Chapter 2: First Encounter in the Forest
The fiery sun hung high in the sky, warming the surroundings and creating a comforting atmosphere. Nearby, the grass rustled softly, and a figure approached Matsumoto Nana, who sat dazed, holding a kunai.
The boy cautiously scouted ahead. When he finally saw the small figure kneeling on the ground, his pupils trembled in surprise for three seconds before he quickly sheathed his kunai and hurried over to gently shake the figure.
"Hey, wake up! Are you okay?" Uchiha Itachi was startled by the sight of the girl, whose clothes were tattered and burnt from being struck by lightning. She looked very small, about the same age as Sasuke.
He had been training nearby when he suddenly heard the rumbling sound of thunder. On high alert, he had thought it was an intruding ninja and immediately came over with his kunai to investigate.
What he found was a girl with skin as white as snow, kneeling on the ground. Her clothes bore clear burn marks, and her emerald eyes stared vacantly at the sky.
At this moment, Uchiha Itachi was deep in thought about the meaning of life. He observed the girl's weak breaths and pondered whether such a fragile body had already been claimed by that bolt of lightning.
Matsumoto Nana was confused by the shaking. She had been discussing spell knowledge with 077 in her mind and hadn't noticed that someone had approached her.
"W-who are you?" As her beautiful eyes began to focus, she rubbed them, trying to see the figure in front of her more clearly.
Itachi hesitated for a moment, then crouched down to meet her gaze. Upon seeing her come to her senses, he let out a sigh of relief.
However, he soon realized how close they were. The girl's watery eyes blinked up at him, and he suddenly stood up, taking two steps back.
The youthful flutter of emotions caused a blush to rise on his cheeks, spreading quickly to his ears. The fading sunlight cast a warm glow over him, making that subtle blush appear even more bashful.
Matsumoto Nana blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected that the first person she would meet in this world would be the noble and gentle Itachi. Looking at his face, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness; how could someone so young already have such deep tear troughs?
The fleeting moment of sympathy in her eyes was quickly noticed by Itachi, who felt a wave of confusion. He couldn't understand why this girl would express such an emotion.
"I'm Uchiha Itachi. What's your name? Why are you here?" Although his words were inquiring, his tone was gentle and kind, as he sensed that this girl was not a bad person.
"My name is Matsumoto Nana. I've always been by myself… I can't really remember much else…" The girl replied with a tender voice, hugging her shoulders and looking utterly pitiful.
Inside, Matsumoto Nana was fervently praying, Forgive me, little Itachi, for lying to get closer to you. Please don't see through my facade!
No family… Is she an orphan from the aftermath of the Nine-Tails Incident? Itachi quickly formed this thought after hearing her lonely response.
At only five years old, he had also experienced the Nine-Tails Incident, witnessing countless ninjas perish in that massacre. He had felt the fragility of life all over again.
He gazed at the girl, lost in thought. He knew that life was hard for some orphans; some became isolated due to sudden changes in their personalities, while others often went hungry due to a lack of resources, and some even became homeless.
Had she survived through such hardships? Now, having lost her memory, her future would likely be even more challenging. His eyes quivered slightly, and his heart instinctively tightened.
He couldn't just leave her here unattended. It seemed he would have to take her for a check-up and report to the Third Hokage. After pondering for a moment, Itachi knelt on one knee and gently turned his face toward her.
"I'll carry you to the ninja hospital for a check-up, and then I will ask the Third Hokage to personally arrange a place for you to stay," he said, squinting his eyes with a warm smile.
Matsumoto Nana softly agreed and slowly stood up, brushing off the dust from her clothes before revealing a sweet smile that looked innocent and naive.
Her delicate little hands wrapped around the boy's neck, her beige hair cascading down to her chest. At that moment, the gears of fate began to turn for the two of them.
The boy quietly felt the warmth of her small body against his back, while the girl nestled tightly against him. His steps were steady and strong, providing her with a sense of security she had never experienced before.
"Uchiha Itachi, are you happy now?" Matsumoto Nana asked softly, her eyes lowered as she spoke from behind him.
Her question came from the heart, devoid of any ulterior motives. She was genuinely curious about how he was before the pressures of political upheaval—whether he had been happy then.
"I'm doing well…" Itachi hesitated for a moment. Although he didn't understand why she was asking, he smiled and answered her.
He had parents and a younger brother, Sasuke. Compared to some unfortunate souls, he was indeed very fortunate. However, with the awakening of his Sharingan, he had gradually become more perceptive and found it increasingly difficult to answer her question directly.
"I see…" Matsumoto Nana listened to Itachi's vague response and understood the underlying complexity. Happiness was indeed not a simple matter.
A soft glow appeared on the horizon as sunset approached. The shadows of the two leaning against each other stretched infinitely, and the gentle breeze brushed against their cheeks, as if narrating a long and winding story.