It was evening. The sunset's afterglow painted Konoha's rooftops with a warm, orange hue. The wind swept through the streets, carrying a gentle warmth and the fragrant aroma of cooking rice from every home.
Lights in shops along the streets flickered on one after another, casting dappled shadows as dusk deepened. Most villagers had already returned home to rest.
Uchiha Yashiro, however, was out with three other Uchiha clan members, conducting the usual Police Force patrol.
A few children chased and played, running through an alleyway, their cheerful laughter prolonged by the breeze, while adults stood by the street, laughing and scolding them affectionately.
Yet, walking amidst this seemingly peaceful and warm atmosphere, the four Uchiha members felt not the slightest sense of belonging.
With every brief eye contact with a villager, they caught the quick, averted gaze of wariness and aloofness, making their already sensitive chests feel even heavier.
"Yashiro, did Fugaku-sama tell the Third Hokage that we want to go to the front lines or not...?"
Uchiha Inabi, looking annoyed, opened his mouth, about to ask Yashiro something, but Yashiro, without turning his head, suddenly raised a hand to cut him off.
Uchiha Inabi instinctively closed his mouth. Like the other two Uchiha clan members, he followed Yashiro's gaze to a spot not far away.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, a group of people gathered around a newly lit streetlamp, which cast a soft, warm glow.
At the center of the crowd was a figure now familiar even to the Uchiha clan:
—Hyuga Kawa.
Today, he wasn't wearing his ninja combat uniform, nor were he wearing Hyuga clan clothes, just a simple white casual outfit. His arm was thickly bandaged and held in a sling in front of him, with faint red bloodstains seeping through in a few spots, clearly indicating that his severe injuries had not healed, or perhaps had even worsened. His face was pale with a hint of sickness, which only made his Byakugan appear as gentle as jade under the light.
"Lord Kawa, how are your injuries?"
"Yes, yes, we heard you captured the Cloud Village's commander and the monster by yourself!"
"That's truly amazing! If it weren't for you, who knows how many more people in our village would have died..."
"Please take these fresh fruits to help you recover! They're not worth much, but they're from everyone's hearts!"
"Wow, Big Brother, can I touch your sword?"
The villagers crowded around Hyuga Kawa, chattering excitedly, their faces genuinely warm with smiles, their words filled with undisguised gratitude and reverence. Some inquired about his well-being with concern, others offered fresh vegetables and fruits, and even children stood on tiptoes, constantly trying to get closer to Kawa.
"Truly, thank you all very much for your concern. My injuries are no longer serious..."
"No, no, it wasn't just me. It was all of Konoha, and many comrades sacrificed themselves, which allowed me to complete that ninjutsu at the time..."
"Granny, protecting the village is the duty of every Konoha ninja. I merely did my part, please don't be so polite..."
"Of course, but please don't pull it out, it's very sharp..."
Hyuga Kawa's voice was steady and gentle, devoid of any hint of arrogance. A gentle, humble smile always graced his face, even with a touch of just-right bashfulness. He slightly bowed, patiently responding to every villager who spoke to him. When a child mentioned wanting to see the sword at his waist, Hyuga Kawa even generously took it out, allowing everyone to look at it and exclaim in admiration.
The soft light sprinkled upon him, outlining a slightly slender but tall figure. Merged with the villagers' concern, it formed an exceptionally harmonious and warm scene.
However, no one noticed that, at some point, the pupil on the sword's tsuba had opened. The ability of "Greed," Cognitive Control, was activated at this moment.
Hyuga Kawa smiled as he interacted with the crowd, but his perception was focused on the four Uchiha clan members in the distance. Running into the Uchiha clan was a bit of a coincidence, but making some preparations beforehand wouldn't hurt.
"..."
The four Uchiha stood in the nearby shadows, their hands resting on the sword hilts at their waists as usual, but their knuckles were white from excessive gripping.
They all recalled the cold stares and the villagers' deliberate avoidance and aloofness they received during their usual patrols. Watching the "stars revolving around the moon" scene in the distance, and listening to those emotional words of praise, their hearts felt heavy, as if stuffed with damp straw.
"Hmph, the Hyuga are really good at putting on an act..."
Uchiha Tekka's voice slowly squeezed out from between his teeth, bitter and resentful, like a sour fruit soaked in lemon juice.
"Tekka."
A slightly deeper voice entered his ears, interrupting Uchiha Tekka's words.
Uchiha Yashiro stood in front of the three. Although he also felt resentment and bitterness in his heart, he silently watched Kawa from afar. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh, his voice low: "At least, that guy's battle record in the Land of the Moon is genuine."
"His strategies were meticulously linked, harnessing man-made thunderclouds, killing thousands of Cloud Village ninjas, and capturing the Two-Tails jinchūriki..."
"These merits deserve the title of 'hero.' This isn't an act, nor was it obtained through the Hyuga clan; in fact, the Hyuga clan might even be a hindrance to him..."
Hearing this, Tekka was choked up, the bitterness in his chest having nowhere to vent. After a long silence, he could only let out a muffled "Mm," looking complexly at the figure surrounded in the distance, no longer speaking.
It seemed that after receiving the villagers' greetings, or perhaps because it was already late, Hyuga Kawa once again bowed to the surrounding villagers in thanks, politely declining further kindness. Then he turned, his steps still slightly slow but unusually steady, and walked along the softly lit path, heading towards the other end of the street.
The last rays of the setting sun fell upon his retreating figure, as if gilding him with a hazy, dazzling outline.
"Let's go too."
Uchiha Yashiro withdrew his gaze, his voice as steady as ever, as if the previous conversation had never happened. He prepared to lead the three others to continue their unfinished patrol route.
However, just after Hyuga Kawa's figure disappeared at the end of the small street.
Under the influence of some invisible ability, the villagers who had just been smiling warmly suddenly grew cold, their suppressed resentment rising like stirred sediment.
The woman who had smiled the most eagerly and given fruit to Hyuga Kawa glanced at the four Uchiha members who were about to leave in the distance. Her tone suddenly shifted, with a hint of deliberate casualness, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Yashiro and the others, who had just turned around and walked a few steps, to hear:
"Ah, now this is a true hero who risked his life for the village. Even with such severe injuries, he's still so gentle and humble, not arrogant at all..."
"Isn't that right! His merits, his demeanor..."
The villagers nearby intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Yashiro and the other three in the distance, their voices unconsciously rising a few decibels like the woman's, chuckling: "Tsk tsk, unlike some cowards, huh?"
"They only dare to throw their weight around and bully their own people from behind. In fact, they probably don't even have the courage to go to the battlefield!"
By the end, guided by that invisible malice, the contempt and sarcasm in his tone were undisguised.
"Shh! Lower your voice..."
Someone feigned a smile, pretending to stop them, but their voice was loud enough for those around to hear: "If certain people hear this, they'll come looking for trouble again!"
Laughter mixed with low murmurs erupted among the crowd, sharp and grating like poisoned needles, fiercely piercing the four Uchiha, who had once again stopped in their tracks in the distance.
Buzz!
The most hot-headed, Uchiha Inabi, felt a rush of blood to his head. His ears buzzed, and even his vision seemed to blur and distort. The previous bitterness towards Hyuga Kawa, and the slight admiration he had felt, were instantly consumed by this surging rage and humiliation!
"What are you saying?!"
Uchiha Inabi suddenly spun around, his voice even hoarse and distorted from extreme anger. A crimson gleam suddenly ignited in his eyes, and his right hand slammed down on the hilt of the sword at his waist! He appeared before the speaker almost instantly. Several villagers recoiled a step, startled by his sudden appearance, their eyes instantly becoming wary and hostile.
Meanwhile, on a distant tree, Tenzo observed the conflict, a frown etched on his usually expressionless face.
"Kakashi, should we intervene?" he inquired.
But he received no response for a long time.
Tenzo instinctively turned his head, only to see Kakashi clutching his heart, his face ashen.
"Kakashi, you..." Tenzo also froze for a moment, pointing at Kakashi's face.
"I..."
Kakashi Hatake instinctively raised a hand to touch his face, feeling a damp sensation. This feeling, as if something had been severed, as if something had been lost...
What in the world was going on?