"It's... it's you."
Kurenai pressed her lips together as she spoke.
"Mm." Ren responded nonchalantly, his gaze sweeping over the inside of the tent.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at Kurenai's reaction. It was far from what he had expected. There was no joy, no excitement, no warmth, or gratitude. None of the emotions that should have been present.
These two...
Ren's eyes landed on a neatly folded black garment on the table beside Kurenai's bed.
"T-That's..." Kurenai stammered, her face suddenly feeling like it was on fire. As Ren's gaze fell on her, cold and expressionless, she swallowed the words she was about to explain.
"It seems you two are already quite familiar with each other," Kakashi remarked, breaking the silence.
"We've met a few times," Ren replied.
Kurenai said nothing.
"How's your injury?" Kakashi asked her.
"It's not serious anymore. Just need to rest for a while," Kurenai responded.
"I heard you got hurt saving two kids. That's pretty impressive," Kakashi added.
"Please don't tease me," Kurenai replied, still feeling somewhat awkward, her eyes flickering restlessly.
"I'm not teasing. It's genuinely admirable," Kakashi said sincerely. "Right, Ren?"
"Yeah." Ren replied with his usual calm tone.
Kakashi slid his hands into his pockets and continued, "Guy wanted to come yesterday, but I was tied up with a mission."
"It's really not a big deal. You didn't have to come," Kurenai said with a soft smile.
Kakashi then glanced at Ren and let out a vague chuckle. "It's important to visit, after all. We're friends, aren't we?"
"No one could have predicted something like this would happen. Everyone's busy helping rebuild the village. You, on the other hand, get to enjoy some peace and quiet while you recover."
"Peace and quiet?" Kurenai chuckled lightly. "Honestly, it's so boring that I'd rather have something to do."
"Then why don't you take over my job in the Anbu and let me lie in bed all day?" Kakashi quipped, rolling his eyes.
While the two of them bantered, Ren pulled up a chair and sat down with little regard for the situation.
Kurenai's eyes kept darting in Ren's direction, and every time their gazes met, she would quickly avert her eyes as if she had been caught staring.
Kakashi let out a barely perceptible sigh and smiled faintly. "Well, I've seen you now. I should get going."
"Huh, leaving so soon?" Kurenai asked, sounding a little surprised.
"It's a busy time. I've got work to do, and I only managed to squeeze in a visit. I didn't even have time to change my clothes," Kakashi said, gesturing to his gray combat uniform.
Ren stood up, ready to leave with him, but Kakashi turned and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You stay and chat. I'll be off."
Ren watched Kakashi's retreating figure as it disappeared from the tent.
Kurenai glanced at Ren, but as soon as their eyes met, she quickly looked away again.
Silence. Stillness.
One side couldn't be bothered to speak, while the other didn't know what to say.
Ren sat quietly in the chair, the wind blowing through the tent entrance, stirring the hem of his pants and carrying faint traces of dust.
Kurenai felt his gaze lingering on her, which made her feel even more uneasy. She didn't know where to place her hands, tightly clutching the book she had been holding earlier, wrinkling the pages in the process.
Finally, just as she felt her face growing hot, she heard the faint scrape of a chair being moved.
Kurenai looked up and saw Ren standing, preparing to leave.
"Hey..." she blurted out instinctively.
Ren stopped and glanced back at her.
"A-Are you leaving?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Do you need something?"
"..."
Kurenai clenched her fists, staring down at the creased pages of her book.
"Your... your clothes."
Ren's eyes flicked over to the neatly folded clothes on the side.
Kurenai heard the sound of footsteps fading away. Once she was sure he had left the tent, she dared to lift her head.
The clothes remained neatly folded on the table, untouched.
She looked at the now-empty chair and sighed quietly, feeling a vague sense of loss.
The wind outside grew stronger, and the sky turned darker, as the setting sun was gradually obscured by looming clouds.
Ren observed the growing bustle in the shelter as people hurried to pack up and move into tents. The rain was coming.
Pitter-patter...
A spring rain began, its steady drizzle falling gently, like some people's feelings—quiet, lingering, and difficult to dispel.
Ren looked down at the village. The construction crews were scrambling to avoid the downpour.
Cool wind, mixed with raindrops, brushed against his face, leaving a trace of dampness.
He spotted a figure running toward him.
"Hey, Ren, what a coincidence!"
It was Asuma, carrying a bag of fruit.
"I'm going to visit Kurenai. Want to come along?" Asuma held his arm above his head, trying to shield himself from the rain.
Ren glanced at him indifferently.
"No."
"The medical tent is just nearby, it's not far." Asuma continued to try and persuade him, but Ren was already walking away.
Asuma stood there, watching Ren's retreating figure as he walked leisurely through the rain.
"This guy... he's becoming colder and colder..." Asuma muttered to himself.
…
That night.
The rain poured down harder, forming shallow puddles in the courtyard.
Fugaku sat cross-legged on the veranda, quietly watching the rain fall outside. The rainwater trickled from the roof, splashing onto the hem of his pants, but he didn't seem to notice.
If the rain continued like this, tomorrow's reconstruction work would likely be delayed...
Fugaku thought to himself as he observed the rain.
His courtyard was paved with stone, so it wouldn't turn muddy after the rain, but the rest of the village wasn't so fortunate.
"Dinner's ready," Mikoto's voice called from inside the house.
Fugaku rose, glanced at his soaked pant legs, and turned to go inside.
At the dining table, Sasuke was setting the plates, and Mikoto was still busy bringing out dishes from the kitchen.
Fugaku took his seat at the head of the table.
"Sasuke, go call your brother for dinner," Mikoto said softly.
Sasuke nodded and went to knock on Itachi's door.
A moment later, he returned and said, "Brother said he's not hungry."
Mikoto's face showed a trace of worry as she looked at Fugaku.
Fugaku shook his head slightly. "Just leave some food for him," he said.
Sasuke, unable to hold back his curiosity, asked, "Mom, what's wrong with brother?"
Mikoto gently stroked Sasuke's head. "Your brother is fine, he's just feeling a little down."
She didn't tell Sasuke about Izumi's death, perhaps thinking he was too young to understand the concept of death.
During the meal, Fugaku turned to Sasuke. "Did the school say anything about when classes will resume?"
"Not yet," Sasuke replied. "But the schoolwork is really easy. I've already mastered everything, so it doesn't matter if I don't go to class for now."
Fugaku frowned. "Don't get arrogant. It's important to have a solid foundation."
Sasuke flinched at his father's stern look and quickly replied, "Yes."
"Don't think being at the top of your class makes you special. Your brother had already graduated at your age," Fugaku added.
Sasuke lowered his head, feeling chastised, but couldn't help muttering under his breath, "I… I could graduate too."
Fugaku shot him a dismissive glance. "You're still far from it."
"..."
Sasuke sat quietly, staring down at his meal.
"That's enough. There's no need to be so hard on him," Mikoto gently scolded Fugaku. "Sasuke is already doing very well, better than most kids."
Better than most kids, but still far from his brother…
Sasuke said nothing, silently eating his food.
After Mikoto spoke, Fugaku didn't continue reprimanding Sasuke. His thoughts weren't on his younger son's ambitions.
Fugaku reached for a dish, but suddenly his hand paused in mid-air.
The sound of the rain outside continued, a steady patter against the roof, making the room feel even more still.
He glanced at Mikoto, noticing she was watching him, her eyes hard to read.
Both of them set down their chopsticks simultaneously, causing Sasuke to look up, confused.
"Sasuke, go to your room," Fugaku said calmly.
Sasuke was surprised by the command, but seeing his father's expression, he didn't dare disobey. He quietly put down his utensils and left the table.
Click.
The sound of a door closing.
"Lord Fugaku," a voice called from the hallway outside.
A shadowy figure had appeared, standing just beyond the sliding doors.
The steam from the dishes on the table still rose into the air, but Fugaku didn't move, nor did he look toward the figure.
He spoke in a measured tone. "What is it?"
Boom!
A loud clap of thunder echoed outside, lightning streaking across the sky, momentarily illuminating countless shadows outside the windows.
"I'm here under orders from Lord Danzo to arrest Uchiha Itachi," the figure in the hallway said slowly.
Not just outside the windows—the roof and surrounding area of the Uchiha estate were filled with masked, gray-clad ninjas.
"What's the charge?" Fugaku asked again.
The Root ninja responded, articulating each word clearly: "Treason—colluding with the enemy."
The night grew colder.
The rain fell heavier.
Time seemed to stand still.
The dozens of Root ninjas surrounding the Uchiha clan head's home suddenly realized they were being encircled. Uchiha clansmen had arrived, forming a ring around them.
This was the Uchiha district, after all. The sight of the clan head's home being surrounded by dozens of ninja had quickly drawn attention. It didn't take long before the entire Uchiha clan was alerted, and everyone had come running.
"Lord Fugaku, Itachi can be brought before the Hokage to face him publicly," the Root ninja in the hallway continued.
"Face him publicly for what!?" shouted one of the Uchiha clansmen outside.
"You people from the Root are really good at fabricating baseless accusations!"
"You won't be taking Itachi tonight!"
"We're not afraid of you!"
"Get lost now!"
The angry shouts of the Uchiha clansmen rose one after another. If it weren't for the pouring rain, their voices might have woken the entire village.
Sasuke, peeking through a small gap in his door, watched the scene unfold outside.
Mikoto, her expression anxious, remained silent, unable to intervene.
Itachi's door remained shut.
Fugaku sat there, his arms crossed, outwardly calm. But the slight tremble of his fingers betrayed the turmoil within.
"Lord Fugaku, we are acting on orders," the Root ninja said again. "Please hand over Uchiha Itachi, or we will have to take him by force."
The Uchiha clansmen outside were immediately enraged by these words.
"Bastard! What did you just say?!"
"Do you want to die?!"
"Lord Fugaku! Give the order!"
"We won't hand over Itachi!"
The chaotic shouts only worsened Fugaku's growing frustration.
Creak!
At that moment, the door to Itachi's room slowly opened.
...
Hokage's Office
"You're out of your mind!"
Crash!
A teacup was hurled onto the floor, shattering into pieces as tea splattered everywhere.
Even the Anbu hidden throughout the Hokage building could hear the Third Hokage's furious outburst.
But Danzo remained unfazed.
"Do you realize what state the village is in right now, and yet you choose to provoke the Uchiha? Are you trying to force them into rebellion?!" Hiruzen slammed his fist on the desk in anger.
"They won't dare to rebel," Danzo replied coldly. "Besides, you know full well why the village is in this state."
Hiruzen glared at Danzo, his eyes burning with fury. After a moment of tense silence, he suppressed his rage, but he still looked like a lion ready to pounce.
"Danzo!" Hiruzen growled, his words sharp and deliberate. "Who gave you this authority?"
"Are you planning to stage a coup?"
Danzo was unbothered by the accusation. "Hiruzen, I know you don't want the Uchiha to start a coup."
"You don't want to see the village weakened by civil war."
"But even I'm shocked at what you've done to avoid it."
Danzo's single remaining eye gleamed coldly. "You've completely forgotten the teachings of our sensei."
"This is the Hokage's decision. Your opinion is irrelevant!" Hiruzen retorted icily.
Danzo let out a low, mocking laugh. "I've never opposed your decisions. Except for one."
"The Uchiha must not be allowed to grow stronger because of this incident!"
Hiruzen spoke firmly, "I'm only giving the Uchiha what they rightfully deserve."
"And what's your next step?" Danzo questioned, his gaze piercing. "Are you going to relocate their clan next? Maybe strip them of their police duties? And in the end, watch as they take over the village, becoming the Hokage?"
"Hiruzen, by doing this, you've betrayed our sensei's vision."
"A new era calls for new policies. The Leaf is no longer what it used to be, and neither are the Uchiha," Hiruzen said calmly.
"Danzo, order your men to stand down immediately. I will not allow you to continue with this!"
"It's already too late," Danzo replied, his voice now calm and unwavering.
"They've likely surrounded Fugaku's house by now, and the entire Uchiha clan may already be on high alert."
Hiruzen's expression darkened further, almost dripping with tension.
"I've also summoned the heads of the other clans. They should be gathering in the meeting room right about now," Danzo added.
"We'll settle this once and for all—whether the Uchiha are the village's saviors or the true culprits behind everything."
"Dan—zo!" Hiruzen's voice was colder than ever.
"You can try to stop this. You can imprison me, strip me of all my power," Danzo said, unaffected by the threat. "But by tomorrow, you'll hear nothing but rumors flying through the village."
Hiruzen took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "It seems you're determined to bring everything down with you."
"Who's bringing down who?" Danzo sneered.
"Tonight's events will reach a conclusion."
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