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Chapter 9 - Chapter 9

Uchiha Kaito sat on the edge of the training field, his breath ragged, sweat dripping down his face. His Sharingan had been active for too long, and the familiar ache at the back of his eyes burned like hot needles. He blinked several times before deactivating it, letting the world return to normal.

"Your control is improving," a calm voice remarked.

Kaito looked up to see Kakashi leaning casually against a tree, the faint curve of his single visible eye suggesting amusement. The man always appeared without warning, as if he'd been there the whole time, quietly watching.

"You were here the whole time?" Kaito muttered, catching his breath.

"Of course. Your little flare-ups of chakra would wake even the dead," Kakashi teased, pulling a small orange book from his pocket. He flipped it open, as though reading, but his gaze was sharp. "You're pushing yourself too hard, Kaito. The Sharingan isn't a toy you can just switch on and off endlessly. If you burn it out, you'll regret it."

Kaito clenched his fists. "I don't have the luxury of taking it slow. Every day here is a risk. If I don't grow stronger, I'll lose everything before I even understand what I want to protect."

Kakashi's book closed with a soft snap. He studied Kaito for a long moment before sighing. "You sound like someone I used to know." His voice carried a weight that made Kaito's chest tighten, though Kakashi didn't elaborate. Instead, he added, "But desperation won't carry you far. Discipline will."

The conversation ended as abruptly as it began. Kakashi disappeared, vanishing in a blur of leaves, leaving Kaito to his restless thoughts.

Later that evening, Kaito wandered through the village streets. Konoha at dusk was a blend of warmth and nostalgia—the lanterns flickering to life, children running with sparklers, vendors shouting their last calls. Yet, for Kaito, the peace felt like a fragile illusion, a thin veil stretched over storm clouds waiting to break.

His mind drifted back to his encounter with Kushina. The way she had smiled at him—bright, unguarded, and strangely comforting. There was something magnetic about her, something that pulled at the walls he'd built since arriving in this world.

But then there was Mikoto. Her gentle nature, her quiet warmth—it had reminded him of a home he never had. Both women were like mirrors reflecting pieces of himself he didn't fully understand. He shook his head, frustrated. This isn't some lighthearted harem novel. One wrong move and I'll lose everything. Affection can be as dangerous as any kunai.

Yet no matter how much he reasoned, the thought of their smiles lingered.

The next day, during a routine D-rank mission, the uneasy peace shattered. Kaito, along with a small team of fresh genin, had been tasked with escorting supplies from the edge of the village. A simple assignment. Boring, even. But midway through the return, the group was ambushed.

Bandits—at least, that's what they looked like on the surface. Rough men with crude weapons, shouting threats. But Kaito's Sharingan flickered, and he caught it—the subtle shimmer of chakra masks.

These aren't ordinary thugs.

He reacted instinctively, stepping in front of the others. A kunai flashed through the air, aimed directly for his chest. His body moved before thought caught up, parrying with a metallic clang.

The clash stirred something deep in him, a pulse of anger, sharp and cold. His Sharingan snapped awake, spinning violently, and the world slowed. Every breath, every twitch of the enemy's muscles, every flicker of chakra—it was all laid bare before him.

"Get back!" he barked at the other genin, his voice cutting through their panic.

The fight was brutal. Though he was outnumbered, Kaito's precision was terrifying. He moved like a storm contained in human form—kunai flashing, kicks striking with bone-cracking force. Yet behind every strike lingered restraint; he didn't kill, though he could have.

Finally, the last enemy staggered, clutching his arm where Kaito had disarmed him. The man gave a bitter laugh before vanishing in a swirl of smoke—an exploding shadow clone.

The blast tore through the trees, forcing Kaito to shield the younger genin with his own body. Dirt and smoke filled the air, and for a moment, silence hung heavy.

When the dust cleared, Kaito's chest was heaving, his arms scraped and burned. He glanced at the frightened faces of his teammates. Their wide-eyed stares told him everything.

"Kaito… what are you?" one of them whispered, awe and fear mingling in their voice.

Kaito looked away. That was the question, wasn't it? Even here, in a body not his own, with power that wasn't meant for him, he couldn't escape it.

That night, word of the attack spread quickly. Kaito sat alone in his small apartment, staring at the faint moonlight spilling through the window. He could still feel the rush of battle, the way his heart had thundered in his chest, the intoxicating clarity the Sharingan had given him.

And he hated it.

Because deep down, it wasn't just about survival. A part of him had enjoyed it—the control, the power, the way enemies crumbled beneath his gaze.

A soft knock pulled him from his spiral. He opened the door to find Kushina standing there, her hands on her hips, eyes blazing.

"You idiot!" she snapped, storming inside without invitation. "Taking on enemies like that, throwing yourself in front of explosions—are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Kaito blinked at her outburst, caught off guard. "I was protecting my team. What else was I supposed to do?"

"That doesn't mean you have to shoulder it all alone!" she shot back, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're not invincible, Kaito. And if you keep acting like this, one day… one day you won't come back."

For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken words. Kushina's fists clenched at her sides, and Kaito realized there were tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes.

Something shifted inside him. A warmth, fragile and terrifying, broke through the cold shell he had built.

Slowly, he reached out, his hand hovering uncertainly before brushing against hers. "I'm still here," he said softly. "And as long as I am, I'll protect the people I care about. That includes you."

Kushina's breath hitched, her fiery expression softening into something more vulnerable. For the first time, Kaito wondered if maybe—just maybe—this world wasn't only about surviving. Maybe it was also about finding something worth living for.

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