getting "beaten" by two tiny three-year-old ninja—it was almost too much to process.
If Kawakaze hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it.
The mont Sakumo noticed him, his movents froze mid-roll, and the grin on his face stiffened.
"If you want to be a good ninja, pride is the least important thing."
"Even if it ans rolling on the ground, survival is what matters most."
"Did you morize the techniques I just demonstrated?"
Sakumo scooped up his two fierce little opponents into his arms and, with a perfect kip-up, flipped himself upright.
At so point, his stiff smile had been replaced by a perfectly serious expression.
"Wow! That was amazing!!!"
Ritsuki and Seina clapped excitedly, while Kawakaze's lips curled into an amused smirk.
Big brother, could you be any more ridiculous?
Did rolling on the ground really need a demonstration?
Between the two of them, Ritsuki and Seina were probably more skilled at it than he was.
"Big brother, your teaching is truly impressive."
Kawakaze kept his thoughts to himself, not exposing Sakumo's ridiculous display.
After all, he knew that when it ca to dealing with these two little troublemakers, he wouldn't necessarily fare any better.
If he mocked Sakumo now, there was no doubt Sakumo would get back at him the first chance he got.
An endless cycle of revenge? No thanks. Kawakaze figured it was best to keep a way out for himself.
"Eh, just average."
"I'm exhausted. Your turn now."
Sakumo walked up to Kawakaze, stuffed both kids into his arms, then turned and briskly walked away—his pace growing quicker by the second.
"What's he so nervous about? I didn't even say anything," Kawakaze muttered as he watched his brother's retreating figure.
"What ga were you playing just now?"
Looking down at the two restless little ones in his arms, Kawakaze put on his gentlest smile.
"Ninja ga!"
"My sister and I were Konoha ninja, and Daddy was a rogue ninja—a bad guy!"
Hearing this, Kawakaze couldn't help but be a little impressed.
For soone as proud and dignified as Sakumo, willingly playing the role of a rogue ninja was quite the sacrifice.
"So, do you want to keep playing?"
Kawakaze glanced at Sakumo aningfully.
Their eyes t for a brief mont before Sakumo strategically took a sip of water, avoiding the conversation entirely.
He had lost all dignity today.
If only Kawakaze had stayed out longer...
"Yes, we want to play!"
Drawn back by the children's eager voices, Kawakaze chose to let Sakumo off the hook—
And in doing so, sealed his own fate.
Without question, Kawakaze took over Sakumo's role as the "rogue ninja."
However, unlike his brother, he refused to roll on the ground.
Instead, he crouched low, using Onimaru and Shiromaru as shields, skillfully dodging the two girls' relentless attacks.
Exhausted, Ritsuki and Seina soon found themselves struggling to keep up.
anwhile, Onimaru and Shiromaru could only sigh internally—disgusted at Kawakaze for using dogs and children as his personal shields—yet still playing along.
The three of them, along with the two loyal canines, laughed and played in the courtyard.
Watching his brother and the kids, Sakumo found himself unable to suppress his smile.
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