11 Chapter 11: A Smile

Two days later, the funeral took place.

Many people felt sympathy for the Uchiha clan, but that was all, the Uchiha clan was not very well regarded in the eyes of the people after all.

Itachi became a criminal, his name was put in the bingo book and his head had a high price.

While the Hokage gave his speech about how much he regretted this tragedy.

In a certain isolated grave, there was a boy with a white patch on his eye, staring at the tombstone.

As a representative of the Hyuga clan, Hiashi attended the funeral.

His daughters also attended, as well as a part of his clan, several other clans also attended, this was a painful day for some people.

"Yuki-nii"

"Yuki"

Turning his gaze, Yuki looked at two girls with white eyes, Yuki smiled slightly when he saw them.

"Hanabi, Hinata"

"Whaa… Yuki-nii, Sob I'm sorry sob I'm so sorry"

"Yuki, I…I…"

Just by seeing them, Yuki felt that his heart was at peace, approaching them, he could not help but hug them tightly in his arms

"Yuki-nii"

"Yu-ki"

The two sisters were surprised to feel the sudden hug, but quickly hugged him back when they felt the warmth of his body, although Hanabi took a deep breath of his smell when doing so.

"Yuki-nii!"

His warm hug was broken, with the arrival of a boy with spiky black hair.

Sasuke looked at Yuki with guilt, his eyes were red and glassy, tears were accumulating in his eyes, with signs of falling at any moment.

"Sasuke" Yuki saw Sasuke with mixed expressions, anger, hatred, pain and friendship were reflected in his gaze.

Yuki knew that Sasuke was innocent, but he still could not help feeling hatred inside.

These days he had been avoiding Sasuke, it was childish but he had a knot in his throat that he could not get rid of.

(But I am an adult… An adult does not fight with a child)

Sighing deeply, Yuki decided to let go of all his hatred when he saw the face of the one he considers his younger brother.

"Come here, Sasuke"

"Yuki-nii, I… I… Whaaaa" slowly separating from the sisters, Yuki hugged Sasuke, tears spilled from Sasuke's eyes.

Yuki really could not hate him when he saw this.

The sisters felt a little dissatisfied when they separated from his body, but they understood that this was not the time for a tantrum.

"Yuki, Sasuke!"

"Yuki-nii, Sasuke!"

A few minutes later Neji and Naruto arrived, along with several other children, who surrounded the duo, expressing their condolences for their tragedy.

"Sasuke!"

"Big brother Yuki!" shortly after two girls approached, a girl with pink hair and the other with blonde hair.

Both girls ran and hugged the duo, the pink-haired girl had clung to Sasuke tightly, while the blonde girl, clung to Yuki.

"Ino, Sakura… Thank you" smiling slightly Yuki attended the girls.

Hanabi puffed her cheeks when she saw the blonde girl hugging Yuki tightly.

(You're just taking advantage of his pain!) Hanabi said internally, without realizing that she had done the same, meanwhile Hinata looked at them with mixed expressions, not knowing whether or not to interrupt them.

Hiashi who looked at the children surrounding the only survivors of the massacre, sighed with sadness.

(Even in this situation, you can smile, huh?)

Until now, since the first time he saw him, Hiashi always saw Yuki smiling, a cheerful boy with a positive aura, who attracts people like a moth to the flames.

But this time, he saw a different smile than usual on Yuki's face, his cheerful smile had disappeared, replacing that smile was now one, with deep sadness and pain.

Hiashi could see those feelings expressed in that smile.

Hiashi could only shake his head, at the misfortune of the child, but when he saw him Hiashi could see for a brief moment the face of his brother in that smile, Hiashi opened his eyes surprised, when he saw the smile of his brother in the child.

(Hizashi?!) small tears ran down Hiashi's face, as he remembered his childhood, he and his brother were inseparable back then.

The funeral was over, many people had already left.

Yuki took his time looking at his mother's grave calmly.

"Yuki"

Turning his gaze, Yuki saw a middle-aged man with white eyes, next to him were Hanabi and Hinata, somewhat surprised by their presence, Yuki bowed slightly.

"Good morning Mr. Hiashi"

"There is no need for formalities, after all saying goodbye to a loved one is not easy"

Somewhat surprised by his words, Yuki raised his head and said.

"I suppose that's true…"

"I understand the pain you are going through right now, I mean I deeply regret your loss" this time it was Hiashi who bowed.

"Thank you" Yuki said smiling slightly, he liked this act of respect that Hiashi showed towards his clan and his mother.

"What will you do from now on Yuki?" Hiashi said, looking slightly into Yuki's eyes. Although somewhat surprised by his question, Yuki slowly touched the patch on his left eye and smiled.

"Move on I guess, fulfilling my mother's dream" when he said this Hinata, could not help but remember her mother too and wondered if she could also fulfill her mother's dreams.

"…"

"I see" Hiashi closed his eyes, as if he were thinking, before opening them.

"Do you want to come to my clan, to live with me and my daughters?"

"Father?!" X2

These words took Yuki, Hanabi, Hinata by surprise, Yuki even opened his mouth a little, he never thought that Hiashi of all people would want to adopt him.

A Hyuga adopting an Uchiha, is unheard of, something never seen before and that the one who would adopt him was the clan leader, is something very surprising.

"Yuki-nii, please accept!"

"Yuki"

Hanabi was happy about this, the look in her eyes clearly expressed her feelings.

(Yess!.. Yuki-nii will live with us!)

Meanwhile Hinata blushed strongly, looking at Yuki.

(Yuki…and… I… Living… together) her thoughts were in complete disaster, just imagining their life together.

Looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds, Yuki wanted to accept his offer, Hiashi although strict, was a good father, the love he had for his daughters was genuine, although lately the death of his brother, gave him a heavy burden for his clan that neglected his daughters, but apparently, he was slowly changing to how he was before.

Turning his gaze Yuki saw a boy, with spiky black hair, looking at two tombstones.

(No, I can't leave you alone, I can't lose anyone else in my life)

Looking again at Hiashi, Yuki smiled and said.

"Thank you for your offer Mr. Hiashi, but I still have matters that I have to take care of"

"…"

"What?!.. Why doesn't Yuki-nii want to live with us?!"

"Yuki… You"

This answer, left Hanabi and Hinata speechless, obviously they did not like this.

But Yuki just smiled at them, but did not answer them, he thought they were too young to understand.

Hiashi, looked at Yuki for a few moments, before turning his head to see Sasuke.

"I understand"

Nodding his head, Hiashi looked at Yuki's smile, the sadness, hatred and pain had disappeared, this time it was a radiant smile, full of affection.

He knew this smile, one that would not abandon his loved ones even if he had to give his life for them.

"Good luck, kid" giving a pat on Yuki's head, Hiashi turned to leave, dragging his daughters with him.

"Yuki-nii…"

"Yuki"

A bit dissatisfied, Hanabi looked him in the eyes, seeking an explanation. Hinata, on the other hand, gazed at him with shyness and affection.

"I'll see you tomorrow," waving to the sisters, Yuki thought they were very cute.

After a few minutes, Hiashi walked alone toward a grave.

[Hizashi Hyuga] was the name engraved on the tombstone.

After seeing his brother's grave, Hiashi looked skyward, closing his eyes.

"Hizashi! How are you? I hope wherever you are, you can see this, Yuki... This boy has changed your son, you know? They're very good friends. Hizashi, I want to ask you something, even if you might hate me, but I really want to ask you one last wish as your older brother. Please don't let his smile fade away. After all, your smile and his are very similar."

As if responding to Hiashi's thoughts, the clouds in the sky formed a thumbs-up.

----

Watching the departure of the Hyuga family, Yuki felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and the world before him became clearer.

"Sasuke, we have to go," said Yuki, walking toward the spiky-haired boy.

"Go? Where?" Sasuke said with some confusion.

"Home, of course!" Yuki replied, patting his head.

Upon hearing this, Sasuke was surprised, and tears began to well up again.

"Yuki-nii! I... I..."

"That's enough. Don't say anything, Sasuke. From now on, we're family."

"..."

"Y-yes," Sasuke said after a brief silence, nodding vigorously.

Yuki smiled, deciding that at this moment, Gamma Sprout from the earth had died, and the one who would live this life would be Yuki Uchiha.