Riser appeared in front of the flower shop without hurry, maintaining a relaxed posture as his gaze swept through the interior of the place before even entering. The reading was direct, without the need to go deeper, just registering the environment and the presence he had already identified before.
He entered.
The smell of flowers came first, but that wasn't what held his attention.
It was her.
'Beautiful… more than I remembered.' The thought came cleanly, without affecting his expression. 'And much more interesting up close.'
Ino lifted her gaze the moment she noticed his presence, interrupting what she was doing without hiding the immediate reaction. Her attention shifted completely, focusing on him with natural curiosity, but also with something more that didn't go unnoticed.
'Who is this…?' The thought came quickly, even before she spoke. 'He is… more handsome than Sasuke?'
"Welcome." Ino spoke, regaining her professional rhythm without losing interest. "Are you looking for something?"
Riser didn't respond right away, letting his gaze briefly pass over the flowers before returning to her.
"I'm new to the village." He kept a simple tone. "I'm getting to know the places… and the smell brought me here."
The answer was enough.
Ino gave a light smile, already taking over the conversation naturally.
"Then you came to the right place." She took a small step to the side, indicating the space. "My flower shop has the best flowers in the village." She tilted her head slightly. "Perfect for decorating a new home… or to give to someone special."
Riser followed her movement with his gaze, but didn't deviate from his objective.
"You're right." He answered directly. "But I still don't have a house here."
Ino kept the smile.
"That's easy to fix." She replied without hesitation. "There are always good houses for sale… and hotels too, if it's something temporary."
Riser nodded slightly.
"Makes sense." He kept a neutral tone before continuing. "But I think I'll go to the Uchiha district."
The change was immediate.
Ino stopped.
Her body froze mid-movement, and her gaze fixed on him without hiding the surprise. The reaction came before any attempt at control, completely breaking the light rhythm that existed until then.
'Uchiha district…?' The thought came directly. 'That place has been closed since Sasuke left… no one goes there.'
Riser didn't look away.
He simply observed.
Her reaction confirmed exactly what he wanted.
"Is there a problem?" He asked without changing his tone, but keeping his focus on her.
Ino took an extra second to respond, reorganizing her expression before speaking.
"It's not exactly a problem…" She crossed her arms slightly, without fully closing her posture. "But that place isn't open."
"After what happened, only a Uchiha could live there." Ino kept her gaze on him, letting the information come out directly. "And… well, that doesn't exist here anymore."
Riser didn't respond immediately.
His eyes changed.
The red appeared clearly, the three tomoe spinning within his irises as he kept his gaze fixed on her, without altering his posture or presence.
Ino froze.
Her body reacted before her mind could keep up, her gaze locked onto his eyes as the information reorganized too fast to ignore.
'Sharingan…?' The thought came dry. 'There are only two… Sasuke and his brother… and Kakashi, but he's not an Uchiha.'
"Then that solves the problem." Riser kept a steady tone. "Doesn't it?"
Ino didn't answer.
Her hand moved behind her without drawing attention, gripping a kunai while her gaze remained fixed on him, now completely alert.
"Who are you?" She spoke bluntly. "How do you have the Sharingan?"
Riser raised his hands simply, without hurry, making it clear he had no intention of advancing at that moment.
"Relax." He kept a neutral tone. "I already said, I'm just a new resident of the village." He tilted his head slightly. "I've already spoken with Tsunade."
The information was direct.
But not enough.
"I have the bloodline." He added, holding her gaze. "That should already explain the rest."
Ino didn't lower her guard.
"It doesn't." She replied without hesitation. "I need to confirm this with the Hokage."
Riser didn't react to her response.
He simply shifted his gaze for a moment, focusing on a specific point outside her direct view, as if observing something she couldn't see.
"You can come out." He spoke, without raising his voice. "And explain the situation."
The silence that followed didn't last.
A presence moved.
Ino turned her head instantly, following the point where his attention was focused, and the figure emerged from the shadows without trying to hide its position anymore.
An ANBU.
The ninja remained still for a second, as if still trying to understand what had just happened. He had remained hidden from the start, observing everything, but didn't expect to be identified so quickly.
"Confirm it." Riser kept a steady tone, without looking directly at him.
The ANBU didn't hesitate.
"He had a direct meeting with the Hokage." The voice came out firm, even with the tension still present. "And received authorization to remain in the village."
The answer was enough.
Riser lowered his hands immediately, as if that resolved the situation completely.
"You can go." Riser held his gaze on the ANBU. "But don't try to follow me to the Uchiha district."
The ANBU didn't respond.
He just gave a slight nod before disappearing again, heading straight to report what had happened to whoever had placed him there.
Silence returned.
Riser deactivated the Sharingan.
His eyes returned to normal without visible transition, and the pressure in the environment dropped immediately.
Ino released the breath she had been holding.
The kunai wasn't lowered immediately, but the tension in her body was no longer the same as before. Her gaze changed, shifting from direct confrontation to something more cautious, trying to reorganize everything that had just happened.
"Sorry." She finally spoke, putting the weapon away without completely diverting her attention. "I… I've only ever known one real Uchiha."
The pause came naturally.
"Sasuke."
Riser kept his gaze on her.
The conversation had reached exactly where he wanted it.
"So he left the village." He spoke bluntly.
Ino nodded.
"He did." She answered directly. "And he didn't go alone… he went after power." She kept her gaze firm. "And took everything with him."
"I know the story of the Uchiha clan." Riser kept a steady tone, without looking away. "But I don't know the exact details."
Ino nodded slightly, accepting that without suspicion.
"His brother killed the entire clan." She spoke bluntly. "After that, Sasuke only thought about revenge." She made a short pause. "And ended up leaving the village."
Riser kept his focus on her.
"And Naruto went after him." Ino added, but without the same weight in her voice, as if it were just part of the context. "The two disappeared after that."
Riser didn't respond immediately.
'Naruto isn't training with Jiraiya… he went with Sasuke.' The thought came directly, without interference. 'So both of them went to Orochimaru.'
The conclusion fit perfectly.
"You seem close to him." Riser spoke, slightly shifting the direction of the conversation.
Ino denied it immediately.
"No." She answered quickly. "We were just in the same class." She shrugged. "Nothing special."
The answer was simple.
And enough.
A presence entered the environment, changing the flow of the scene without needing explanation. Ino automatically shifted her gaze, assuming her role as shop owner as the new customer approached.
Riser didn't insist.
"Then I'll be going." He kept a light tone. "But, despite everything… it was good meeting you."
Ino turned her attention back to him for a moment.
"I liked it too." She replied, still adjusting her posture to attend the customer. "And… sorry about before."
Riser nodded slightly.
"Soru."
His body disappeared instantly, without warning or transition, leaving the space empty where he had been.
Ino froze.
Her gaze remained fixed on the point where he had been seconds before, her reasoning trying to keep up with what had just happened.
'He… vanished?'
The customer beside her turned her head, confused.
"Miss Ino…" She looked around. "Where did that handsome guy go?"
Ino blinked once, returning to the present.
"He already left." She replied, still looking at the same point for another second.
'Too fast…'
She took a breath and composed herself.
"What would you like?"
Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for reading - see you in the next chapter!