Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 34

I've been lying motionless in Shisui's bed for what feels like an eternity, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts spin relentlessly, each one a sharp, painful stab. Itachi's words repeat in my mind like a never-ending nightmare. The order he received from Danzo sends ice through my veins. How can anyone give such an order? How can the Third Hokage stand by and do nothing? These questions gnaw at me, tearing at my insides until I feel physically sick.

"How did it come to this? How can Danzo issue such a vile command, and why does the Hokage remain silent?" My thoughts keep circling, and I know I won't find any answers. Hours pass as the sun sets, casting the room in a pale, melancholic light. I stand up, feeling the despair growing inside me, the weight on my shoulders becoming heavier.

"What can I do?" The thought pulses in my mind, pressing on my heart. I slip on my shoes and leave the house, without a clear goal in mind. Only the need to do something drives me forward. I walk through the bustling streets of Konoha, passing people who know nothing of the dark cloud looming over the village. It feels as if I'm in a different world, a sphere they cannot reach.

"I have to think of something." My mind works frantically, but every attempt to find a solution seems to lead to nothing.

Finally, I reach the rooftop where I often watched Naruto, living in his own world, so carefree and yet so alone. But today, someone else is there. A figure sits on the railing, high above the streets of Konoha, with the setting sun behind him. A man with long, white hair, dressed in a red cloak that moves gently in the wind. His presence is unmistakable.

It's Jiraiya.

"Ah, you must be Yukari," he speaks without turning to look at me. His gaze remains fixed on Naruto, as if the sight of the boy reminds him of something deeply buried in his heart. "Sarutobi-sensei has told me a lot about you."

There's a hint of melancholy in his voice, and I immediately recognize that he's not here just to meet me. He's here because he's watching someone he loves. "Then you must be Master Jiraiya. It's an honor to meet you." My words are respectful but cautious, as I sense a deep pain within him, similar to the one that's haunted me these past days.

For the first time, he turns to look at me. His eyes are filled with sorrow, and it feels as though he carries a burden far greater than I could ever comprehend. "You're thinking about the Fourth Hokage... and my aunt Kushina, aren't you?" My voice is soft, almost a whisper, but he doesn't answer. He doesn't need to. His eyes say it all.

Instead, he asks, "How's Naruto doing?"

The question catches me off guard, but it doesn't require much thought. "He's a loud, hyperactive kid," I say, and a small smile crosses my lips as I think of Naruto's boundless energy. "But he never gives up. You can't help but be proud of him."

Jiraiya nods ever so slightly, and for a brief moment, I sense that we share the same thought. "Keep looking after the kid for me," he says, and with those words, he disappears as quietly as he came.

I stand there for a moment longer, then take his place on the railing. My gaze shifts to Naruto, who's eating his dinner in his apartment. So carefree and innocent, unaware of the threat looming over all of us.

Then a sudden thought strikes me. Without hesitation, I leap from the roof and run as fast as I can toward the Hokage's office.

It feels as if the Hokage's building keeps moving farther away, no matter how fast I run. My heart pounds in my chest, and even though I know Itachi won't carry out his mission today, every second feels critical. The weight on my shoulders grows heavier as my steps quicken.