"Madara, big brother has told you, right? You can't take your personal grudges out on others." Ling sighed and turned his head. "Moreover, although I was badly injured in this spar, I also gained a lot. At least I've made further progress in my understanding of lightning - attribute chakra."
Madara subtly pursed his lips. He didn't really mean to fight back. "I heard from the clan members outside that you used a very powerful red lightning. What is that? A new Kekkei Genkai?"
"No no no, don't believe what the clan members are spreading. Actually, I just couldn't control my own chakra and hurt myself," Ling let out a couple of awkward laughs, looking a bit embarrassed. "In my original plan, the chakra shouldn't have leaked out so wildly. After all, we're ninjas...
I thought it would be a silent enhancement. Who would've thought I'd not only fail to enhance but also hurt myself so badly? Well, after this experiment, I've got a bit of an idea. Next time, I should be able to avoid getting hurt."
"I'll grow up soon, so big brother doesn't have to work so hard," Madara moved the low table standing aside onto the bed, then opened the food box and took out the food one by one and placed them on it. "I asked when I came this morning. They said big brother can eat some light food now. I simply made some."
"Ah, thanks. I'm starving. Our Madara is so sweet~"
Izuna also climbed onto the bed and sat obediently beside Ling. "I helped too! I helped season the rice balls inside!"
"Really? Our Izuna is so capable~" Ling reached out his hand and virtually protected Izuna's back to prevent him from falling. The smile on his face became even gentler. "Which one is it? Can Izuna feed big brother in person?"
"Sure!" Izuna looked at the small table for a while, then picked up a small piece of rice ball with chopsticks. "Ah -"
"Ah - Um, 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... Our 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 feed big brother!"
"Really? Then I'll leave it to Izuna. It just so happens that my arms don't have much strength. Thanks~"
Ling simply hugged Izuna into his arms and calmly opened his mouth to enjoy his younger brother's feeding. Well, the tableware is much heavier than Izuna.
Seeing Ling coax Izuna so quickly, Madara's expression softened as well. "By the way, Father said big brother had something to talk to me about. What is it?"
"Ah, that. It's not a big deal," Ling swallowed the food in his mouth. "I just wanted to go on a mission with you and teach you some precautions, but now I'm all bruised and battered, so it has to be postponed for now."
"I'll pay more attention in this regard," Madara's expression obviously turned irritated, but his voice remained steady. "Although I've got the qualification for independent missions, since there are still some missions I haven't encountered, I think I'll follow the team for a while to gain some experience..."
Ling lowered his head to eat the sushi that Izuna fed him, then smiled and waved at Madara.
Madara leaned over, looking a bit confused, but was hit right on the forehead by Ling's bent finger. He couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his forehead, looking even more bewildered.
"Really—doesn't Madara want to be honest with the big brother now?" Ling withdrew his hand. "You should directly say whether you like something or not so that others know your attitude and can try to make improvements. Otherwise, you won't get far on your own."
Madara gave a soft snort, turned his head away, and muttered in a low voice, "I learned it from the big brother."
"Ouch! That hurts!" Ling exaggeratedly covered his chest, looking grief - stricken. "When did the big brother ever deliberately hide anything from you? That really hurts to hear. Sure enough, you're not as cute as you used to be now that you've grown up. You used to always pester the big brother to lift you up when you were little."
Izuna tilted his head up, looking a bit confused as he glanced at Ling and then at Madara. "Lift you up?"
Madara pursed his lips and turned his head away. Red slowly crept up his neck, to his ears, and then spread across his cheeks. "No."
"How can there be no such thing? I remember it very clearly. Every time I came back from a mission, you'd run over and give me a hug, then tilt your head up and reach out your hands to me—"
Madara raised his voice a little. "No! The big brother remembered wrong!"
Izuna blinked his eyes, stared at Madara's red ears for a while, then reached out his hands in Madara's direction. "Brother Madara, I also want to be lifted up!"
Madara then turned around. As he picked up Izuna, he mumbled, "Don't say 'also'. I never asked for such a thing."
Izuna, being held up in the air, tilted his head. There was a glint of mischievous triumph in his dark pupils. "But if brother Madara never asked for it, how did you know how to lift someone up?"
Madara: …(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!!!!
"Come on, there's no way that happened!" Madara stiffly put Izuna back on the bed. "I haven't written my mission report yet! I'm leaving now! I'll come to get the food box when I bring dinner later!"
Izuna laughed happily. "So brother Madara likes being lifted up just like me—heehee. By the way, did the big brother also like being lifted up when he was a kid like us?"
"Um—" Ling stroked his chin. "To be exact, I preferred being thrown up high. It was quite fun. But after Father threw me too hard once and I hit the ceiling beam, it was just lifting me up after that."
"Eh?! Hit the ceiling beam?" Izuna instinctively covered his head. "That must have hurt so much."
"Right! I even cried from the pain back then." Ling folded his arms. "That was the first time I cried so badly since I could remember... Well, I probably wouldn't cry now."
Izuna nodded half - understandingly, but soon thought of Madara's unforthright way of expressing his emotions. So he started chatting non - stop with Ling with a smile on his face and even vowed to Ling that he would definitely be an honest person in the future.
In response, Ling just smiled and ruffled Izuna's hair, not saying a word. After all, Madara had also said the same thing about being honest with him before.
Oh dear... Thinking about it this way, I suddenly realize that everyone around me is so insincere.