Page 209
"Huh... After more than a year, I'm finally back."
Looking at the familiar gate in front of him, Akira Hatake couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, brother, you are finally back..."
Kakashi also nodded, "The war is finally over, and the days we have been looking forward to in the future are finally coming."
"indeed."
Akira Hatake put his arm on Kakashi's shoulder, and the two of them walked into the Konoha gate shoulder to shoulder.
"Master Ming! Master Kakashi!"
The two Konoha ninjas guarding the gate recognized the two men at first sight, and saluted respectfully while shouting loudly.
"Ah?! Are Master Ming and Master Kakashi back?!"
"It should be. I just heard someone calling the names of the two adults!"
"Let's go meet our hero!"
"We have to go. If the two adults hadn't been there to assist Minato-sama during this Ninja World War, the village would have lost countless ninjas!"
As the loud shouts of the gatekeeper ninja spread far and wide, a group of Konoha residents and Konoha ninjas near the Konoha gate rushed to "block the door".
However, although they came to "block the door", the order was very good and there was no feeling of chaos at all.
The crowd stood on both sides of the road, in an orderly line, and turned their heads to look at the brothers Hatake Akira and Kakashi.
Snap, snap, snap, snap...
Warm applause broke out as people shouted the names of Hatake Akira and Kakashi, their faces filled with joy and admiration.
Crash.
Two children, whose families they were not sure, came running up to Hatake Akira and Kakashi with flowers in their hands, and kept throwing the petals they had just picked.
"This……"
Kakashi was a little overwhelmed and a little flattered. The residents and ninjas of Konoha were so enthusiastic.
"Why, you were so invincible on the battlefield, but you're so timid when you get home?"
Hatake Akira joked, then took Kakashi in his arms and walked forward.
Moreover, Hatake Akira waved to both sides as he walked, which not only attracted cheers from the people around him, but even made some young girls blush.
"Wow! Lord Ming is waving at me!"
"Go away, Lord Ming is clearly waving at me!"
"Wake up, both of you! Master Ming would not like you if you look like this!"
"Humph!"
"But why do I feel that... Lord Kakashi looks so cold and much cooler than Lord Ming!"
"Yeah, yeah! I think so too!"
"I've decided. Tomorrow I will begin my pursuit of Lord Kakashi!"
"You guys better save your breath. How can Lord Kakashi be interested in a vegetable like you?"
"you……!"
How could the conversation between some young girls in love be hidden from the ears of Hatake Akira and Kakashi? The girls' chirping like orioles stood out among the noisy sounds around them.
"Kakashi, how do you feel?"
"Uh...it's weird...I'm not used to it."
"You have to get used to it slowly. That's probably the downside of being famous."
"But I think it's great, it feels great!"
Akira Hatake was enjoying it, which was why he chose to enter Konoha through the Konoha Gate instead of using the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to go directly back to the Hatake residence.
Not returning home in glory is like walking in the night in gorgeous clothes. Young people with high spirits naturally need a suitable scene.
Now, the crowd of Konoha residents and ninjas lined the streets to welcome him, which was the scene that Hatake Akira had been looking forward to.
"Master Ming, can I become a great ninja like you?"
Suddenly, a black-haired kid who looked very cute but also very cool ran over, stood in front of Hatake Akira and looked up at him.
Uchiha Itachi?
Hatake Akira naturally noticed the person coming, and through his attire and the vague outline of his face, he could barely recognize that this was the young Uchiha Itachi.
Hatake Akira has complicated feelings towards the filial son of the Uchiha clan.
Akira Hatake admired Uchiha Itachi's genius and understood his deep love for his younger brother Uchiha Sasuke.
But correspondingly, Uchiha Itachi's subsequent act of destroying his entire family still made it difficult for Hatake Akira to accept.
Uchiha Itachi is still too extreme. Although such an extreme person can gain a group of extreme "fans", Hatake Akira, who advocates "moderation", can't stand it.
But there is one thing that Hatake Akira agrees with.
Everything must start from childhood!
Obviously, Uchiha Itachi was still young at this time, and his plasticity was undoubtedly the strongest, without a doubt.
Kakashi, who was beside Hatake Akira, was the best example. Hatake Akira was confident that he could guide the radical Uchiha Itachi to the broad road he hoped for.
"Forehead……"
The young Uchiha Itachi resisted a little, but after struggling for a while, he was held in the arms of Hatake Akira.
Uchiha Itachi is less than three years old now, and Hatake Akira holds him in his arms like a toddler, which makes the precocious Uchiha Itachi quite uncomfortable.
No one had ever hugged him like this before except his mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
Moreover, ever since Uchiha Itachi turned two years old, Uchiha Itachi, who claimed to have grown up, never let Uchiha Mikoto hold him again.
But now...
He was actually held in the arms of Hatake Akira in a very shameful way.
But Uchiha Itachi, who should have been ashamed, did not struggle too much, and the close contact with his idol made Uchiha Itachi a little intoxicated.
Everyone in the ninja world worships the strong, and Hatake Akira is just such a strong man. Even the Uchiha clan, with their arrogance, have to acknowledge Hatake Akira's strength.
Besides, Uchiha Itachi is still young and has not considered things comprehensively. Of course, he only chooses powerful people to admire in his mind and will not consider anything else.
"It's a brat from the Uchiha clan..."
Hatake Akira was in a playful mood and reached out to touch Uchiha Itachi's forehead. "Tell me, what's your name?"
"Itachi, Uchiha Itachi!"
Even though Uchiha Itachi admired Hatake Akira's strength, he answered with neither humility nor overbearingness. At such a young age, he already had a mind that was difficult for his peers to surpass.
In response to this, Hatake Akira couldn't help but nod his head. Uchiha Itachi was indeed outstanding.
At the same time, Hatake Akira became interested in talent and even wanted to train Uchiha Itachi from a young age.
Itachi, let’s just call him that for now…
He is a ninja with great potential who is on par with Ka-dono!
If we cultivate him well and prevent him from going the same way, I believe Itachi can have a bright future that will make people's jaw drop.
"Uchiha Itachi, I will remember you!"
Hatake Akira looked down at Uchiha Itachi, "Although you are young now, you will be a ninja who can be compared with me in the future."
"Can I...really?"
Uchiha Itachi's face lit up with joy, and just when he was about to grin, he seemed to suddenly remember something, and then quickly became cold and serious again.
"Master Ming, I will definitely work hard!"
"Hard work? This is inevitable on the road to growth." Hatake Akira said calmly, "But in addition to hard work, you also need a guide."
"A guide...?"
"Yes, guide."
Hatake Akira nodded. "A qualified guide can help you get the most out of your efforts in the most time-saving way. It can be said to be the most important part of your road to success."
"So Itachi, will you let me be your guide?"
"I……"
Hatake Akira's words caused the young Uchiha Itachi's brain to freeze instantly. He originally just wanted to talk to Hatake Akira, whom he admired, but who would have thought that things would develop to this point...
"If you don't want to, then there's nothing we can do."
Akira Hatake put Uchiha Itachi down and led Kakashi to continue walking.
However, just after Hatake Akira took a dozen steps forward, Uchiha Itachi behind him suddenly caught up with him.
Standing beside Hatake Akira again, Uchiha Itachi bowed 90 degrees to Hatake Akira, his small voice full of seriousness.
"Master Ming, I do!"
"Hahaha……!"
Hatake Akira smiled happily, thinking that children are easy to abduct. Even if Uchiha Itachi was precocious, he was just a tiny baby at this moment!
"You made the right decision that will benefit you throughout your life, but..."
"But what, Lord Ming?" Uchiha Itachi straightened up, with some anxiety on his little face.
"You still need to ask your parents and the current head of the Uchiha clan about this matter."
Hatake Akira squatted down and rubbed Uchiha Itachi's little head, "Go and discuss this matter with your parents. If there is no problem, come to Hatake's house tonight to find me."
"Ok!"
Uchiha Itachi nodded his little head, and after Hatake Akira and Kakashi left, he turned his head and looked to his side.
Uchiha Itachi trotted over and came to an Uchiha clan member who was a few years older than him, his eyes full of joy.
"Brother Zhisui, Lord Ming, he..."
"I didn't expect that Lord Ming would do this." Uchiha Shisui looked at Hatake Ming's shrinking figure until he disappeared, then he looked at Uchiha Itachi again.