Chapter 14 - Ch.014 Saying his farewell to his Kurenai

[~1050 Words]

~ Day of the Uchiha Massacre.

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Location: Haruki´s Home, Uchiha Residental Compound – Late Night

The quiet of the house was disrupted by the low creak of a door.

Haruki stepped out from his room, rubbing a towel through his damp hair after a short evening shower. The lanterns were low. Izumi had already gone to sleep. A soft wind stirred the hallway curtains.

And then he heard it.

A faint murmuring from outside. Distant. Hollow.

He turned his head toward the window facing the inner compound.

Voices.

Low. Rhythmic. Unified.

Chanting.

Haruki narrowed his eyes, stepping closer.

From the rooftops of their clan district, flickers of torchlight shimmered. Shadows danced. Groups of men stood in a formation across one of the courtyards—motionless but loud. Too loud.

Before he could react, a firm hand gripped his shoulder.

Haruto.

His father stood beside him, fully dressed in a dark flak vest and traveling cloak, eyes sharp and heavy with something he hadn't worn before:

Urgency.

"They're gathering," Haruto said in a low tone. "All the ones who've awakened the Sharingan."

Haruki swallowed. "What are they saying?"

Haruto shook his head once. "I couldn't hear it clearly. Just... chanting. It sounded rehearsed. Like a pledge."

[A/N: I imagine in my head something like `Glory to the Uchiha´ or `Make Uchiha Great Again´]

The words sank in like ice water.

"They're preparing for something," Haruki said, voice tight. "This is it, isn't it?"

His father didn't answer directly. He turned toward the corridor and said only, "Wake your sister."

"What about—"

"I've already prepared for this. Our route's planned. Emergency gear's packed. If the village acts tonight, we leave. No second chances."

Haruki hesitated only a heartbeat before bolting toward Izumi's room.

She was curled under a blanket, soft breaths steady in sleep. Her cheeks were still flushed from training with Kurenai earlier that day.

"Hey," Haruki whispered, kneeling beside her and shaking her shoulder gently. "Izumi. Wake up."

She stirred, blinked up at him blearily. "Nii-san…?"

"We have to go."

She sat up, alarm creeping into her voice. "What's wrong?"

"Something's happening. The clan's gathering, and we don't know if the village is going to move. Father has a plan. But we can't wait to find out."

Izumi blinked quickly, processing through the fog of sleep. "What about—?"

"No time for questions. Just dress. Pack what you need. We leave in five."

As she scrambled into her clothes, Haruki stood and turned back to the hall. His jaw clenched, hands curling into fists.

"I need to go see her."

Haruto was already waiting with his own travel pack near the rear exit.

"Her?"

"Kurenai. I can't just vanish on her. I need to say goodbye."

Haruto hesitated for the first time. Then his eyes softened—just slightly.

"You have ten minutes. No more."

Haruki nodded, already tightening his flak vest.

"Haruki," his father added before he turned away. "No detours. No drama. Just tell her what she needs to hear—and come back."

"I will," Haruki promised, voice firm.

Haruto stepped aside. "Then go."

Haruki vanished into the night, a blur of shadows slipping over rooftops—his heart pounding, a single name anchoring him in the dark.

Kurenai.

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Location : Kurenai's Apartment – Late Night

The gentle tap at her window came like a whisper, but Kurenai knew it was him.

She slid the panel open, and there he stood—hood drawn, face shadowed, but unmistakably Haruki. His eyes searched hers.

Without a word, she stepped aside, and he climbed in.

"Haruki…?"

"It's happening," he said quietly. "The clan. They've gathered. They're chanting something... I don't know what exactly. But it feels like tonight's the night. And if the village acts—"

"—You are leaving," she finished for him, heart already sinking.

He nodded, slow and grim. "My father's prepared for this. Izumi's getting ready now. We vanish before the flames reach our door."

Her breath caught, and her fingers curled into the sleeve of her robe.

"How long?"

"I don't know. Could be weeks. Could be… forever."

He reached into his flak vest and pulled out a small envelope, carefully creased, gently worn.

"I wanted to leave you something."

She took it, hands trembling slightly. Inside was a photograph. A candid one—her and Haruki, sitting in the Uchiha courtyard. She was laughing, and he was kissing her cheek. The moment was so natural, so warm, it felt like a memory from a different lifetime.

"Izumi took it," Haruki said, voice barely holding together. "Printed it herself. Said we looked like a real couple."

Kurenai's eyes welled with tears, her thumb brushing the edge of the photo.

Haruki took a shaky breath. "If something happens to us… I want you to be happy. Smile. Love again. Keep living."

She looked up, eyes wide. "Don't—"

But he gently shook his head, stepping closer.

"And if I don't come back…" He swallowed. "Pretend I never existed."

Her throat closed. She wanted to scream, to hit him, to beg him to stay—but instead, she stood still as he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

He hugged her tightly—burying his face in her neck, holding her as if letting go would break him apart. And for a moment, Kurenai allowed herself to melt into that warmth, clutching the back of his vest.

"You don't have to be brave," she whispered through her tears. "Just survive, Haruki. Please."

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.

"I love you, Kurenai," he said softly, brushing her tears away with his thumb. "I always will."

Then he leaned in and kissed her forehead—long, slow, reverent.

And before she could stop him, he turned, opened the window, and leapt into the night.

She stood frozen in place, the photo pressed tightly to her chest, her tears falling silently as the last warmth of his embrace faded.

Outside, the shadows swallowed him whole.

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