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In the dimly lit room, Kagaya sat with his head bowed, silent.
He still remembered his early childhood, when he first realized he had been reincarnated into this world. There was no joy or excitement—only panic.
Reincarnation meant losing everything from his past life. Thinking of this, the young Kagaya had cried uncontrollably. It was Uchiha Yuko, his mother in this life, who rushed to his side, comforting him tirelessly, as if he were a precious treasure. Beside her, his father, though stern-faced, couldn't hide the concern in his eyes.
How nostalgic. Those memories were from so long ago.
A cold sensation touched Kagaya's face. He reached up to feel it.
"Is this snow?"
The room wasn't completely sealed; small vents let in air, and snowflakes drifted through them.
It was late December in the 55th year of Konoha.
The year was nearly over. Many ordinary people watched the falling snow, quietly celebrating the approaching New Year.
There was no sun today, but the sky was still bright. Large snowflakes fell gently, landing at every doorstep, drifting to the window of Kagaya's cell, and settling on his cheek, bringing a chill.
"It's almost New Year, isn't it? This should be a happy time, but…"
Touching the cold snow on his face, Kagaya gave a faint smile.
"Why do I feel so sad? Will every year from now on be my memorial day?"
He had doubted Danzō's words, wondering if they were lies. But after much thought, he didn't dare take the risk. What if they were true?
The mother who waited for him at the door every night despite the cold. The father who always seemed cold but thought of him in everything.
"Are you both okay? Mother, Father, I'm sorry. I might make you white-haired parents bury your black-haired son. If you can hear me, please, I beg you, live well this lifetime."
Kagaya murmured softly.
---
Root.
Several Root members prepared the bodies of Uchiha Takayuki and Uchiha Yuko, covering them with white cloths.
As the cloth was laid over them, a blood-stained snowflake was blown upward, carried by an unnamed wind. It drifted toward the north of Konoha, the wind growing stronger, as if urging the snowflake to hurry, hurry, hurry! To reach a certain place quickly.
The crimson snowflake floated past the Hokage's office, over the Uchiha clan grounds, across half of Konoha.
Then, in a slightly dim room, the snowflake carefully slipped through a window, drifting downward. There sat a person with a black cloth over their eyes and shackles on their wrists. The blood-stained snowflake landed gently in their palm.
"So cold."
Kagaya felt the sudden chill in his hand.
"More snow?"
From the Uchiha clan grounds to the Hokage's office, to Root, the snow fell heavier and heavier.
---
Hokage's Office.
The Third gazed at the intensifying snowfall outside, sighing after hearing a report from an Anbu behind him.
"Is this my fault?"
The Third wasn't entirely uninvolved with Root; he had a few informants. Danzō had planned to hide the deaths of Kagaya's parents for a few days, revealing them only after Kagaya took his own life. But Danzō hadn't expected the Third to learn of it early.
"Go tell Danzō to immediately return Kagaya's parents' bodies to the Uchiha and release Kagaya to mourn them. That's all."
The Third issued the order to the Anbu.
"Yes, sir!"
The Anbu responded without hesitation.
---
The door opened. Kagaya could sense it.
Then, someone removed the shackles from his wrists and the black cloth from his eyes.
"Uchiha Kagaya, by order of Lord Third, you are released to return home and mourn your parents."
Kagaya stared blankly at the Jōnin, his face full of disbelief, his voice trembling as he asked, "R-release me to go home… for what?"
The Jōnin sighed and replied, "To mourn your parents."
At that moment, the light in Kagaya's eyes faded completely, leaving them dull and lifeless.
"M-mourn who?"
He desperately hoped he had misheard.
But…
"To mourn your parents."
The Jōnin's words were clear and unmistakable.
---
In the forest behind the Uchiha clan grounds, the trees were covered in snow, like jade branches adorned with frost. The once-clean streets were blanketed in snowflakes. Many Uchiha stayed indoors, chatting with friends, shivering and reluctant to go out. A few birds landed on branches, shaking off snowflakes, creating a serene, cold scene.
The weather grew colder, much like Shisui's heart.
"It's really cold."
Shisui looked at the two bodies before him and spoke.
Itachi, standing nearby, remained silent, unsure of what to say.
"The clan will probably arrive soon. I'll go, Itachi."
This time, Shisui didn't wait for a response and left.
Returning Kagaya's parents to the Uchiha was a task Root had handed to Anbu. Since Itachi was an Uchiha, Anbu chose him to deliver the bodies.
Before doing so, Itachi had informed Shisui, leading to the earlier scene.
---
On a snow-covered path, Kagaya ran tirelessly. He was already frail from the torment in the cell, but he pushed himself to keep going, falling again and again, only to rise each time.
He was no longer a prisoner, so no Jōnin followed him. He was alone.
The snowflakes that once felt merely cold on his face now stung like needles piercing his bones.
Kagaya kept rushing toward the Uchiha clan grounds, but his weakness caused him to stumble every few steps.
Thud!
He fell again, struggling to get up, but this time, he couldn't. He collapsed into the snow.
"Get… get up!"
Kagaya shouted in pain, trying to force himself to rise, but his body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stand.
Snowflakes fell on him, as if pressing him down, urging him to rest, just rest. But how could Kagaya rest? He had to go back! Back!!
A pair of hands lifted him.
"Come on, didn't I tell you? Sometimes you can't do it alone."
Shisui appeared suddenly, hoisting Kagaya onto his back.
"Brother Shisui…"
Kagaya stared at Shisui, tears streaming down his face.
"Why are you crying?"
Shisui asked with a smile.
"Brother Shisui, my parents… are they really… really…"
Shisui fell silent, but Kagaya already knew the answer.
"Brother, I… I…"
Words failed him. From Shisui's back came only the sound of sobs.
"Kagaya, how old are you this year?"
"Seven."
Shisui's nose stung. Everyone seemed to forget that this mature-seeming boy was only seven years old. He had endured far too much for his age.
"You still have me."
"..."