Chapter 31: Burying the Lover, Hidden Danger
Notes:
The Sannin, or "Legendary Three Ninja," are Konoha's most celebrated shinobi, hailed as the greatest of their era.
"Stop!"
Puchi—!
A kunai mercilessly pierced straight through Uchiha Mina's chest.
At the same moment, two guards pounced on Uchiha Tonan, pressing cold kunai against his neck.
"Damn it!"
Yamanaka Hayakawa's expression turned grim as he stared at the bloody scene on the iron interrogation bed. He barked toward the doorway, where a dazed Yamanaka Ryochi had just stumbled in.
"Inform Takuya-sama—now!"
Ryochi had only just shaken off the lingering effects of the genjutsu. Still foggy-headed, it took a second for reality to sink in. But once it did, he turned on his heel and dashed off like a startled genin late for the Chūnin Exams.
Hehe…
A hoarse, broken laugh escaped Tonan's lips, and tears of blood welled up in his eyes, flowing like crimson ink down his cheeks. He ignored the blades at his throat. Slowly, gently, he leaned forward and pressed a final kiss to Mina's forehead.
"…Mina… I love you…"
Right then, Yamanaka Takuya burst into the room, having heard the chaos. His eyes swept over the disaster scene with a hardened glint. "What the hell happened here?"
Hayakawa snapped to attention. "Takuya-sama, we had just started the memory probe when—"
After a tense explanation, silence fell over the room like a funeral veil. Takuya glanced at Tonan, whose grief had hollowed his eyes into something dark and bottomless. After a breath, he said quietly, "Give me the memory record. All of you—withdraw."
"Yes."
Tonan didn't acknowledge him. His hands trembled slightly as he unfastened the iron restraints from Mina's body. Only the blindfold remained. He cradled her lifeless form in his arms, a shell of the woman he'd loved, and staggered toward the exit like a man carrying his entire world in his arms.
"Wait—" Takuya began, but his hand halted mid-reach. His fingers curled into a fist before falling limply to his side. "Go," he said instead.
Tonan glanced at him, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."
And then he left.
As Tonan's form disappeared down the corridor, something inside Takuya sank. The boy's grief clung to the air like smoke.
You've already awakened your Sharingan… and you used it with such finesse that even two trained Chūnin couldn't stop you…
Takuya narrowed his eyes and looked down at the memory record still warm in his hand.
With power like that… let Hokage-sama decide your fate.
But Tonan didn't head straight to the graveyard. Nor did he return to the Uchiha clan compound. Instead, he wandered into the heart of Konoha, walking through its bustling commercial district.
The sight of a boy solemnly carrying a dead girl through the streets was too much to ignore. Whispers followed him. Fingers pointed. Civilians murmured. Curious shinobi moved to intercept, but an Anbu team—dispatched by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself—intervened and held them back.
In the Hokage Office, the aged Sandaime peered into his crystal ball, stroking his chin.
"Where is he going now?"
Tonan's face was as pale as the full moon. In just three months, he had lost a clan brother, both parents, a close classmate, and now—Mina. Love, family, friendship—every bond shattered, one after another.
If it were any other child, they'd have cracked by now. Gone rogue. Fallen into darkness.
Why didn't I see it coming? I should've protected that girl…
Tonan… don't let me down.
Tonan came to a stop at the familiar swing outside the Ninja Academy—the one that always swayed alone in the breeze. He sat down with Mina's body in his arms. Shadows stirred in the treetops around him—Anbu, watching in silence.
"…Mina. This is where we first met. Remember?" His voice trembled. "Without you, there's nothing left for me here. I'll apply for early graduation at the end of the term. But before that—do you want to look around one last time?"
He reached up and began to remove her blindfold.
Behind it, Mina's eyes stared wide open—etched with lingering fear.
"…Still full of grievances, huh? Then don't look. You'll scare people…"
Tonan forced out a small sob, masking his pain as he gently pulled the blindfold back down and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
He carried her to the cemetery.
There, Tonan buried her with his own hands and knelt beside her grave until night swallowed the sky. No one came to disturb him—not because they didn't care, but because the Hokage's orders ensured it.
This was Tonan's lowest point—exactly the kind of moment someone could exploit. And Hiruzen wasn't about to let that opportunity fall into another's hands.
As the first rays of dawn pierced through the Hokage Rock, Sarutobi Hiruzen quietly approached from behind.
"…Tonan," the old man said gently. "Pull yourself together. Mina wouldn't want to see you like this."
Tonan turned, his voice raw. "She always said she liked calm, mature people. So I can't cry… I won't cry…"
Still, the tears came. He rubbed at his eyes furiously. "Dust… got into my eyes, is all."
Hiruzen sighed and rested a warm hand on Tonan's head.
"You've been through more than most jonin ever do. But this village is your home. I'm here for you. We all are. You're young now, and the village will protect you. But one day… you'll be the one protecting it."
Tonan froze, the words sinking deep. "Hokage-sama…"
"…Tonan."
"…Hokage-sama!" The dam finally broke. Tonan collapsed into Hiruzen's robes and cried like the child he truly was.
The Hokage held him close, expression unreadable. What passed behind those old, sharp eyes—no one could say.
But as Tonan wept, his thoughts were anything but childlike.
Why's this old fossil so hard to crack? Everyone else is easy—but him?
The system still won't register his acknowledgment. No progress bar…
Tch. What a pain.
Time passed. The sun rose high, casting golden light on the leaves fluttering in the breeze. The two stood there, bathed in Konoha's morning warmth.
Eventually, Tonan pulled away and straightened his back. He wiped his face, put on a brave smile, and said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I'll stand strong and protect the village."
Hiruzen nodded, relieved. No darkness. No spiral. Just a boy grieving, but not broken. Better than I feared.
"Will you make it to the academy on time? Or should I approve a day off?"
"I'll be fine."
The two walked together, chatting casually about school and home. At the intersection of the shopping district, they parted ways.
News of yesterday's events had already swept across Konoha like wildfire. As Tonan walked home, villagers muttered and stared, their whispers sharp as senbon needles.
But Tonan didn't react. He played the role perfectly—the innocent, grieving survivor.
Then—his expression subtly changed.
He narrowed his eyes. Something… was off.
Ahead, a tall man with ghost-white skin and long black hair walked his way, drawing reverent bows and gasps from every direction.
"Look! Orochimaru-sama!"
"Orochimaru-sama…"
One of the Legendary Sannin—the Snake of Konoha.
When their paths crossed, Tonan dipped into a deep, respectful bow. "Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru returned a cursory nod, offering no more attention to Tonan than to anyone else, and walked on.
But after just a few steps, Orochimaru paused. His snake-like eyes narrowed.
…Someone was watching me just now.
He turned and scanned the street behind him—but saw only vendors and passersby. After a moment, he moved on.
Only once the Sannin had vanished from view did Tonan peel off a small wooden duck mask, slipping it into his sleeve.
That chakra… familiar. When I passed him just now…
He had used the Byakugan for only a moment—but it was enough. Inside Orochimaru's ninja pouch was a sealed test tube. And floating inside…
Sharingan eyes. Preserved in liquid.
So it's already begun…
I'll need to be more careful. Better to stay off their radar…
"Hey, young man," a mask vendor called out. "That duck mask suits you—makes you look handsome."
Tonan smiled politely. "Thanks. But I'm not buying."
He placed the mask back on the shelf and walked on.