"I just returned from a mission and ran into Senior Kakashi on the street. He was with a woman wearing the symbol of Kirigakure," Yūgao Uzuki remarked.
Kakashi was also a member of the Anbu and was considered one of her seniors.
"Hasn't Kirigakure yet to sign a treaty with Konohagakure?"
"No, it has already been signed."
Yūgao watched Hayate Gekkō as he carried a large bag of medicine and continued slowly, "Few people know about it yet, but it will be common knowledge soon. Senior Kakashi's political marriage is both a precursor and a symbol of that treaty."
"That's wonderful," Hayate Gekkō said with a smile.
If that's the case, doesn't that leave only Kumogakure?
Then, his smile faltered as he asked, "But doesn't that mean Kakashi's lifelong happiness was sacrificed for it?"
"No, Senior Kakashi's expression didn't look particularly pained."
A flicker of memory crossed Yūgao's eyes. Although Kakashi had been expressionless behind his mask, the relaxation of his brow suggested he wasn't in a bad mood.
"That truly is a good thing," Hayate laughed, though there was a hint of envy in his voice.
Kakashi had found happiness—when would he find his? Every time he looked at Yūgao Uzuki, Hayate felt a pang of pain in his heart. He couldn't give her happiness, nor could he find it himself, all because of the bloodline disease he carried.
This was the curse of the Gekkō clan. His father and grandfather had both died young. Furthermore, their family line consisted of only a single heir for generations. If he didn't carry on the lineage soon, the inheritance of the family's secret techniques might end with him.
"Hayate, don't worry. There will definitely be a way to cure your illness," Yūgao comforted him, having caught the trace of sorrow deep in his eyes.
"Yeah," Hayate nodded. Regardless of the circumstances, life had to go on.
The two walked together down the corridor and left the Konoha Hospital. Only then did Rin Nohara emerge from a storage room at the corner of the hallway.
"Kakashi?"
A complex look appeared on Rin's face. Has Kakashi finally returned? But what does that have to do with me anymore?
Rin walked down the streets of Konohagakure in a daze. Right now, she only wanted to go home, hug her pillow, and cry her heart out. Why was she the one who had to suffer the torments of a demon?
However, fate had other plans. Just as Rin was about to reach home, someone suddenly called out to her.
"Rin."
The voice she had once dreamed of day and night rang out. Rin didn't need to turn around to know it was Kakashi.
"Kaka... Kakashi. Is there something you need?"
"Shiyo just arrived here and isn't used to it yet. Could you please show her around Konoha for me? I need to go to the Hokage Building to meet with the Third Hokage."
Rin glanced at Kakashi. He was dressed in civilian clothes that faintly reflected the style of Kirigakure. Kakashi was not the type of person who cared for dressing up; it was obvious who had given him those clothes.
She forced a strained smile. "Of course. Miss Shiyo, please come with me."
"I'm sorry for the trouble, Miss Rin Nohara," Shiyo said with a smile.
With a woman's intuition, she could sense that the relationship between Rin and Kakashi was unusual. But she and Kakashi were part of a hand-picked political marriage. She had already won far too much to feel threatened.
"It's no trouble at all," Rin said, waving her hand dismissively.
Shiyo stepped away from Kakashi's side to stand next to Rin. Seeing that Rin and Shiyo seemed to be getting along, the "dense" Kakashi let out a sigh of relief. He had worried that things would be difficult if they didn't get along, but it seemed he had overthought it.
Kakashi gave a smile of relief. "I'll head to the Hokage Building first."
With that, Kakashi vanished from the spot, reappearing on a rooftop as he sprinted toward the Hokage Building. The two remaining women shared a knowing smile. As for how much of that smile was genuine and how much was a facade, perhaps only they truly knew.
"Please follow me, Miss Shiyo."
The Hyūga Clan
"Nobuhiko's eye recovery was very successful."
Hiashi Hyūga sat in deep thought, his brow furrowed. As the leader of the Hyūga clan, he had to consider everything from the perspective of the clan's interests. This was how the Hyūga had maintained its position as a major clan in Konoha despite lacking extreme top-tier combat power. Perfecting the art of being a "fence-sitter" was no simple task.
"Hiashi, is something wrong?" Mitsuki Hyūga asked curiously. She wondered why her husband had suddenly brought this up.
"It means the Uchiha clan is no longer what it used to be. They have begun to diversify. You must realize that the Uchiha's greatest flaw was always their arrogance—their tendency to rely too heavily on individual strength."
Hiashi paused before continuing, "But now, they have outstanding individuals who have mastered Medical Ninjutsu. Does the Hyūga clan have a high-end talent like Shimizu?"
Hiashi's tone was heavy. It wasn't that the Hyūga didn't revere power; on the contrary, they valued it immensely. To become the Head of the Clan, one's strength had to command respect. If his children lacked sufficient talent one day, they would at most become members of the Main House, but not the Clan Head. He would have to father another child to inherit the leadership. If that failed, their lineage's reign would end, and the Clan Head would be chosen from another branch of the Main House. For instance, there was a young child named Kō Hyūga, a member of the Main House who was now several years old.
"Hiashi..." Mitsuki understood her husband's concern.
It was simply a matter of the strong getting stronger. The Uchiha had a successor, while the Hyūga clan was growing weaker, lacking someone capable of carrying the banner—especially since her husband was striving toward the level of the "Hyūga Tennin."
"My talent is insufficient. It seems I will struggle to become a Hyūga Tennin in this lifetime," Hiashi sighed.
In the Hyūga clan, "Hyūga Tennin" was not a specific person, but a recognition of strength—a realm of power. Only by becoming a Hyūga Tennin could one be considered a genius capable of revitalizing the clan. Hiashi was a genius of his own generation. He had personally witnessed how the Uchiha had become increasingly alienated from Konoha and how the village higher-ups discriminated against them.
Therefore, the Hyūga understood that being a fence-sitter was only temporary; one had to be strong in their own right. He practiced the Jūken (Gentle Fist) arduously, even neglecting marital intimacy. There was a saying that the Jūken originated from the Bagua and that one's "purity" should not be broken. This was merely a note left by a certain Clan Head in the Hyūga's thousand-year history, but Hiashi believed it to be the truth. The reason the clan hadn't produced a Hyūga Tennin in centuries must be because they broke their celibacy too early to father children, thus tainting their natural talent.
"Invite Shimizu Uchiha over for a talk," Hiashi finally decided to win over the Uchiha.
The fact that the Uchiha now had someone trusted by the Hokage proved that they were becoming reasonable. Rumors of Kagami Uchiha had circulated among the great ninja clans, and everyone acknowledged he was a good man. Now that a figure similar to Kagami Uchiha had appeared, it could be seen as an opportunity for the Hyūga. Since their raw strength couldn't reach the summit, they would compensate by gathering more allies.
"Mitsuki, take Ginka and Nobuhiko with you to invite Shimizu Uchiha. Show him our sincerity."
"Yes," Mitsuki nodded and rose to head outside.
Hiashi watched his wife's departing figure before changing into his training robes. It was time for his daily Jūken practice.
The Anbu
"Senior Kakashi, you've finally returned to Konoha."
Yūgao Uzuki looked at Kakashi. Kakashi nodded and said calmly, "Everyone, I'm back."
After reporting the intelligence gathered during his absence to Hiruzen Sarutobi at the Hokage Building, he had come to the Anbu headquarters to hand over his mission.
"Not bad, Kakashi. Who would have thought that even 'Cold-Blooded' Kakashi would have such luck with women?"
The Anbu members were genuinely surprised. Even the stone-faced Kakashi had found a girlfriend, and supposedly she was the daughter of a Kirigakure high-ranking official. They truly wondered what kind of luck he had stumbled into.
"Congratulations, Kakashi. When will you treat me to the wedding wine? By the way, do you still want those books? Several new series came out while you were away."
Shimizu Uchiha removed his red-patterned cat mask, revealing his handsome face as he looked at Kakashi.
"Icha Icha Violence... cough, cough... We'll talk about the wedding wine later," Kakashi instinctively wanted to ask to see the books, but he suddenly realized they were in a public place. How could they discuss such things here?
"What books are those?" Yūgao Uzuki asked, looking confused.
Other Anbu members who were more worldly were already stifling their laughter. Kakashi maintained a paralyzed expression all day and killed without mercy, but it turned out he was a "closet pervert."
"Alright, Kakashi, hurry up and go spend time with your fiancée," Shimizu said, patting Kakashi on the shoulder.
It was time for him to go and comfort the lonely and helpless Rin Nohara.
Konoha would heavily publicize the fact that Kakashi had returned with a girlfriend from Kirigakure. After all, it was a symbol of peace between the two villages. Rin would definitely find out about it. Even if she didn't, it didn't matter—Shimizu would remind her.
He would remind her to see her own position clearly.
Kakashi was no longer her "White Moonlight." While Kakashi was being treated affectionately by that plain-looking Shiyo, Rin Nohara would be at home in tears. Or perhaps, Shimizu would be helping her manage her emotions, teaching her how to move on.
Shimizu flashed a wicked smile. The taste of a wandering and helpless Rin Nohara was a pleasure that couldn't be described to outsiders.
"Kakashi!"
From a distance, Shiyo saw Kakashi in his sharp ninja gear and waved as if she had already won the ultimate prize. Rin's gaze darkened.
Once Kakashi drew near, she said, "You two talk. I'm going back."
"Rin, what's wrong with her?"
Rin waved her hand and walked away quickly, ignoring the attempts of Kakashi and Shiyo to make her stay. Kakashi frowned slightly. When they had first met, hadn't she been getting along well with Shiyo? Why was her face filled with such sorrow as she left?
Kakashi instinctively felt something was wrong. He suddenly felt that the Rin Nohara who used to be within arm's reach was drifting away from him. The fate between them was being severed by an invisible, dark hand.
"Rin!"
Kakashi's anxiety surged to its peak, and he moved to go after her and ask what was wrong.
"Kakashi, it's almost dark. Where should I stay tonight?" Shiyo asked, reaching out to grab his sleeve.
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