Arashi gave birth to a big fat boy, and the little baby Takahiro is not very like his mother, six points like his father and four points like his aunt. Rika smiled when she saw him, turned to her parents and brother, and said, "This is our family." ”

Xiudeok's eyebrows, which had been frowning since his wife began giving birth, finally relaxed, gently shook Lanzi's hand and said, "You have worked hard." Lanzi was stunned for a while, it was the first time she saw her husband showing such a warm demeanor, and she couldn't help but have a sour nose, but there was a steady stream of joy spreading in her heart.

Daimyo and Shijimi, who had ascended to the rank of grandfather and grandmother, were so overjoyed that they held a flowing water feast in the capital for three days and three nights, and the people sincerely celebrated the arrival of this little highness.

At the court meeting, the retainers congratulated Xiude on his joy, and Goto Masao almost burst into tears: "Lanzi does not disgrace his mission, and there are successors to the Daimyo's Mansion, which is gratifying and congratulating." The retainers agreed. Even his political enemies, who are usually at odds with him, are very much in agreement with Arashiko's contribution to the Daimyo's Mansion at this time.

On the contrary, Hidetoku, who had always been on the same side as his upright father-in-law, frowned slightly, withdrew from the joy of becoming a new father, looked at his father-in-law Goto Masao, and then looked at the other retainers who said, "The Daimyo's Mansion is blessed by the gods, and the Land of Fire will surely prosper for a hundred generations", and unconsciously pursed his lips.

The retainers happily discussed the education of the next generation of heirs, arguing about who was more qualified to serve as a mentor, and even the courses to be studied by the younger heirs in the future were clearly listed.

Xiude said in a dispute: "Xiaohong has just been in the full moon, so you can't help but be in a hurry. ”

However, the retainer who is usually trusted by Hidetoku said, "This is a major event related to the future prosperity and decline of the Fire Country, so please consider it as soon as possible for the daimyo and Hidetoku-sama." ”

Xiudeok's brow furrowed more and more.

The drowsy daimyo leaning on the high seat glanced at his eldest son Xiude, and waved his folding fan with a look of "I'm too lazy to care" and said, "This is Xiude's eldest son, Xiude will arrange it himself." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curved in a slight arc at an angle that was invisible to everyone.

The retainers turned their attention to Xiudeok.

At night, Xiude sat alone next to the sleeping baby, looking at his son's delicate and peaceful sleeping face, only to feel that the boredom of the day slowly dissipated, and the irritable heart calmed down little by little.

Arashi walked into the room and couldn't help but be a little surprised to see that Xiude was also there. She approached the crib and silently looked at her son's well-behaved little face as he slept soundly, and her eyes lit up with the smile of a very happy mother.

"I didn't disappoint you." She whispered to her husband.

Xiudeok threw a puzzled look at her.

Lanzi smiled slightly: "The Daimyo Mansion has the next generation of heirs, and you have completed this responsibility." ”

When she was pregnant, Arashi was always happy and worried, and she often stroked her bulging abdomen and thought, if it were a girl, her husband, who had a greater sense of responsibility than anything else, would be disappointed, right?

Fortunately, he is a son who can inherit incense and inherit the country.

Xiude's eyes froze, and he reached out to tuck the quilt for his son, and said after a long time: "Even if it's a daughter, it's fine." ”

Her husband's expression didn't look like perfunctory or comforting, and Arashi looked at his side face in a daze.

Before this little life was born, Xiude had already thought of several plans to teach him to become the heir of the American monarch, and he had also planned his son's life path step by step. Hidetoku believes that if nothing happens, Takahiro will grow up to be a better Daimyo of Fire Nation than his grandfather and father.

However, an unexpected "accident" occurred at this time.

In the more than a month that Xiude officially became a father, whenever he looked at his son's innocent little face, all responsibilities, dogmas, and heirs were all left behind, and only one thought came to his heart - as long as he grew up healthy and happy. Everything else didn't seem to be as important as he had imagined.

This sudden realization plunges Sudeok into distress and contradiction.

Was he wrong?

Is it the former him who is wrong, or is he now?

Xiudeok feels that he needs to be alone and quiet.

In Lanzi's puzzled gaze, Xiude suddenly got up and left. The candlelight flickered in the roadside niches, and he strolled through the courtyards, only to find that this year's summer nights were particularly hot.

"Is there something wrong?" A deep voice sounded, and Xiude was stunned, and when he looked around, he realized that he had unconsciously walked to the door of his father's courtyard.

His father, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, was sitting in the water pavilion listening to the luthier play a new song, with two attendants fanning him. The daimyo family, except for the Hidetoku couple, are all good at pleasure.

"It's okay, just a walk through." Xiude replied, "I won't disturb my father listening to the music." ”

The daimyo nodded, staring straight at the eldest son for a long time before he said, "Xiude, although you teach Rika from time to time, when it comes to growth, Rika is much faster than you. ”

Xiudeok frowned and looked at his father, who showed a three-layered chin as he spoke.

"Well, the so-called growth is just a struggle with your former self." After speaking, the daimyo waved his hand and motioned for the luthier to continue playing.

The melodious sound of the piano floats in the night sky.

Regardless of the contradiction in Xiude's heart, everyone in the Daimyo Mansion was still immersed in the excitement of the arrival of the newborn.

At this time, the news came that Konoha had been attacked and that the Hokage Ape had been killed in battle.

***

The Hokage's funeral was simple and solemn, all the ninjas in the village had arrived, and despite the rain, there were still many ordinary villagers who came to pay their respects.

A carriage inlaid with the coat of arms of the Daimyo Mansion drove into Konoha Village and stopped at the entrance of the cemetery. The attendant lifted the curtain, and a young man and woman stepped down from the carriage.

Mito Menyan and Koharu greeted him: "Your Highness Hidetoku, Princess." ”

Hidetoku bowed his head to them, "Our brother and sister came to mourn the three generations of Hokage on behalf of our father and mother. Then he walked past the two of them to Asma and said, "Mourn and change." Asma held back her grief and nodded.

Rika looked at Kakashi, who was dressed in black, with worried eyes, and then followed her brother to the tombstone without saying a word and bowed in mourning.

After the funeral, Rika looked at the ruined Konoha streets along the road, and suddenly felt like a world away - it had only been a little more than a month since she was last in that bustling street.

Rika stopped in front of a pile of golden rocks, and there were more than a dozen young men wearing the uniforms of the Daimyo's Mansion guards cleaning up the ruins, and when they saw her, they hurriedly knelt down on one knee and saluted: "It is our dereliction of duty to fail to protect the palace, please punish Lord Rika." ”

When Xiude saw that one of them was wounded and bandaged, he said, "It's okay if you're okay." ”

Rika looked at it, and the entire Konoha Village was in ruins, and she couldn't help but sigh in her heart, saying, "Get up." ”

The palace was reduced to ruins during the attack, but the next depressed and dilapidated uninhabited house unexpectedly survived. Xiude walked to the door of the house, looked at it for a long time, and said with a look full of nostalgia: "This is the ancestral house of the Qimu family. ”

Rika was surprised by his knowledge: "How do you know?" ”

Xiudeok's first smile since he learned that Konoha had been attacked, very shallow, very shallow: "I've been here." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to push the door open.

But she was pulled by Rika, and she said: "Don't enter someone's house without the owner's consent." ”

This time it was Xiudeok's turn to look at her in surprise, when did her sister, who has never taken etiquette seriously, develop the good habit of "not entering other people's homes without permission"?

"It's okay, Xiudesang can enter if he wants. It's just that it's barren and overgrown with weeds for many years, so I'm afraid it's not easy to walk. ”

A young man's voice came from behind him, and Hidetoku and Rika turned around to see that Kakashi had changed into a ninja outfit and was walking towards them.

With the approval of the master's family, Xiude said "I'm sorry" and pushed the door in.

It was so barren that it was very different from what he remembered. He brushed aside the branches and leaves that had grown indiscriminately, walked around the main house for half a circle, came to the backyard, pointed to a mess of rocks and weeds, and said, "There used to be a large patch of gardenias planted here. ”

The silver-haired ninja followed his gaze and replied, "Yes, my mother loves gardenias. ”

Hidetoku smiled again as he remembered the past, "Many years ago, I stayed at the Hagi house for a few days, when Kakashi-kun had just started practicing ninjutsu. ”

Kakashi thought about it, but had no memory of it. It's no surprise that he started learning ninjutsu from his father before he can remember, and that was a long, long time ago.

Kakashi knew that the eldest son of the daimyo had a different respect for his father, so he must have had a wonderful story back then.

"When did Kakashi-kun stop living here?" Xiudeok asked.

"After my father died."

Then neither of them spoke. Rika looked at her brother and then at Kakashi, frowning lightly and pursing her lips silently.

After a long while, the three of them walked to the door of the Qimu Mansion, and Xiude said loudly: "Speaking of which, the Daimyo Mansion and the Qimu family are also fateful. White Tooth Sang saved me, you saved Lixiang, we all owe the Qimu family a favor. ”

Kakashi looked at the future monarch with a serious face, and said very indifferently, "This is originally our duty, and Shutokusan doesn't have to take it to heart. He believed that his father, like him, would do everything he could to help him, whether the other party was a dignitary or an ordinary person.

Rika remembered that on the way back to the Daimyo Mansion from Kitano Castle, this young man protected her every time she was in danger. Obviously, she is an ordinary person who does ninjutsu, and he is a genius ninja who moves all over the world, but in the end she is safe and sound, and he is the one who is injured.

Rika couldn't help but gently tug at his arm.

Xiude pretended not to see his sister's small action, and said, "I still have something to discuss with two consultants, so let's go to the Hokage Building first." ”

After he left, Kakashi looked down at the girl who was a little abnormal today, "The princess unexpectedly didn't talk much today." ”

She has been protected since she was a child and grew up in a harmonious and beautiful environment, and she has never experienced such a real life and death, and even the funeral is the first time to participate. Unlike him, I don't know how many times I have seen the people around me die.

Rika stared into his tired and sad eyes, opened her arms and hugged him and said, "You have to be fine." ”