Ruka Sarutobi, known as the "Demon of Konoha," faces heartbreak and finds unexpected connections as she navigates love, duty, and self-discovery. Amidst tangled fates, Ruka must confront her true desires.
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Under the moonlit sky, Kiba walked along the familiar path back to his clan house, his mind heavy with the weight of the day's frustrations. As he passed by their favorite spot, a secluded grove bathed in silver light, he spotted Ruka leaning against a tree, her eyes closed in peaceful contemplation. Akamaru trotted over to her, nuzzling her hand as she smiled softly.
Kiba's heart swelled with affection at the sight of her, and he couldn't resist joining her, settling down beside her with a contented sigh. Ruka leaned into his shoulder, seeking comfort in his presence as they savored the moment of the night.
As they sat in comfortable silence, Ruka turned to Kiba with a gentle smile. "How was your day?" she asked, her voice warm with concern.
Kiba hesitated, the memory of the confrontation with Mamoru weighing heavily on his mind. He didn't want to burden Ruka with his troubles, but the words lingered on the tip of his tongue, begging to be released.
Ruka noticed his reluctance and reached out to him, her touch gentle and reassuring. "You can talk to me, Kiba," she urged softly.
But when she persisted with her inquiries, Kiba's frustration boiled over, his patience wearing thin. "Nothing happened, alright?!" he snapped, his tone sharp with irritation. "Will you just drop it?"
Akamaru lifted his head up, noticing Ruka flinching at Kiba's outburst with hurt evident in her downturned gaze. Akamaru growled at Kiba in defiance, which Ruka reassured him, "It's okay."
Kiba's heart twisted with guilt as he watched her retreat into herself, her shoulders hunched in disappointment. "How's your day?" he asked, his voice softer this time, tinged with remorse.
"It was good," Ruka replied, giving him a bright smile despite the ache in her heart. Kiba hated it. He hated that Ruka would let him off easily every time they argued, always giving him a bright smile and pretending that their argument hadn't happened. "Had lunch with Sakura and Ino. Ino kept talking about how attractive Sai is, and we discussed marriage."
The mention of marriage struck a nerve with Kiba, stirring up a storm of conflicting emotions within him. "What's with girls' obsession with marriage?" he blurted out, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
Ruka's brows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong with talking about marriage?" she asked, her voice tinged with hurt.
"It's just... I don't understand why girls feel the need to tie us down and make us less of a man," Kiba ranted, his words laced with frustration.
Ruka listened quietly, her heart sinking with each bitter word that left his lips. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled with vulnerability. "Is that what you really think?"
Kiba fell silent, unable to meet her gaze, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Ruka's question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.
"Kiba... do you ever see our future together?" Ruka asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't see the point of getting married," Kiba replied bluntly, his words like a dagger through Ruka's heart. "I'm already happy with what we have now, and even if we did get married, I don't want to be in your clan especially with you being the head of the Sarutobi Clan."
Ruka's eyes welled up with tears, her heart breaking at his callous words. "What's wrong with me being the head of the clan?" she asked, her voice trembling with hurt.
"You see, that's the point," Kiba retorted, his frustration boiling over. "Do you know how embarrassing it is to have a girlfriend who's stronger than you? I'm a man, you're a woman. I'm supposed to be protecting you!"
"But I don't need you to protect me just to prove that you're a man!" Ruka exclaimed, her voice cracking with emotion. "When did you start thinking this way?"
Kiba took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "Look, let's just forget about this," he muttered, trying to pull her into an embrace.
Ruka froze when she remembered Sakura's advice. She wished she could simply let it go, but she couldn't. She knew what she wanted, and if Kiba wouldn't give her the dream she wanted, then she deserved to be with someone who did. "No," Ruka whispered, pulling away from his touch. "I can't."
"You can't be serious," Kiba scoffed in disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. "We can still be together without the thought of getting married."
But Ruka shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "I want us to get married someday," she said softly , her tears flowing freely now. "I want Shikamaru as my older brother to send me off, I want my friends to see the happiness that I'm feeling. I want to walk down the aisle with you by my side, to start a family together. Is that too much to ask for?"
Kiba's heart sank as the weight of her words hit him like a sledgehammer. "I can't continue with our relationship knowing that you think this way," Ruka continued, her voice trembling with sorrow. "Because if that's really what you feel, then we shouldn't be together."
Kiba's chest tightened with regret and longing as he watched her walk away, her figure shrouded in the moonlight. Tears streamed down Ruka's face as she sobbed, each step carrying her further away from him. He wanted to reach out to her, to pull her back into his arms and beg for her forgiveness. But he couldn't because it was too late, his pride destroy their relationship.
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