At the Uchiha compound, Kaito walked toward the house with one arm holding a bouquet of carnations and the other dragging Sasuke by the wrist, his expression blank.
The carnations were a gift he'd picked up on the way back—for his mother.
Since he'd already bought so many sunflowers, grabbing a bouquet of carnations for her wasn't any trouble.
The flowers hadn't cost him a thing.
The shopkeeper had thrown them in for free, given his status as a premium customer.
Kaito hadn't forgotten about his father, either. He planned to entrust him with the honor of footing the bill.
Just to give the old man some sense of involvement.Sasuke leaned back, trying his best to lie backward. "Kaito, you said you wouldn't interfere with me!"
Kaito had previously promised not to disturb his training at the kennel.
They had even agreed that as long as Sasuke returned home before dinner, it was fine.
Right now, it was still early—just past 2 PM—with at least three hours left until dinner.
Naturally, Sasuke was furious at having his training interrupted, and his stubborn temper flared up instantly.
He struggled fiercely, but his strength was no match for Kaito's. His legs, barely keeping him upright, dragged a long trail along the road.
"Hold on a second."
Kaito gave an apologetic glance at Ino, who was standing by the door, then suddenly let go of Sasuke's hand.
Sasuke had already been tilting backward, and Kaito's sudden release sent him flipping a full 180 degrees.
If not for his quick reflexes and agility—adjusting his posture at the last moment before his head hit the ground to land in a less painful position—
He was sure a hit like that would've made him stupid.
Sasuke scrambled up from the ground, angrily pointing at Kaito, who was now unlocking the door, and launched into his daily "I hate you" rant—just like how Kaito routinely subjected Itachi to soul-crushing interrogations.
"Kaito!!"
"I hate you!"
Ino, standing awkwardly in front of them, had never encountered siblings fighting like this before.
Especially twins.
Her lips twitched slightly. "Your... little brother is kinda cute."
Sasuke exploded the moment he heard that blonde girl's words.
"Blondie, I hate you too."
"And our Uchiha clan..."
"Doesn't welcome you!"
Compared to his earlier words toward Kaito, Sasuke's tone toward the blonde Ino was downright icy.
"Don't mind him." Kaito turned the key and pushed the door open without even glancing back at Sasuke.
"Huh?"
Ino had only meant to lighten the awkward mood and properly introduce herself.
Who knew that one sentence would set Kaito's brother off...
"I-I'll go bring in the flowers!"
Ino turned and hurried to move the stacked sunflowers from the roadside, as if doing so could ease her guilt.
"Sasuke, help carry the flowers inside."
Kaito ignored Sasuke, who was still fuming in place, and even started ordering him around.
Between brothers...
There was no such thing as brotherly love—only the relationship between a farm owner and his slave.
That said, worried they might fall behind, Kaito formed hand seals and used the Shadow Clone Technique.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Amid swirling smoke, three clones appeared beside him.
After a brief exchange of glances with his clones, they quickly got to work, rolling up their sleeves to help.
"Sh-Shadow Clones?!"
Hearing the commotion, Ino turned and stared in surprise—though more than that, she felt a secret thrill.
Among the girls, there was a rumor of uncertain credibility.
It was said that in the Uchiha clan, the better-looking someone was, the more talented they were.
Good looks = genius.
Ino had originally thought such talk was nonsense...
But now... it seemed very plausible!
"Hmph."
"Shadow Clones? Nothing to be impressed by."
Sasuke tilted his chin up slightly, scoffing disdainfully before forming his own hand seals and summoning Shadow Clones as well.
This technique was particularly demanding on chakra—he had only just learned it after completing his tree-walking and water-walking training.
His impression of that blonde girl was terrible, and he wasn't using Shadow Clones to help.The main goal was to make this ignorant blond realize the insurmountable gap between ordinary people and a clan of geniuses.
Sasuke's shadow clones numbered only two, and while helping Ino carry flowers, he always wore a faintly mocking smile.
Watching his overly showy little brother, Kaito thought a simple trick would easily put him in his place.
"Kaito, Sasuke, are you back?"
The commotion outside disturbed Mikoto, who was resting inside. She softly called out her children's names.
"Mom."
Sasuke, holding sunflowers, rushed inside upon seeing his mother. After greeting her, he immediately ran toward the backyard.
But he hadn't taken two steps before his imposing father blocked his path.
"F-Father..."
Sasuke's demeanor wasn't as casual as with his mother. He hurriedly put down the flowers and bowed in greeting.
"Hmph."
Fugaku responded with a nasal grunt to his youngest son.
His gaze swept over the golden blooms in the yard and the vast field of sunflowers outside the gate. His brows instantly furrowed as he glared sternly in Kaito's direction.
Ino, who happened to peek inside, froze upon seeing Fugaku. His terrifying expression looked like he could swallow several children whole.
Kaito was long accustomed to this. He even suspected his father was born with that face.
Stepping over the threshold, he picked up a bouquet and handed it to his mother, who was still standing at the door contemplating the sunflowers.
"Mom, these are for you."
Truth be told, expressing emotions so directly made Kaito somewhat embarrassed. He shoved the flowers into Mikoto's arms, then turned to lead the petrified Ino outside—pretending to be extremely busy.
Mikoto looked down at the carnations in her hands, her eyes overflowing with tenderness.
"This child..."
She murmured softly, her voice already choked with emotion.
"Honestly..."
Glancing at Sasuke covered in mud, Mikoto sighed inwardly, lamenting her child's thoughtlessness.
She had actually noticed earlier but had been too embarrassed to ask.
Meanwhile, Fugaku and Sasuke's expressions darkened simultaneously behind her.
Sasuke didn't even dare look at his mother.
Because he realized with shame that he hadn't brought anything back for her.
"Hmph!"
Fugaku snorted again, expressing his extreme displeasure.
He didn't even have the desire to stay and ask Kaito why he'd bought so many sunflowers.
With a flick of his sleeve, he turned to leave.
But then Kaito's voice rang out from outside.
"Father!"
This single call made Fugaku immediately return to his original position. He cleared his throat twice and solemnly adjusted his collar.
Then he assumed his most fatherly dignity.
His lips curled in a half-smile, his expression solemn and dignified, as if waiting for something.
"The sunflowers—I bought them from the flower shop."
"Please settle the bill for me."
Kaito's tone was no different from usual when talking to his old man, but to Fugaku, these words felt colder and more piercing than icy shards in a winter wind.
"GET OUT!!!"
"Now dear, why are you shouting at the child?"
Mikoto naturally couldn't stand this. Smiling, she waved at Kaito while the bouquet in her hands swayed conspicuously before Fugaku—like a triumphant victory flag.
Proud and haughty.
"Kaito, Mom will cover the cost for you."
...