Chapter 110: 106: Uchiha Sora (2)

Chapter 110: 106: Uchiha Sora (2)

Once the maid had prepared the tea and left, the living room was left with only Shiraishi, Uchiha Sora, and the Uchiha guard.

After Uchiha Sora had finished his tea, he glanced around the room and began, "There doesn't seem to be any noticeable changes here from the past. Ruri has always been quite a unique child. Getting along with her can sometimes be challenging, wouldn't you agree?"

He maintained a friendly smile throughout.

"I haven't found it particularly difficult to get along with her"

As he spoke, Shiraishi discreetly observed the. Uchiha Sora who was dressed in an out-of-fashion yet finely crafted black kimono. His white hair, evident wrinkles, and thin face, complete with a beard under his chin, gave him a frail appearance.

He had a relatively slender build, and while his body seemed slightly frail, it was not marked by scars but instead exuded a majestic and awe-inspiring aura. In his youth, he must have been an accomplished ninja. Although he was retired now, his elite ninja aura had only become more pronounced with age, making him appear truly extraordinary.

"Elder Sora, did you come to see Ruri for something specific?" Shiraishi inquired.

"It's nothing of great importance. It's been a while since I've been out shopping, and I happened to pass by here today, so I decided to drop in" Elder Sora replied casually.

Although Shiraishi wasn't familiar with Elder Sora, he wasn't sure if the elder had genuinely come just for a casual visit. Nevertheless, the reason given seemed perfectly reasonable and didn't raise any suspicions.

However, Shiraishi had heard from Ruri that this Elder Sora was the radical leader of the Uchiha clan, with a status even higher than the patriarch. It was said that he had been a follower of Uchiha Madara, and since the death of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, the Third Hokage, was wary of his abilities.

Although Elder Sora now seemed like a secluded old man uninterested in worldly affairs, it was clear that the ambition of his youth hadn't waned. His questions, though casual, carried weight because of his history and position.

Shiraishi answered Elder Sora's questions dutifully. As Ruri's mentor, he couldn't afford to be dismissive.

"Have you ever considered marriage?" Elder Sora suddenly asked, catching Shiraishi off guard.

"Huh?" Shiraishi was momentarily surprised by the unexpected question.

The question itself didn't shock him, but the abruptness with which it was raised felt somewhat odd.

"Young people these days become hesitant when it comes to marriage. In our time, as soon as two people exchanged glances, they'd be married within a year or two" Elder Sora commented, appearing to grumble.

Shiraishi showed a somewhat awkward smile.

"You'll both be eighteen soon. It's about time to think about marriage. The life of a ninja is dangerous; death can come at any moment. It's better to have children sooner rather than later" Elder Sora said, his tone low as though he were merely making casual conversation.

It was as though he were wishing death upon them with such words, which was rather inauspicious. Shiraishi couldn't help but lament inwardly.

However, Shiraishi couldn't openly object to the elder's words, given his status. So, he responded, "Well, I'll certainly consider it seriously with Ruri."

Elder Sora appeared satisfied with the response and continued sipping his tea.

"All right, it's about time for me to leave" Elder Sora announced.

"So soon? Why not stay for dinner?" Shiraishi suggested, offering dinner as a courtesy.

"No need for the trouble. I just felt like taking a stroll today and seeing how the village has changed. As one grows older, they become nostalgic for the past" Elder Sora replied.

Shiraishi could only nod in agreement. In the presence of Elder Sora, even the Third Hokage would address himself as a junior, let alone a new generation ninja like himself.

Shiraishi couldn't help but wonder about Elder Sora's intentions as he watched the elder and his Uchiha Jonin guard walk away. Did he genuinely come for a stroll? Or did he have other motives?

As Shiraishi stood at the door, he was thinking about the situation. He couldn't decipher Elder Sora's thoughts, but he concluded that it didn't concern him, and there was no need to dwell on it.

....

However, as Elder Sora continued his journey, the Uchiha guard, Rindk, couldn't help but ask, "Are you really planning to go through with this, Elder Sora?"

"Rindo, this is the only path left for the Uchiha clan" Elder Sora replied.

"But if Ruri finds out, she'll never forgive you. You understand her character better than anyone" Rindo pointed out.

"For the younger and more vigorous Uchiha flames, these old bones of mine can still be useful. Shouldn't I count myself fortunate?" Elder Sora retorted.

Indeed, as Ruri's mentor, Elder Sora fully grasped her personality and was aware of her reactions.

Once he understood this, the decision to sacrifice himself for the sake of the clan became clear.

"The current Uchiha clan is on the same path as me. The Third Hokage has pushed our clan into this corner" Elder Sora declared.

Rindo fell into a contemplative silence. He recalled the conflict between Root and Ruri a few years ago and considered the events that had unfolded.

While the Hokage strived for balance in each decision, certain matters involving the village's principles couldn't be tolerated. A delicate balance had to be maintained.

As Elder Sora had pointed out, the Hokage's loyalty to Konoha and his love for the entire village could be trusted. However, his ability to lead was questionable.

Root in this problem was the darkness that had emerged during his complacency and indecision.

"The Uchiha's only path forward is to save themselves. We shouldn't place our clan's hopes on outsiders. Uchiha men and women can only meet their end on the battlefield, even if it means their death." Elder Sora said.

"But the Third Hokage is working hard to repair our relationship with the village" Rindo added, his expression conflicted.

At Uchiha Sora's age, he should be enjoying his retirement, not continuing to fight in the political arena and sacrificing his life to illuminate the path for the clan.

"We are in the same boat. Hiruzen Sarutobi, whether he's trying to figure things out or actually solving problems, we can never get a definite answer from him. Sooner or later, the Uchiha will fall due to his 'trying to figure things out' indecisiveness. His leadership, as a Hokage who hesitates and lacks decisiveness, falls far short of Hashirama Senju. Let's go, Rindo"

Uchiha Sora snorted.

Rindo fell silent.

........

It was late, ten past seven.

"Are you back? You must be tired from your mission outside. Come over and have dinner. It'll get cold if you don't eat soon."

At the dining table, Shiraishi had already set the dishes, waiting for Ruri to join him for dinner.

Ruri didn't say anything and simply took her seat at the dining table, ready to have dinner with Shiraishi.

"How was your mission today?" Shiraishi inquired.

"It was a very ordinary C-rank task. Next year, I'll be taking the three genin to the Chunin exams. Once they pass, they can tackle A-level missions. C-rank missions aren't very exciting" Ruri replied.

Hearing this, Shiraishi couldn't help but offer silent condolences to the three genin in Ruri's team.

C-rank and D-rank missions didn't involve ninja battles. However, starting from B-rank missions, the difficulty increased significantly, including battles against other ninjas. A-rank missions involved combat with enemy ninja at a more advanced level, and failure could lead to the annihilation of the team.

Chunin were typically allowed to take on B-rank and A-ran missions once they passed their exams. Normally, a new Chunin squad would choose B-rank missions to gain experience before progressing to the more challenging A-level missions. However, Shiraishi suspected that with Ruri's personality, she might prefer to jump straight into A-rank missions as soon as her genin team became Chunin.

Compared to leading others, Ruri seemed to prefer having adventures of her own. A-rank missions were undoubtedly more interesting than lower-level missions, even though they carried greater risks.

"By the way, Elder Sora came to see you today. You weren't here. He had some tea and left" Shiraishi mentioned, recalling Elder Sora's visit earlier that evening.

"Elder Sora?" Ruri paused while eating, her brow furrowing.

"Why? Upset? I remember he taught you various combat. You must respect him, right?"

"Just an old man nearing the end of his life" Ruri replied dismissively.

"That's quite disrespectful" Shiraishi remarked.

"He came here, did he say anything unpleasant to you?" Ruri's tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Now, the Uchiha clan held significant positions in the village, with many of its members leaning towards radical ideologies.

"No need to worry. In fact, the more, the merrier, I think" Shiraishi replied with a smile, continuing to scratch his head.

"Hypocrite"

Ruri chimed in suddenly and walked toward a clothing store.

"Shizune, why don't you have some fun on your own for a bit? I'll come pick you up later" Shiraishi suggested to Shizune.

After some consideration, Shizune realized she would only be a third wheel with Shiraishi and Ruri, making things awkward for everyone.

She nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then I will have something to eat over there" she said, pointing to the barbecue restaurant they had just visited.

"Okay, enjoy your meal. I will come get you after Ruri and I finish shopping" Shiraishi said as he handed her some money.

.....

"Darn it! This is Konoha's final festival, and I can't even steal a kiss from Shiraishi-kun!" Ayane lamented. She was dressed in the kimono that Shiraishi had given her, but it couldn't fill the emptiness she felt inside.

In front of her were piles of food, including takoyaki, grilled skewers, and fried noodles. She stuffed them into her mouth one by one, using eating as a way to vent her frustration.

"Boss, another fifty skewers of takoyaki and ten bowls of chashu ramen, please! Quick!" she called out impatiently.

"Alright, alright, just give me a moment"

The shopkeeper replied nervously. Ayane was undeniably cute, but her insatiable appetite was starting to worry him. If this continued, his small eatery would go out of business.

After all, he was the one who had put up the sign at the door saying, "You don't have to pay if you eat for three consecutive hours" in an attempt to attract customers.

"Even though Hiashi-sama said we could enjoy ourselves, you don't have to eat like this,"

Beside Ayane, Fuyuma from the Hyuga branch couldn't help but be astonished by the mountain of food disappearing in front of her. If Ayane's identity hadn't been confirmed, she might have suspected that Ayane was a spy sent by the Akimichi clan to infiltrate the Hyuga clan.

"No, not even the Akimichi clan eats like this" He thought to herself. Ayane's appetite was truly remarkable.

"Anyway, it's not just our group that's here to protect Hiashi-sama. Senpai, why don't you join us and eat?" Ayane suggested.

"No need. My mission is to protect Hiashi-sama" Fuyuma replied.

"Oh" Ayane said. She had initially intended to include him, but she understood that it would be awkward. Instead, she turned her frustration into an even bigger appetite and continued feasting.

"Boss, bring me more!"

.......

Humans can be quite noisy creatures, this was the only thought in General Tu's mind. He found himself rendered speechless, though his mental faculties remained unaffected.

Buried within the earth, he could keenly perceive the bustling activity of Konoha at that very moment. Because of this noise, he lost the motivation to freely swim through the earth.

Despite the noisy world above, he could have gone deeper into the earth where no sound could reach. But why did he long for such noise?

A glint appeared in his pitch-black eyes, and he sat still in a dim corner, silently watching Konoha's festival.

If only onne day he could openly participate in such an event..

A child ran over over and inadvertently stepped on his head.

Konoha's brats were so annoying.

He thought that maybe someday he should stuff a few exploding tags at this location to enjoy some peace and quiet.

However, today there were no missions, and the time felt unusually idle.

Accustomed to running errands, General Tu suddenly found himself with nothing to do. He didn't know what to do with his newfound leisure.

His younger sister, Ameyu, and his younger brother, Raimei were working in the Land Of Demons, while their elder sister, Shadow Dancer, always acted like a child who never grew up, sticking to their father and mother, seeking their affection.

Even though he was only three years old, their father had told him that he was no longer a child, but a mature adult. So, he couldn't be clingy or act as childishly as his siblings.

A man who loved his work was a mature man. Even during the festival, he remained vigilant, never letting his guard down.

General Tu was a diligent individual.

....,...

The festival was halfway through when Shiraishi and Ruri decided to return early. Despite being away from the bustling atmosphere of the village, the festivities were still ongoing and would likely continue until midnight.

Explosions resonated in the night sky, with brilliant fireworks bursting into colorful patterns.

"It's truly beautiful" Shiraishi remarked.

"Yes" Ruri agreed.

Even though individual sparks were fleeting, when they all came together, it created a sense of awe-inspiring beauty.

Just like humans, one person's light might be limited, but when everyone's efforts combined, it created a radiant display, much like the beauty in the night sky.

Shiraishi saw not just fireworks but also the love and determination of the people for life, sharing in their joy and excitement despite being away from the crowd.

In a peaceful courtyard, Shiraishi and Ruri watched fireworks burst across the night sky.

Unable to contain his emotions, Shiraishi pulled Ruri into his arms. She leaned against his shoulder, blushing, and they savored the happiness that was uniquely theirs.

Shiraishi gently ran his fingers through Ruri's silky hair.

Gradually, the sounds of the surrounding revelry seemed to fade, leaving only the faint echoes of fireworks in their eyes.

Their heartbeats resonated clearly, and Ruri initiated a kiss. Shiraishi responded, and their embrace grew passionate.

Their smooth skin and tender bodies radiated warmth, and the roles quickly reversed.

Shiraishi stared, flushed, as Ruri took control.

At this point, words were unnecessary—actions spoke louder.

Together, they surrendered to this moment

.....

As the festival neared its end, the liveliness and noise gradually faded away.

"Well, young lady, our shop is closing. Won't you leave?" The owner of the barbecue restaurant called out to the dispirited girl sitting outside in the chilly breeze.

Shizune appeared oblivious to the owner's plea, her gaze fixed on the distance.

'Why... Why... Why hasn't Shiraishi-senpai come to pick me up as promised? Didn't he agree to retrieve me after shopping with Ruri-senpai?'

'Shiraishi-senpai, you're a big liar!. I'll report this to Tsunade-sama, and you'll regret it, Shiraishi-senpai!'

Shizune's heart was filled with resentment and anger.

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