Ruka Hiden : Tangled Paths, Love's Redemption

[4]

The moon cast a soft, silvery glow over the park as Ruka sat on a bench, tears streaming down her face. The crisp night air felt colder against her skin, amplifying the loneliness she felt. She hugged her knees tightly, her thoughts racing with the weight of her recent revelation.

"Kiba... why did I have to mess up everything?" Ruka whispered to herself, her voice cracking. She was overwhelmed by the thought of raising a child while dealing with the impending dangers that seemed to loom over the village.

As if on cue, Kiba's silhouette appeared in the moonlight. He had been searching for Ruka since she had fled the ramen shop. His heart ached seeing her in distress, and he approached her with a determined stride.

"Ruka," Kiba called softly, his voice tinged with concern.

Ruka looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She didn't say anything at first, just stared at him with a mix of relief and anxiety. Kiba sat down beside her, his expression serious yet gentle.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Kiba asked, his tone both hurt and curious. "I thought we were past hiding things from each other."

Ruka sniffed, her tears still flowing. "I was scared, Kiba. I thought you might freak out and leave me. I didn't want to risk losing you again , especially with everything that's going on."

Kiba's eyes softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I would never leave you again. Especially now that we're expecting a baby."

Ruka's gaze met his, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "So... you're not mad?"

Kiba laughed, a warm, genuine sound that eased some of the tension between them. "Why would I be mad? I've been dreaming of the day we'd start a family. Having a baby with the love of my life? That's a dream come true."

He reached out, gently caressing her rounded belly, which had become noticeable despite her attempts to hide it. "I can't wait for us to raise our little Inuzuka princess."

Ruka's lips curved into a teasing smile. "It's a boy."

Kiba blinked in surprise. "How do you know?"

Ruka's smile widened, and she placed a hand over her belly with a confident gleam in her eye. "Because I'm his mom. I can just tell."

Kiba laughed again, a sound full of joy and relief. "Well, I guess we've got our work cut out for us, then."

Just as they were sharing this tender moment, the sky above them seemed to shimmer with an unusual intensity. The peaceful night was abruptly interrupted by the sight of meteorites streaking across the sky, heading towards the village.

Ruka's eyes widened as she sprang to her feet, her demeanor shifting from emotional to focused and urgent. "Kiba, there are meteorites falling! We need to evacuate the civilians immediately."

Kiba nodded, his expression turning serious. "Got it. I'll make sure everyone's safe."

As Kiba dashed off with Akamaru to begin the evacuation, Ruka took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the sky for the incoming threats before glancing at the clock on her palm " Time is running out."

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Ruka soared through the night sky, her chakra forming a protective barrier around her as she intercepted the falling meteorites. The intense energy from her jutsu created a shimmering shield, deflecting the smaller meteorites away from the village. Her movements were fluid, her technique flawless—until a sudden wave of dizziness hit her.

Ruka's jutsu, the Dimensional Rift, was an advanced technique that allowed her to manipulate space itself, creating portals to transfer objects or attacks to alternate dimensions. This jutsu was not commonly mastered among shinobi, reflecting her elite status. However, the immense strain of maintaining this complex barrier while pregnant was pushing her beyond her limits.