Inside the Raikage's office in Kumogakure, the Third Raikage, A, sat behind his desk, his gaze heavy as he looked at the two figures standing before him—Nii Yugito and Musai. His voice was grave as he spoke.
"Half an hour ago, we received news from the frontlines. The advance reconnaissance team encountered an ambush by Kirigakure forces while landing on one of the outlying islands of the Land of the Sea. Special Jōnin Seisai... was killed in action."
Yugito stood frozen, staring at the Raikage in disbelief.
It was as if she couldn't comprehend the words she had just heard.
Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision.
"Raikage-sama, my... my father..."
Musai's mind went blank. Tears fell uncontrollably as he opened his mouth several times, only to find himself unable to say anything.
His retirement request had already been approved. He was no longer a shinobi. And yet, out of nowhere, the ANBU had summoned him to the Raikage's office.
On the way there, he'd considered many possibilities. He thought he was prepared for the worst.
But hearing the actual news of his father's death—he realized he wasn't as strong as he had imagined.
"During the battle against the Kirigakure ninja, Seisai stood his ground fearlessly. He devised the best possible combat strategy to protect his inexperienced teammate, Jōnin Nigai, and successfully rescued Jōnin Toroi from a dire situation. To ensure his comrades could escape, he stayed behind to cover their retreat, delaying the enemy's pursuit at the cost of his own life. He died a hero! A true warrior who embodied the Will of Lightning!"
Dodai, who had been standing to the side, stepped forward and explained the situation in detail.
Musai sobbed, wiping his tears with his sleeve over and over.
He recalled his father's proud expression whenever he spoke of being a shinobi.
The pain in his heart deepened.
To be honest, he never really idolized heroes.
He only idolized his father.
"Lies... You're all liars! Uncle promised me..."
Yugito murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
She looked around in a daze, like a lost and frightened little beast that had just lost its only shelter.
A deep blue chakra, like flickering flames, enveloped her body.
Behind her, two swaying tails of chakra took shape.
The chakra of the Two-Tails, Matatabi, was surging uncontrollably!
The Raikage frowned, releasing his formidable presence as a Kage-level shinobi.
But right now, Yugito couldn't hear him at all. She couldn't feel anything but an unbearable tearing sensation in her mind.
A sound like fabric being violently ripped apart echoed in her consciousness.
In an instant, her mind was pulled deep into her inner world.
A young man sat atop Matatabi's head, dressed in a Konoha Jōnin flak jacket, his golden hair gleaming brightly. He was talking to the Two-Tails, nonchalantly patting its head.
The massive cat, which Yugito had always known to have a terrible temper, lay flat on the ground, ears drooping, not daring to resist.
The moment Matatabi noticed Yugito's arrival, its entire body stiffened. Slowly, it covered its face with its large paws.
Yugito tilted her head, uncertain, her voice hesitant.
Fragments of sealed-away memories resurfaced.
Alongside them, countless sealing techniques, methods to control tailed beasts, and training experiences flooded into her mind...
"Are you happy now that you know I'm not dead?"
Yamanaka Shinno jumped down from Matatabi's head and stepped past the iron-clad sealing barrier that had once confined him.
Standing before Yugito, he ruffled her hair with a smirk.
Yugito pouted, her expression pitiful.
She stood on her toes, pressing her head further into his palm to make sure the touch was real.
"With the Two-Tails' chakra concealing your state, the Raikage won't notice anything wrong for now. But eventually, he'll start suspecting something. I need to keep this brief..."
Shinno lightly tapped her forehead.
The clone he had left behind existed within the seal itself, formed from an immense concentration of Yin-release chakra and a portion of his memories.
Though his sealing skills weren't the best, and the Iron Armor Seal wasn't particularly strong, he had compensated for it with sheer mental strength, far surpassing that of Namikaze Minato.
As long as Yugito didn't recklessly use up this energy, he could accompany her for a long, long time.
Back in the Raikage's Office
The Third Raikage watched as the tailed beast chakra dissipated from Yugito's body. Her expression was empty, her eyes dull.
He let out a soft sigh.
Yugito had great potential. And Seisai had been a man he could trust.
The reassignment order he had issued earlier had been meant to keep Seisai away from high-risk missions so he could stay by Yugito's side as she grew.
Who could have predicted that Seisai's first mission would be his last?
Yugito muttered again under her breath.
Without greeting anyone, she turned around, pushed open the office door, and walked out.
Dodai hesitated, glancing at her retreating figure.
"It's fine. She won't let Seisai's sacrifice be in vain."
The Raikage's words carried clearly to Yugito's ears.
Her steps faltered for a brief moment before she continued walking.
"You hear that? The Raikage just acknowledged you."
Shinno's voice echoed in her mind.
"Uncle, I'm really nervous! Stop joking around~"
Yugito murmured inwardly, keeping her head down so no one could see her expression as she silently walked home.
"Raikage-sama, I'll take my leave as well."
Musai wiped away his tears and bowed deeply to the Third Raikage.
The Raikage hesitated for a moment before simply uttering those words.
As a shinobi, Seisai had fulfilled his duty admirably.
As a father, he had only ever wished for his son to live in peace.
And as Raikage, A would respect that wish.
Watching Musai force a smile before leaving, the Raikage turned to Dodai.
"Make sure the logistics team prioritizes purchasing goods from their family's farm."
Dodai nodded, jotting it down in his notebook.
"Also, have the sealing corps monitor Yugito today. And... notify the next fallen shinobi's family."
Standing at his office window, the Raikage clenched the railing tightly.
The metal creaked and twisted under his grip.
Kirigakure... assassinations, provocations, ambushes...
If you don't respect Kumogakure... then we'll start with you!
District 2, Kumogakure
Yugito ran all the way home, shut her bedroom door, and buried herself under her blankets.
She finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Uncle, I'm terrible at acting! What if someone sees through me?"
"Ding ding ding~ Welcome to Uncle Kage's Acting Masterclass!"
Shinno's voice took on an exaggerated storyteller's tone as he began sharing his years of deception experience.
For now, even if she slipped up and laughed in public, people would assume it was just due to trauma.
As for the future... with his guidance, acting wouldn't be a problem.
"Uncle, why don't you just take me to Konoha?"
Yugito rested her chin in her hands, voicing her innocent dream.
"Great idea! Let me work on that. Maybe in a few years?"
"How about you work hard, become a perfect Jinchūriki, and come find me instead?"
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on (258 chapters in total.)
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