Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 21

After the battle is over, I still feel the tension lingering in the air. Shisui helps me up, though my legs tremble from the exertion. Every movement is a reminder of how intense the fight was, but with the exhaustion also comes a deep sense of pride.

"You really fought well, little sister," I hear Itachi's gentle but firm voice. A smile crosses my face as I glance at him, even though my muscles burn from the long battle.

"You were holding back, weren't you?" I say with a smirk, though I know they didn't use their full strength. Still, their recognition touches me deeply.

Shisui smiles softly. "Perhaps, but in a one-on-one fight, you might have surprised us and won. You should be proud of that." The warmth in his voice gives me strength, and I feel a profound sense of joy and pride rise within me.

As I look around, my eyes land on the audience. The faces of Naruto, Fugaku, Mikoto, and Sasuke stand out from the crowd. Naruto is standing there, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He looks as though he absorbed every moment of the fight. His fists are clenched tightly, barely able to contain his excitement. I know he admired every move I made, and the thought fills me with joy.

Fugaku and Mikoto stand side by side, their expressions calm but full of pride. Fugaku's face remains serious, but I see the slight nod that conveys his approval. Mikoto's gentle smile gives me a sense of comfort. And then there's Sasuke. He's staring at me with wide eyes, as if he can hardly believe what he's just witnessed. His gaze is full of admiration, and it feels good to see him look at me that way.

"Maybe I did impress them," I think to myself as I nod in their direction.

Later, as the day winds down and we enter the Uchiha district, Shisui and Itachi bid their farewells, likely off to their ANBU missions. I walk home alone, but in the quiet, I feel a pleasant satisfaction. The moon casts a silver glow over the district as I take the last few steps, heavy but fulfilled.

When I open the door to my home, I'm greeted by the familiar voices of Yako and Kitsune in my mind. "You did really well today, princess," Yako's calm and respectful voice echoes. "You showed just how strong you truly are."

Kitsune adds in her lively tone, "And that new jutsu? Risky, but it worked. You're going to be a force to be reckoned with soon."

A tired smile spreads across my face as I take off my shoes, the fatigue finally catching up to me. "Thank you for being by my side," I reply in my mind as I head to the bathroom. The hot water filling the tub instantly soothes the tension in my muscles. Steam fills the room, and I slowly sink into the water. Every second in the bath seems to drain away the exhaustion from my body, and soon, the trials of the day feel like a distant memory.

In my thoughts, I replay the events of the day—the battles, the recognition from Shisui and Itachi, the admiring looks from Naruto and Sasuke. It's been a long journey to get here, but today it feels like I've taken a big step toward my goal. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting the hot water wash away the last remnants of the day.

The next morning, with the sun barely peeking over the horizon, I wake up feeling ready for the new day. My first thought is of Naruto. I quickly get dressed and head over to his apartment. It's not the first time I've brought him breakfast, and I know he'll still be fast asleep.

When I enter his apartment, I find him—just as expected—deep in sleep, curled up under his blanket. "Always the same," I think with a smile as I head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The smell of freshly cooked food eventually rouses him from his deep sleep.

"Good morning, big sister Yukari," Naruto mumbles sleepily as he slowly peels himself out from under the covers.

"Morning, Naruto," I reply with a smile. "Your breakfast is ready. After that, you should get ready—I have to go see the Hokage later."