Chapter 16: Late Night Talk Show
At sunset, the clouds in the sky were layered, their colors gradually fading from west to east. Soon, the sun hid behind the green mountains, and a thin layer of night mist rose over the river.
Nana and Sasuke walked the last stretch home in silence, the air thick with awkward tension.
This is a disaster, how did it come to this? Nana's pretty face crumpled in frustration, unable to look at the boy beside her. Sasuke showed no intention of breaking the silence either. Was this how it was going to be the entire way back?
The dim streetlights flickered as Nana accidentally brushed against Sasuke's hand. As she pulled back, he hooked his pinky around hers, the electric sensation traveling up her arm, making her heart race.
"Sasuke, you..." Nana blinked, turning to look at him. He seemed tense, his cheeks slightly flushed, his hair falling over his face as if to hide his expression.
"Let's hurry, they're waiting for us at home." Sasuke's voice was as cold as usual, trying to change the subject. Inside, he was panicking, hoping his feelings were clear enough for Nana to understand.
Nana sighed at Sasuke's conflicting behavior. Even with his favorability at 50%, he maintained his aloof demeanor. Uchiha men and their stubborn pride, she thought.
"We're back," Sasuke and Nana called as they entered the house, only to find Fugaku and Mikoto absent.
A note lay on the table. Nana picked it up, recognizing Itachi's handwriting.
"Sasuke, Nana, Father and Mother are out on a mission. I have tasks to complete and will return late. There's food in the pot, heat it up for dinner. No need to wait for me, rest early."
"What does it say?" Sasuke asked, approaching.
"They're all out, don't know when they'll be back," Nana replied, handing him the note.
Nana felt uneasy. Itachi rarely came home late, no matter how tiring the mission. This was unusual.
"I'll heat up the food, you rest," Sasuke said, heading to the kitchen with a stool.
Watching Sasuke on his tiptoes trying to reach the stove, Nana felt a wave of affection. So cute and determined.
Soon, the food was ready, a few simple but nutritious dishes. Sasuke thoughtfully handed Nana a glass of strawberry milk from the fridge.
"You'll stay here forever, right?" Sasuke's sudden question caught Nana off guard, his voice sounding unusually vulnerable.
He already saw her as family and worried she might leave if she regained her memory. He had often wanted to ask her this, finally taking the chance with their parents away.
"...Why do you ask?" Nana was so startled she nearly choked on her milk.
Initially, she thought he meant this world, breaking into a cold sweat, but then realized he was asking about this home.
"Nothing, eat up," Sasuke said, changing the subject, piling food onto her plate.
A crescent moon hung in the sky, stars twinkling, the chilly wind rustling the trees, mixing with the constant chirping of insects like endless rain.
After dinner, they retired to their rooms. In the quiet night, footsteps downstairs were audible. Nana rubbed her eyes, peeking out her door.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Itachi paused on the stairs, meeting Nana's eyes, apologizing softly.
Nana checked the clock, noticing it was already late. Itachi was still in his Anbu uniform, clearly just returning from a mission, his voice tired.
Anbu? When did Itachi join Anbu? Nana wondered, calculating the timeline. If accurate, there were less than two years until the Uchiha massacre.
"I made tea, come in for a cup," Nana waved him over, opening her door.
Itachi hesitated but followed, setting his armor aside and sipping the tea. He immediately noticed its rich flavor and fatigue-relieving effect.
Seeing his surprise, Nana nodded with satisfaction. This tea was a special blend of herbs she concocted for recovery—a cup to refresh, two to energize, three to achieve immortality... or so she joked.
"What's this?" Nana pointed to his Anbu armor, curiosity in her voice.
"Joined Anbu recently," Itachi explained gently, reassuring her that he would always be her caring brother.
Seeing her half-nodding, half-confused reaction, Itachi softly asked, "Nana, what do you think of the Uchiha clan?" He wanted to know her perspective, hoping for a different answer.
Is this a late-night talk show? Nana thought, biting her lip, her mind racing through the plot.
How to answer? The Uchiha coup was inevitable, and she feared influencing Itachi's stance.
"The Uchiha? I see you as strong elites. The Konoha Police Force you founded to protect the village is very organized. This peaceful, stable era is wonderful," Nana praised, her eyes filled with admiration.
Hoping her words wouldn't sway Itachi's original beliefs, the thought of the Uchiha coup made her feel powerless.
It stemmed from the unresolved Senju and Uchiha conflict from Konoha's founding, worsened by the Nine-Tails incident, which led to the Uchiha's ostracization. The coup was inevitable, something even a time traveler like her couldn't prevent.
Itachi nodded thoughtfully, taking her words seriously. He planned to work with Shisui to maintain peace and protect Nana and Sasuke, fulfilling his duty as a brother.
"It's late, rest now," Itachi noticed the time, standing to remind Nana to sleep.
Nana obediently agreed, watching Itachi leave. He glanced at the tea before going, clearly enjoying it.
Internally, she cheered. The tea's flavor and effect were indeed remarkable, making her brewing a success... oh yeah.