UCHIHA LIBERATOR (NARUTO X MALE UCHIHA OC)

Chapter 6

3rd person POV

THUD THUD THUD

Three kunai embedded themselves in the bullseyes of three distant targets, vibrating slightly from the impact. Ryuichi stood still for a moment, watching them with a blank expression before he slowly walked toward the targets. His movements were deliberate, each step heavy as if weighed down by the thoughts that had been swirling in his mind for days. He reached the targets and plucked the kunai out one by one, the metal cool against his fingers. A sigh escaped him as he stared at the empty targets, their red centers now marked with faint scratches from repeated practice.

It had been a week since his father left for the frontlines, and the silence since then had grown unbearable. No word. No message. Not even a fleeting rumor from other shinobi returning from the battlefield. The village seemed quieter in his absence, the air thick with tension and uncertainty. Ryuichi had tried to stay focused, tried to keep up with his training, but each day that passed without news gnawed at him.

As he gripped the kunai, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His father had always been punctual with updates, even in the heat of battle. And yet now, there was nothing—just a hollow void where his presence should have been.

He threw the kunai again, harder this time. THUD. THUD. THUD. Each strike felt hollow, a poor substitute for the battles his father was likely fighting far away. Ryuichi had always looked up to him, admired his strength, his discipline. He wanted to be just like him, to fight alongside him one day. But now, all he could do was wait—wait and hope that his father would return home safe.

"You might want to stop before you destroy the targets—or worse, hurt yourself," a familiar voice called from behind him.

Ryuichi turned, startled, to see his mother approaching. She wore the same soft smile she always had, a calm warmth that never seemed to fade, no matter the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her presence, though comforting, made the tension in his chest feel heavier.

"Mother," he greeted, trying to hide his frustration, but she knew him too well. Her eyes, though gentle, missed nothing.

"You've been out here for hours," she said, her gaze drifting to the targets riddled with kunai holes. "I know what's on your mind, but pushing yourself like this won't bring him back any sooner."

"I know, but..." Ryuichi's voice trailed off, frustration seeping into his words. "He told me he'd be back in a week," he said, his shoulders slumping. "But he's still—"

"I just received a letter from your father today," Mikoto interrupted gently, her tone soft but firm. "He informed me that something urgent on the battlefield requires his attention, so he'll be staying a little while longer."

Ryuichi's eyes widened slightly, his heart sinking. "Did he say anything about me?" he asked, a hint of hope creeping into his voice, worried that his father might have forgotten him in the chaos of war.

Mikoto smiled warmly at his question, her maternal instinct sensing the need to lift his spirits. "Yes, he did. He asked about your training and how you've been progressing. I'm sure when my reply reaches him, he'll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you've mastered the Clone Jutsu."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Ryuichi's lips, his mother's words melting the anxiety that had been building inside him. Her reassurance was like a balm, easing his worries.

"However," Mikoto continued, her expression growing more serious but still kind, "your father also asked me to oversee your training until he returns."

Ryuichi straightened at her words, his smile growing. He wasn't just waiting idly for his father; he had more to prove.