His heart steadied slightly as he gazed at Shimizu Uchiha's strikingly handsome face, which filled him with distaste. He opened his mouth to speak:
"Madam asked me to..."
"No need," Shimizu interrupted coolly. "Go back and tell her my sincerity isn't shown like this. Next time we negotiate, have her wear something formal."
His dismissive tone nearly made Hyuga Tetsuka fume with rage.
But he held it in.
A ninja must know how to endure.
"A... Natsu, have you seen Natsu?" Tetsuka asked.
"Hyuga Natsu? It's so late—why would she be here?" Shimizu replied, feigning surprise.
He even turned and shouted Natsu's name into the house a few times, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
"See? Nothing," Shimizu said, spreading his hands.
"Is... that so?" Tetsuka's eyes locked onto a shadowy figure standing in the dim haze behind Shimizu.
Was that Natsu?
Tetsuka's heart ached. Why wasn't Natsu coming out?
"No, Natsu must be negotiating something for Madam with Shimizu Uchiha. She's probably afraid I'll ruin Madam's plans, so she's staying hidden," Tetsuka muttered to himself.
A moment later, he arrived quietly and left just as silently.
Silence was the heartbreak of the night.
...
Hyuga Clan Compound
At the corridor in front of Hyuga Natsu's room.
"You're back?" Tetsuka's voice suddenly rang out.
Natsu jumped, nearly scared out of her wits.
"T-Tetsuka, what are you doing here?" she stammered.
The Hyuga branch family lived in the same area, each with their own space, but the corridors were shared. This section was for the women's quarters—why was Tetsuka, a man, here?
"Where were you?" he asked.
"I told you, I was visiting a classmate," Natsu replied, tightening her grip on her clothes as if trying to hide something from Tetsuka.
"Natsu, no matter what happens, I'll be by your side. We'll get through it together," Tetsuka said earnestly.
He stepped forward, reaching to take Natsu's hand and place it on his chest, hoping she'd feel his sincerity.
Startled by the sudden move, Natsu stepped back several paces.
"Natsu..." Tetsuka froze, as if struck by lightning. He had clearly seen Shimizu with his arm around Natsu's waist, leading her inside. Yet when he tried to hold her hand, she recoiled like this?
"It's late, Tetsuka. I need to rest," Natsu said, hurrying back to her room and locking the door behind her.
Hearing the click of the lock, Tetsuka gave a bitter smile.
It had been too long since he'd spent time with Natsu. He'd become a stranger to her.
"Natsu, I'll make you come back to me," Tetsuka vowed with determination.
The battlefield was the ultimate forge for a person's will, and his iron resolve wouldn't falter now.
Just wait, Shimizu Uchiha. Once this is over, I'll warn you to stay away from Hyuga Natsu.
With that thought, Tetsuka left the area to report to Hyuga Ginka.
"Madam, Shimizu Uchiha said the sincerity he wants isn't my apology."
"!" Ginka froze. If not that, then what?
She had already offered to discuss the Gentle Fist techniques, but Shimizu refused.
Now Tetsuka had gone to him, and Shimizu rejected that too.
What did he want?
Tetsuka watched Ginka's expression shift repeatedly, feeling a pang of. Once, this lofty Madam would never have stooped to guessing someone else's intentions.
"He said he hopes Madam will wear something more formal," Tetsuka added.
Ginka's confusion deepened. What nonsense was Shimizu spouting?
"Maybe something dignified, like formal attire," Tetsuka clarified.
Having fought in battles across various towns, he'd seen so-called "formal dresses" in some places—elegant garments that accentuated the figure, unlike the Hyuga clan's traditional robes. Such clothing was deemed too revealing and strictly forbidden by the clan.
"Leave," Ginka said, frowning.
After Tetsuka departed, she grabbed some objects and smashed them to the floor, venting her frustration.
It took a while for her to calm down.
"She already knew what it was."
She should have realized sooner.
What allure could a mature beauty like her hold for a man like Shimizu? She should have understood.
But Shimizu's accomplishments were so great that she'd subconsciously overlooked this.
After all, those who achieved great things—Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi; Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha ancestor; even Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage, who likely never married—were known to shun worldly desires.
She had placed Shimizu in their league.
"If it's just clothes... just clothes..." she murmured to herself.
...
Graveyard of the Mountains
"Ah!" Obito clutched his eyes, jolting awake from his bed.
A fleeting image had flashed before him.
He saw Nohara Rin constantly visiting Shimizu's house, while Kakashi seemed utterly indifferent.
The terrifying vision made Obito break out in a cold sweat.
If Shimizu did something to Rin while he was gone, it would be disastrous.
"How long have I been here?" Obito asked, running his fingers through his hair to gauge time by its length.
It was the only way to measure time in this sunless cave.
"No need to worry about rent," said a White Zetsu, its right side covered in fleshy spikes, its face etched with spiral grooves. "We're born from the Gedo Statue. We don't need food, so no meal costs. No need for a bathroom... no need to poop."
A Fei, another Zetsu with a mask-like face and a single dark eyehole, chimed in enthusiastically. "This is the paradise Uchiha Madara created. Why go back outside?"
"So what?" Obito snapped. "Don't lump me in with you! I'm just stuck with this weird stuff stitched onto half my body."
He looked at his chest, split down the middle: one side normal flesh, the other an eerie white. His severed arm was regenerating, itching daily as if ants were crawling over it.
"Thanks to that, you can survive without eating or drinking. You should be grateful," White Zetsu said.
"We're not like you! Your half is just an emotionless construct!" A Fei added. "We're artificial humans... with our own feelings!" He paused, then added, "Just no need to poop."
"Shut up!" Obito glared at the two artificial beings.
All he wanted was to get back and protect Rin.
Otherwise, who knew what Shimizu might do to her?
He was so worried about Rin that he was having nightmares!
That vision felt so real, it still sent chills down his spine.
"Rin, wait for me," Obito said, staring at the perpetually dark ceiling, his heart full of anticipation for the future.
The next time he saw Rin, he'd surely surprise her.
...
The Next Day, Konoha Hospital
After a night of deliberation, Hyuga Ginka decided to change her outfit to meet Shimizu Uchiha.
She spent a long time at her wardrobe, finally choosing a ninja combat suit from her youth.
The form-fitting, breathable suit clung to her skin, accentuating her mature, curvaceous figure, its lines showcasing her form perfectly. She draped a heavy ninja cloak over it.
Ninja combat suits were designed to be breathable and form-fitting, highlighting the wearer's physique.
Ginka planned to visit Hyuga Nobuhiko first, then meet Shimizu.
To her surprise, she ran into Shimizu in the hospital corridor.
Dressed as a doctor, Shimizu wore a white coat over a fitted black robe.
"Uchiha... Shimizu," Ginka said, her lips pursing slightly as she nervously lifted her cloak.
"Not bad," Shimizu said, his gaze lingering on her with a hint of appreciation and playfulness.
On Ginka, ordinary ninja attire somehow gave off a seductive, almost forbidden allure.
Her figure was truly stunning.
"Madam, your devotion to your husband is admirable," Shimizu said, finally looking away.
It was clear Ginka's figure had only improved with age.
Her refined curves were the perfect embodiment of a ninja's countless hours of training.
Ginka felt his gaze and tensed slightly.
This Shimizu Uchiha was so... uncouth.
He lacked the refinement expected of someone from a prestigious clan like the Uchiha, unlike the Hyuga.
No one else would dare act so brazenly, unafraid of being misunderstood.
But as Shimizu's gaze grew bolder, Ginka's brows furrowed, a mix of displeasure and wariness rising.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
Anger, helplessness, and a trace of resilient endurance flickered in her eyes.
"Are we done?" Ginka asked, a faint blush on her cheeks—whether from anger or embarrassment at Shimizu's stare, she wasn't sure.
The words felt inexplicably humiliating.
Using her appearance as a bargaining chip made her feel like a shameless woman pandering to a man.
"Done," Shimizu nodded, satisfied with Ginka's compliance.
He followed her to Nobuhiko's hospital room.
"Nobuhiko, Uchiha Shimizu is here. You'll be saved soon!" Ginka said, her face lighting up with joy.
"Really? Thank you so much, Dr. Shimizu," Nobuhiko said, turning from the window where he'd been feeling the breeze.
His eyes were bandaged, but a genuine smile spread across his face.
Seeing her fiancé turn toward her, Ginka instinctively covered her body with her hands, pulling the cloak tighter to conceal her figure.
Then she realized Nobuhiko couldn't see and that he was her fiancé.
Her movements froze.
Should she keep covering herself or reveal her figure openly?
"No trouble at all. The Hyuga and Uchiha should work together to contribute to the village," Shimizu said righteously.
His hand casually slipped around Ginka's waist.
Ginka's body trembled, her Byakugan activating in her agitation.
She glared at Shimizu, pushing against him with force.
But Shimizu didn't budge, and they remained locked in a tense standoff.
Clatter.
Ginka accidentally knocked an orange off the table.
"What was that?" Nobuhiko asked, turning toward the sound, puzzled.
The Hyuga's Byakugan was the ultimate sensory tool, and Nobuhiko had relied heavily on his eyes. Now, blind, he struggled to discern what had happened by sound alone.
"A cat came in and knocked over an orange," Shimizu said.
"A cat?" Nobuhiko's ears perked, trying to catch the sound of a cat.
Shimizu glanced at Ginka.
She hesitated, then reluctantly let out a "Meow~."
"There really is a little kitty," Nobuhiko said, delighted.
He loved cats—their soft, calming presence soothed him.
"Yeah, but this cat's been naughty. It needs a little punishment," Shimizu said.
Smack!
His hand struck Ginka's backside, sending ripples through the fabric.
Ginka clapped her hands over her mouth, barely stifling a yelp.
"The poor kitty. You don't have to do that, Dr. Shimizu," Nobuhiko said, scratching his head awkwardly.
Shimizu had come specifically to treat his eyes, and the orange was meant to aid his recovery. Now Nobuhiko was defending the cat, feeling like he'd overstepped.
"Alright, this little kitty's lucky. One more meow, and I'll let you off, kitty," Shimizu said.
Ginka shot him a fierce glare, rubbing the stinging spot with one hand.
"Meow~."
"See? Such a kitty. Looks like she ran off," Shimizu said.
"Uh, yeah," Nobuhiko agreed.
Unable to see, he assumed Shimizu was right.
Ginka, standing silently nearby, didn't contradict him.
"Let me check your eyes," Shimizu said, removing Nobuhiko's bandages.
One eye socket was empty and dark; the other Byakugan was clouded and murky.
With the bandages off, Nobuhiko could vaguely observe his surroundings.
Behind Shimizu, he made out a hazy figure—likely Ginka, as she was the only other person in the room.
"It's serious. I'll start with temporary treatment to reduce the infected area, then perform surgery to remove it," Shimizu said.
He wasn't lying to Nobuhiko.
For normal eyes, he could begin a full cure immediately, but these were Byakugan.
Without his advanced medical skills, only Tsunade or Yakushi Nono could handle this. Orochimaru might manage it too, likely by cloning a new Byakugan and transplanting it.
"Thank you," Nobuhiko said gratefully.
The Hyuga had followed Konoha's higher-ups' subtle cues to distance themselves from the Uchiha, treating them with cold indifference.
Yet Shimizu was selflessly willing to treat him.
"Once I'm healed, Ginka and I will marry. You'll come to the wedding, right, Dr. Shimizu?" Nobuhiko said.
"Of course. I'll be there with a gift," Shimizu replied.
--
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