Walking along the street, Furin followed behind Itachi all the way home.
Along the way, Furin pretended to look around curiously, as if taking in the streetscape, but was actually talking anxiously to the System in her mind.
"System, help me out here. What should I do? This is Itachi!"
"Host, don't panic. Have you forgotten about [Kasugano Sora's Dress]?"
The image of that fresh, adorable white dress instantly popped into Furin's mind, causing her heart to skip a beat. "But we're still on the street! I can't just change right here in public, that would be way too weird!"
The System replied calmly, "I mean you can put it on when you get back, and wear it every day from now on. Are you worried Itachi won't fall for it?"
Furin suddenly understood, "Oh, right! I was just being too impatient!"
With a heavy burden lifted from her heart, Furin's steps became much lighter, and her expression naturally relaxed.
Along the way, Itachi occasionally glanced down at her with a gentle smile and asked, "Furin, did Mom have you do anything special today?"
Furin puffed out her chest, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Mom let me play by myself today! But I was very sensible and didn't play around too much!"
Itachi smiled faintly, his eyes soft. "That's true, Furin really has grown up and even knows how to think of her family."
Hearing the praise, Furin beamed, her eyes curving into crescents. "Of course! But Brother, why did you go back to the Military Police Force today? Weren't you supposed to be in the ANBU?"
Itachi paused for a moment before answering calmly, "My mission in the ANBU is temporarily finished, so I came back to handle some family matters."
Furin blinked and asked curiously, "You're so busy too, Brother. But you can't work yourself to exhaustion like Dad! Look at how hard Dad works every day—he doesn't even have time to eat, which is why I went out of my way to bring him lunch. You need to take care of yourself, too!"
Hearing this, Itachi couldn't help laughing. He raised a hand to gently pat her head. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Furin shouldn't work too hard either; just do whatever you enjoy."
As they walked, Furin suddenly stopped, looked earnestly at Itachi, and spoke with a touch of childish certainty, "Brother, my favorite thing in the world is making all of you happy!"
Itachi was slightly taken aback, then a warm smile spread across the corners of his mouth. "Thank you, Furin."
Furin tilted her head and smiled mischievously at him. "You're welcome, we're family after all!"
Itachi reached out to lightly ruffle her hair, his tone gentle. "I'm free tomorrow, so I can spend time with you and Sasuke."
Hearing this, Furin happily grabbed Itachi's sleeve and gave it a gentle tug. "Then can Brother teach me Ninjutsu tomorrow?"
Itachi smiled faintly and shook his head as before. "Sorry, Furin. You're still too young. Wait until you're a bit older."
He habitually poked Furin on the forehead—his touch light, yet carrying the usual dignified authority of an older brother.
"Ow, that hurts!" Furin immediately covered her forehead, pouting in dissatisfaction. "Brother, you play rough!"
Itachi looked at her with a half-smile and said softly, "Well, if Furin agrees to one request of mine, I'll teach you."
Furin's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "What request?"
Itachi's tone carried a hint of seriousness, yet remained laced with affectionate indulgence. "That is... don't push yourself too hard during training."
Furin froze. What kind of request was that? Rather than a demand, it sounded more like care.
She suspiciously stared at the gentle and considerate Itachi before her, while a tempest of mixed emotions churned inside her. The present Itachi perhaps had not yet experienced Shisui's death, nor stepped onto that lonely and bloody path; he was still that warm, spring-breeze kind of brother.
As they walked, Furin's steps gradually grew heavier. She knew all too well that the gentle brother beside her would inevitably make a tragic choice for the sake of the clan and the village, sacrificing himself and everything else.
"Furin, what's wrong?" Noticing something was off, Itachi stopped, looked down at her, and asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well?"
Furin hurriedly shook her head and forced a smile. "N-no! I just suddenly remembered how amazing Brother is, so I need to work harder too and not hold you back!"
Itachi chuckled softly, his tone gentle. "Furin doesn't need to push herself; you already work plenty hard."
Furin hesitated, mulling it out in her heart, and decided to use this opportunity to probe Itachi's thoughts. "Brother, if one day you had to choose between the village and the clan, what would you do?"
Hearing this, Itachi paused slightly, his gaze growing a bit profound. He squatted down to look Furin straight in the eye, his voice gentle yet laced with firmness. "Furin, in life one always encounters difficult choices, but no matter what, I will do my best to protect the people who are important to me."
Hearing these words, a sharp ache pierced Furin's heart. Itachi's answer was precisely as she had expected, but she knew all too well that in Itachi's value system, this "protection" would very likely mean sacrificing himself.
Suppressing the complex emotions churning inside her, she feigned innocence and asked, "Brother, then who are the people who are important to you?"
Itachi was startled for a moment, then smiled and answered softly, "Of course, it's my family."
The reply came so naturally, yet Furin knew that the person most important to Itachi in his heart, from beginning to end, was Sasuke.
Walking by Itachi's side, Furin secretly swore to herself that no matter what, she had to try and change the fate that awaited them. Even the slightest deviation might save him from having to bear so much pain and sacrifice.
As night deepened, the streetlights stretched the two figures out, casting their shadows on the ground like a warm yet fleeting painting.
During dinner time, the family of five gathered together, and a cozy atmosphere filled the entire house.
Sasuke sat beside Itachi, gesturing animatedly as he chattered endlessly about funny anecdotes from school, occasionally mimicking his classmates' expressions and tones, which prompted Itachi to break into a gentle smile.
Itachi occasionally rubbed Sasuke's head to encourage him, while Sasuke continued his "speech" with a thoroughly satisfied look.
Fugaku sat at the head of the table, eating properly with a slight frown, exuding a natural dignity without even being angry. Though he didn't speak, his gaze occasionally swept over the children at the table with deep-seated affection hidden in his eyes.
Furin looked over at Mikoto, who was busy in the kitchen, and a clever idea struck her.
"Mom, I'll help!"
Mikoto turned around from the stove, holding a pair of chopsticks, and looked at Furin in utter astonishment. "Can little Furin handle it? Things in the kitchen are no joke, don't burn yourself."
"Don't worry!" Furin patted her chest and said confidently, "Today I guarantee I'll show off my skills! Let me handle the last dish, Mom. You go out and rest for a bit."
Mikoto hesitated, but seeing Furin's sparkling eyes and eager expression, she nodded. "Be careful, then. Call Mom if there's anything you don't know how to do."
"No problem!" Furin laughed, rolled up her sleeves, and nudged Mikoto out of the kitchen. "Mom, just relax, I promise to give you a surprise!"
Entering the kitchen, Furin looked around and began plotting what to make.
Suddenly, a funny video she had seen in modern times—where Lord Itachi used his Mangekyo Sharingan to fry an egg—flashed in her mind, and she couldn't help grinning.
"Hehe, I'll make a heart-shaped fried egg," Furin muttered to herself as she rolled up her sleeves, getting ready to show her stuff.
She took five eggs out of the refrigerator and skillfully cracked them into a bowl. Then she heated a pan, poured in some oil, and gently poured the egg liquid into the pan, using a nimble wrist movement to shape it into a perfect heart.
Taking advantage of the frying time, she arranged some tomato slices and cucumber shreds on a plate, and even carved a smiling face out of a carrot for decoration. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water.
The aroma of the fried egg gradually drifted out. Furin looked at her creation with supreme confidence. "Hehe, done! Brother Itachi and Sasuke's jaws are going to drop when they see this!"
Holding the plate as she walked out of the kitchen, Furin stood before the dining table, cleared her throat, and put on a serious expression. "The last dish has arrived! Come on, everyone take one and try my exclusive culinary skills!"
The family all looked over in unison, their eyes landing on the steaming heart-shaped fried eggs on the plate. Sasuke's eyes instantly lit up. "Whoa, Furin, you actually know how to cook?"
Itachi was slightly startled, then a gentle smile bloomed on his face. "It looks really good."
Mikoto walked over in pleasant surprise. "Little Furin, did you really make these? The heart shape is quite cute."
Furin placed her hands on her hips and said proudly, "Of course! Not only does it look good, it tastes out of this world! Come on, everyone dig in!"
Sasuke eagerly picked up a fried egg and took a bite, instantly wearing a look of astonishment. "Whoa, delicious! It's really good! It tastes even better than Mom's!"
Fugaku leisurely ate a piece of the fried egg while nodding. "Not bad. Furin, you did a great job this time."
Hearing everyone's praise, Furin was actually over the moon inside, but on the surface, she acted completely nonchalant. "Haha, it's nothing much. If you want to eat anything else in the future, just tell me."
Itachi also picked up his chopsticks, took a piece, chewed slowly, and then nodded with a smile. "Furin's culinary skills are indeed quite good."
"Of course! But Brother, don't think you got to eat this so easily—next time, you have to teach me a Ninjutsu in exchange!" Furin's lips curved upward into a sly smile.
Itachi chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Alright, looks like I need to prepare for the next training session."
The family happily enjoyed Furin's heart-shaped fried eggs, laughter echoing back and forth across the dining table, and even the corners of Fugaku's mouth curved upward in a rare smile. Watching everyone's happy expressions, a wave of warmth surged through Furin's heart.
This warmth from her family moved and intoxicated Furin, causing her to unconsciously close her eyes.
"Future things can wait. As for now... let's take it one step at a time!" Furin answered silently in her heart, while a sweet smile still hung on her face.
Furin felt that this meal was the warmest moment she had experienced since transmigrating.