---
After his encounter with Rias on the cliff, Hiruzen couldn't shake the image of her vibrant red hair cascading like liquid fire or the innocent sincerity in her gaze.
She was not only beautiful, but she also carried an innocence and spirit that seemed untouched by the burdens of shinobi life.
Her longing for a genuine connection, unmarred by duty or status, resonated deeply within him.
Uncharacteristically captivated, Hiruzen found himself drawn to her in a way he couldn't explain, feeling a desire to protect her, even from the shadows.
As he wandered back to Uzushiogakure, he discovered that word of her impending arranged marriage had spread around the village.
Rias was from a modest family with only her kunoichi mother and an uncle's family, but they'd found her a match they deemed suitable, eager to ensure stability and a favorable future.
The match, however, was with a wealthy but haughty young man from a prominent family, chosen more for his connections than his character.
Hiruzen knew immediately that this man wasn't worthy of someone as unique as Rias.
With a plan forming in his mind, Hiruzen cloaked his chakra and, under the cover of night, approached the groom's family home.
As he watched the household from the shadows, he thought about his next move.
The young man's family was just as arrogant as he had heard; even in casual conversation, they spoke with self-importance and belittled others as though it were second nature.
Hiruzen could feel his irritation growing. To think they would even consider forcing someone like Rias into such a match!
Seizing his opportunity, he waited until the would-be groom was alone, then moved with lightning speed, summoning his chakra in an ominous aura that cloaked his form in shadow.
The young man froze in terror, feeling Hiruzen's intimidating presence before he could even comprehend the figure's appearance.
"You are not worthy of her," Hiruzen's voice rumbled, low and cold, reverberating in the stillness like a distant storm.
"Back away from this marriage proposal… if you value your safety and your family's reputation."
The young man paled, stumbling backward as though struck by an invisible force.
"I-I… I'll talk to my family!" he stammered, barely able to get the words out as fear constricted his throat.
Hiruzen took a step closer, his shadowy figure looming as his tone dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Do more than talk. End it."
The would-be groom fled, and by morning, his family had already withdrawn the proposal, citing reasons that barely made sense but were enough to call off the engagement.
The village was abuzz with whispers about the sudden reversal, and although Rias's family was confused, they accepted the outcome, unsure what else could have prompted it.
Rias, on the other hand, was aware that this wasn't an ordinary turn of events.
In her heart, she felt that someone—someone unseen and kind—had intervened on her behalf.
Returning to the cliff where she had vented her frustrations, she found solace in the quiet, hoping her mysterious benefactor would hear her.
With a gentle smile, she gazed at the horizon, her voice soft and filled with gratitude. She knew from her Kagura mind's eye that whoever it was, he was a kind and pure soul, who genuinely cared for her.
"I don't know who you are," she murmured, her cheeks flushed as she looked up at the night sky, "but thank you. For listening, for helping… I wish you could come out and meet me."
Hiruzen, concealed in the shadows just a few feet away, watched her with an affectionate smile, feeling his heart stir again as he listened to her words.
She had a warmth, an innocence that reminded him of the gentler, simpler times of his youth, times before the weight of duty had ever burdened his shoulders.
He remained seated on the rock, not wanting to disrupt her solitude, quietly savoring her words as they drifted toward him.
Few Days passed, and Hiruzen's silent presence became a subtle constant in Rias's life.
Whenever she found herself in situations where she needed support or guidance, he was there, unseen but always vigilant.
If she stumbled on a rocky path, a hand seemed to reach out to catch her. If she was carrying heavy items from the market, some of the load would mysteriously disappear along the way.
Rias, although somewhat baffled, couldn't shake the sense that her 'guardian angel' was never too far.
To continue watching over her undisturbed, Hiruzen decided it would be wise to send his disciples back to Konoha. Calling them together one evening, he explained the mission to his team.
"It's time for you all to return to the village," Hiruzen told them, his tone calm yet decisive.
"Konoha needs us, and I trust that each of you has grown enough to handle the journey back without me."
Tsunade, her brows knitted, looked at him with confusion. "But sensei, why aren't you coming back with us?"
With a calm smile, Hiruzen replied, "I have a few matters left to attend to here, things that I believe will benefit Konoha in the long run. Rest assured, I won't be far behind."
Jiraiya grinned mischievously, clearly sensing something was amiss. "Sensei's hiding something from us," he teased, nudging Tsunade. "Bet you he's found himself a reason to stay here a little longer."
Hiruzen laughed, brushing off Jiraiya's implication with a good-natured chuckle.
"When you're Hokage one day, you'll understand that certain alliances require patience and… personal attention."
He looked over each of his students, pride evident in his gaze.
"Take this journey as part of your training—trust each other, rely on your strengths, and protect one another. I'll be waiting for you back in Konoha soon enough."
Unbeknownst to his students, he also created a shadow clone to accompany them on their journey back.
The clone, a failsafe that would watch over them, ensured he could maintain his presence in Uzushiogakure without arousing suspicion or leaving Konoha unattended.
With his disciples safely on their way back to Konoha, Hiruzen could finally focus his full attention on Rias and her well-being.
Every day, he shadowed her movements, always careful to keep his presence hidden.
He watched as she moved about the village, her crimson hair trailing behind her like a flame, her laughter ringing out with a warmth that seemed to fill the entire space around her.
Whether she was assisting her mother in their modest home or exploring the village's hidden corners, she radiated a light that drew him in.
One evening, he found her on the same cliff, seated on the grass, gazing at the stars with a dreamy expression.
She hummed softly, a tune so faint he could barely make it out, yet the melody lingered in the air, filling the quiet night.
He allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability, watching her with an unguarded tenderness that even he couldn't fully comprehend.
In the days that followed, his covert assistance became more elaborate.
And while she remained unaware of his identity, Rias's admiration for her mysterious benefactor grew with each act of kindness.
She would often return to the cliff to 'talk' to her unseen guardian, confiding in him with an innocent trust that made Hiruzen's heart ache with an emotion he hadn't felt in years.
One evening, as the village celebrated a festival, Rias, dressed in a flowing white robe adorned with red patterns, laughed and danced with her friends in the flickering light of lanterns.
Her laughter echoed through the air, free and unburdened.
From the shadows, Hiruzen watched her, a faint smile playing on his lips as he observed her unrestrained joy.
*What would it be like,* he wondered, *to step out of the shadows and be part of that world, even if only for a moment?*
As the night wore on and the celebrations died down, Rias found herself once again drawn to the cliff.
Sitting under the starlit sky, she closed her eyes, breathing deeply as if sensing something beyond her. Her voice, soft and earnest, drifted on the wind as she spoke to the night.
"I don't know who you are," she murmured, "but thank you for everything."
Hiruzen's heart swelled at her words, his lips slightly curled upward from her recognition, admiring her more and more.
But he remained silent, allowing her gentle voice to be the only sound on the cliff.
"Perhaps, one day," he would step out of the shadows and show her the depth of his admiration.
But for now, he was content to remain her silent guardian, watching over her from a distance, ensuring her happiness and safety with all the quiet strength he could muster.
---