Chapter 41: The (Kind of?) Frank Uchiha

  "Madara, Aniki said before, right? You can't take your personal grudges out on others," Uchiha Ryo sighed and turned his head. "Moreover, although I was pretty badly hurt in this Sparring, I also reaped many benefits. At least, I've taken a step further in my understanding of lightning - attribute chakra."

  Madara covertly pursed his lips. He didn't really intend to fight back. "I heard from the cn members that Aniki, you used some really awesome Red Lightning Bolts. What was that? A new Kekkei Genkai?"

  "No no no, don't listen to the cn members spreading rumors. It was actually just that I couldn't control my own chakra and ended up hurting myself," Uchiha Ryo forced out two ughs, looking a bit embarrassed. "In my original pn, the chakra shouldn't have leaked out so wildly since we're ninjas.

  I envisioned a silent enhancement. Who would've known that instead of achieving the enhancement, I ended up hurting myself like this... Well, but through this experiment, I've got a feel for it. Next time, I probably won't get hurt - I mean, probably."

  "I'll grow up soon, so Aniki doesn't have to work so hard," Madara carried the low table standing aside onto the bed, then opened the food box and took out the food item by item and pced them on it. "I asked when I came this morning. They said Aniki can eat some light food now. I simply made some."

  "Ah, thanks. I'm starving. Madara is so caring and helpful~"

  Izuna also climbed onto the bed and sat obediently beside Uchiha Ryo. "I helped too! I helped season the rice balls in there!"

  "Really? Izuna is so talented~" Uchiha Ryo stretched out his hand and gently protected Izuna from behind in case he fell. The smile on his face became even warmer. "Which one is it? Can Izuna feed Aniki?"

  "Sure!" Izuna stared at the small table for a while, then picked up a small piece of rice ball with chopsticks. "Open wide~"

  "Ah - Mmm, the seasoning is just right. The chopped pickled plums and small celery inside are also very refreshing. It seems there's also the fragrance of dried seaweed and sesame... Izuna's cooking skills are really good~ And I don't know if it's because Izuna is feeding me personally, but all the ingredients seem more delicious than ever~"

  "Really?" Izuna's eyes sparkled. "Then I'll keep feeding Aniki!"

  "Really? Then I'll leave it to Izuna. My arms don't have much strength anyway. Thanks~"

  Uchiha Ryo simply pulled Izuna into his arms and happily opened his mouth to enjoy his little brother's feeding - well, an ordinary utensil is much heavier than Izuna.

  Seeing Uchiha Ryo so quickly coax Izuna into a good mood, Madara's expression softened too. "By the way, Father said Aniki had something to talk to me about. What is it?"

  "Ah, that. It's not a big deal," Uchiha Ryo swallowed the food in his mouth. "I just wanted to go on a mission with you and teach you some things to note. But now I'm all banged up, so it has to be postponed for now."

  "

  "I'll pay more attention to that," Madara's expression clearly showed irritation, but his voice remained steady. "Although I've got the qualification for independent missions, there are still some kinds of missions I haven't come across. So, I pn to stay with the team for a while to gain some experience..."

  Uchiha Ryo lowered his head and ate the sushi Izuna fed him. Then he smiled and waved at Madara.

  Madara walked over, looking a bit confused. But Uchiha Ryo flicked him right on the forehead with his bent finger. Madara couldn't help covering his forehead with his hand, looking even more bewildered.

  "Really—Madara, don't you want to tell your Aniki the truth now?" Uchiha Ryo withdrew his hand. "You gotta be straight - up about what you like and don't like. Only then can others know your attitude and try to make improvements. If you don't say anything to those around you, you won't get far on your own."

  Madara snorted, turned his head away, and mumbled in a low voice, "I learned it from Aniki."

  "Wow! So sad!" Uchiha Ryo dramatically covered his chest, looking heart - broken. "When did your Aniki ever deliberately hide anything from you? That's so hurtful to say—you're really not cute anymore now that you've grown up. You used to always pester me to lift you up high when you were a kid—"

  Izuna tilted his head back, looking a bit confused as he gnced at Uchiha Ryo then at Madara. "Lifted up high?"

  Madara pursed his lips and turned his head away. A blush crept up his neck, to his ears, and then spread across his cheeks. "No."

  "How can there be no such thing? I remember it clearly. Every time I finished a mission and came back, you'd run over and give me a hug, then look up at me and hold out your hands—"

  Madara raised his voice a bit. "No! Aniki, you remembered wrong!"

  Izuna blinked his eyes and stared at Madara's red ears for a while. Then he reached out his hand towards Madara. "Brother Madara, I also want to be lifted up high!"

  Madara finally turned around. While picking up Izuna, he mumbled, "Remove the 'also'. I never asked for such a thing."

  Izuna, who was held up in the air, tilted his head. There was a hint of mischievous glee in his dark pupils. "But if Brother Madara never asked for it, how did you know how to lift someone up high?"

  Madara: …?(??=?-?=??)?!!!!

  "Anyway, there's no such thing!" Madara stiffly put Izuna back on the bed. "I haven't written my mission report yet! I'm leaving! I'll come back to get the food box when I bring dinner tonight!"

  Izuna burst into a happy ugh. "So Brother Madara likes being lifted up high just like me—heh heh heh... By the way, did Aniki also like being lifted up high when he was a kid?"

  "Well—" Uchiha Ryo stroked his chin. "To be exact, I preferred being thrown up high. It was quite fun. But after Father threw me up too hard and I hit the ceiling beam once, it was just being lifted up high after that."

  "Eh?! Hit the ceiling beam?" Izuna instinctively covered his head. "That must have hurt so much.

  ”

  “You're right! I was in so much pain back then that I cried,” Uchiha Ryo folded his arms. “It was the first time I cried so badly since I could remember... Well, I probably wouldn't cry now.”

  Izuna nodded half - comprehendingly. But then he quickly thought of Madara's unfrank way of expressing his feelings. So, with a smile, he started chatting non - stop with Uchiha Ryo and even promised him solemnly that he'd always be an open and honest person in the future.

  In response, Uchiha Ryo just smiled and ruffled Izuna's hair pyfully, remaining silent. After all, Madara had also told him the same thing about living an honest life back then.

  Oh dear... Thinking about it, it seems everyone around me is so unfrank.