Shimura Danzō gave people a very fixed impression.
That impression was this: he always wanted both credit and moral high ground.
After personally deciding Yakushi Nono's future, he then listened to Uchiha Ran's report about the internal situation of the Uchiha clan. Especially when he heard that Uchiha Fugaku had arranged for Ran to become the captain of a special operations unit, Danzō revealed a meaningful, hard-to-read smile.
Not long after, he dismissed Uchiha Ran from Root.
As for that dog-brained schemer Shimura Danzō, Ran didn't need to think very hard to guess the truth. The recent disturbances involving Iwagakure and Sunagakure were very likely stirred up by this man.
"Worthy of the Ninja World's most infamous shit-stirrer, Lord Danzō. Honestly, the shinobi world couldn't function without you~"
As several small countries began to fall into chaos, the borders of the Land of Fire also grew increasingly unstable.
In war, shinobi were a profession that lived one day at a time—walking the line between life and death. At the same time, they were a profession that existed to complete missions, even if that meant killing without hesitation.
More often than not, to a shinobi, completing the mission mattered more than a teammate's life.
Shinobi were truly pitiful creatures.
Even though the birth of shinobi had once been for the sake of a beautiful future, over time, their nature had changed. The reason was simple—this was the very meaning of a shinobi's existence.
This world was filled with bloodshed and darkness. Sometimes, only the faint glow of human kindness was enough to pierce that darkness.
The shinobi world was a diseased world. Between nations, between people, there was endless conflict and slaughter. Mutual hatred stained everyone's hands with blood.
In battle, there was no right or wrong—only life and death.
You might think yourself righteous and noble, but in someone else's eyes, you were nothing less than a monstrous sinner.
Shinobi wars brought ordinary people nothing but destruction and fear.
And when fear finally descended upon them, only then did they realize just how insignificant they truly were.
There was never any equality in the shinobi world. Instead, it was rigidly hierarchical—from civilians, to genin, to chūnin, and even to Kage-level. More often than not, power depended on bloodlines rather than effort.
To gain strength, shinobi had to climb atop countless bones. To succeed, one had to pay a price.
Every Kage-level powerhouse represented countless亡魂—souls who had died at their hands.
If you wanted to grow stronger, daily training wasn't enough. You had to carry out missions, fight opponents of equal caliber, kill, and grow stronger through slaughter.
…
"What are you thinking about, Ran?"
A clear, melodious voice—like a lark in song—rang beside Uchiha Ran's ear, chiming softly.
That's right. Today was another day when Yūhi Kurenai had invited Uchiha Ran out for a little outing.
Although Kurenai was still young, she felt genuinely happy whenever she was with Ran.
Uchiha Ran was different from the other kids who never bothered with appearances. Every time she saw him, Kurenai could feel a natural, calming aura about him—something that made her want to draw closer without even realizing it.
"Red," Ran said gently, changing the subject instead of answering, "how's your genjutsu training coming along? The border conflicts are getting worse and worse. This war will probably reach Konoha eventually. The stronger you become now, the safer you'll be when that time comes."
"Ran… I heard you're going to the border. I'm a little worried about you."
Seeing the heat rising in Kurenai's cheeks, Ran began to explain.
From Kurenai's perspective, Ran had only graduated this year—two years later than her. He shouldn't have been sent on border patrol missions so soon.
But when Ran explained that he was an Uchiha—and that he had even defeated clan elders using genjutsu—Kurenai fell silent.
That's right. For members of great clans like the Uchiha, things were often out of their hands.
The Uchiha were roses of the battlefield.
Someone once said there was no reason to stop a man from running toward the sea, just as there was no reason to stop a man who dreamed of becoming the Pirate King from chasing his dream.
Likewise, there was no reason to stop an Uchiha from heading to the battlefield.
Uchiha loved life. They loved their clan. If you tried to stop them from fighting for their family and friends, all you would do was cause the battlefield rose to wither in peace.
Kurenai's eyes reddened slightly. War was cruel—she had known that from the very beginning.
Her father once told her that her mother had died in a border conflict.
Death was not an unfamiliar concept to shinobi. But if possible, Kurenai wished that her father—and Ran—could both live long, peaceful lives.
"Ran… if you're going to the border, you must be careful."
Standing within a sea of jasmine blossoms, Kurenai spoke softly, reminding Ran again and again to stay cautious once he reached the battlefield.
Yes—time really did pass quickly. The fragrance of Konoha's jasmine flowers had already spread throughout the entire village.
Today, Kurenai had abandoned her usual attire. Dressed in a simple white dress, she looked especially adorable amid the ocean of jasmine.
Like a shy flower in bloom, her cheeks flushed with a faint pink, and her eyes brimmed with bashfulness.
A young girl's feelings were like honey—sweet, thick, and impossible to ignore. After reminding Ran to stay safe, Kurenai fell into a state of anxious longing.
The gentle scent of jasmine filled the space between them, like whispered emotions drifting through the air.
Slowly, Kurenai reached out and took Ran's hand. Gathering all her courage, she spoke:
"Ran… I like you. You have to come back safely."
At last, Yūhi Kurenai mustered the courage to confess—this was a young girl's confession to the boy she loved.
Sunlight poured over the vast field of jasmine, bathing both the boy and the girl in its warmth.
A gentle breeze stirred their hair, creating an atmosphere that was tender, innocent, and fleeting.
The girl's confession to the boy was like an unripe fruit—green, slightly sweet, and full of promise. Though nothing overtly romantic happened, in this special moment, their hearts felt closer than ever.
"Kurenai… I have feelings for you too," Ran said honestly. "But we're still too young. Right now, the most important thing is becoming stronger—so we can survive any war that comes."
PS: Damn it, Jeanne! Sieg is useless—let him be with Astolfo! You and I should be together instead!
Uchiha Ran rejected her.
But Kurenai heard the special affection in his words anyway. She smiled softly and replied, "Ran, I'll always like you. When we grow up, I'll formally tell you again how I feel."
The moment she finished speaking, Kurenai launched a surprise attack.
Under the witness of the sun—and the jasmine blossoms—she quickly kissed Ran on the cheek, then turned and ran off at full speed.
"Ran! Remember our promise—come back alive!"
Her voice faded into the distance.
"Good grief… she's planting death flags on me nonstop," Ran muttered, recalling the terrifying laws of causality from his previous life.
"After this war… I'm going home and getting married."
~
What Kurenai didn't notice was that, at the moment of her confession, Sarutobi Asuma was lying in the sea of jasmine flowers, tears streaming down his face despite himself.
Ran vaguely thought he heard the sound of a dog whining in the distance.
"…Did I imagine that?"
With lingering confusion, Uchiha Ran turned and left the ocean of jasmine behind.