"Yeah," Kaze said, reaching out to hold Yukiko's hand again.
"No... it's not okay!" Yukiko was like a frightened fawn, avoiding him again.
She had only held hands with Nagare a few times.
If she held hands with Kaze now, what kind of relationship would that make them!
Claiming that "it's normal for good friends to hold hands" is like offering a newspaper at a graveside - a blatant attempt to deceive someone!
"Come on, just hold for a second, just a little one."
Kaze made a tiny gesture with his fingers and looked at Yukiko pitifully.
"This..."
Looking at the wronged Kaze, Yukiko hesitated.
She glanced at the dim alley. It was deserted. She activated her [Sensor] ability to the fullest and found that indeed, only the two of them were nearby.
Yukiko gritted her silver teeth and said to herself in self - deception.
"Then... just hold for a second and then let go!"
Kaze readily agreed: "No problem, I promise it'll just be a second."
After saying that, his hand reached out for Yukiko's little hand again and held it tightly.
Yukiko didn't dodge this time. Her body trembled slightly, and her pretty face blushed again.
"Damn, she blushes just from holding hands?"
Seeing this, Kaze couldn't help but feel grateful to Nagare from the bottom of his heart.
Previously, when his [Kunai] accidentally touched Yukiko, he had noticed that this girl was very innocent.
Now, he was even more certain of his guess.
Nagare, that workaholic, never put his heart into Yukiko at all. Wasn't this just a great opportunity for him!
"Good brother, you're gone. First, you left the [Anbu] to our father and me.
And you left me such a beautiful fiancée. I don't even know how to thank you.
When I learn [Impure World Reincarnation] after I go back, I'll definitely summon you out and thank you face - to - face."
Kaze thought to himself secretly, holding Yukiko's hand and walking for a long time.
After a while.
Seeing that Kaze still didn't seem to want to let go, Yukiko blushed and complained coquettishly.
"Kaze, why... why aren't you letting go? We agreed just now!"
Kaze remained calm and argued, "We agreed to hold hands for just a second and then let go. Well, as long as I don't let go, it technically still counts as that one second, right?"
As he said this, he went even further and started playing with Yukiko's delicate hand.
"Kaze!"
Yukiko shouted coquettishly and pulled her hand back.
She stomped away angrily, leaving Kaze behind.
"Yukiko, are you angry?"
Kaze quickly caught up, moved beside Yukiko, and asked with an apologetic smile.
"╭(╯^╰)╮ Humph!"
Yukiko turned her head to the side, determined not to talk to Kaze.
"Come on, can't I admit I was wrong actively?"
Kaze apologized actively and then smiled slyly.
"Okay, as compensation, how about I treat you to dinner? From now on, I, Kaze Shimura, will cover all your dinners."
"Humph, there are plenty of people who want to treat me to dinner. What kind of compensation is this?"
Yukiko was so ticked off by Kaze Shimura's nerve that she burst out laughing. She rolled her eyes dramatically and said.
"Kaze Shimura, don't think I don't know what you're up to... Humph!"
Kaze Shimura scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish as his little ploy had been seen through.
Just as Yukiko said, if it weren't for his status, the people who wanted to have dinner with her could probably line up from here all the way outside Konoha Village.
"Miss Yukiko is right. It was my rudeness," Kaze Shimura said with a pained look on his face.
"Come on, stop pretending to be pitiful in front of me. This trick doesn't work anymore!" Yukiko snorted.
"Then you set the conditions," Kaze Shimura said eagerly.
"Give me a chance to comfort Miss Yukiko's injured heart and make up for my mistake."
After some inner struggle.
Yukiko slightly raised her willow eyebrows, gave Kaze Shimura a sidelong glance, and pouted as she said.
"…Alright, seeing how sincere you are, I'll give you another chance."
"I haven't thought of the conditions yet. I'll tell you when I do. Remember, you owe me a favor."
Kaze Shimura nodded like a bobblehead: "No problem, no problem."
"By the time you come up with the conditions, it'll be too late to change things," Kaze Shimura thought to himself.
The next day.
A four-person team led by Konan returned to Konoha Village.
Since they had all been promoted to Chunin, the four of them had started to carry out missions independently.
That was also why Minato was able to take over a new class.
These four little guys were progressing at an incredibly fast pace, far ahead of their peers.
While others were still looking for cats and taking care of kids, they were already capable of leaving the village to hunt down ninjas.
After returning to the village.
Hearing the gossip on the street about his dad, Kakashi's little face under the mask instantly changed color.
He looked at his companions beside him and pretended to be calm as he said.
"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, please submit the mission for me."
"I have something urgent and need to go home first."
The three of them naturally couldn't refuse. They immediately nodded in agreement and watched as Kakashi's figure disappeared in the distance.
"What's wrong with saving a comrade and giving up the mission?" After Kakashi left, Yahiko complained indignantly.
"The key is that guy who was saved by Uncle Sakumo. Instead of being grateful, he actually turned around and bit Uncle Sakumo in the back."
"It's just too much!"
Nagato frowned slightly and shook his head as he said.
"This matter isn't that simple. In my opinion, it's very likely that someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"If not, let's go to Brother Kaze and ask him to help us solve this," Yahiko suggested.
"Didn't you listen to what Nagato just said, Yahiko?"
Konan gave Yahiko a slap and said irritably.
"This matter isn't that simple. Otherwise, Brother Kaze would have intervened to solve it long ago!"
"Konan, just talk. Why'd you hit me?" Yahiko said, holding his head and looking aggrieved.
"Why are you just like Brother Kaze, always knocking me on the head? What if you knock me stupid?"
Konan was so angry. At this time, this idiot was still clowning around!
"I'll take care of you for the rest of your life if I knock you stupid. Alright?" she said angrily.
"Take care of me for the rest of my life?"
Hearing this, Yahiko's eyes lit up, and he asked expectantly, "Really, Konan?"
"…Get lost!"
Kakashi raced home as fast as he could.
The setting sun outside was blood - red. It seeped through the window into the house, turning the once warm and bright living room into a claustrophobic blood - soaked world.
Opening the door and seeing the scene inside, Kakashi was struck like lightning and stood there stunned.
Sakumo was lying on the cold wooden floor, with blood pooling all around.
In his hand, he still held the White Fang, his favorite tantō in the past.
"Dad."
Kakashi's heart tightened. He quickly rushed forward to feel his father's pulse.
But as soon as he touched Sakumo's body, he jerked his hand back as if electrocuted.
"Dad…" Kakashi's heart was in agony.
Before going on the mission, Dad had tousled his hair and lovingly told him to stay safe and work well with his companions.
But when he came back, all he saw was his father's cold body!
"Dad!"
Kakashi wanted to cry, but he couldn't.
The feelings of pain, grievance, anger, and sorrow were pent up in his heart.
Slowly, they devoured the light in his eyes, leaving only darkness.
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~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!