Noa POV
Once I reached the Senju compound, I headed straight to Genta's house. After a quick knock, Takemura opened the door, his expression softening as soon as he saw me. "Looks like the B-rank mission went well, and you survived uninjured." He started laughing while patting my back with enough strength to almost knock me over. "I knew you had it in you. You'll be a great shinobi one day, I tell you." He noticed the scroll in my hand and raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
I sighed. "A message from Shisui-sensei. He asked me to give it to you." Takemura narrowed his eyes in puzzlement. "What's in it?" I shrugged as I walked in and slumped onto the floor, already complaining. "I don't know. He asked me not to read it."
Takemura's expression turned serious. He grabbed a sitting cushion and threw it at me. I caught it before it struck my face. "I told you a hundred times, stop lying on the cold floor. You'll get sick like that." I grumbled as I reluctantly sat up. "But it's hot, and my body emits so much heat." He looked at me with stern eyes. I decided to sit on the cushion for now and lie on the floor as much as I wanted once I reached home.
Takemura opened the scroll and started reading. Slowly but surely, his expression hardened. He stopped midway and asked in a grim tone, "What can you tell me about your recent mission?" I scratched my chin, trying to determine what I could say before answering. "It was brutal. Beyond dangerous. There was a trap." I stayed silent after that. He nodded, looked back at the scroll, and continued reading. When he reached the end, something changed.
His anger flared, and with it, oppressive chakra descended, almost flattening me as I was completely unprepared. It was rage, mixed with sorrow and resignation. I could tell that whatever he read wounded his pride, or at least that was what I felt from his emotions. I felt the ANBU moving. Takemura sensed them moments after I did, his chakra already active as he prepared to react. I quickly shouted, "They are the ANBU Shisui-sensei sent to protect me," waving my hand to emphasize it.
Takemura paused, as if something he had read finally surfaced in his mind. He clenched his fist, then slowly sat down, doing his best to rein his emotions and chakra back under control. Moments later, I heard one of the ANBU ask, "Is everything alright, Takemura-dono?" He grunted as I hurried to reply, my voice tense. "Yes. There is no danger. Takemura-dono just got angry." The ANBU replied, "Understood," before flickering away.
When I looked back at Takemura, I was shocked. His eyes were shining as he struggled to control his tears. "I knew we were weak, but to reach the point of not being able to protect even one person…" He crumpled the scroll and looked down. "The sad thing is that it is true. We are not strong enough. Not anymore."
Worry crept into my chest as I asked, "What's wrong?" He shook his head. "Nothing you should worry about. Though it is not confirmed, I would still ask you to go to your home and pack your bags." I raised an eyebrow. "Who said I wanted to leave the Senju compound?" Takemura sighed and covered his face with his hands. "Just do it, kid. You'll know what's happening soon." I nodded and started heading home, unsure of the meaning behind his words. Behind me, Takemura remained seated, shadows casting a heavy, depressing light over him as his body trembled with restrained anger.
Once I reached home, I looked around and realized Genta was not there. He was most likely on a mission, since otherwise he would have already been here causing some form of chaos. That thought alone confirmed it. I created several shadow clones. They immediately started packing my things while I sat down, trying to understand what was going on. An uneasy feeling settled in my chest. For a moment, an ugly thought crossed my mind. Maybe Takemura did not want me in the Senju compound anymore. I shook my head at the ridiculous notion. "That cannot be it," I muttered to myself.
My shadow clones glanced at me with irritation before resuming their work. They started throwing items between themselves, clearly sorting and separating things.
After some time, I heard a knock on the door. I got up and opened it. Shisui was standing there. "May I come in?" he asked. I nodded. He stepped inside and seemed pleased to see my shadow clones already close to finishing. "Sensei," I asked immediately, "what is going on? Why am I packing?" He hesitated before answering. "That trap hints that someone within the village was involved. Due to your contribution, which unraveled their plan, I am worried about your safety. I will move you somewhere secure."
I kept my expression neutral, but my thoughts raced. So they figured out Danzo was involved. That explains it. Wait… is that why Takemura… Before I fully realized it, understanding clicked into place. The way Takemura had acted earlier suddenly made sense, and sadness rolled through my chest.
Shisui noticed my expression and spoke gently. "Do not worry. You will be back here once things calm down. You have my word." I nodded slowly. "I need to say goodbye." Shisui nodded in return as I left, while my shadow clones continued finishing the packing behind me.
I walked slowly before knocking on the door. Heavy footsteps sounded as Takemura approached. He moved with visible weight in his steps, clearly burdened. When he opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise. "Noa… are..." Before he could finish, I stepped forward and hugged him.
"Takemura-ossan," I said, my voice shaking. "I am sorry I am not strong enough to stay here and protect myself. You offered me a home when no one else did, and I will be eternally grateful for that. I promise I will come back. This will always be my home, the Senju compound, and one day I will protect it myself so this never happens again. Thank you for taking care of me." Despite myself, I started sobbing.
Takemura's hardened expression finally broke. He placed a large hand on my head and gently ruffled my hair. "I am sorry as well, kid," he said quietly. "I wish we had the strength to keep you here as well. You breathed life into this place. Genta finally started acting like a kid instead of a boy trapped in a cage built by old people." I nodded slowly, wiping my eyes.
He did not smile as he continued. "Genta is on a mission, but I am sure he will visit you often. I will also ask him to clean your home from time to time and keep it occupied, so it does not feel abandoned when you return." I straightened and nodded with resolve. "I promise I will." He nodded back. "Good. Take care." I replied with as much warmth as I could muster through the sadness. "You too." I turned around and began walking away.
When I reached my home, Shisui noticed my puffy eyes but said nothing. My shadow clones were finally done. They used Transformation Jutsu, turning into different people, before lifting my belongings and falling into step behind Shisui and me. I stayed silent the entire way, still weighed down by the sudden departure.
It was as if Shisui read my thoughts. "Sorry, Noa," he said. "It had to be this sudden. I could not ask the ANBU to keep an eye on you for too long." I nodded in understanding, though I kept my thoughts to myself. Given the foreign seal that devoured chakra, the suspicion of ANBU infiltration was logical.
I dragged my feet as we walked, until something finally occurred to me. "Wait," I said. "Sensei, where are we going? Where am I moving to?" Shisui hesitated. That alone unsettled me. He never hesitated, not even during death missions. He let out a nervous chuckle before answering. "You will be moving into the Uchiha compound."
I stopped dead. My mouth fell open in shock. Some of my shadow clones visibly enjoyed my reaction, while others nodded solemnly, as if divine judgment had been passed on me for my sins.