A choice?
Gekkō Hayate stood silently, gazing at Shigure.
"You know the situation in Konoha. I came back this time to take some people away. Regardless of whether Danzō ends up becoming Hokage, I refuse to be controlled and threatened the same way ever again."
Hayate was silent for a long moment.
"…Alright. Let me think about it."
Shigure nodded and walked away. There were more people he needed to meet.
Anyone from the Gekkō Clan who wished to leave could follow him. In the Hidden Mist Village, they would be treated as a top-tier clan, highly valued.
But remaining in Konoha meant staying an average ninja family, subjected to the uncertain political tides.
It was their decision to make.
For now, Shigure's destination was the flower shop.
The Flower Shop
In front of a medium-sized flower shop along a quiet Konoha street, Shigure stood watching through the window.
With the village's current internal instability, most Genin had been suspended from missions and told to stay home.
It was the safest course. No one knew when a battle might break out over the struggle for the Hokage seat.
Inside, Yamanaka Ino held a pot of blooming flowers, admiring their color—yet her expression was dim.
Shigure had left Konoha—gone to the Hidden Mist Village, rumored to have even become a Jinchūriki.
He was never supposed to come back again.
Thinking about that, Ino's heart grew even heavier.
"Those flowers are beautiful. How much are they? I'd like to buy them for someone."
At the sound of the familiar voice, Ino looked up sharply.
The flower pot slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.
She stared at the tall stranger who stood before her.
Her eyes were filled with confusion.
"Y–You are…?"
"Can't you recognize my voice?"
Ino's eyes widened, her mouth falling open.
"Y-You're Shigure!?"
The man was tall—much taller than before—with a lean, well-proportioned figure and pale skin.
His face, once youthful, now held sharper definition.
Shigure had always been handsome, but now his growth made it almost startling.
"Shigure—how did you suddenly become like this!?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe becoming a Jinchūriki pushed my development forward all at once."
Shigure stepped closer, slipped an arm around Ino's waist, and lifted her effortlessly.
Then—Body Flicker Technique—they vanished from the shop.
The Park
In a quiet, isolated park, Shigure sat down on a bench with Ino still in his arms.
Her body went stiff like a startled kitten.
"After all this time… didn't you miss me?"
"I—Of course not!"
Shigure lowered his head and kissed her gently.
Flushing bright red, Ino looked up at him.
"Shigure-kun… are you back in Konoha?"
He tapped the Hidden Mist forehead protector tied around his arm.
"Does it look like I came back as a Konoha ninja?"
"Then… why are you here?"
"To take you with me."
Ino froze.
"Take me away…?"
Shigure nodded.
"Yes. Come with me to the Hidden Mist. Will you?"
The question left her speechless. She leaned against his chest, listening to the powerful, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"But… my home is still in Konoha."
Shigure exhaled softly.
"I won't force you. It's your choice. If you want to come, I'll take you. If you want to stay, I'll respect that. We're both alive—there will always be a chance to meet again. But… it won't be easy for a long time."
He already predicted that after this visit, communication between Konoha and the Hidden Mist would decline drastically. They might not see each other again anytime soon.
Ino squeezed his hand tightly, trembling.
"Shigure-kun… are you doing well in the Hidden Mist?"
Shigure smiled faintly.
"Very soon—if nothing unexpected happens, I'll become the Sixth Mizukage."
Ino stared at him, stunned.
"As expected of Shigure-kun… that's incredible."
"Whether you decide to leave with me or not, at least we have today. Right now, we're together."
Ino's expression grew hazy, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.
Shigure did not return her to the Yamanaka residence until evening. Even then, Ino still hadn't given him an answer.
It wasn't her fault. Her home was in Konoha. Her teammates and her family were here. Unlike Shigure, she couldn't simply leave everything behind.
After parting with her, Shigure made his way to Ichiraku Ramen.
Ichiraku Ramen
Inside, Hyūga Hinata sat quietly, two steaming bowls of ramen placed before her. She smiled softly at the sight, waiting.
Shigure appeared beside her, watching her stare at the bowls with an absentminded, gentle smile.
"Aren't you hungry? Why aren't you eating?"
Startled, Hinata turned and froze for a moment when she saw him—then her face brightened.
Even though his appearance had changed drastically, she recognized him instantly.
"I… I was waiting for Shigure-kun."
"Is that so? Then let's eat together."
A soft hum escaped her lips as she nodded, unable to hide her happiness.
Behind the counter, Teuchi, the owner, trembled and dropped the ladle in his hand.
Ayame stepped forward, eyes shimmering with emotion.
"Sorry… my dad is a little upset that you willingly became a ninja of the Hidden Mist."
Shigure was taken aback. Even Ichiraku Ramen knew.
After finishing the meal, the two walked toward the Hyūga Clan compound.
"Hinata," Shigure said quietly, "I want to take you away from Konoha. Will you come with me?"
Hinata stopped walking, face already flushed, but now frozen entirely.
One thought shot through her mind—
Eloping?
Shigure-kun wanted to take her away.
Should she agree?
But her father, her clan—everything she had known was here.
"Are you happy staying at home?" Shigure asked gently.
"Your father still intends to raise you as the Hyūga successor, right?"
Hinata lowered her head and nodded.
With her gentle nature, she was ill-suited for the harsh world of shinobi. A quiet, peaceful life suited her better.
Shigure placed a hand lightly on her head.
"So I want to take you away from Konoha. Will you come with me?"
Hinata hesitated for a long time.
"…I want to go with Shigure-kun. But Father won't agree."
"Don't worry. As long as you want to leave, no one can stop me. And if you choose to come with me, I promise no one will dare stand in our way."
"Truly?" Hinata whispered. She didn't understand how he could be so certain.
Shigure smiled faintly.
"You'll know soon."
"Tomorrow. Wait for me near the Hokage Building. Once I finish one last task, we'll leave Konoha together."
Hinata nodded softly.
"…Okay."
After watching her disappear into the Hyūga compound, Shigure turned around and faced the opposite direction.
"It should be almost time."
"Sasuke, you should be arriving soon."
And not just Sasuke. The shinobi from Takigakure would reach Konoha shortly as well.
The news of his presence was already spreading—and with it, the disappearance of their Tailed Beast.
A few days earlier, Fū, the Jinchūriki of Takigakure, had returned and reported that the Seven-Tails had been taken. Takigakure immediately dispatched ninja to Konoha, demanding mediation and justice.
Stealing another village's Tailed Beast was an act that could trigger war.
Meanwhile, still in Takigakure, Hidan and Kakuzu, who had been hunting a Jinchūriki, fumed at the news.
Hidan spat violently.
"I didn't expect that brat from the Hidden Mist to steal our prey!"
Kakuzu's voice was cold.
"Hidden Mist Village… they only just lifted their isolation and they already dare to behave like this. It seems we'll need to visit the Mist personally."
...
TN:
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