Having just escaped a long and unpleasant commendation meeting, Ryo pushed open the door. Waiting to greet him wasn't just Kushina's radiant smile, but also an unexpected little figure.
A girl, about three years old, with soft brown short hair and big round eyes, was timidly hiding behind Kushina. Her small hands clutched tightly at the hem of her clothes as she peeked at Ryo with a mix of curiosity and shyness.
Ryo paused. A flicker of surprise passed through his ice-silver eyes. When he had left for the front lines in the Land of Rain, there was no such small member in the household.
"Ryo! You're back!" Kushina chirped like a happy little bird, bounding over to give him a big hug, followed by a loud kiss. Her face radiated pure joy, as if it could chase away the stale air clinging to him from the meeting room.
After the affectionate greeting, Kushina finally remembered the little girl behind her. She quickly turned around, crouched down, gently took the girl's hand, and softly guided her forward.
"Rin, don't be afraid. This is Ryo-nii. You remember him, right?"
The little girl, Nohara Rin, was still a bit shy. Her head lowered as she mumbled, barely audible, "Ryo... nii..."
Ryo glanced between Kushina and the girl before settling his eyes on Kushina's expectant yet slightly anxious face. He raised an eyebrow slightly, silently asking for an explanation.
Kushina immediately responded, her tone carrying a faint trace of sorrow.
"Aunt Nohara... ever since her husband died a year ago, she just lost her will to live. Her health declined fast. She knew she didn't have much time left. Before she passed, she asked me to look after Rin."
She paused, her gaze carefully watching Ryo.
"You've been fighting in the Land of Rain all year. I've been alone in Konoha. It's been really lonely. Kaori visits sometimes, but because I'm the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, the village has strict restrictions. They don't allow her to stay long or come too often. Rin's such a sweet, well-behaved child. Even when Aunt Nohara was still around, she'd often come play. I really like her. So I thought, I want to adopt her. Ryo, you're not mad, are you?"
She finished and anxiously watched Ryo's reaction. After all, it wasn't easy for anyone to accept the sudden addition of a child.
Ryo looked into Kushina's vivid blue eyes, which were filled with hope and unease. Then he glanced down at the timid little girl who clung to her like a small animal.
He was silent for a few seconds. Then, to Kushina's surprise, he neither frowned nor showed any displeasure.
He reached out. His gesture wasn't exactly gentle, but it wasn't rough either. Calmly, naturally, he tapped Rin's soft cheek with his knuckle. The little girl flinched at the unexpected touch, but upon sensing no malice, she simply stared at him with wide eyes.
"Yeah." Ryo replied calmly. He looked at Kushina, his gaze softening slightly. "As long as you're happy."
Kushina's face instantly lit up with a dazzling smile, as if she had received the greatest affirmation. She scooped up the still-confused Rin and spun around joyfully.
"Great! Rin, from now on, this is your home. Ryo-nii agrees too!"
Just then, the door was pushed open again.
Tsunade walked in casually. Her blonde ponytail swung behind her as she moved, her face weary and visibly annoyed. Her eyes immediately caught sight of Kushina and Rin hugging, with Ryo standing calmly to the side.
"Oh? Cozy little family of three, huh." Her tone was teasing, but a complex emotion flickered deep in her eyes. She headed straight to the table, pulled out a chair, and poured herself a glass of water without ceremony.
Kushina set Rin down and smiled.
"Tsunade-neesan, perfect timing. Stay for dinner."
Tsunade glanced at Ryo, snorting lightly.
"Hmph, lucky bastard."
She was genuinely a bit bitter.
The warm scene before her dragged her mind back to the Land of Rain. Those overly intimate gestures from that bastard Ryo. He was so gentle and considerate with Kushina, but when it came to her...
Tsunade shook her head, trying to clear away the mess in her thoughts.
She wasn't really here to mooch dinner. More like she was trying to escape. She didn't want to face Nawaki's hollow, despair-filled eyes at the hospital.
Sitting in that disinfectant-reeking room, watching her little brother in that state, was more painful than fighting on any battlefield. Here, at least, there was still some warmth and life.
Ryo ignored Tsunade's jab and turned to the kitchen. Soon, the aroma of cooking began to waft out.
His cooking skills were beyond reproach. Even the simplest ingredients became delicious dishes in his hands. It felt like being back in ninja academy days, when Kushina, Tsunade, and the others would often come over for meals.
Soon, the table was full of vibrant, fragrant dishes. Kushina and Rin ate happily. Tsunade didn't say much, but the speed of her chopsticks betrayed her appetite.
Ryo ate quietly, occasionally picking food for Kushina or placing soft pieces into Rin's bowl.
The atmosphere was unusually peaceful and warm.
However, midway through dinner, Kushina suddenly put down her chopsticks. Her lips pursed in displeasure, and her face showed obvious irritation.
"Ryo, what's up with Mikoto? You've been back for days, and she hasn't visited me even once." Her voice grew more agitated as she spoke. She glared at Ryo. "Did you make her mad? Things were fine before you left for the Land of Rain."
Ryo's hand paused mid-motion. He looked up, and a sharp glint flashed deep in his silver eyes, so fast it was almost imperceptible.
Mikoto didn't come?
He immediately recalled her confession in the Land of Rain. The schemes of Uchiha Setsuna, the pain and struggle of being used as a pawn.
And he remembered that day back in the village plaza. The annoying persistence of Uchiha Fugaku. With Mikoto's personality, she wouldn't avoid them unless she had no choice.
"Uchiha Setsuna."
Kushina hadn't caught on yet, but Tsunade abruptly set her chopsticks down with a loud clack.
She knew Ryo too well. That tone, that look. He was truly angry.
"Hey. You little brat." Tsunade warned sharply. "What are you planning? Don't act recklessly."
She could already guess what he wanted to do. Storm the Uchiha district to demand answers. That wasn't something to be taken lightly. The Uchiha clan held a special status in Konoha, and they were extremely insular. If Ryo barged in there...
"Reckless?" Kushina also realized what was going on. She shot up, her red hair almost bristling, blue eyes blazing with fury.
"They dared to confine Mikoto?" Her little fists clenched tightly, ready to go start a fight. In front of Ryo she might be a sweet tomato, but outside, her temper was famous. Basically a mini-Tsunade.
"Kushina. Sit down." Tsunade scolded, pressing down on her shoulders. "Don't stir things up. You're the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. If you storm the Uchiha compound, the old men in the village will flip out. You want to be locked up?"
Kushina struggled a bit, but the mention of "Nine-Tails" and "locked up" made her freeze. Her face showed unwillingness and frustration, but she eventually sat back down, still fuming and glaring at thin air as if Setsuna were standing right there.
Tsunade turned to Ryo, her tone serious.
"I know you're worried about Mikoto, but charging in is the worst option. Get the facts first, alright? Even if you're going, hold back. Don't kill anyone. If you kill an Uchiha, things will go too far. Mikoto really won't have a place in that clan anymore."
The scene at the council meeting where Ryo humiliated the higher-ups and rejected his appointment was still fresh in her mind. She knew she couldn't stop him completely, so she could only try to minimize the damage.
Ryo stood silently, his presence cold and oppressive. The fading light through the window stretched his tall figure long across the floor. He looked at Kushina's worried and angry face, then at Tsunade's weary yet pleading gaze.
In the end, he didn't say a word. He just turned and strode toward the door.
"Ryo." Tsunade called from behind.
He didn't stop. His hand reached for the doorknob.
"Don't kill anyone." she said again, more forcefully this time.
The door opened, and his figure disappeared into the twilight.
Only a cold voice drifted back from beyond the threshold.
"That depends on whether they know their place."
The door closed softly.
Tsunade stared at it, then let out a long, tired sigh. She rubbed her throbbing temples and released her grip on Kushina.
"Kushina..." she said, still frowning as she sat down. "Don't worry about him."
"Nothing will happen to him?" Kushina asked, still angry, still worried for Mikoto.
"Him?" Tsunade let out a bitter laugh. "You should be worried about the Uchiha. That old bastard might've finally kicked the hornet's nest this time."
She looked out at the now pitch-black sky. Her eyes were filled with mixed emotions.
Inside the house, little Rin looked around with her big eyes, still unsure what was happening, but sensing the tension. She clutched tightly at Kushina's clothes.
Night had completely fallen over Konoha. The Uchiha clan's fan-shaped crest loomed in the dark, carrying a pressure like a brewing storm.
Uchiha Compound.
The gloom of dusk made the weight of the clan grounds feel even heavier. The tall wooden fences cast long, prison-like shadows under the dim light. The place was eerily silent, with only scattered lights flickering like dying embers.
Ryo appeared at the entrance. He didn't bother hiding his presence. He simply stood there, calm and unmoving like a rock in the tide. His dark red hair fluttered in the night breeze, and his silver eyes glinted with a sharp, icy light.
The two Uchiha shinobi on gate duty immediately sensed the intruder. When they saw who it was, their expressions changed instantly.
"Ka... Kamiyama Ryo?!"
One of them exclaimed, unable to hide his fear. The Konoha Asura of the Land of Rain battlefield, the man who turned the tide of war alone. His name was legendary in the village, especially among the well-informed Uchiha.
"What are you doing here?" The other tried to sound composed, hand moving to the kunai at his waist, but the trembling in his fingers gave away his panic.
Ryo didn't even spare them a glance.
His eyes were fixed deep into the compound, locked on the oldest and most oppressive mansion in the clan. The residence of Uchiha Setsuna.
"Move."
The two gatekeepers felt a suffocating pressure wash over them, as if the very air had turned to lead. Their foreheads broke into cold sweat, and their hands froze on their weapons, unable to draw.
It was a fear that reached down into the soul, leaving them unable to even think of resisting.
Ryo no longer paid them any mind. He stepped forward and walked straight into the compound. His steps were slow but steady. Every step fell like a stone on the Uchiha clan's nerves.
His presence was like a boulder crashing into still waters. Every Uchiha he passed, whether patrol shinobi or passing clansmen, turned pale the moment they saw his face. Their eyes filled with shock, caution, and fear.
They instinctively backed away, clearing the path, not daring to stop him.
"It's him."
"The Konoha Asura. Why is he here?"
"Quick, notify Elder Setsuna and the clan head."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)