Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 40

It's late in the evening when Itachi heads home with Sasuke by his side. The stillness of the hospital wraps around me like a soft shroud, though there's a subtle tension in the air. I know I have to stay until morning. A final, deep breath relaxes my shoulders as I sense Kitsune and Yako quietly patrolling the hospital grounds, their presence a comforting warmth—a silent, invisible shield. Alongside knowing Commander Kakashi is here, watching over me, I feel secure enough to finally let sleep claim me.

As dawn breaks over Konoha and the first rays of light gently seep through the window, I'm awakened by the quiet rustling of book pages. The familiar sound soothes me, even before I fully open my eyes. I don't need to see to know that Kakashi is here, engrossed in his reading.

"Good morning, Commander," I greet him, my voice still soft with sleep.

He looks up briefly from his book and smiles slightly, though I sense it more than I see it. "Good morning, Yukari. Did you sleep well? You seemed a bit restless... you murmured your brother's name in your sleep."

I take a deep breath, thinking. "I don't remember a dream, but I feel rested." A gentle smile touches my lips as I sit up. "I'd like to visit Naruto and have breakfast with him. Will you come along?"

Kakashi nods, his gaze attentive, and I feel a warm, watchful care in his posture. "I'll join you but stay in the background. In a few years, Naruto will be my student once he's graduated from the Academy. Are you sure you can find the way without seeing?"

A smile creeps onto my face. "I have Kitsune and Yako; they'll be my eyes." I can't help but look at Kakashi with a spark of hope. "Then Naruto will be in good hands—that reassures me, too."

Although my sight is still obscured by the bandages, I can feel a new power within me. The eyes my brother gifted me pulse gently, and I can hardly wait to lift the veil of darkness and see the world anew.

I open the window, and a cool breeze flows in, followed by a soft rustling as Kitsune leaps into the room. She's nearly hip-high, her silver fur gleaming in the morning light. With a quiet coo, she nestles against me and gently guides me to the bathroom. Images flicker in my mind—images of myself, my reflection. Kitsune projects them into my thoughts, helping me as I get ready.

"I didn't know we could not only speak but share images as well," I marvel.

"It takes a lot of focus," she responds, her voice echoing deeply within my mind. "But it means I can't speak at the same time." With a slight sigh, the image fades, but Kitsune remains by my side. "Our connection is growing stronger, Princess."

Leaving the hospital, the world behind my bandages is blurred, discernible only through vague shifts of light, but I don't feel lost. Kitsune and Yako are always at my side, whispering soft images of the village into my mind. Their thoughts form an invisible picture—familiar streets, outlines of buildings, and shadows of villagers passing by. It's unfamiliar, but after a few steps, my uncertainty fades, and I move fluidly through the village, as if Kitsune and Yako have always been my eyes.

On the way to Naruto's, I take a small detour. "He definitely won't have anything decent at home," I think, feeling a smile forming on my face. The thought of him waking up to a lovingly set breakfast table warms my heart.

To help Kitsune and Yako support me, I share some of my chakra with them. Before my eyes, their forms shift to human ones—Kitsune, elegant and calm, and Yako, with a mischievous grin barely concealing his wild energy. We enter a small store together. Kitsune guides me gently, one hand resting securely on my shoulder, while Yako walks on my other side, occasionally whispering little things into my ear like a playful brother.