Nightmare and Sleeptalking

After the meal, Uchiha Tunan took the initiative to wash the dishes.

However, after doing all this, Uchiha Tunan did not leave immediately.

Instead, he began to carefully wipe the oil stains in the kitchen, clean the dust in the corner, and wipe out all the subtle corners.

It was not over after three hours of cleaning.

At this time, it was already quite late, and basically all the people in the Sarutob Clan had turned off their lights and gone to sleep.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting in the living room, felt a little sleepy. He came to the kitchen door and coughed lightly,

"Tunan, it's already very clean. There's no need to clean it."

Uchiha Tunan turned around, and the sweat on his forehead was dripping down.

However, his eyes were sparkling as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was at the entrance of the kitchen, and said seriously,

"The kitchen is a place for cooking. You must ensure absolute hygiene. Otherwise, what if you eat something bad?"

As he said that, he scraped his finger in the corner and scraped out a mass of black oil. He said to Hiruzen Sarutobi,

"These things are the easiest to attract insects. They must be cleaned up."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the stubborn Uchiha Tunan and nodded helplessly.

He then looked at the clock on the wall and said,

"It's already very late."

Uchiha Tunan wiped the sweat on his forehead with his arm and smiled.

"It doesn't matter. Hokage Sama, you go and rest first. I know the way home."

Seeing that Uchiha Tunan was so obedient and sensible, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as if his heart had been touched by a soft spot.

In a trance, the figures of Shinnosuke and Asuma seemed to appear in front of him.

The two figures gradually overlapped. Shinnosuke was serious and steady, and Asuma was stubborn. Wasn't this Tunan?

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately looked at Uchiha Tunan with a kind face and said, "Tunan, it's too late. It's time to sleep."

Uchiha Tunan was stunned. He pursed his lips and bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi with his hands on his knees.

His eyes were full of guilt and self-blame. He said, "Hokage Sama, I'm sorry for disturbing your rest. I'll go back now."

For some reason, looking at Uchiha Tunan like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as if he had done a terrible thing.

He couldn't bear it anymore and came to Uchiha Tunan, rubbing his hair.

"I usually don't sleep at this time. You don't have to blame yourself."

"The sky is so dark, and the House of Uchiha is so far away. You should stay here for one night."

As soon as he finished speaking, Uchiha Tunan raised his head, and his eyes seemed to be shining with stars. He said with joy, "Is it really possible?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded.

"Go to sleep. If you want to get these things, you can get them tomorrow."

....

Late at night,

The rain continued to beat against the window. The strong wind howled in the trees by the pond in the backyard, blowing the branches as if they were about to break their waists.

Uchiha Tunan slept on the bed, his face covered in cold sweat. His expression was even more painful and embarrassing.

"Don't... No..."

The voice that contained fear and sadness became louder and louder.

It gradually broke through the cover of the rain and passed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's room downstairs.

As a Kage level expert, even if he was old, he still instinctively remained vigilant of his surroundings.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly opened his eyes and heard Uchiha Tunan's muttering from upstairs.

He frowned and muttered, "Did this child have a nightmare?"

Thinking that he still had business to do tomorrow, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned over and prepared to continue sleeping.

"Asuma... Where are you..."

The next moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately opened his eyes and sighed deeply.

"Senior Shinnosuke... I learned it... Thank you..."

"... Don't go... don't go to the Fire Capital."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts instantly went back to the time when his two sons got along with him when they were young.

The scenes of the past appeared one after another, and Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered that when Shinnosuke was young, it was easy to have nightmares on rainy days.

And his wife was always away, so at this time, Shinnosuke would usually ask him to accompany her.

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly felt a sense of compassion in his heart. He got up and habitually crept toward the second floor.

Every step he took was subconsciously stepped on to avoid making any noise to disturb Uchiha Tunan.

He gently pushed open the door.

In the dark room, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw that Uchiha Tunan had kicked the quilt away and kept muttering.

"Don't leave me..."

"Father... Don't leave... Father..."

This child...

A trace of melancholy flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. He suddenly felt that he and Uchiha Tunan were a little alike.

One lost his parents, and the other lost his son.

He immediately came to Uchiha Tunan's side and sat down on his knees. He gently covered Uchiha Tunan with the quilt.

Looking at Uchiha Tunan's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little dazed. He remembered the appearance of Shinnosuke when he was by his side.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out his hand and gently stroked Uchiha Tunan's face. He frowned slightly and the bitterness in his heart spread out again.

Suddenly, Uchiha Tunan grabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand and said in a pleading tone,

"Father... don't go..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly stunned. He covered Uchiha Tunan's hand with his other hand and whispered, "Don't worry, I won't go."

Uchiha Tunan seemed to have heard Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and suddenly relaxed.

Then he turned over and pulled Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand under his head.

The fear just now seemed to disappear, and the smile gradually spread on his face, as if he had a very sweet dream.

Uchiha Tunan rubbed his head against Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand, smacked his lips, and muttered,

"Father... Hokage Sama..."

Looking at his appearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, which had been as solid as a boulder, seemed to have softened.

For some reason, a strange feeling arose in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.

The father love that had been blocked because of the death of his two sons seemed to have been released as if the floodgate had been opened.

The more he looked at Uchiha Tunan, the more his heart ached and tender.

Early the next morning, the morning sunlight shone through the window, coating Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Tunan with a layer of gentle gold.

One of them was kneeling lovingly, while the other was immersed in a dream, forming a very peaceful scene.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had not slept all night, stretched out his free hand and gently rubbed his temples, raising his spirits.

Then, he looked helplessly at Uchiha Tunan, who was hugging his hand tightly and sleeping.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

How good would it be if Tunan was my child.

Obedient, sensible, modest, hardworking, kind, meticulous, tolerant...

It was too perfect.

Just then, Uchiha Tunan opened his sleepy eyes.

He rubbed his eyes and muttered,

"Father..."

To be honest, the word "Father" instantly broke Hiruzen Sarutobi's guard.

He almost couldn't help but hold Uchiha Tunan in his arms and protect him.