ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪꜱᴛ | ᴛᴇɴᴛᴇɴ ꜰꜰ|

Chapter 100

The faint hum of the Konoha Cypher Division headquarters buzzed in the background, the only sound accompanying Ugetsu's quiet scribbling on the paper. The small, cluttered room was filled with stacks of scrolls, cryptic symbols, and maps detailing security measures from around the world. Ugetsu, absorbed in the task at hand, leaned over the desk, his blue eyes focused intently on the message from Jiraiya. The weight of his thoughts settled on him like a heavy cloak.

Shiho, sitting across from him, couldn't help but glance at him every now and then. She had been tasked with assisting him, but her mind wandered as her gaze lingered on him, slightly nervous and unsure of how to approach. Ugetsu had always been a quiet enigma to her. His presence was calming yet unsettling in its intensity, and she often found herself lost in thought when he was around. He wasn't just a skilled shinobi — he was undeniably attractive. His sharp jawline, intense blue eyes, and composed demeanor made him stand out.

Shiho caught herself staring at him again, feeling her cheeks flush, and quickly refocused on the papers in front of her. She hadn't realized she had been in the same room with him this close for so long. Her fingers fiddled with the pen, trying to distract herself.

Finally, breaking the silence, Shiho spoke up hesitantly. "I... didn't know you were so good with numbers and codes," she said, her voice slightly shaky. She didn't want to sound awkward, but Ugetsu's intelligence was something she hadn't anticipated.

Ugetsu paused mid-scribble, glancing up at her with a calm, almost unreadable expression. There was a faint pause before he responded. "I don't really feel the need to use my brain like some others," he muttered casually, returning to the message. "Shikamaru's the genius when it comes to thinking ahead and outsmarting people. Me, I just don't bother much unless I have to."

Shiho blinked, surprised by the response. "So... you *are* really smart, you just don't show it?"

Ugetsu didn't answer immediately, his blue eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the paper in front of him. "I guess it's like this," he continued, tapping his pen on the table. "I didn't have the luxury of growing up in a peaceful place like Shikamaru. My life was... different. I had to focus on surviving, not proving anything. So, I saved the cleverness for moments like this — when it matters."

Shiho nodded slowly, processing his words. She was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Ugetsu, someone she admired and had always seen as composed and strong, was also hiding a mind as sharp as a blade. His calm exterior masked a deeper complexity, one that she could only start to fathom.

Ugetsu shifted in his seat, eyes flicking down to the coded message again. He pulled out a piece of paper and started writing down a series of numbers, his brow furrowing in concentration. His focus was absolute, each stroke of his pen calculated, as if the numbers were speaking to him directly. Shiho watched him, mesmerized by his focus. She had never seen anyone tackle a puzzle with such precision before.

The silence stretched on for a few minutes before Shiho couldn't help but ask again, her voice quieter now. "Ugetsu... if you don't mind me asking, how did you get so good at... well, everything? I mean, you're not just strong; you're smart, too. It's kind of impressive."

Ugetsu looked up briefly, meeting her gaze for a fraction of a second before returning his attention to the paper. "Years of forced survival, I guess. Learning how to read people... and numbers... became necessary when you didn't have any other choice but to be a weapon for the Hidden Mist. My father never saw me as anything more than a tool. I didn't have the luxury of being a kid, or of caring about things that didn't matter to the mission. The only thing I cared about was survival... until I met people who made me feel like I could be something else." His voice softened for a moment before his eyes hardened again. "I don't like to talk about it."