Konohagakure
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Konohagakure as Rei made her way through the bustling streets. Despite the cheerful chatter of villagers and the enticing aromas wafting from food stalls, there was an undercurrent of tension in the air. Whispers of increased skirmishes and the looming threat of war seemed to follow her like a persistent shadow.
As she neared the hospital, Rei's steps quickened. She had made this journey every day since Takeshi's hospitalization—a routine that had become her anchor in the tumultuous sea of recent events. Each day after the Academy, she would come here, sit by Takeshi's side, and talk to him about everything and nothing, filling the sterile room with the echoes of her voice.
Today, however, was different. As she approached the hospital entrance, she noticed a group of jōnin huddled near the doors, their faces grave as they conversed in hushed tones. Rei's curiosity got the better of her, and she slowed her pace, straining to catch snippets of their conversation.
"...more casualties from the border..."
"...can't hold them off much longer..."
"...need to increase our defenses..."
Rei's heart raced as she pieced together the fragments. The situation outside the village was worse than she had imagined. For a moment, she forgot about her visit, her mind whirling with the implications of what she'd heard. Then, with a shake of her head, she pushed the thoughts aside. There was nothing she could do about it now—she was still just an Academy student, after all.
As she entered the hospital, the familiar antiseptic smell hit her nostrils. Rei wrinkled her nose, never quite getting used to the sterile environment. She made her way to Takeshi's room, her feet carrying her automatically through the now-familiar corridors.
Just as she was about to enter Takeshi's room, a commotion from down the hall caught her attention. A group of medical-nin rushed past, pushing a gurney with a badly injured shinobi. Without thinking, Rei found herself following them, curiosity and a morbid fascination propelling her forward.
She trailed behind at a distance, watching as they wheeled the injured ninja into an emergency room. Through the closing doors, she caught a glimpse of the shinobi's wounds—deep gashes and burns that made her stomach churn. Yet, despite the gruesome sight, Rei found herself oddly fascinated. She wondered, not for the first time, what it would be like to feel such injuries.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the approaching footsteps until a hand landed on her shoulder. Rei jumped, spinning around to face a stern-looking nurse.
"Young lady, this area is off-limits to visitors," the nurse admonished, her eyes narrowing as she took in Rei's disheveled clothes and the distinctive red streak in her hair.
Rei flashed her most innocent smile, the one she reserved for getting out of trouble at the Academy. "Sorry! I got lost looking for the bathroom. Is that shinobi going to be okay?"
The nurse's expression softened slightly, but she remained firm. "That's not your concern. Now, where are you supposed to be?"
Rei's mind raced, weighing the options of telling the truth or concocting an elaborate lie. Deciding that honesty might be the quickest way out of this situation, she sighed dramatically. "I'm here to visit my brother, Takeshi Arakawa. He's in room 305."
Recognition flickered in the nurse's eyes, followed quickly by a mix of pity and wariness that Rei had become all too familiar with. "Ah, yes. The Arakawa boy. Well, you'd best get going then. And no more wandering into restricted areas, understood?"
Rei nodded solemnly, though a mischievous glint remained in her eye. As soon as the nurse turned away, she stuck out her tongue at her retreating back. Small victories, she thought to herself as she made her way back to Takeshi's room.
Entering the familiar space, Rei felt the weight of the outside world lift slightly from her shoulders. Here, in this quiet room with its steady beeping machines and the comforting presence of her brother, she could almost pretend that everything was normal.
"Hey, big brother," Rei said softly as she settled into the chair beside his bed, "It's me again."
She paused, her eyes tracing the lines of his face, searching for any sign that he could hear her. But there was nothing, just the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, the only indication that he was still with her. Rei took a deep breath, centering herself before speaking again.
"I've been training with Obito and Rin a lot lately," she began, her voice steady but tinged with the weight of the past week, "Rin's been working on her chakra control, and Obito...well, he's still a bit clumsy, but he's getting better. We make a good team, surprisingly."
She smiled faintly, the memory of their last training session flickering in her mind like a candle's flame. "You should have seen us yesterday, big brother. Obito nearly set his own hair on fire trying to master that new jutsu. Don't worry, though—Rin made sure we didn't burn each other too badly."
Rei's smile softened as she continued, her voice taking on a warmer tone. "Anko and Rin have been keeping me company. We've been hanging out more, which is nice. It's good to have them around...It keeps my mind off things."
She paused, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the edge of Takeshi's bed. "Yesterday, after training, Anko convinced us all to go to the dango shop. You know how she is with her sweets," Rei chuckled softly, "She practically inhaled three sticks before Rin and I had even started on our first."
Her eyes glazed over slightly, lost in the memory. "We sat there for hours, just talking and laughing. Anko was telling these ridiculous jokes, and Rin kept trying not to laugh. It was...it was nice, you know? For a little while, I could almost forget..."
Rei's voice trailed off, her gaze returning to Takeshi's still form. She swallowed hard, fighting back the lump forming in her throat. Her thoughts drifted to the Hatake household, and her voice grew quieter, more thoughtful.
"I haven't been to Sakumo's place lately. It's...it's not safe there right now. People have been throwing stuff at their house, breaking things. They're angry about what happened on the mission."
Rei clenched her fists in her lap, her knuckles turning white as she recalled the hateful words she had heard, the cruel things people had said about the Hatake family. "It's not fair," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow, "They don't know what really happened. They don't understand why Sakumo did what he did."
As Rei's words trailed off, the door to the hospital room creaked open, startling her. She turned to see a boy around Takeshi's age entering, a small bouquet of flowers in his hands. His dark hair was pulled back in a spiky ponytail, and his sharp eyes took in the scene before him with a mixture of surprise and calculation.
"Oh," he said, his voice a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance, "You must be Rei. Takeshi's sister."
Rei nodded, still a bit taken aback by the unexpected visitor. "Yes, that's me. And you are...?"
"Shikaku Nara," he replied, stepping further into the room. His eyes flickered between Rei and Takeshi, "I usually come to visit around this time. Didn't realize you'd still be here."
Something clicked in Rei's mind. She remembered Takeshi mentioning a Shikaku before—a friend he'd made through their father's clan meetings. "Oh, you're the one who's been leaving flowers," she said, eyeing the small bouquet in his hands.
Shikaku nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, well, hospitals are dreary. Thought some color might help." He glanced at the clock on the wall.
"You've been here a while, huh?"
Rei felt a twinge of guilt. Had she been monopolizing the visiting time? "I...I didn't realize anyone else was coming to see him," she admitted.
Shikaku shrugged, "It's fine. You're his sister, after all. It's only natural you'd want to spend time with him." Despite his words, Rei could sense a hint of impatience in his tone.
Making a quick decision, Rei stood up, "I should probably get going anyway," she said, gathering her things, "You can have some time with him now."
Shikaku's eyebrows raised slightly, but he nodded in appreciation. As Rei headed for the door, she heard him settling into the chair she'd just vacated, his voice low as he began talking to Takeshi.
Stepping out into the hallway, Rei nearly collided with someone. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't see—" she began, then stopped short as she recognized the familiar face. "Rin!"
Rin smiled warmly, though there was a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Rei! I didn't expect to see you here so late," her warm eyes traveled over to the room the Arakawa had come out of, spotting the name label. "Ah...how's your brother doing?"
Rei hesitated before answering, her eyes flickering back to the closed door of Takeshi's room.
"He's...stable," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper, "No change, though. Dr. Yoshida says his chakra network is still in shock from the mission."
Rin's warm brown eyes filled with understanding. She reached out, gently squeezing Rei's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Rei. I know how hard this must be for you." She paused, seeming to weigh her next words carefully. "You know, my father's been monitoring Takeshi's case closely. He says that while recovery might be slow, there's definitely hope."
Rei felt a small spark of warmth at Rin's words. "Really? That...that means a lot, coming from your father," she managed a weak smile, "He must be incredibly busy with everything going on, huh?"
Rin nodded, her expression turning serious. "He is. The hospital's been chaotic lately, with all the injured shinobi coming back from missions." She lowered her voice slightly, "But you know what? He's been very vocal about what happened with Sakumo-san. He respects what he did to save Takeshi and the others."
Rei's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and relief washing over her. "He does? I...I didn't know that."
"Oh yes," Rin continued, her voice gaining strength, "He's been telling anyone who'll listen that Sakumo-san made the right call. That sometimes, the lives of your comrades have to come before the mission." She paused, her gaze intense. "He says that's what truly embodies the Will of Fire."
Rei felt a lump forming in her throat, overwhelmed by the unexpected support. "Thank you, Rin," she managed, blinking back tears, "It's...it's good to know that someone understands. That not everyone thinks Sakumo-san is..."
"A traitor?" Rin finished gently when Rei trailed off, "No, not everyone does. And those who do...well, they just don't understand the whole story."
Rei nodded, feeling a weight lift slightly from her shoulders. She hadn't realized how much she'd needed to hear those words. Rin's expression softened, and she leaned in closer, "You know, Rei...you should tell him that. About our support, I mean. I'm sure Kakashi and Sakumo-san could use some good news right now."
Rei's eyes lit up with determination. "Yeah...yeah, I think I will. Thanks, Rin. Really."
Rin smiled warmly, "Anytime, Rei. That's what friends are for, right?" She glanced at the clock on the wall. "I should get going. My father's waiting for me to help with some paperwork."
"Of course," Rei said, stepping back, "Don't let me keep you."
Rin gave Rei's arm one last supportive squeeze. "Take care of yourself, okay? And remember, you're not alone in this. Anko and I are here for you, whenever you need us."
With a final encouraging smile, Rin turned and headed down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. Rei watched her go, a mix of gratitude and determination swelling in her chest. She had come to the hospital feeling weighed down by the world, but now, buoyed by Rin's support and the knowledge that not everyone had turned against Sakumo, she felt a renewed sense of purpose.
As Rei made her way out of the hospital, her mind was already racing with plans. She would go to the Hatake household, tell them about the support they still had in the village. Maybe, just maybe, it would help lift some of the darkness that had settled over that house.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Rei set out from the hospital. Snippets of conversations caught her ear as she walked – the ever-present murmurs about the "disgraced White Fang."
Rei's steps faltered for a moment. Her fists clenched at her sides, a mixture of anger and frustration bubbling up inside her. How could they not understand? Sakumo had saved lives – her brother's life. Didn't that count for anything?
Shaking her head to clear the negative thoughts, Rei pressed on. She had a mission now, self-appointed though it was. She would bring some hope back to the Hatake household, no matter what.
As she neared the street where Kakashi and his father lived, Rei noticed the atmosphere changing. The cheerful chatter of the main streets gave way to tense silence. Neighbors who would normally be out tending their gardens or chatting with others were conspicuously absent. Windows were shuttered, doors firmly closed. It was as if the entire street was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Rei's pace slowed as she approached the Hatake home. From a distance, it looked much the same as it always had – a modest, well-kept house that had always felt welcoming to her. But as she drew closer, the signs of recent trouble became apparent. There were cracks in a few windows, hastily patched with tape. The once-pristine walls were marred with stains – evidence of things thrown against them. In the small front garden, trampled flowers spoke of careless feet that had trodden where they shouldn't.
The sight made Rei's heart ache. This was wrong, all of it. How could people be so cruel?
As she stood there, hesitating at the edge of the property, a sound caught her attention. At first, she thought it was just the wind, but as she listened more closely, she realized it was voices – angry voices, growing louder as they approached.
Instinctively, Rei ducked behind a nearby tree, her heart pounding. From her hiding spot, she watched as a group of villagers came into view. There were five of them, men and women of various ages, but all wearing expressions of anger and disgust.
"Look at this place," one man spat, gesturing at the Hatake house. "Still standing proud as you please. As if they have any right."
A woman nodded vigorously. "It's a disgrace. The White Fang should have done us all a favor and fallen on his sword by now."
Rei felt her blood run cold at the callous words. How could they speak so casually about someone taking their own life?
"Well, if he won't do it himself, maybe we should help him along," another man growled, picking up a sizeable rock from the ground.
Rei's eyes widened in horror. They couldn't possibly mean to...
But before she could even finish the thought, the man had drawn back his arm and hurled the rock with all his might. It crashed through one of the few unbroken windows, the sound of shattering glass echoing in the quiet street.
The group cheered, emboldened by the act of destruction. More rocks were gathered, more windows targeted. Rei watched in stunned silence as these adults – people who should have known better – gleefully vandalized the home of a man who had served their village faithfully for years.
Something snapped inside Rei. Without thinking of
the consequences, she burst from her hiding place, placing herself between the mob and the house.
"Stop it!" she shouted, her young voice cracking with emotion. "Leave them alone!"
The group froze, surprised by the sudden appearance of a child in their midst. For a moment, Rei thought her intervention might have shocked them into stopping. But then recognition dawned in their eyes as they took in her distinctive red streak of hair.
"Well, well," the first man sneered. "If it isn't the Arakawa brat. Come to defend your precious savior, have you?"
Rei stood her ground, though her heart was racing. "Sakumo-san is a hero," she declared, her voice steadier than she felt. "He saved my brother's life. He saved his comrades. That's what a true shinobi does!"
Her words were met with derisive laughter. "A true shinobi completes the mission, girl," the woman spat.
"Your brother and the others should have been prepared to die for the village. The White Fang's weakness has put us all in danger."
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Rei shouted, anger overriding her fear. "You weren't there. You don't know what really happened!"
The second man stepped forward, his face twisted with rage. "We know enough. We know that because of his failure, our enemies are emboldened. We know that more of our shinobi are dying every day because of his cowardice."
Rei opened her mouth to argue further, but the man wasn't finished. "And we know that your cursed clan is at the root of it all. If your brother hadn't been so weak, none of this would have happened!"
The words hit Rei like a physical blow. She staggered back a step, her mind reeling. Was that true? Was Takeshi somehow responsible for all of this?
No, she told herself fiercely. No, that couldn't be right. Takeshi was strong, he was brave. He would never...
Her moment of hesitation was all the group needed. The first man lunged forward, grabbing Rei by the arm and roughly shoving her aside. "Get out of the way, brat. This doesn't concern you."
Rei stumbled, nearly falling. But as she regained her balance, a new determination filled her. These people were wrong, and she wouldn't let them hurt Kakashi or his father any more than they already had.
Without thinking, she charged at the man who had pushed her, ramming into him with all the force her small body could muster. It wasn't much – she was just a child, after all – but it was enough to make him stumble, to disrupt the group's focus.
"I said leave them alone!" Rei yelled, her voice echoing in the street.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The adults stared at her in shock, clearly not having expected such fierce resistance from a young girl. Rei stood there, chest heaving, fists clenched at her sides, ready to fight with everything she had.
Then, just as the tension seemed about to snap, a new voice cut through the air.
"What's going on here?"
Rei's head snapped around, relief flooding through her as she recognized the stern voice of Fugaku Uchiha. The head of the Uchiha clan and the Konoha Military Police Force stood at the end of the street, his dark eyes taking in the scene with clear disapproval.
The group of adults suddenly looked much less sure of themselves. They shuffled their feet, avoiding Fugaku's piercing gaze.
"We were just..." one of them began, but Fugaku cut him off with a sharp gesture.
"I can see exactly what you were 'just' doing," he said, his voice cold. "Destruction of property, harassment, and now, threatening a child. Is this how citizens of Konoha behave?"
The group mumbled incoherently, shame and defiance warring on their faces.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "Leave. Now. And if I hear of any more disturbances in this area, the consequences will be severe. Do I make myself clear?"
There was a chorus of muttered acknowledgments as the group dispersed, shooting venomous glances at both Rei and the Hatake house as they went.
As the last of them disappeared around the corner, Fugaku turned his attention to Rei. His expression softened slightly as he took in her disheveled appearance and the fire still burning in her eyes.
"Are you alright, Rei-chan?" he asked, his tone gentler now.
Rei nodded, suddenly feeling the adrenaline drain from her body. She swayed slightly on her feet, the full impact of what had just happened hitting her all at once.
Fugaku placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.
"That was a brave thing you did," he said quietly. "Foolish, perhaps, but brave. Your brother would be proud."
At the mention of Takeshi, Rei felt tears prick at her eyes. She blinked them back furiously, determined not to cry in front of the clan leader.
"I just... I couldn't let them..." she started, her voice wavering.
Fugaku nodded in understanding. "I know. But next time, find an adult. It's not safe for you to confront people like that on your own."
Rei wanted to argue that there hadn't been time, that no one else seemed willing to stand up for the Hatakes, but she held her tongue. Instead, she simply nodded.
"Now," Fugaku continued, "I think it's time we checked on Sakumo-san and Kakashi, don't you?"
Rei's eyes widened. She had almost forgotten her original purpose in coming here, so caught up in the confrontation.
"Yes," she said, straightening her shoulders. "That's why I came. I... I have something important to tell them."
Fugaku raised an eyebrow but didn't question her further. Instead, he guided her towards the front door of the Hatake house, his presence a comforting shield against any further threats.
As they approached, Rei couldn't help but wonder what reception awaited them. Would Sakumo and Kakashi be angry at the disturbance? Would they blame her for bringing more trouble to their doorstep?
But as Fugaku raised his hand to knock, Rei steeled herself. No matter what happened next, she knew she had done the right thing. And she would continue to stand by her friends, no matter what the rest of the village thought.
The sound of Fugaku's knock echoed in the quiet street, and Rei held her breath, waiting for whatever would come next.
Moments passed, each second feeling like an eternity. Just as Rei began to worry that no one would answer, the door creaked open. Sakumo Hatake stood in the doorway, his once-proud figure now hunched and weary. Deep lines etched his face, and his eyes, usually warm and kind, were dulled with exhaustion. Despite his worn appearance, he forced a smile as he recognized Rei.
"Rei," he said softly, stepping aside to let them in, "Come inside, quickly."
As they entered, Rei's eyes widened at the state of the house. Broken glass littered the floor, and there were dark stains on the walls where objects had been thrown. The air was heavy with a sense of despair that seemed to cling to every surface.
Fugaku's face tightened as he took in the scene. "Sakumo," he began, his voice grave, "This cannot continue. Allow me to station some of my men—"
But Sakumo raised a hand, cutting him off. "No, Fugaku. I appreciate your concern, but I won't have others put at risk for my sake."
Rei's heart clenched at the defeat in Sakumo's voice. This wasn't right. This wasn't the strong, kind man she remembered. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "Sakumo-san, you can't give up! There are still people who believe in you!"
Sakumo's eyes flickered to her, a hint of his old warmth returning. "Rei, I—"
But he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway. Kakashi appeared, his face may have been covered by his mask, but there was no denying the scowl beneath.
"What is she doing here?" he demanded, his voice sharp with anger.
Rei turned to him, her heart sinking at the hostility in his tone. "Kakashi, I just wanted to make sure you were both okay. I—"
"We don't need your pity," Kakashi snapped, cutting her off. "Just leave."
"Kakashi," Sakumo admonished, his voice tired yet firm, "Rei is always welcome here. She's practically family."
Kakashi's glare intensified, his eyes burning with a mix of pain and anger. "Family?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Where was she when they started throwing rocks? Where was she when they called you a traitor?" His voice rose with each accusation, "This wouldn't have happened if her brother wasn't so weak. If he had been stronger, you wouldn't have had to save him!"
The words hit Rei like kunai, each one piercing deeper than the last. She staggered back, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. "Kakashi...you don't mean that," she whispered, her voice breaking.
But Kakashi was beyond reason, lost in his own pain. "Mean it? The only thing I regret is ever thinking you or your brother were worth anything!"
Rei felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. Kakashi, her friend, her role model—the boy she had looked up to for so long—was tearing her apart with his words. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back furiously.
"Take it back," she demanded, her voice trembling with anger. "Take it back right now, Kakashi. You know that's not true!"
Kakashi fell silent, his chest heaving, but the damage was done. The air between them crackled with tension, whatever friendship they had built suddenly hanging by a thread.
In that fragile silence, Fugaku's stern voice cut through, "Kakashi, that's enough. You're speaking out of pain, not reason."
But Rei barely heard him. Her world had narrowed to the boy in front of her, the boy who had just shattered her trust with a few cruel words. Her next words came out as a whisper, vulnerable and raw, "Is that really what you think? That I'm...not worth anything?"
She took a shaky breath, her voice growing stronger with each word, "And what about my big brother? The one who shouldered so much responsibility after we lost our parents and protected me? Is he really worth nothing?"
Still, Kakashi said nothing. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, but he remained stubbornly silent.
The quiet stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Sakumo looked between the two children, his face a mask of sorrow and regret. "Rei," he began, reaching out to her, but Rei stepped back, shaking her head.
"No," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I... I should go."
As she turned to leave, Rei paused at the door, looking back at Kakashi one last time. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of hurt and disappointment that went beyond her years. The words that came next were tinged with a bitterness she had never felt before.
"You know what? You'll never change, Kakashi. You've always looked down on others because you think you're better than everyone," Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, "I should have known better. I should have remembered how you were when we first met."
The memory of that day flashed between them—a day marked by grief for Rei, the loss of her mother still fresh. Sakumo had been the only one to stay by her father's side as he struggled to grasp reality, and Kakashi...Kakashi had stood there, cold and judgmental.
"You said my father was too weak," Rei recalled, the old pain mixing with the new. "You said it was a bother that your father had to help us."
As Sakumo's expression crumpled with renewed guilt and Fugaku watched with a grim understanding, Rei took a final step towards the door. Her last words hung in the air between them, a testament to a friendship that had just crumbled under the weight of unspoken pain and misplaced anger.
"I thought you had changed. I thought we were friends," Rei's voice wavered, barely above a whisper as she opened the front door. "But I guess...I guess I was wrong. I never want to see you again, Kakashi Hatake."