Across the village, Akane took a steadying breath as she knocked on the door of Kakashi's apartment.
It was still morning, and she knew that, if he wasn't out on a mission, Kakashi would likely still be asleep. But she needed his guidance now more than ever.
Moments later, the door opened to reveal a somewhat drowsy but alert Kakashi. His one visible eye focused on her, and he quickly masked any trace of surprise.
"Akane," he greeted, stepping aside to let her in. "What brings you here this early?"
As she entered, Akane hesitated, glancing around before turning back to him. "Kakashi-sensei, I wanted to ask… would you be willing to train me again?"
Kakashi leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he studied her with genuine curiosity. "You're strong, Akane. And Yuki has trained you well. Why the sudden urgency?"
Akane's expression darkened, memories flickering in her mind. She took a steadying breath, then began. "It's about Kenshin… During our last mission to the Hidden Grass, something happened. My mom sensed a familiar chakra—an Uzumaki chakra.
When we found its source, we met aunt Yukari… my mom's oldest friend and her attendant from before our clan was destroyed. Yukari was taken to the Hidden Grass by a shinobi she saved, but they abused her and used her healing abilities for years. When we found her, she was barely alive."
Kakashi's expression softened, a shadow of pain in his gaze. "And Kenshin healed her?"
Akane nodded. "With his right eye's power, he saved her life. But that's… that's not the worst of it. When we were on our way to complete the mission, Kenshin realized Yukari was being hurt—violated—by the son of the Grass leader.
Kenshin went after him, and it… turned into a battle. Grass shinobi attacked him to protect the leader's son. And Kenshin—he… he awakened his adamantine sealing chains."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened at that. The chains were a rare and formidable ability among the Uzumaki.
Akane's voice grew quiet, her fists clenched as she continued. "With those chains, he killed anyone who came at him. The Grass shinobi, civilians—they were getting caught in the fight. Maki and I tried to stop him. Maki opened the Fifth Gate, and I used my Sharingan… but nothing worked. It was like he was… unreachable."
Kakashi stayed silent, absorbing each detail, though he could feel the heaviness of her words. Akane's strength, her endurance—both had been tested, and yet she'd felt helpless. He could see how deeply it cut her.
"When he finally snapped out of it," she continued, voice barely above a whisper, "he healed everyone he hurt. But since then… he's been distant. He won't even look at me or Maki. I don't know how to reach him, or how to stop him if this happens again."
She looked up, determination clear in her eyes. "I need to be stronger, Kakashi-sensei. Strong enough to save him, even if it's from himself."
Kakashi's gaze softened, and he exhaled, recognizing the burden she was carrying. He knew all too well what it was like to bear the weight of a promise—and to fail at keeping it.
He still carried the memory of Rin, and how his own hand had taken her life, despite his vow to protect her.
"Akane," he said gently, "I'll help you become stronger—strong enough to be there for Kenshin, no matter what."
Akane's shoulders relaxed slightly, a glimmer of hope in her gaze. She nodded. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
————
Later that day, Kenshin lay in his room, the door locked, curtains drawn tight. Shadows stretched across the walls, mirroring the stillness of the space around him. He remained motionless on his bed, his thoughts heavy, drifting in and out of memory and silence.
A gentle knock sounded from the other side of the door.
"Ken-chan?" Kana's voice called softly, warm yet laced with concern. "Ken-chan, could you come down? Your Aunt Yukari's in the hospital."
Kenshin's response came after a pause, his voice dull and distant. "If Aunt Yukari's in the hospital, she's probably being looked after by Shizune-san. She's in good hands. Just… leave me alone, please."
There was a brief silence from Kana's side before she murmured, "Alright, Ken-chan." He heard her footsteps retreat, leaving him in solitude once more.
————
Later that evening, footsteps and hushed voices approached downstairs. Akane had returned from her training with Kakashi, her breathing still a little ragged.
Maki was by her side, her expression creased with worry as they both walked into the main room, where Kana was waiting.
"Mom, how's Kenshin?" Akane asked, wiping a trace of sweat from her brow. She exchanged a glance with Maki, who stood beside her, the concern plain on her face.
Kana sighed, folding her hands in her lap. "He's… not letting anyone in. He just wants to be alone."
Maki's brow furrowed, and she let out a small sigh. "I was hoping he'd be open to talking. Maybe we should… try again?"
Kana shook her head, though her face was gentle. "Give him a little more time, Maki-chan. He's carrying a lot."
As they spoke, the door opened, and Tsunade entered, Shizune following close behind her with Tonton in her arms. The Hokage carried a composed expression, but there was a glimmer of concern beneath it, a quiet determination in her eyes.
"Hokage-sama," Kana greeted her respectfully, bowing slightly.
Tsunade nodded, her gaze sweeping over the group. "I came as soon as I could." She looked at Shizune, who gave a small nod.
"We've left Yukari in Sakura's care," Shizune said, her tone reassuring. "Sakura is Tsunade-sama's student, just like me. So Yukari-san's in good hands, and I think it'll be a valuable experience for Sakura."
Kana nodded, relief evident in her expression, but her gaze flicked toward the stairs, where Kenshin's room lay shrouded in silence. "I appreciate it, Hokage-sama… though Ken-chan hasn't come out at all today."
Tsunade's gaze hardened slightly, a shadow passing over her face as she understood the weight of what lay ahead. "Then I think it's time I had a word with him."
Kana and the others nodded, a sense of shared hopefulness lingering between them as Tsunade took a step toward the stairs, determination steeling her.
As Tsunade approached Kenshin's door, Kana took a step to follow, Akane and Maki close behind her, the worry on their faces unmistakable.
But Tsunade turned, lifting a hand. "I think it's best if I talk to him alone," she said gently but firmly.
Kana hesitated, exchanging a look with Akane and Maki, before nodding slowly. "Of course, Hokage-sama." She stepped back, leading the others a few paces away, but her gaze lingered on the closed door.
With the others giving her space, Tsunade raised her hand and knocked.
"Kenshin," she called through the door, her voice calm but insistent. "It's me. I need to speak with you."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Kenshin's muffled voice came from within, strained and low. "Please, Hokage-sama… just leave me alone."
Tsunade frowned, but she didn't back down. "I'm not leaving, Kenshin. There's something important you need to hear, and it can't wait. Open the door."
There was another silence. Inside, Kenshin's hand clenched on the edge of the bed, his knuckles white.
He knew Tsunade's tone all too well—this was a conversation she wasn't going to walk away from. Reluctantly, he got up and unlocked the door.
He stepped back as she entered, her gaze sweeping over his somber expression and the room's dim interior. She closed the door gently behind her, a quiet resolve in her face as she looked him over.
"Kenshin," she began, not wasting time. "There's something you need to know. It's about the mission to the Hidden Grass, the one that brought you to Yukari-san."
Kenshin tensed, his jaw setting as he looked away, an edge of frustration in his voice. "I've heard enough about it, Hokage-sama. Everyone's already told me I need to move on, that I need to put it behind me. But I can't… not after what I did."
Tsunade stepped closer, her expression serious but understanding. "It's not that simple, Kenshin, and I know that. I didn't come here to tell you to move on—I came to tell you the truth about that mission."
Kenshin's gaze flicked back to her, a slight frown crossing his features as he met her eyes. "The truth…?"
Tsunade nodded, her tone steady but somber. "The true objective of the mission team Yuki received wasn't just to deliver a scroll to the Hidden Grass. There was another reason why I approved it as an S-rank mission."
Tsunade studied Kenshin's face as she began, her words careful but direct. "There's been a shift in the Land of Grass—a coup d'état, orchestrated by the leader of the Hidden Grass village. The daimyo was overthrown, and his subordinate, now acting as the new daimyo, seized power."
Kenshin's brows drew together in confusion, listening intently as she continued.
"The Fire Daimyo recently received a letter—a secret message from the former Grass Daimyo, sent under dangerous conditions. He wrote that he was removed from power because of his resistance to the Hidden Grass leader's ambitions. The Grass leader has been making deals… dark deals."
Tsunade's voice hardened. "He sold a young kunoichi from his own village, someone named Karin Uzumaki, to Orochimaru in exchange for forbidden jutsu. From what I've heard, she must be no older than you."
At the name "Uzumaki," Kenshin's expression shifted, his gaze narrowing as he quickly pieced together what Tsunade had not said aloud.
"Karin… Aunt Yukari's daughter?" Kenshin murmured, the realization dawning on him. "She's the only Uzumaki in that village… so Karin must be hers."
Tsunade nodded, acknowledging his deduction before continuing. "With the jutsu he obtained, the Grass leader has secretly forged alliances with the Hidden Stone and Cloud villages. Their ultimate goal is nothing less than the destruction of the Leaf."
Kenshin's fists clenched, his eyes darkening. "So that's why you sent us there…"
Tsunade nodded. "The true objective of the S-rank mission was to confirm the former daimyo's claims, to assess the power of the new Grass leader, and, if the opportunity presented itself, to eliminate him and his puppet daimyo. The Grass leader's alliance is still tenuous, and if we remove him and the new daimyo before they can act, we have a chance to stop a war."
She paused, her gaze holding his. "And Kenshin… you may not realize it, but your actions in the Hidden Grass helped solidify this information."
Kenshin's brows furrowed, his frustration clear. "How could that have helped? I… I lost control, Hokage-sama. I hurt my family and my friend. All because I couldn't stop myself."
Tsunade's voice softened, but her gaze remained resolute. "That Grass leader should've been furious that you killed his son. Under normal circumstances, he'd have retaliated immediately—he certainly wouldn't have let you walk out of the village, and he would never have allowed Yukari to leave. But he did… because he has something to hide, something worth more than his own son's life."
Kenshin's expression darkened as the weight of her words sank in, the implications cutting through the haze of his self-loathing. "He's hiding his alliance with Stone and Cloud… protecting his plans."
"Exactly," Tsunade replied firmly. "The only reason he'd risk letting the truth slip is because he knows he's on borrowed time. Your actions forced his hand, and now we have a clearer picture of what's going on. Thanks to you, the Fire Daimyo can take action to support the former Grass Daimyo, and we'll have a chance to act before a full-blown war ignites."
Kenshin's shoulders sagged as he absorbed her words, his anger with himself simmering but mixed now with a grudging realization of the impact he had made.
"I didn't know…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I didn't know any of this, Hokage-sama. I… all I saw was the harm I caused."
Tsunade's gaze softened, a rare empathy in her eyes. "It's natural to be haunted by what happened, Kenshin. But what you did… it wasn't meaningless. Sometimes, even mistakes can lead to revelations, and in this case, it gave us a valuable opportunity. Now, we have a fighting chance to protect the Leaf."
Kenshin closed his eyes, Tsunade's words washing over him. "Even so… the things I did that day… I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for them."
Tsunade placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Then don't forgive yourself right away. You are a smart boy, I'd like to listen to what you would do in this situation."
Kenshin took a steadying breath, and after a moment of reflection, he met Tsunade's gaze with determination. "Then… we need to approach this from every angle available. We have to be ready to act without drawing attention to the Leaf. That means operating outside the standard systems. And for that… we need Danzo."
Tsunade's expression hardened immediately. "Danzo? Reinstating him is out of the question. You know what he's done, Kenshin."
Kenshin nodded, bracing himself. "I know, and I understand your concerns. But if we could put him under strict restrictions—one where he answers directly to you and is held accountable for every action—his contacts and resources could be invaluable in dealing with this."
Tsunade hesitated, clearly displeased by the thought, but Kenshin continued. "If he acts only under your orders, it will help us minimize the risks. Besides, Danzo's connections to the criminal underworld might give us another option: the Akatsuki."
Tsunade's brows drew together, her expression shifting from shock to disbelief. "The Akatsuki? Absolutely not. I won't use a terrorist organization to protect the Leaf."
Kenshin held her gaze, resolute. "Let's say we send ANBU for this mission and they get exposed, there's no going back. Any trace of evidence linking the Leaf to an operation in the Land of Grass would almost certainly ignite a conflict with Stone and Cloud.
And we can't deny the fact that we're dealing with an unknown factor, Orochimaru's forbidden jutsu. But with the Akatsuki, we wouldn't be directly involved, and if anything goes wrong, the blame would fall on them. Orochimaru was a part of that organization, as far as I know. So they have more recent intel on his jutsu."
Tsunade folded her arms, her expression unyielding. "Kenshin, you're the last person I expected to hear this from. Reinstating Danzo, using rogue ninjas… After what he's caused you and your family, and even the leaf as a whole."
Kenshin's expression softened. "I understand, Hokage-sama. But this is about survival. The Akatsuki are dangerous, but they're also powerful. We can't ignore that."
A tense silence stretched between them before Tsunade finally gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. We'll do it, but on my terms. Danzo will report to me directly, and the moment he steps out of line, he's done. Understood?"
Kenshin nodded, grateful for her trust. "If he steps out of line, just punch him out of existence. It should be easy for you with your amazing strength."
"Come with me," Tsunade said, leading him down to the lower hall. But as they entered, Kenshin froze. Kana, Akane, Maki, and Shizune waited, their gazes falling on him with expressions ranging from worry to relief.
Kenshin's eyes met Akane's and Maki's, and his heart twisted as flashes of their bloodied faces came to mind, his own doing.
He felt his chest tighten, a painful lump forming in his throat. "I… I'm sorry," he mumbled, barely managing to get the words out. "Excuse me."
Before anyone could respond, he turned and fled back to his room. Tsunade followed, closing the door gently behind her.
When he sat down, Tsunade's voice softened. "Kenshin… perhaps you should leave the village for a while. A change of scenery might help you heal, away from the people you hurt. Focus your mind elsewhere."
Kenshin hesitated, considering her words. "Where would I go?"
Tsunade's gaze shifted, an idea forming in her eyes. "There's a place that could be of use to you—and you to it."
She brought her hands together, summoning Katsuyu. The slug appeared in the room, looking at Kenshin with interest.
Katsuyu's gentle voice spoke. "Tsunade-sama, this is Kenshin?"
Tsunade nodded. "Yes. Katsuyu, would it be possible for Kenshin to come with you to Shikkotsu Forest?"
Katsuyu's antennae twitched, observing Kenshin closely. "His chakra... it's interesting. If he's willing, he may accompany me."
Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced at Tsunade, who smiled slightly. "I think it's exactly what you need. Shikkotsu Forest isn't just any place—it's a sanctuary of healing. I was hoping that with Katsuyu's guidance, you could find a way to heal your mind and your heart."
Kenshin looked between them, finally nodding with a spark of determination. "I'll do it. If this is a chance to make things right, I'll go."
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.