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I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declared the Lord.
Jeremiah 30:17
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Projecting an aura of unnerve, a slender and extremely gorgeous woman traversed the landscape alone, donned in a sleek black dress. Each step she took carried an ominous weight, as evidenced by her sluggish gait to her destination. Her slow, and faltering steps made the short journey a lot more longer than intended. Her mind wavered at the pretence of engaging in conversation, as it had been an incredibly long time since they had communicated.
The figure was none other than Uchiha Kaede, who shuddered at the precept of exchanging niceties with her family, especially since she had left on bad terms... Lamenting back on her departure, she felt quite remorsed, but she firmly believed that she was correct.
Why was she correct?
The Uchiha are cocky.
And her family were no exception to this unfortunate reality. When she noticed this fact and reprimanded them of their actions, they lashed back at her following the notion that they were of a highly reputable clan, thus, their views of revolt toward the others were justified. Nobody in the clan seemed to align with her mentality, even knowing the danger that mentality posed!
She believed that following this train of thinking would lead to uncompromised demise! It was truly a hazardous conscience; it was as though their gifted visual prowess were like parasites that siphoned their humanity, and it was rather disturbing. This does raise a disturbing question...
Just what lengths do the Uchiha plan on pursuing? How far do they plan on going?
Such thoughts lingered in her mind, inadvertently causing her to project melancholy at the contagious mindset of her brethren. This ideology is implanted into the youths as well, corroding their innocence and purity, and contaminating with wickedness and foulness.
This fact was further heightened during the Kyuubi attack, where it was believed the Kyuubi was hypnotised, as evidenced by the vast majority of the populace who testified to the 3 tomoe embellishing its eyes! Without a doubt, that signified an Uchiha was controlling the explosive beast, and instigated havoc! The testimony accounts of the denizens became an impetus for the higher-ups of Konoha to change the format of the village during its time of rehabilitation and reconstruction, and everyone came in consensus with positioning the Uchiha compound in the far outskirts.
With that said, the Uchiha were certainly aggravated by the irrefutable decision, and could only silently comply.
While the conspiracies shrouded the involvement of the Uchiha, that was never truly the case. In addition, a mountain pile of Uchiha perished due to the Kyuubi, and to be labeled the instigators of chaos...
Who else wouldn't be infuriated?
Then again, there was no denying that the Kyuubi most certainly was harnessed by a Uchiha, yet the perpetrator had never been brought to light. The clan faced a rather harsh, and crude inquisition from the village elders, and ever since that arduous event, the Uchiha harboured disgust.
They were the notorious Uchiha clan, yet they seemed to be belittled and antagonised by the populace! It was dangerous, and only the head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku, managed to pull the reigns and nullify the influx.
Before long, Kaede was forced to discard her mullings as she finally appeared before a familiar place.
She had finally arrived at the Uchiha clan compound.
There were no noticeable distinctions between the layout of the terrain with the rest of Konoha. If there was anything that differed, it may be the fact that the clan resided in the far outskirts of the village, significantly further from the core of Konoha, and from the Hokage monument. Excluding the trivial data, Kaede strolled along the path, observing both flanks in which were situated numerous houses that served to accommodate every Uchiha family.
Kaede recognised several familiar faces, but she wasn't exactly close to them. Back to the compound, the structure had morphed considerably, which entailed Kaede had no clue of her family's current dwelling. Hence, she was forced to inquire, and humbly ask for guidance, which wasn't too hard.
It didn't take her long, as she finally arrived at a simple structure which housed 3 people. She stood by the entrance, assessing the relatively new infrastructure. Exhaling a strained breath, her cherry lips parted as she initiated to vocalise, but found herself incapable. Her reluctance caused her to gulp in fright, and almost depart the vicinity right at this moment; she was just extremely nervous to grace the household with her presence since it had been years...
10 years!
Gritting her teeth, she inwardly frowned, 'Tsk, this is harder than I thought.'
Slapping herself on the face, she steeled herself once more, and announced, "MOTH-!"
She ceased.
Invading her peripheral vision was a dazzling figure as beautiful as her, with the exception of slightly wrinkled skin that hinted at old age. The aged woman stared back, her obsidian pupils gazing endearingly at the stranger who stood by the doorstep. Those eyes widened in dismay, glistening with a fluid that was soon to trickle by her fair cheek.
Unperturbed, Kaede stuttered, "M-Mum?"
It was an ordinary tone, yet to the aged women, it was an echo in her ears, prompting her to come to an immediate standstill as she directed a gaze of disbelief at the dazzling woman by the door. Her lips curled in ecstasy, and she quipped while rubbing away the accumulated tears, "K-Kaede?"
Kaede responded, scratching her cheek sheepishly, "It's been a while, so I decided to catch up for the New Year. Can I come in?"
The aged woman nodded and guided Kaede, to which Kaede tailed behind. As the slow stride into the premises ensued, Kaede used her time to scan the innards, noticing a stark juxtaposition from her former home. However, it was quite expected considering her former home had been destroyed, and they were also relocated. With that said, some parts of the structure, and ornaments retained a semblance to their former home, creating a nostalgic atmosphere...
Nostalgic?
It was still a dull atmosphere devoid of joy. The house retained a traditional format of the past, and seemed to cradle a darkness that was akin to the family's historical conflict, which caused Kaede's parents to neglect their own daughter. Their decision heightened when they realised that she wasn't worth nurturing on pouring their resources into, and then came the second son, Uchiha Shinji.
Shinji, the younger brother of Kaede, was raised on a silver spoon, because of the incredible talent he brandished. To the eyes of his parents, he was a child worth cultivating. In the Uchiha clan, a child's worth is determined by their combat ability, something Kaede failed to demonstrate until her latter years, to the point it had favoured the eyes of the elders, and later on, even her parents looked at her with pride.
But Kaede despised the recognition.
It revolted her.
Their warped ideology was the one thing she not only feared, but criticised, but her opinions of them meant nothing. Ultimately, it would come to no avail.
Kaede's little brother, Shinji, was innocent of this grotesque hassle, but as he wielded talent, he was revered even by the elders of the clan, and his mentality too, had changed.
He looked at everyone differently, including his close peers.
He was another child who had fallen victim to the contaminated shenanigans of the clan!
Kaede rebuked her own cherished brother, and her family, warning them of the peril that lies ahead should they embrace this frigid path. However, she was cast aside like a mundane and a rambler. Obviously offended by the obscenity of those around her, she left the clan. That momentous day remained in her head, and ever since, she never returned.
She stayed by the side of her only close peers, Hayato, Ryohei, Aiko, and even Minato and Kushina. They welcomed her like family, and never rebutted her resolve to rectify the peace of her clan.
Kaede's eyes cradled a deep gloom, as she was presented by a shoji sliding door. She was half expectant of the view that lay beyond, and inwardly assumed, 'He's probably meditating right now.'
And now, entering a separate partition, Kaede's eyes were directed at an aged man who sat in a lotus position, seemingly in a concentrated, cogitative state...
Or so it seemed...
"Zzzzz... Zzzzz... Zzzzz..."
The rhythmic sound of snoring pervaded the tranquillity, causing Kaede's shoulders to drop, and her expression contorted to that of dismay as she stared at the unconscious individual in the tail end of the room. He had short black hair styled in a buzzcut, and his neck cocked to one side while the snoring ensued.
As the elder daughter, although her parents had been negligent of her childhood and growth, Kaede was extremely observant. She would often make mental notes of what occurred during specific time frames, and one such exercise of her father that never deviated from the timetable was his meditation...
Well, that's how it used to be in the past. He strictly adhered to his role as a shinobi, but now...
"Zzzzz... Zzzzz... Zzzzz..."
The dumbfounded Kaede had no idea what to make of this. Her father was even salivating as he slept! She immediately heightened her awareness, and whispered, "This... This must be a genjutsu."
Her theory wasn't too far-fetched as she presumed that her family may be testing her, except...
"Phff."
Startling Kaede was a muffled laughter, luring her delicate eyes to her mother who had a hand to her mouth. Once again, Kaede was flabbergasted, because her mother...
Laughed?!
'W-What? N-No, have they been poisoned?' Kaede internally questioned and raised a hand to her mother's forehead to validate her concerns.
Her manoeuvre took aback her mother, and before she could speak, Kaede quipped, "No fever... And no abnormalities... You seem fine."
This time, Kaede's mother's cheeks became large and pouty, and she heartily laughed.
"Hahahaha!"
Kaede immediately retracted her soft hand and frowned at the horrific spectacle. Never in her life had she anticipated that a smile would grace their features, yet here she was, bearing witness. Besieged by shock, she remained rooted on the spot, and wanted to speak, but found her lips quivering.
The aged lady inched closer to her daughter, and planted a palm on her cheek, before caressing it with love...
Yeah, an emotion Kaede had never thought she'd see in her mother. Her mother's eyes shimmered like a gem, radiating heightened affection, and her lips curled into a breathtaking smile. Tears had started to form by the creases of her eyes, and she vocalised, "I really was horrible back then, wasn't I? Is my expression really that much of a shock to you?"
Noticing the gentleness in her tone, Kaede gulped, and raised her hand, wrapping it in the warm palm that touched her cheek...
But warily extracted it from her cheek.
As though anticipating her daughter's repulsion, she muttered, "I really have failed you as a mother."
"K-Kaede..." A hoarse tone interjected this time; it was a deep tone Kaede had been accustomed to the first 15 years of her life.
The female duo turned to the aged man who had awoken from his... meditation.
The man arose, and his expression became grim as though he had seen a ghost. Approaching Kaede, he inquired, "Kaede... Is that really you?!"
"It really is. Our dear Kaede is still alive," Kaede's mother answered in her stead.
His father dropped to his knees, and murmured, "Ohh thank goodness..."
At this point, Kaede really didn't know what to make of this situation; this day had turned into a series of shocks for her, so much so, she was puzzled, and weirded out by their drastic change. Never in her life had she thought that she would see her dad...
Weeping!
"D-Dad!" Kaede stammered.
Did her absence really upset them that much?
She wanted to comfort him, yet she was rooted on the spot.
In all candour, as someone who was ignored, she didn't know how to approach this situation. As such, she found herself to be in quite a conundrum.
Before Kaede could speak, she felt a grip on her shoulder that tightened considerably, yet it had no malice. Kaede didn't need to look to tell that it was her mother, whose features were tarnished in tears!
*BA-THUMP* *BA-THUMP*
Kaede's heart raced, anticipating the worst.
The tears her mother shed were the same tears she shed when Kushina died!
"M-Mum, did something-"
Before she could complete her sentence, her mother pulled her into a hug, and wept uncontrollably. Diving her head into her shoulders, she hollered, "Thank the Gods... Ohh, thank the Gods."
Something within Kaede bubbled; a sense of fear, and to seethe her parent's anguish, she patted her mother on the back endearingly, and questioned, "Mum, what happened? Please tell me the truth."
Kaede's mother remained unresponsive, her hug tightening, but not something that affected Kaede. It was a level of strength she had inherited from her mother after all.
Kaede's dad chimed in, "Kaede..."
Kaede's flickering gaze shifted to her father, and her eyes widened in disbelief at the next set of words that escaped his lips;
"Shinji's gone!"
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I'm sorry if the chapter felt rushed. Let me know of any mistakes, and blah blah blah.
Thank you for reading.