"Rin, I'm entrusting Uzumaki Kana to your care," Minato said firmly as they stepped out of the Hokage Building.
His eyes were serious. The situation was delicate. Kana, visibly pregnant and emotionally fragile, had just arrived in Konoha with no place to stay and a painful past. Ensuring her safety, both physical and mental, was crucial.
"We'll arrange for her to be admitted to Konoha Hospital immediately," Minato continued. "The Anbu will arrive shortly to conduct their own examination. But for now, she needs rest and reassurance."
Rin nodded quickly, her eyes soft with empathy. "Don't worry, Minato-sensei. I'll take good care of Sister Kana."
She turned to Kana with a warm smile. "Come on, Sister Kana. Let's get you settled in the hospital."
As Rin gently took Kana's hand, she glanced back at Kakashi with a trace of reluctance, her eyes silently conveying her hope that everything would be alright. Then, leading Kana, she headed off toward Konoha Hospital.
Kakashi watched them leave in silence, his expression unreadable.
"Minato-sensei, Obito," he said finally, turning toward his teacher and teammate. "Let's go to the Kamui space. There's something I need to discuss with Shisui. In private."
Minato gave a brief nod. "Alright."
Without hesitation, Obito activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Kamui!"
In an instant, the three of them—Minato, Kakashi, and Obito—vanished from the street, reappearing in the swirling void of the Kamui dimension, where Shisui was already waiting.
Here, in the emptiness of the space, there was no risk of eavesdropping or surveillance. Kakashi immediately stepped forward, not wasting a second.
"Shisui," he said, voice steady and grave. "I need to tell you something—something I've been piecing together for a while."
Shisui turned to face him. "What is it?"
Kakashi met his gaze. "I suspect your grandfather, Uchiha Kagami, was murdered by Danzo."
Shisui's expression changed instantly.
"What?!" he exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. "That's impossible! Hokage-sama himself said they had a deep bond back then. Kagami was one of his closest comrades!"
His voice trembled with a mix of shock and denial. "Danzo might have been cold and harsh, but… he wouldn't kill a fellow disciple of the Second Hokage… would he?"
Kakashi exhaled quietly. "You're always too kind, Shisui. That's your one flaw—you assume everyone's intentions are good."
Shisui clenched his fists but didn't interrupt.
"Believe it or not, just promise me one thing," Kakashi continued. "Never trust Danzo. Don't ever reveal to him that you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—especially not the abilities of both your eyes. Not even a hint."
"Kakashi," Shisui hesitated, "Danzo is still the Hokage's assistant. If you make such accusations without evidence, it could cause serious problems."
Minato, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.
"Kakashi does have a point," he said, his voice calm but serious. "Even if we can't accuse Danzo openly, the powers of your Mangekyō must be kept strictly confidential. Not even Hokage-sama can know."
"But… why?" Shisui asked.
Minato looked down. "Because if Hokage-sama knows, Danzo will find out eventually. And there are some things we cannot afford for him to know."
Shisui's heart was pounding now. The idea that someone so close to the center of Konoha's power could have betrayed his grandfather—and might do the same to him—sent a chill down his spine.
Kakashi could see the inner turmoil in Shisui's eyes, but he also noticed that Shisui wasn't arguing anymore. He had listened.
Satisfied, Kakashi changed the subject.
"Minato-sensei, there's something else," he began, shifting gears. "The Rock Shinobi are retreating, and the Mist Shinobi want to negotiate. At this rate, there won't be much of a war left on the Fire Nation's coastline."
Minato nodded slightly, following his reasoning.
"Rin may be a perfect Jinchūriki now," Kakashi continued, "but she's still unfamiliar with the Three Tails. She needs more time to learn how to use that power properly. So, I was thinking..."
He scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Why don't I stay back in the village a little longer? Help her train and understand the tailed beast's power before I head back to the front lines?"
He added with a chuckle, "Besides, with Obito's Kamui, I can return instantly if anything major happens."
Minato smirked knowingly. "You've gone through all this just because you want to spend more time with Rin, haven't you?"
Kakashi froze. "What?! No—well, I mean—"
Minato laughed. "It's fine. I approve. But next time, just say it directly. No need to make it sound so strategic."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, smiling in embarrassment. "Heh, Minato-sensei is too sharp for me."
With that, Obito used Kamui once more, sending Kakashi out of the space and back into the village.
---
Swish!
Kakashi reappeared beside Rin, who was helping Uzumaki Kana walk through the hospital corridor.
"Eh?! Kakashi?" Rin turned in surprise. "Why aren't you with Minato-sensei?"
Kakashi coughed lightly. "Well… there's no real battle going on at the front. I figured I'd be more useful staying here and helping you train with the Three Tails."
Rin blinked. "But… isn't that kind of like… desertion?"
Kakashi turned as if to walk away. "Should I leave, then?"
"No!" Rin reached out instinctively and grabbed his arm. "Don't go."
He turned back with a grin. "So you don't want me to leave, huh?"
"You're impossible!" she huffed and raised a hand to playfully smack his arm.
But before she could, Kakashi caught her hand gently and interlocked his fingers with hers.
"Sister Kana is watching," Rin murmured, blushing as she looked down at their hands.
Kakashi shrugged. "You think she'll mind?"
"Huh? Oh—no, not at all!" Kana said quickly, caught off guard by the question. "Please, just pretend I'm not here."
As she spoke, a small smile crept onto her face, the first in what felt like an eternity. Her tightened brow eased slightly.
For the first time in a long while, Kana felt something she hadn't felt in years: peace. Hope. The warmth of people who treated her like a human being again.
---
Soon, the trio arrived at an empty single ward in Konoha Hospital.
"This is your room, Sister Kana," Rin said brightly. "You'll be staying here from now on. If you need anything, just tell me or any of the nurses. I've already informed the staff."
The room was clean, peaceful, and bright. For Kana, it felt like a sanctuary.
She froze at the entrance, overwhelmed by the simplicity and dignity of the space. Her lips quivered, and she bowed deeply, tears welling in her eyes.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
Rin rushed forward and helped her up. "No need for that! You're part of Konoha now, Sister Kana. This is your home."
She smiled, placing a hand over her heart. "Kakashi and I—we're your family now. And if anyone dares to bully you, just tell us. We'll stand up for you!"
That was it.
The wall that Kana had built around her emotions finally crumbled.
Sobbing, she pulled Rin into a hug, burying her face into her shoulder. Years of pain, abuse, and loss poured out in that moment, tears soaking through Rin's white robe.
"I thought… I thought I'd never be safe again…"
Rin held her tightly, gently patting her back. "You are now. You're safe here."
Kakashi watched silently from the doorway. His heart ached with sympathy.
How cruel this world could be to people like Kana—people who never asked for pain, who were just caught in the tide of war and prejudice.
With a soft sigh, he stepped out of the room and closed the door gently behind him.
Some wounds needed time, and space, to heal.
Today, Uzumaki Kana took her first step toward recovery. Toward peace.
Toward home.
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