Night had fallen over Yunlei Gorge, and for once, the storm-choked skies revealed a sliver of moonlight. A thin crescent hung above, the cool autumn wind sweeping through the canyon.
Inside the Raikage's Office, furious voices clashed in the middle of the night.
"Lord Raikage, no matter how strong Uchiha Hikaru is, he can't withstand that terrifying lightning strike! We've already received intelligence from the surrounding area—Hikaru still hasn't reappeared! We must take advantage of his weakness and ambush him while he's injured!"
The one-eyed, dark-skinned jonin—well into his forties—spoke loudly, face flushed with excitement.
"Even if Uchiha Hikaru really died in Yunlei Gorge, it would only be due to his own reckless training. It has nothing to do with us."
"You all understand very well that Konoha's current power isn't just because of Uchiha Hikaru."
"In addition to him, Konoha has three ninjas from the Uchiha who have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Saya."
"Not only that—the Sannin now hold major authority in Konoha, and Jiraiya is currently here in the Hidden Cloud Village!"
"Konoha has an overwhelming advantage in both upper-level and mid-level combat power. If we strike now, you're pushing the Hidden Cloud Village straight into the fire pit!"
Dodai exhaled sharply, face tense, eyes locked onto the jonin before shifting toward Raikage A.
Because of Uchiha Hikaru's activity in Yunlei Gorge, A had temporarily summoned all high-ranking Hidden Cloud officials and several elite jonin. The room was filled with conflicting strategies and panic.
After a long silence, A abruptly slammed his palm onto the table—shattering it into splinters.
BANG!
"That's enough! This discussion ends here!"
Everyone's attention snapped to him.
"Dodai is right. And the Ninja Association has indeed strengthened the Hidden Cloud Village's economy."
"During the Chūnin Exams, when Konoha was attacked, I personally witnessed the power of Impure World Reincarnation."
"If Uchiha Hikaru really dies in Yunlei Gorge, Konoha will simply revive him with Edo Tensei—with infinite chakra and immortality."
"From this moment on, no one is allowed anywhere near Yunlei Gorge! All units stationed nearby will withdraw at least ten kilometers immediately!"
The one-eyed jonin lowered his head and walked out silently. Once alone in a remote corridor, his expression twisted with resentment. He took out a paper filled with tiny handwriting and hid it beneath a loose stone.
"Tch. A Raikage who dares defy the Daimyō… Just because Konoha tossed him some scraps, now he wags his tail like a dog."
"He even joined that rebellious Ninja Association, forgetting how the Daimyō supported the Hidden Cloud from the beginning. Ungrateful bastard."
"I want to see what you'll do if Uchiha Hikaru dies here…"
Yunlei Gorge — Ancient Ruins
"This… what am I supposed to do…" (;￣Д￣)
Inside the dilapidated building, Uchiha Hikaru sat on the floor, face full of distress. Beside him lay Yugito Nii, unconscious.
Her original battle armor and Cloud-style uniform were torn to pieces. She was curled beneath a blanket Hikaru had thrown over her, breath unsteady, cheeks flushed red, lips trembling.
"D-don't…"
"S-slow…"
Red bite marks trailed down Yugito's neck to her collarbone and across her back—handprints, scratches, and marks clearly left by him.
Hikaru lifted a hand and covered his eyes.
"What a disaster… what have I done…" (╥﹏╥)
"How could the hexagram technique spiral out of control like this?"
The worst part was that he had been fully conscious the entire time—every moment burned into memory. The clarity, the overwhelming force, the inability to stop himself—it nearly shattered him.
The side effects of the Formation had been beyond anything he imagined.
Remembering something suddenly, Hikaru removed a change of clothes from a storage scroll—ones he had prepared for Saya during training in the Land of the End.
He dressed Yugito as carefully as possible, then stepped outside. Under the new moonlight, he lit a cigarette, shoulders trembling slightly.
Time passed. Dawn broke and the first light crept across the sky.
Inside, Yugito slowly regained awareness. Pain pulsed through her entire body—especially her thighs and hips, burning like fire. She forced herself up, staring at the clothing she was now wearing.
"Why… why are these that bastard's clothes!?" (///ˬ///)ﾉ
But then the memory surged—she had actively responded, leaning into every movement, every—
Her face burned crimson.
I actually… cooperated with him!? And let him…
Rage flooded her veins.
She spotted Hikaru's silhouette through the doorway. Legs shaking, she pushed herself outside.
The creaking door made Hikaru turn. His eyes met the sight of her pale thighs—and the unmistakable marks left by him.
Yugito froze, grabbed her robe, and sat down beside him, legs too weak to stand.
Silence lingered between them, broken only by the rising sun.
"…Sorry." Hikaru finally said quietly.
Yugito turned her face away.
"What happens next?" Her tone was sharp as ever, but beneath it Hikaru clearly sensed confusion… helplessness… and the slightest, fragile expectation. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
In his mind, solutions raced—
Buying resources for Cloud Village…
Offering military or policy support…
Even using Mangekyō illusion to erase her memory…
But the words that left his mouth were nothing he had planned.
(End of chapter)
(๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ💫
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