"I'm heading back to conduct experiments."
Nohara Rin didn't wait for a response from Shimizu. She turned and left abruptly.
"Still lacking refinement and guidance," Shimizu murmured, watching Rin's retreating figure.
For now, he'd let Rin finish preparing the cloning solution from the scroll. After that, he'd make sure she properly acknowledged her mistakes.
The secret chamber Shimizu had built was awaiting Rin's visit—a place designed specifically for those who defied ninja discipline.
Hyuga Natsu returned to the Hyuga Clan, her clothes slightly disheveled. Her black robe and maid apron were creased, as if she'd been through something significant.
"She ran into Rin again. She won't suspect anything, will she?" Natsu wondered, her cheeks faintly flushed. Shimizu's actions had introduced her to a new world—one she'd never experienced in the rigid, feudal, and stifling atmosphere of the Hyuga Clan.
Not long after returning, Natsu overheard other branch family members discussing Hyuga Ginka and Hyuga Nobuhiko.
"Natsu," a familiar voice called out.
Natsu paused, turning to face the person addressing her.
"What is it, Lady Ginka?" she asked, hands clasped respectfully in front of her. Unlike her usual habit of averting her gaze, she met Ginka's eyes directly.
Ginka frowned, a spark of irritation flaring within her. But thoughts of Nobuhiko quickly suppressed her anger. Forcing a faint smile, she said, "Is Uchiha Shimizu free tomorrow? I'd like to speak with him."
"I'm not sure, my lady. I'll ask him tomorrow."
"Thank you, Natsu."
Ginka felt that this smile took more effort than any she'd ever forced before.
"You're welcome, my lady."
Natsu turned to leave, a sense of satisfaction washing over her as she observed Ginka's reluctant yet helpless demeanor. At the same time, she felt a growing fear of Shimizu's methods. A figure like him wasn't someone she could casually speculate about.
Shimizu had predicted Ginka would seek him out, and sure enough, here she was, asking Natsu to arrange a meeting. If Shimizu ever turned against her, Natsu knew she wouldn't survive the night.
A deep smile curved Natsu's lips.
Shimizu had also said Ginka would become a traitor to the clan, just like her. Natsu eagerly awaited that day—the day she'd stand as an equal to her "sister." What expression would the proud Ginka wear when Shimizu toyed with her?
The next day, at a Konohagakure steakhouse, Shimizu leisurely speared a piece of beef, chewing slowly.
Hyuga Ginka sat across from him, a far cry from her dismissive attitude the previous day. Now, she seemed restless.
"About yesterday… we can discuss it further. I'd like you to heal someone," Ginka said, deliberately keeping her tone humble.
Today, she wore a traditional kimono, elegant and dignified, its soft purple fabric adorned with intricate patterns. The designs featured the Hyuga Clan's emblem, accented by delicate cherry blossoms and bamboo leaves, reflecting the clan's noble and traditional heritage.
"It's too late. Yesterday, you said I was dreaming, Lady Ginka. And you know what? I think I was," Shimizu replied, lifting his gaze. The wide obi around Ginka's waist accentuated her slender figure, exuding elegance and dignity.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. The more noble and lofty someone was, the more beautiful their fall.
"I can offer… part of the Gentle Fist techniques if you heal Nobuhiko," Ginka said, her nails digging into her palms beneath the table.
Begging someone like Shimizu was a humiliation. Just yesterday, she'd haughtily told him he was "dreaming."
"You need to understand something," Shimizu said. "I'm the one setting conditions here, not you. Healing someone isn't a big deal, but you'll need to show me some sincerity first."
"Sincerity?" Ginka echoed.
Before she could say more, Shimizu stood and left.
"We can still talk!" Ginka called after him.
But Shimizu's steps were swift, and he vanished in the blink of an eye.
Ginka stood frozen. What kind of sincerity did he want? What actions would qualify as sincere?
A wave of panic hit her. Had she offended Shimizu so thoroughly that he'd refuse to heal Nobuhiko?
"No, I need to ask Lady Tsunade for help," she decided, recalling rumors that Tsunade had returned to the village.
Ginka hurried to the old Senju Clan compound, but Tsunade was nowhere to be found. Instead, she encountered a group of others.
"Boss, Tsunade-hime ditched us again. What about our debt?" one man grumbled.
"What can we do? This is Konoha. We just wait for her to come back," another replied.
Ginka overheard the casino enforcers' conversation from a distance, her face paling in shock. They were discussing how Tsunade had lost a fortune at their casino and vanished that morning.
"Hmph, she's a big fish. We didn't lose much. Tsunade will come back to our casino eventually—it's a sure bet," the leader said.
"Smart thinking, boss," another agreed.
Ginka stood stunned. Was this really how Lady Tsunade was?
If Tsunade had left the village, how could Ginka seek her help? Lost in thought, she returned to Konoha Hospital.
As she walked the corridors, she rehearsed words to comfort Nobuhiko. Entering his room, she was surprised to see Hyuga Hiashi already there, speaking with him.
"This is a grave matter. We must recover the stolen Byakugan," Hiashi said sternly, his authority palpable.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hiashi," Nobuhiko said apologetically.
"Lord Hiashi, Nobuhiko, he…" Ginka began, trying to plead on his behalf.
Hiashi waved her off. "The clan's foundation rests on discipline. But given Nobuhiko's condition, we can address this later. I heard Natsu and Uchiha Shimizu were classmates. Have you reached out to him through her?"
Hiashi's gaze fixed on Ginka, making her tense. She feared he might know about the recording.
"I… I've spoken to him. He didn't seem willing," Ginka said, concealing some details while admitting partial truth.
"I recall Hyuga Tokuma had a conflict with Shimizu," Hiashi said. "Call him back. Have him apologize to Shimizu again. The Hyuga Clan has little contact with the Uchiha otherwise. It's just a branch member's apology, and Tokuma was in the wrong to begin with. If Shimizu sees our sincerity, he might agree to heal Nobuhiko. He trained under Yakushi Nono, and his medical skills shone during the war. He's likely capable of treating him."
Hiashi exchanged a few words with Nobuhiko before leaving for the clan compound. The war's frontlines were tense, and he'd only returned because of this critical issue. Recovering the stolen Byakugan from Kirigakure was the priority; Nobuhiko's punishment for losing it could wait.
Ginka stood lost in thought. Was this the "sincerity" Shimizu meant?
At Konoha's memorial stone, Hatake Kakashi placed a bouquet of flowers with a heavy heart. "Obito, I'm here again."
It had been some time since Obito's death, yet to Kakashi, it felt like yesterday. He could almost turn and see Obito's smiling face.
"Rin's been spending a lot of time with Shimizu lately. They seem close. She's gotten prettier—maybe it's just that age for girls. Oh, and Rin…" Kakashi rambled on, sharing stories about the person Obito had loved most.
"Alright, Obito. I'll come back next time." Kakashi took a deep breath, the weight of grief making it hard to breathe.
He still had to meet Shimizu to handle their Anbu registration.
"You said you almost got caught?" Shimizu asked, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as he listened to Rin's report.
Using human cell tissue for the cloning solution experiments was bound to raise suspicions. Unlike previous experiments, failed attempts could produce grotesque, rampaging monsters.
Fortunately, Rin hadn't reached that point—any issues had been nipped in the bud. But a seasoned medical ninja had noticed something unusual.
"Fine. Continue researching eye cloning and stick to your previous progress. Even if the data's wrong, it doesn't matter," Shimizu said.
"Wrong data's fine?" Rin asked. She reported her progress monthly, but Shimizu never double-checked her data, merely glancing over it.
Knock, knock.
Kakashi's voice came from outside. "Shimizu, you home?"
"Door's open. Come in," Shimizu called.
Kakashi stepped inside, crossing the courtyard to enter the house. "Rin, you're here too," he said.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Rin had been avoiding him lately, as if she didn't want too much contact.
"Uh… Kakashi, what's up with Shimizu?" Rin asked.
"Some important business," Kakashi replied vaguely, not mentioning that the Hokage had tasked him with bringing Shimizu to complete their Anbu registration.
Anbu matters weren't something to share lightly. Kakashi hadn't officially joined yet and knew little about the organization's inner workings, only that it was highly secretive. The full name—Assassination Tactics Special Forces—hinted at its dark nature: missions often involved bloodshed and assassination.
Kakashi didn't want Rin to worry. He'd promised Obito to protect her.
"Important business…" Rin muttered, a pang of sadness hitting her. What was so important that even she couldn't know?
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