As Kenshin ate breakfast, Kana sat down across from him, resting her chin on her hand. "So, Ken-chan, what exactly did you do on your mission? It sounded important."
Kenshin glanced up at her, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Sorry, Mom," he said with mock seriousness. "That's classified. As soon as you become a Jonin, you'll be able to find out, but until then…" He shrugged casually. "I'm not allowed to tell you without the Hokage's permission."
Kana raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his teasing. But her surprise quickly melted into a sly grin. "Oh, is that so?" she said, leaning forward slightly. "Well, it just so happens that I'm going on my evaluation mission today. It's a three-day mission, classified," she emphasized dramatically, mimicking his earlier tone, "and if I perform well, I'll be promoted to Jonin."
Kenshin raised an eyebrow, smirking as Kana's grin widened.
"And when that happens, I'll even get a few days off before the Rinne Festival," she continued, her tone turning playful. "And then, Mommy's going to know every single detail"—her voice exaggerated in mock triumph—"about her big man's fancy, classified missions!"
Kenshin chuckled, shaking his head. "Is that right? I guess I should start preparing my official reports now, Kana-sensei.." he said lightly, meeting her playful tone.
Kana laughed, clearly enjoying the banter. "That's right, Ken-chan. You'd better start calling me sensei now. I'm officially going to be qualified for that." She gave him a wink before returning to her breakfast.
Yukari, who had been quietly sipping her tea and observing the exchange, finally spoke up with a small smile. "Kana-sama, I'm sure you'll perform exceptionally well," she said, her tone calm but warm. "Especially since you've been studying so diligently with Yuki-sama. It's not something we see every day from you."
Kana huffed, feigning offense. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
Yukari's smile deepened slightly, and she glanced at Kenshin. "And it seems that Kenshin-sama's mission has had a rather positive effect on him," she noted. "He's in quite the teasing mood today."
Kenshin leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk on his face. "Maybe I'm just enjoying the rare chance to be on the giving end of the morning teasing. Unlike most days."
Kana narrowed her eyes, though her grin remained. "Oh, don't think I won't get back at you for this, Ken-chan. Just you wait."
Kenshin raised his cup of tea in mock surrender. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
The playful atmosphere continued as they finished their meal, with Yukari occasionally chiming in with her gentle humor, making the morning feel lighthearted and warm.
After finishing breakfast, Kenshin left the Uchiha compound and made his way toward the Hokage's office. The streets were relatively quiet, with the usual bustle just starting to pick up.
When he reached the building, he climbed the stairs and stood before the Hokage's door, knocking firmly.
"Come in," came Tsunade's voice, firm and commanding as always.
Kenshin opened the door and stepped inside, his expression calm as he approached her desk. Tsunade sat with her arms crossed, her sharp amber eyes focused on him. "How did the mission go?" she asked without preamble.
"It went rather well," Kenshin replied, his tone measured. "Though the Grass Daimyo's palace was lost in the process, alongside numerous casualties. Grass Shinobi and the other people in the palace."
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, letting out a small sigh. "I've already received word from the Fire Daimyo. He confirmed the mission's success and mentioned that the grass daimyo was brought back safely, along with a young girl orphaned during the battle whom she has decided to adopt. Good work."
Kenshin nodded but said nothing. Tsunade leaned forward slightly, her gaze narrowing as she met his eyes directly. "Now, tell me—why did you send Danzo back?"
Kenshin's response was calm, almost nonchalant. "He was a liability."
Tsunade's brow twitched. "And that other Root agent Danzo brought with him? From what I've heard, he could've been useful for intel gathering."
Kenshin shrugged. "I could do it better—with my summons and the Akatsuki members who came for the mission."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened. "Why didn't Danzo report who from the Akatsuki showed up?"
"He was sent back before they arrived," Kenshin replied smoothly.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with curiosity and skepticism. "Who was it, then?"
"Itachi," Kenshin said, his expression neutral. "And some goofy guy with a scythe. I didn't get his name, but the scythe was really cool."
Tsunade's lips thinned, clearly unimpressed. "What happened?"
"Itachi saw through Danzo's lies immediately. Somehow, he knew Danzo was compromised. So, he made me explain everything in detail, all while keeping the scythe guy at a distance. I even had to pay them first." Kenshin paused, his tone turning drier.
"During the actual battle, the Akatsuki bailed. And whatever jutsu Orochimaru gave Tetsuya, the Grass Village leader, it made him capable of raw power comparable to a tailed beast."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, skepticism plain on her face. "A tailed beast? You're underestimating their power. There's a reason they're considered unrivaled weapons of mass destruction. You've never been in an actual war, Kenshin. You can't possibly comprehend the scale of power those beasts possess."
Kenshin tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "If you'd like, I could show you the battle itself."
Tsunade crossed her arms, leaning back with a skeptical frown. "How?"
Kenshin's gaze steadied on hers, and with a small nod, he activated his left eye's Mangekyo Sharingan. "Trust me."
Despite her wariness, Tsunade gave a reluctant nod, letting her guard down slightly.
In an instant, he entered her mindscape. Kenshin stood within the usual emptiness of her mindscape, with the single computer stationed in the center.
He approached the lone computer, his footsteps echoing in the void, and as he neared it, he conjured another beside it.
Kenshin carefully sifted through his memories of the battle, isolating the critical moments while ensuring Konan's involvement was omitted entirely.
He focused on the horrifying transformation of Tetsuya, showcasing the grotesque use of his tendrils to strip the skin off innocent servants, absorbing their remains to fuel his monstrous growth.
Each scene was vivid, the anguish of the servants and the inhumanity of Tetsuya's actions painstakingly clear.
He paused slightly at the memory of Tetsuya attempting to strip the skin off his own daughter, Hana, the little girl's terror etched into the memory.
Kenshin relived the moment he intervened, saving Hana from her father's monstrous grasp, followed by the fierce and destructive battle between himself, in his dark red Susanoo, and Kaede, in her enormous tigress form, against Tetsuya's monstrous body.
Stopping at the battle's conclusion, Kenshin reviewed the compilation to ensure every detail was intact and nothing unnecessary slipped through. Once satisfied, he sent the completed memory over to Tsunade's mind.
Exiting the mindscape, Kenshin stood in silence as he watched Tsunade process the memory. For several moments, she was dazed, her expression shifting between shock and disbelief. Finally, after nearly a minute, she snapped out of it and rushed to the trashcan, retching violently.
Leaning against her desk, Tsunade wiped her mouth with a trembling hand and muttered to herself, "Why the hell did I have to see this right after breakfast…"
Still visibly shaken, she turned back to Kenshin, her amber eyes wide as they searched his eerily calm face. What she had witnessed was beyond anything she had imagined.
The grotesque brutality, the horrifying transformation of Tetsuya, and the sheer carnage left behind were unlike anything she'd seen, even during her years in two great wars.
But more than the scene itself, it was Kenshin's haunting composure throughout it all that left her at a loss. In the fragments of his memories she had been given, there was no hesitation, no visible sign of fear, just calm and calculated precision—even in the face of such unspeakable horror.
And after it all, Kenshin had not only fought through it but still found the composure to joke with Kaede as if it were just another mission.
"How…?" she muttered, more to herself than to him, her voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and unease.
Kenshin reached out a steady hand, helping Tsunade to her feet as she still fought to compose herself. "When you're fighting a battle like that, alongside someone like Kaede, you tend to feel confident," he explained calmly.
"Kaede can't die, and with her by my side, neither can I. All my focus was on the fight itself—I didn't get the chance to focus on the gore."
His voice softened slightly. "But you don't need to worry. I still regret not being able to save those innocent people. At least it wasn't all for nothing. I can say that because I managed to save Hana, and we successfully rescued Amaya-sama."
Tsunade exhaled deeply, rubbing her temples, as if to clear the lingering unease. "You've got a way of rationalizing things like this, I'll give you that. But don't let yourself become numb to this, Kenshin. Even if you feel confident or focused in the moment, the weight of it can creep up on you when you least expect it."
Kenshin nodded solemnly. "I know. And I won't let that happen."
Tsunade observed him for a moment, her expression a mix of admiration and concern. Finally, she regained her composure and stretched. "I'm going to take a walk. Join me."
Kenshin agreed, and Tsunade called for Shizune, who appeared almost instantly. Gesturing at the towering stack of paperwork on her desk, Tsunade told her to handle things while she stepped out.
The village was lively as they walked, the hum of daily life providing a stark contrast to the conversation they'd just had. Tsunade glanced at Kenshin. "Have you met with your family yet?"
"I've seen everyone except my sister," he replied. "She left before I woke up."
Tsunade nodded. "Akane's been training nonstop with Kakashi. If you want, we can go see her. Kakashi usually uses Training Ground 7 for training."
Kenshin hesitated, but nodded. "Let's go."
When they reached Training Ground Three, Tsunade motioned for him to stay quiet, and they hid behind a cluster of trees and bushes. Kenshin peeked out, spotting Akane in the clearing.
She was training intensely, blood streaking her face as she fought her shadow clones. Her movements were sharp but unrelenting, and it was clear she was pushing herself to her limit.
Kenshin's breath caught as his gaze fell on the blood trickling down her face. Instantly, memories from the Hidden Grass village flooded his mind—the moment he'd lost control, standing over Akane with his sword drawn as she sat bleeding on the ground, helpless to stop him.
The image hit him like a lightning bolt. His face turned pale, breathing quickened, sweat forming on his brow as his legs began to tremble. He stumbled back, panic gripping him.
"Kenshin?" Tsunade whispered, alarmed. But Kenshin didn't respond. His body jerked as he tried to step away, his movements frantic and uncoordinated. He stumbled, falling hard to the ground.
Tsunade quickly stepped forward and caught him just before he hit the ground. She carefully set him down and knelt beside him, her hands gripping his shoulders firmly but gently. "Kenshin!" she said urgently. "What's wrong? Talk to me!"
But Kenshin couldn't respond. His lips moved as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he clutched Tsunade's arms tightly, his grip almost desperate, as if she were the only thing anchoring him to reality. Sweat poured down his face, despite the biting cold of the winter air.
Tsunade's heart clenched as she realized he wasn't calming down. His eyes were unfocused, staring past her as though he was trapped in a nightmare.
Without thinking, she pulled him into a gentle embrace, her hands resting on his back, one lightly stroking his hair in a soothing motion.
She whispered softly, "Kenshin, it's okay. It's me, Tsunade. You're with me, calm down."
Her mind raced, trying to piece together what had caused such a severe reaction. The way he trembled, the look in his eyes—it all pointed to PTSD. But why? Then it hit her: the incident in the Hidden Grass.
Tsunade had taken him to the Shikkotsu Forest to heal from that trauma. She thought it had worked, and it seemed to have. He could talk to Akane normally, without any issues.
But what if it hadn't truly healed him? What if it had merely suppressed the memories, only for them to resurface now, triggered by the sight of blood on Akane's face?
Her jaw tightened as she held him closer. Despite his immense power and skill, Kenshin was still a teenager. A teenager burdened with responsibilities and strength that far exceeded his years.
And the guilt he carried from that incident, from hurting Akane even once, was a weight few could fathom.
She thought back to her own struggles, the hemophobia she had developed after losing Dan and Nawaki in the Second Shinobi War. She had seen death countless times, but it was different when it involved someone you cared about deeply.
Kenshin's trembling began to subside slightly under her comforting presence, though his breathing was still uneven.
Tsunade held Kenshin firmly, her voice gentle yet steady as she tried to soothe him. "Kenshin, it's okay. Akane's just training. She's fine, not hurt."
She rubbed the back of his head, resting his head against her shoulder as she continued. "You couldn't possibly hurt her. You love her too much. You'd never let anything happen to her."
Kenshin's grip on her arms remained tight, his knuckles white with tension, but his breathing was uneven, and no words escaped his lips.
Tsunade spoke again, her tone filled with reassurance. "That time... it wasn't your fault. It was the Hidden Grass's doing. Not yours. You've always protected her, Kenshin. You're so strong, not just physically, but mentally too. You couldn't possibly hurt Akane."
Her embrace tightened, her hand stroking his hair gently, grounding him as his body trembled. She stayed there, unmoving, letting him hold on as she whispered calming words.
Slowly, his breathing began to steady, the erratic rise and fall of his chest easing with each passing second. The tension in his grip lessened, and his trembling subsided. Finally, he exhaled deeply, his arms dropping to his sides as he relaxed into her hold.
Tsunade continued to hold him for a moment longer, her presence solid and comforting, before she whispered, "See? She's fine, Kenshin. You're fine. Everything's okay."
Kenshin took a deep, steadying breath, his chest rising and falling shakily as he slowly regained control.
His voice was still a bit unsteady when he spoke to Tsunade. "You can let me go now… I'm fine," he murmured, though the tremor in his words betrayed him.
Tsunade hesitated, her sharp eyes scanning his face for any lingering signs of distress. Her fingers remained on his shoulders, reluctant to release him just yet.
The silence between them seemed to stretch for an eternity before she finally gave a small nod, easing her grip, but she didn't step back.
Kenshin straightened up immediately, lowering his head in a deep bow. "Thank you, Hokage-sama," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of gratitude and shame.
He raised his head, a flicker of determination in his eyes, though they were still clouded with concern. "Please… don't tell her about this. She has enough to deal with already. I don't want to burden her with this... It's just the blood... I was startled, that's all. I'll make sure this doesn't happen again."
Tsunade's expression darkened, and she crossed her arms, her gaze piercing as she regarded him. "You're an idiot if you think this is something that's just going to go away like that." Her voice was stern, commanding, as though she were speaking to a child who needed to be scolded for their own good.
"You've got PTSD, Kenshin. You're not fine, and you sure as hell won't get better by pretending it's not there." Her tone softened a fraction, though it was no less firm. "This isn't something you can bury. Not this time."
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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.