Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 28

The darkness of the night weighs heavily on my shoulders as I suddenly jerk awake from a deep, dreamless sleep. My heart is pounding wildly, but I can't pinpoint the reason why. A dull sense of unease has settled within me, making my stomach twist as if an invisible hand were gripping it tightly.

I lie still in bed, listening to the silence of the house, trying to calm my breathing, but it's no use. The feeling grows stronger, more oppressive. My heart continues to race, as if my body senses a danger my mind hasn't yet grasped. Something is wrong. Every fiber of my being is screaming for me to move, to find out what's causing this overwhelming fear.

Without thinking further, I throw the blanket off and rush out of my room, into the hallway. The cold floor under my bare feet makes me pause for a second, but I push forward, almost driven by this inner panic. "Shisui..." His name is the only thought running through my mind as I race to the end of the hallway and stop in front of his door.

But when I fling the door open, the room is empty. The bed is untouched, as if he hasn't returned home since our mission. A terrible feeling rises within me, heavy and relentless, like a black fog wrapping around my heart. "Where are you, Shisui?" I murmur softly, my fear continuing to swell.

Kitsune and Yako, who had been quiet in my thoughts until now, suddenly spring to attention, their presence reassuring yet tinged with concern. "What's wrong, Princess?" Kitsune's voice is gentle but worried as it echoes in my mind. "You're distressed."

I close my eyes, trying to gather my thoughts, but I can't. "Shisui isn't here," I say breathlessly, walking through the dark room, searching for any sign, any clue that might tell me where he is. "He still hasn't come home."

The stillness of the room presses down on me, and the fear in my chest spreads like wildfire. "Yako," I finally turn to my loyal fox spirit, "can you sense Shisui's chakra? Or maybe Itachi's?"

Yako, usually calm and composed, hesitates for a moment. "I'll try, Princess," he replies at last, his voice steady, though I can hear the concern behind it. The few seconds he spends searching feel like hours as the silence grows more oppressive. Kitsune remains alert in my mind, waiting patiently for Yako's answer.

The darkness of the night presses down on me like a suffocating weight as I rush through the house like a whirlwind. Every breath feels heavier, as if the air itself has thickened. With trembling hands, I pull on my clothes, secure my swords on my back, and hurriedly fasten my gear. The sound of my footsteps echoes through the empty house, but the silence that follows feels louder than any step.

"Princess..." Kitsune's voice is soft and soothing in my mind, but I can't ignore the concern in her tone. "Calm down. Shisui and Itachi are often away on Anbu missions. It's normal for him not to come home sometimes." Her words are meant to reassure me, but they bounce off me without effect.

"No!" I snap, my voice sharp in my mind, but breaking with emotion. "Something's different. My instincts are screaming at me. This isn't like usual. I feel it in every cell of my body, Kitsune. Something is wrong." My heart pounds like a drum in my chest, and even though I try to calm myself, the feeling of dread only intensifies.

"I'm going to find them," I add, as I rush toward the front door. "Until Yako can tell me more, I won't sit here doing nothing." Without waiting for a response, I throw the door open and step into the cold night air.

The chilly wind hits my face as I run through the Uchiha district. The familiar stone streets under my feet offer no comfort, for with every step, the darkness seems to deepen. The sky above me is moonless, as if the stars themselves have turned away. My footsteps echo through the empty streets, and the soft rustling of the trees along the roadside sounds like whispers, as if the village is bracing itself for something terrible.