"I understand, Kakashi-san. I'll be careful," Kenshin said, his voice steady though his mind was already racing.
As he and Kakashi walked out of the room, Kenshin began formulating his own strategy. 'It would be safer to let a shadow clone get captured if necessary,' he thought. 'While I go directly to Tsunade and expose Danzo's plot, I can try to negotiate and get him to reveal something like Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan. If I do, I could ask Tsunade to have a Yamanaka confirm it... and then Danzo would be finished. Tsunade might finally start trusting me.'
Kakashi stopped at the door and turned toward Kenshin. "Take care, and good night," he said before using the body flicker to disappear into the night.
"I'll never get tired of the body flicker jutsu," Kenshin muttered, a small smile playing on his lips as he and Akane left the hospital. The evening was cool, the breeze carrying with it the soft rustling of leaves as they made their way toward her apartment.
The walk didn't take long. Her apartment, nestled in a quiet part of the village, had an unassuming charm, almost hidden from view. As they stepped inside, Kenshin surveyed the space. "This looks... cozy," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
The apartment was small but practical—fit for a shinobi who lived alone. The kitchen was compact, the bathroom relatively large, and the main room was open and tidy.
A modest bed sat tucked against one wall, and across from it, a large wooden box rested on a stand beneath a shelf adorned with a framed photograph of their parents holding a baby Akane.
His eyes lingered on the box. "Hey, Nee-san? What's in this?" he asked, curiosity piqued as he stepped toward it. Akane moved beside him and opened the box, revealing two identical katanas, one sheathed in black, the other in white.
"Dad made these for us," Akane explained quietly, her fingers tracing the black sheath. "The black one was for me, and the white one for you. They're made from chakra metal so we can infuse them with chakra." Her voice softened. "After the massacre... I thought you and Mom were gone, so I kept them together. I've never used mine."
Kenshin watched her closely, noticing the way her fingers trembled ever so slightly as a single tear formed in the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it away, trying to maintain her composure.
"Anyways," she said, her voice wavering as she tried to brush off the moment. "It's getting late. We should get dinner."
Kenshin couldn't let the moment slip by. His hand reached out before he could think to stop it, gently holding hers. "Nee-san," he said, his voice low but firm, "you're not alone anymore. I'm here. Mom's here too, even if not right now… she's still with us, in this village. We're together, and we'll face everything from now on. You don't have to carry this alone."
Akane turned her head toward him, their eyes locking in a moment of unspoken understanding.
His words stirred something deep within her—a flicker of warmth, of something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in a long time. Kenshin's eyes glowed softly in the dim light, and for the briefest second, she saw something in his gaze that mirrored her own. Her heart skipped a beat, and she cursed inwardly.
'He reminds me so much of him. Why? Why do I feel this way?' she thought, biting her lower lip. It was all too familiar. Her breath quickened as she found herself leaning in, drawn toward him as if by instinct.
Kenshin felt the tension in the air shift. Her gaze, intense and unwavering, sent a jolt through him. His pulse raced, and his mind struggled to catch up to what was happening.
He knew he shouldn't—this was his sister, even if they hadn't grown up together. But the pull between them felt undeniable.
Akane leaned in until they were mere inches apart. Her breath was warm on his skin, and her eyes searched his as if looking for some kind of permission. But then, just as quickly, she hesitated, pulling back slightly, her lips barely grazing his.
"This... this isn't right, is it?" Akane's voice was shaky, torn between the desire she was feeling and the guilt gnawing at her.
Kenshin, still catching his breath, looked at her, his resolve hardening. He didn't want to stop—not now. "Nee-san," he said softly, cupping her face in his hands, "it's okay. Like I said, I'm here for you. No matter what. Mom will understand. I know she will. And that's all that matters. I don't care about anything else."
His thumb brushed her cheek as he leaned in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. But she didn't. Instead, her eyes fluttered closed, and her lips parted just slightly, bracing herself for what was to come.
Kenshin pressed his lips to hers gently, testing the waters. It felt... right, in a way that surprised them both. What started as hesitant became more assured as Akane leaned into the kiss, losing herself in the warmth of the moment.
Minutes passed, the world around them forgotten. When they finally pulled away, both were breathing heavily, as if they had been holding their breath the entire time.
"Nee-san..." Kenshin's voice was soft, almost unsure now.
Akane chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "I didn't think you'd be that kind of guy," she teased, though her voice carried a note of tenderness. She paused, searching for the right words. "But... it feels right. Like destiny, somehow."
Kenshin smiled at that, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. "It does, doesn't it?"
Akane relaxed in his arms for a moment before pulling back just enough to look up at him. A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. "How about we go somewhere with a bit more... romantic atmosphere? I'm sure the ANBU watching us won't mind."
Kenshin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Where exactly do you have in mind?"
Akane's grin widened. "The top of the Hokage Mountain. The view from Lady Fifth's head is especially beautiful on clear nights like tonight."
Kenshin chuckled, unable to resist her infectious energy. "Alright, fine. But first," he added, glancing toward the small bathroom, "I need to use your restroom."
Akane nodded, giving him space. As he disappeared into the bathroom, she leaned against the wall, her heart still pounding in her chest.
She hadn't planned any of this. She had been so sure, so determined, to keep things distant—to not let herself feel too much, especially not for Kenshin. But now, everything was different.
When Kenshin returned, they didn't say another word. Instead, they simply nodded at each other and stepped out into the cool night air, the village streets below them empty as they leapt from rooftop to rooftop, heading toward Hokage Mountain.
On the rooftops near Akane's apartment, a group of Root shinobi lay hidden in the shadows, their eyes trained on the building.
"Lord Danzo's orders were clear," one of the masked figures said, his voice low and devoid of emotion. "If he leaves during the night, we capture him. If not, we infiltrate and take them both."
Another shinobi, perched a few feet away, grimaced. "Are we really going to ignore what just happened in there? They're siblings, for crying out loud."
"Feelings are irrelevant. We are tools. Focus on the mission."
"Fine," the first shinobi grumbled, though he couldn't shake the unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. This mission, everything about it, felt off.
As they landed on the fifth Hokage's head, Kenshin paused, taking in the sight of the village below. The lights twinkled like stars, casting a warm glow over the Hidden Leaf.
"It's beautiful," Kenshin murmured, more to himself than to Akane. She stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the horizon.
"It is," she agreed quietly. Then, after a beat, she added, "I didn't think I'd ever share this view with anyone. Let alone with you."
Kenshin turned to her, a soft smile on his face. "I'm glad it's with you."
For a moment, neither of them said anything, simply standing there, letting the quiet of the night wash over them.
Whatever lay ahead, Kenshin knew that together, they could face it.
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Everyone, thanks for your support with the previous chapter. As always, please give me your power stones if you want to support me and let me know if you have any helpful suggestions/criticisms.