The summer afternoon sun in the Star City filtered through sparse clouds, casting light on the city's wide, clean streets. In front of the Ninja Academy located in the city's eastern district, the cheerful sounds of children always filled the air.
Recently, a new snack shop had opened across from the school gate, quickly becoming a favorite haunt for students after school.
The shop was small but exceptionally tidy and clean. A glass display case showcased various types of oden. The broth was clear, with radishes, eggs, kelp, and fishcake soaking inside, emitting an enticing sheen and steam. In a nearby fryer, golden tempura and fried chicken sizzled, their aroma carrying far.
The shop owner was a woman with a gentle demeanor, long, straight black hair, and deep black eyes.
She always showed a faint, somewhat sorrowful smile as she busily attended to the children. Yet, her gaze often involuntarily followed the small figures leaving hand-in-hand with their parents, leading her into brief moments of distraction.
After school one day, Uchiha Yuta and a few classmates walked out the school gate. Their attention was quickly captured by the new snack shop and the lively crowd gathered there.
"Yuta, come quick! The fried shrimp tempura here is super delicious!" A Hyuga boy shouted, his mouth stuffed full and his words muffled.
Yuta felt the pocket holding his allowance for the day, swallowed his saliva, and squeezed his way over. Looking at the golden, fragrant snacks in the glass case, he finally pointed and said, "Two grilled sausages, please."
"Okay, just a moment," Mikoto replied gently, skillfully packing the sausages in a paper bag and handing them to the child. As Yuta looked down to fish out his money, she looked at his black hair and somewhat familiar facial features. Her movements paused slightly. She then picked up a small paper box, put a plump fried shrimp tempura inside, and gently placed it on top of Yuta's paper bag.
"This... is for you," Mikoto's voice was even softer than usual.
Yuta was taken aback. He looked up and met the shop owner's black eyes, which held a complex emotion. He didn't quite understand, but extra food was always welcome. A bright smile spread across his face. "Thank you, Auntie!"
Mikoto watched the child's back as he thanked her and skipped away. Seeing the small Uchiha fan emblem on the back of his clothes, her eyes grew distant again, as if seeing through him to another black-haired boy far away in Konoha Village.
'Sasuke...'
"It seems you've settled into life here, Mikoto." A familiar, energetic voice pulled Mikoto from her thoughts.
Mikoto turned to see Kushina standing in front of the counter, unceremoniously helping herself to a takoyaki on a skewer.
Despite the Edo Tensei body having no sense of taste, she still praised it with her mouth full. "Mmm! The flavor is really good! Even more authentic than that old shop near the Konoha's Academy used to be!"
Mikoto smiled wryly and handed her a napkin. "Slow down, no one's fighting you for it. It's just simple snacks."
After a busy period, as the last batch of students were picked up by their parents, the school's entrance gradually quieted down.
Mikoto began cleaning up the shop, and Kushina naturally stepped behind the counter to help wipe down utensils and tidy the tables and chairs.
"Really not planning to visit the Uchiha Clan's compound? Everyone misses you," Kushina said, bringing up the old topic again as she worked deftly.
Mikoto's wiping slowed. Her eyes dimmed. "The sins Itachi committed... our family... we have no right to meet the clan. Being here, watching the children grow up safely from a distance, seeing the Uchiha future continue... that's enough for me. It's... like being able to watch Sasuke grow up."
Her voice carried a deep, unmeltable guilt and profound longing.
Kushina sighed and didn't press further. She knew her friend's emotional knot couldn't be undone overnight.
In the evening, Kushina dragged Mikoto to shop at the newly opened commercial street. As the lights came on, the Star City's night market was bustling.
Shops of all kinds were brightly lit, and the streets were crowded. The two went from clothing stores to accessory shops, shopping enthusiastically. Their hands were soon full of bags.
While they were discussing a stall selling novel handmade crafts, a golden flash appeared quietly.
"Yo, looks like I came at the right time," Minato appeared with his trademark warm smile. However, the next second, his arms were filled with various shopping bags, almost burying his upper body and leaving only his brilliant blond hair visible.
"Hubby, you're so thoughtful!" Kushina giggled and patted the 'mountain of packages'.
Minato's voice came muffled from behind the bags, full of doting and a hint of helplessness. "It's my honor to serve two such beautiful ladies."
He skillfully adjusted the bags threatening to slip from his arms and steadily followed behind the two women, acting as a mobile shelf and guard.
After tiring of shopping, the three went for a walk in the park by the Yuga River.
As the longest and most abundant river in the Land of Stars, the Yuga River wound through the Star City like a blue belt.
Sturdy, magnificent embankments were built on both sides, with wide walkways and green parks on top, offering pleasant scenery. The evening breeze was cool, carrying the fresh scent of the river.
Looking at the reflections of countless lights in the river and the grand bridge spanning the two banks in the distance, Mikoto couldn't help but sigh. "The changes here are so rapid, so full of vitality."
"But I still don't quite understand," Mikoto asked softly, her gaze sweeping over Kushina and Minato beside her. "Why... did you choose to help the Land of Stars?"
"Especially you, Minato..." She hesitated, glancing at the quiet Minato appreciating the view. "You were once Konoha's Hokage."
Kushina and Minato exchanged a look, their eyes holding a meaning only they understood.
Then Minato took over gently, his voice calm and profound. "Some things transcend village boundaries. This isn't betrayal, but choosing a path we believe is more correct."
Kushina also reined in her smile and took Mikoto's hand. Her red hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze. "That night, I absolutely could not watch you die. Bringing you back wasn't just because we're close friends, but because you shouldn't have been a sacrifice to that dark politics. Here, you can live safely and see news of Sasuke growing up safely."
Mentioning Sasuke, Mikoto's heart tightened. "That child... is he doing alright in Konoha?"
"According to... well, some reliable sources," Kushina glanced at Minato, as the source was actually Menma, "The Third Hokage has placed him in a new residence. He's not being treated harshly in terms of daily life. Moreover, it seems Anbu personnel have been arranged to provide him with training guidance privately. You don't need to worry too much about his safety and livelihood."
She omitted the loneliness and inner turmoil Sasuke might be facing, as telling Mikoto would only worry her more.
Mikoto relaxed slightly. After a moment of silence, she suddenly looked at Kushina, her eyes filled with guilt and concern. "What about your child? I remember... Naruto, that child, he's in Konoha..." She trailed off.
She knew Naruto's situation as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki in Konoha might not be good, but given her own awkward position, it was difficult to offer any help, even secretly.
Kushina's eyes softened, holding a hint of mystery. "That kid Naruto is tough, and he's still at the Konoha Ninja Academy. As for my other child..."
She suddenly smiled slyly, keeping it a secret. "Hehe, he's actually already in the Land of Stars. You'll meet him someday."
Mikoto tilted her head curiously.
'Another child?'
She keenly felt that Kushina and Minato seemed to hold deeper secrets. Their 'revival' was certainly not ordinary. But she sensed no ambitious aura from them, and they treated her like old friends of many years.
Because of that, Mikoto didn't want to probe deeply.
As long as she could see the Uchiha children grow up safely, as long as there was a sliver of hope to reunite with Sasuke someday, she didn't care about anything else.
For her now, this peace and hope were more important than anything.
…
Meanwhile, in the distant Land of Waterfalls.
A silent slaughter had just ended in the gloomy dense forest.
Itachi slowly pulled his kunai from the throat of a Rogue Ninja. Blood dripped from the cold metal onto the accumulated leaves of past years, soundlessly.
His eyes were as calm and indifferent as ever, as if he hadn't just ended a life but brushed away a speck of dust.
Zabuza, standing nearby, hefted his exaggerated large sword and made a dissatisfied sound. "Tch. Again, not even enough to warm up. The quality of new recruits the organization wants lately is getting worse and worse."
He kicked another long-cold corpse at his feet. "Trash like this dares to defect? What a waste of our time."
Over the past few months, besides performing various high-difficulty missions for the Akatsuki to raise vast funds, their pair's other job was to 'test' newly joining members. Unfortunately, both newcomers so far couldn't last a single move against Itachi's Sharingan or Zabuza's sword, easily turning into departed souls.
Itachi silently wiped his kunai clean.
He had long seen that the [Demon] Zabuza beside him was a pure Ninja through and through, with cruelty and wildness carved into his bones… irritable and a worshipper of strength.
But beneath that surface, Itachi keenly detected that Zabuza seemed to be hiding deeper secrets. Especially during the organization's rare gatherings, his seemingly impulsive conflicts with that genius girl from Kirigakure, Ringo Ameyuri, who was obsessively searching for information on the Lightning Blades, always felt somewhat deliberate to Itachi.
Just as the two were preparing to dispose of the bodies and head to the underground bounty exchange for the 8 million ryo reward, a bizarre, venus flytrap-like figure slowly manifested on a nearby tree trunk as if mold were growing.
"My, my, the mission was completed smoothly," White Zetsu's flippant voice sounded first.
"The target is confirmed dead," Black Zetsu's low voice added immediately. "The Leader has new orders."
Itachi and Zabuza simultaneously looked at Zetsu.
"North. The Land of Iron. The port city of Tsuruga." Zetsu conveyed Pein's command. "Investigate a bounty hunter named Kakuzu. Obtain his detailed information as much as possible. If conditions permit... attempt contact or elimination."
"Kakuzu?" Itachi frowned slightly, searching his memory for the name.
"Kakuzu?" Zabuza, however, seemed to have some impression. He said in his rough voice, "Heard of that guy. A veteran bounty hunter in the underground exchange, active for decades. They say he's an old monster from the era of the First Hokage. But a few years ago, he seemed to be hired by that big merchant, Gato, as a bodyguard. Haven't heard much about him taking big bounties lately."
He licked his lips, a battle-hungry light in his eyes, and patted the heavy sword on his shoulder. "Itachi, this target's mine. Perfect chance to test the sharpness of my new blade!"
Itachi had no objection, nodding indifferently. "Fine. Intelligence gathering is the priority. Combat depends on the situation."
He was more interested in the strength and secret techniques of a veteran powerhouse like Kakuzu.
"Enough chatter!" Zabuza said impatiently, hefting his large sword. "Let's go. Finish this early. That damn place is freezing."
Two figures swiftly disappeared into the depths of the Land of Waterfalls' gloomy forests, heading towards the cold Land of Iron to the north. The cold wind blowing from the north seemed to carry a premature aura of slaughter.