Moonlight Embers

A Public Display of Frailty

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The streets of Konoha were filled with whispers and curious stars as the Hokage, Tobirama Senju, held a crying Akari Uchiha in his arms. The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the scene, but the tension between the two figures made everything cold. Akari's emotions churned inside her: anguish, shame, confusion. She felt like a child—vulnerable and helpless.

The presence of the crowd around them was suffocating, like a noose tightening around her throat. People murmured,

"Madara's sister, crying in public?" Their gases weighed heavily on her, adding to the storm of emotions already raging in her mind. Akari's pride as an Uchiha demanded composure, but her heart defied her, making her feel weaker than ever before, even in battle—she had never felt this way before. The shame of her brother's disapproval crushed her, reminding her of the many duties she was supposed to fulfill—duties she had strayed from.

'Can't you even try to understand?'

'Why don't you try to understand me, maybe a loveless marriage can work for you, but not for me, if you're okay with spending your life with a woman you don't love for the sake of the village's best interests, it's your choice, not mine— Would you really agree to be with another woman for the sake of the village? With the woman you love?'

He suddenly realized that his guilt was getting much worse when he saw you asking that. Damn it, why did you make him feel like he was the bad guy for trying to keep the clan above his own selfish desires for once? He suddenly spoke in a slightly guilty and desperate tone

"Damn it, princess, you know I'm prepared to do anything for the village and the clan, I can't let my own selfish desires get in the way"

"So if someone better comes along, you'll give up on me" Suddenly, he found himself hesitating again.

What kind of question is that? His mind immediately thought of that woman from the Hyuga clan, but he found that he couldn't just say it out loud. He suddenly spoke in a conflicted and slightly guilty tone. "Damn it, don't even ask me such a thing, you know I can't answer that."

"So you have someone better in mind." He found himself suddenly frozen and speechless when you said that. Damn it, how can you be so perceptive and straightforward? He suddenly spoke in a conflicted and guilty tone,

"why are you asking about this? There's no one, why do you think I have someone else in mind?"

'Because you do, it's written all over your face, be a man and answer my question'

"do you really want me to be honest?"

'Yes.'

Tobirama whispered an apology as he held her close, his voice soft and regretful. His arms wrapped around her protectively, fingers gently brushing her hair.

"Please don't cry... I'm sorry, Akari." The tenderness in his voice should have soothed her, but instead it fueled her inner conflict. Her emotions spiraled, tangled between her family's expectations and the forbidden connection she shared with the man she was forbidden to love.

Akari's tears slowed, but her thoughts were no longer clear. Why does he make me feel so helpless, like an idiot? she wondered, biting her lip. Her feet felt like they were buried in quicksand—she needed to escape. The shame, the guilt, the overwhelming pain of caring too much about a man she was supposed to hate—it was unbearable.

Suddenly, Akari pulled away from Tobirama. The cold air hit her skin, and the absence of his warmth left her feeling empty, but she knew she had to leave. Without another word, she turned and ran, her heart pounding in her ears. Tobirama froze, guilt stabbing at his chest. He wanted to stop her, but he knew there was too much at stake—for both of them. He was the Hokage, and loving her could unravel everything. Watching her pull back was like ripping his soul apart, but there was nothing he could do. 

"Damn it," he muttered to himself, feeling like he had already lost her, he hoped she would understand, that there was a lot at stake and that nothing could be done so quickly without him thinking about all the consequences, he was the hokage, he had duties and he couldn't give them up for a woman, even if he loved her with all his soul.