Chapter 23: Laying a Trap, Beauty in Arms
A full moon hung high in the sky like a silver coin forged by the Sage of Six Paths himself, its cold light spilling over the land. In the dense forest east of Konoha, Hyuga Chiryo walked silently, her face emotionless.
The shadows of the trees stretched across the path like long fingers, giving the night a ghostly chill. As she arrived at the base of the waterfall near the Hokage Rock, a flicker of nostalgia crossed her pale eyes.
She had come here often as a child. Her mother would bring her on sunny days for picnics by the river. When she got muddy, she'd splash into the shallow water, laughing and scrubbing herself clean. If she got lucky, she might even catch a fish with her bare hands.
But those days had ended with the deaths of her parents. She hadn't returned since.
Chiryo crouched down and brushed her fingers across the damp earth. A memory surfaced—Tonan's voice echoing in her mind from when he once tutored her after class:
"Explosive tags are more than just tools of destruction—they're strategic assets. Humidity is the greatest enemy of a well-placed trap. If your tag gets wet, you've basically gifted your enemy a slip of paper."
"In the field, you can't always control the terrain. That's where prep comes in. Wrap your tag in dry leaves or coat it with chalk to absorb the moisture. If you've got time, pack it in dry dirt. Of course, if you're wealthy—or a jounin with a generous budget—you can just use weather-resistant tags."
Pulled from her reverie, Chiryo opened the seemingly innocent cat food bag and removed a hidden packet of dry soil. She spread it carefully across a spot near the edge of the trail. From her pocket, she pulled out three standard-issue explosive tags. One by one, she nestled them into the dry dirt and concealed them further with a careful layering of fallen leaves.
"Tonan-kun… don't blame me for this," she murmured.
Her voice was as quiet as the night.
She turned toward the creek. As she walked, she undressed slowly, letting each piece of fabric fall to the grass behind her. Naked, she stepped into the cool water beneath the waterfall with barely a flinch.
Splash.
With both hands gripping the rocky bank, she stared toward the trail, waiting.
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound—
Mina stepped into her home and stopped cold. Her eyes widened. There, lying motionless near the entrance, was the corpse of her kitten.
"Yuki…"
She dropped to her knees.
Its little body had been crushed, its soft white belly split open in a mess of blood and fur. Its lifeless eyes stared at nothing.
"Who… who did this…?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She clutched the body close, sobbing into its fur. Yuki wasn't just a pet. It was a gift from Tonan. The first thing he'd ever given her. It had meant the world to her.
Through the haze of grief, she noticed a folded note beside the body. Trembling, she opened it.
"Sad? If I can't have it, I'll destroy it. I left another note under my desk in the classroom. It has my current location."
Her eyes turned sharp. Her tears dried in an instant, burned away by sheer fury.
"Chiryo… I'll kill you!"
As rage surged through her, Mina's pupils shifted. A single tomoe spun into existence in her left eye—Sharingan. But the awakening brought her no joy. No triumph. Only cold resolve.
Without hesitation, she shot out the door and bolted toward the academy.
Back in the forest, Tonan walked like a shadow given form, not even rustling the fallen leaves. He exuded no killing intent, no chakra signature, nothing. Just like a seasoned ANBU stalking prey through the woods.
Though the forests near Konoha were generally free of beasts—unlike the barrier-sealed Forest of Death—Tonan never let his guard down. Vigilance was a habit he wore like a second skin.
Coo coo.
The quiet cry of a pigeon in the night air broke the silence. Tonan glanced up, noting the signal. It was time.
He continued toward the waterfall.
Splash.
Beneath the roar of cascading water, the sound of movement reached his ears. He saw her—Chiryo, waist-deep in the stream, hands on the rocky edge, her soaked hair clinging to her shoulders. Her pale skin glowed under the moonlight.
"Tonan-kun, you're here," she called out, eyes locked onto him.
He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, feigning nervousness. "Sorry… looks like I came at the wrong time."
He spun around instantly, trying to act flustered.
Behind him, Chiryo smiled with satisfaction at his reaction. "You're right on time, Tonan-kun. Just give me a moment."
"Hurry and get dressed. Don't worry, I didn't see anything," he said stiffly, back still turned.
Moments later, he heard water trickle and then the light crunch of bare feet on leaves.
"I'm done. You can turn around."
He turned—and found her standing inches away.
Before he could react, she threw herself into his arms, pressing her naked body to his chest and burying her face in him.
"You…"
He froze like a statue, heart calm but outwardly tense.
"Tonan-kun… I like you. Did you know that?" she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt.
Tonan's eyes drifted past her, noting the damp trail she'd left behind. His voice came out awkwardly.
"I… I know."
She tightened her grip around his waist. "Are you in love with Mina?"
He offered a slight smile. His left hand slowly glided across her back while his right gently patted it.
"What makes you think that? I've always seen her as a little sister."
Whether it was the answer she wanted or the warmth of his touch, Chiryo relaxed slightly.
"I hate being born into the Hyuga," she confessed, voice low and bitter. "They won't let us marry outsiders. I'm from the branch house—I've been branded with the Caged Bird Seal since I could walk. I'm a prisoner in my own body."
"All my life, they've tried to crush me into their mold. Be obedient. Be quiet. Be loyal to the main house. Like a good little bird in a golden cage."
"There's always a way out," Tonan said, his left hand sliding down her back to rest on her narrow waist.
Chiryo closed her eyes and leaned into his chest, soaking in the warmth.
"My parents were weak, but they still forced them to fight in the war. They died on the front lines like disposable pawns. The clan never even told me."
"I tried so hard to act meek. Pretend to be harmless. I thought… maybe if they pitied me, they'd remove the mark and exile me. Anything would be better than this life."
Tonan looked down at her, eyes cold and calculating. "How naïve."
But Chiryo didn't notice. Her eyes remained closed, voice cracking with pain.
"I know… I'm too naive. I even thought about dying. Just ending it all. But then you appeared. You gave me hope. You're so gentle, Tonan-kun… so kind."
Tonan continued to pat her back, his voice low and unreadable. "Really? You're not thinking of dying anymore?"
"I… I just want to stay like this a little longer. Please… hold me."
Her tears, hot and bitter, soaked into his chest. And Tonan held her—just like she asked.
At least, for now.