Hayate fished in a pocket and produced a pair of the wax-wrapped candies. He offered these in the flat of his palm to Itachi, who was fond of sweets. It was also polite to share, and Hayate had been raised to be polite. "I can spare some time for a friend. Not too long, a few days," he answered, with a little crooked smile. "I see you're working hard."

He nodded to the sealed packet in Itchia's hands, but he could read the hours of work in the ink-smudges on Itachi's pinkies, the slight hunch to his shoulders, and the squint-lines pinched into his forehead and around his eyes. Itachi probably needed reading glasses, or would soon, but Hayate wasn't sure how to suggest it. An Uchiha's eyeballs were a delicat subject at times.