Third Person POV
The very same day the siblings regained consciousness, their sensei, Minato, and Kushina came to visit them. The older redhead was the one who paid the most attention to the two children, showing just how worried all three adults were.
None of them questioned Amaya or Shisui right then about what had happened at the smugglers' hideout. They would soon have a meeting to discuss it, so they spared the siblings until that moment.
The Uchiha and the Uzumaki tried to project a bit more calm for everyone else in the room. They noticed, without even saying anything to each other, how distressed the three adults were about them.
The siblings were discharged from the hospital a few days after returning to the village. Neither was in any condition for strenuous activity yet, but they could at least go home.
But before that, they had to go with Shikaku to a meeting with the Sandaime to explain what had happened on the mission.
Since their sensei didn't know what happened to Team 7 inside the hideout, only the siblings could explain the events and this was a moment they were both dreading:
First, because they had to explain Takafumi's death and relive it all. That situation left them feeling and maybe always would unstable.
Then, there was the matter of Amaya wiping out Masao's men. The girl hadn't told anyone about that, not even Shisui. She only said she got herself and her brother out of the hideout, leaving out the details.
The Uchiha knew he shouldn't force her to talk, so he accepted her keeping it to herself for the time being. But the young redhead knew she'd have to reveal what happened sooner or later.
And they still had to talk about the most delicate point, the one that could cause trouble for both of them: Shisui had awakened his Mangekyou Sharingan, a level above the normal Sharingan that almost no clan member ever attained. It was a unique power.
And then there was the issue of Amaya. Although she had already awakened her Sharingan before, she had only just managed to reactivate it. And since her brother hadn't informed the clan about it earlier, the problems would fall on both of them.
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The siblings followed Minato and Shikaku to the Hokage's building, where they would speak with the Sandaime. To everyone's surprise when they arrived, the Uchiha clan head, Fugaku, was also present.
The figure with black hair and eyes sat to Hiruzen's left, arms crossed over his chest, a serious expression on his face. His posture was intimidating to anyone seeing him for the first time.
Minato took a seat to the Third's right, and Shikaku, accompanied by his students, stood before the three men. The setup felt a lot like an interrogation.
– How is your recovery going? – The Hokage asked the children first.
– Okay – Shisui answered promptly – Not as fast as we hoped, but it's going okay – the redhead agreed weakly.
– That's good to hear – The Sandaime said calmly – Now... Shikaku, if you could explain to them what you reported about the mission... – The jounin agreed.
The Nara quickly recounted everything that happened on the mission, from the moment they met Masao as their client and traveled to the neighboring country.
Amaya and Shisui paid closer attention to their sensei's story when he started explaining what happened after he followed the fake Konoha jounin. He described his fight with the smugglers and the double ambush they had set.
Shikaku also talked about searching for his students and the client at the spot he'd told them to wait, and his confusion upon finding them gone.
While searching for his students, the jounin quickly pieced together the mystery troubling his mind, understanding the connection between the smugglers and Masao, most likely being the leader of the men.
The Nara also told them about his search and the fights he had with Masao's men every time he got closer to where their hideout was supposed to be.
Even though his expression and tone were neutral, everyone could sense the underlying anxiety in his account, the worry he'd felt for his students' safety.
Night had fallen and he hadn't finished his search. Shikaku was also injured from the many fights he'd faced along the way. The sudden storm only made his search harder.
He wasn't a tracking ninja, and it was far from a well-developed skill for the jounin. But his high IQ and strategic mind made up for it.
It was by interrogating Masao's men he found along the way that he managed to partially discover the location of the smugglers' hideout.
On his way to the location, he noticed some strange movement heading in the opposite direction. And that's how the jounin found his students.
Hiruzen questioned the two genin about that, and they both confirmed the situation – in Shisui's case, up until the moment the sensei separated from the team; Amaya confirmed the final encounter with the Nara.
And after that, it was time for the siblings to tell their side of the story.
Only they knew what happened inside the hideout, about the smugglers, their plans, the circumstances of Takafumi's death, and, known only to Amaya, how they left the place.
With a coolness unbelievable for children their age, the two genin narrated everything that unfolded. Their accounts alternated, giving as much information as possible about the place, the people involved, and the events.
The adults listened intently, taking in every detail.
Then they reached one of the most critical moments for them: Takafumi's death. Both Shisui and Amaya stalled in their speech then. It was sad to remember... It was painful.
It was the Uzumaki who took over the narrative at that point.
Gathering as much composure as possible, she recounted everything surrounding their teammate's death. Her words were cold, with an explicit tone of morbidity, yet they conveyed the pain she and her brother had felt in that situation.
She talked about the power her brother awakened, and her own – only then did the girl notice a slight change in Fugaku's expression. But she didn't stop and continued.
Amaya explained things quickly and precisely, as if she was unloading everything she had been keeping locked inside. She told them about her "ability" to empty her mind for combat and everything she did next:
About freeing herself and Shisui, gearing up, planning, and hunting for Masao's men in the hideout. She also told them about the extermination, the sea of blood she spilled hunting them down, and about Masao's own death.
Finally, she explained about their escape, how she carried her brother until the unexpected meeting with their sensei. She let out a heavy sigh at the end of her account, lowering her head for a moment.
The adults present said nothing for a few moments, but one thought lingered in their minds: Unlike the Uchiha's report, the redhead's narration was dry, devoid of any emotion she herself might have felt at the time.
And they were right. That was the girl's intention. She didn't want to show anything. All the pain, all the hatred... She considered the emotions she felt a burden she should bear alone.
Shisui turned his gaze to his sister beside him. In that moment, he understood why she hadn't told him what happened after he lost consciousness. He could see how badly she felt, even though she did it to protect them.
He placed his hand over her clenched fist, seeking to comfort her for the internal storm she must have been dealing with. At the same moment, Shisui felt her muscles relax and grow less tense.
Hiruzen was the one who broke the prevailing silence. There weren't enough words to console the siblings or even Shikaku for the loss of his student. They had all been through an unforgettable experience.
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On Minato's suggestion, the siblings were dismissed from the rest of the meeting. The Sandaime and the jounins still had many things to discuss and agreed there was no need to keep Amaya and Shisui there for that.
The two youngsters left the building together. They hadn't said a word to each other until then. Both felt the same, albeit in different measures – the sadness and all the suffering followed them.
– Amaya... – Shisui called her after a few moments, making the girl look at him – Do you mind coming with me somewhere before we head home? – She gave a weak no.
– I already said I'd keep an eye on you until you get better, remember? – The Uzumaki said, making her brother smile a weak, tender smile.
– Thanks... – He thanked her quietly – I just want to pick something up on the way – She nodded.
They walked calmly through the village streets. There wasn't much movement that day. They stopped at a flower shop, where Shisui asked for a small bouquet.
Then they headed in the direction of the training grounds. After a few minutes, they reached a large stone monument with numerous inscriptions carved into it.
Shisui knelt in front of the great stone, placing the bouquet at its base. He stood up, his eyes lifting to the monument.
– This is the Memorial Stone – He explained briefly to his sister – See the names carved here? – The girl nodded – They belong to all the ninja who died in service to the village – She let her eyes run over the stone, observing the many names covering it.
– Was Takafumi's name carved here? – She asked quietly.
– Probably... – Shisui answered lethargically – Mine could be here right now – He let out a heavy sigh, feeling his eyes well up – Damn it... Your name could be here too – The girl looked at him.
The same guilt she felt for not being able to do anything for Takafumi was consuming her brother at that moment – guilt for not being able to protect her.
The redhead reached for her brother's hand, holding it firmly. The Uchiha was surprised by Amaya's gesture. He knew her well, and she wasn't the type to initiate contact.
It only took him a moment to understand why she did it: To not leave him alone. It was their promise. He moved closer to her, hugging her carefully because of their injuries.
– I don't know how you're handling this so well... – Shisui said quietly to his sister.
– Believe me, I'm not doing as well as I seem – She replied in the same low voice.
They separated a few moments later. Shisui paid his respects to his friend's memory while praying. Not knowing what to do or which deity to pray to, Amaya just stood by her brother's side.
Because of that, she noticed the female figure approaching the memorial. At first, the Uzumaki didn't recognize who it was, but soon her expression became one of surprise, mixed with distress.
– Nii-san... – She called her brother in a low voice.
The Uchiha looked at her and then in the direction she was staring. The boy's expression also shifted to surprise. The woman was approaching with some flowers in her hands, heading for the memorial.
– Yumi... – Shisui took the initiative, since the Uzumaki seemed frozen.
– Shisui... – The woman spoke slowly and briefly glanced over the siblings – And Amaya-chan...
When the woman's distracted eyes analyzed the two children near the Memorial Stone, a feeling of sadness filled her. Yumi quickly noticed the injuries on the two in front of her, and her heart tightened even more than it already was.
She couldn't imagine what they were feeling, what they had seen... But their sad expressions showed her just how badly they were doing.
– Thank you for the flowers – She thanked them, seeing the bouquet placed before the Memorial, and offered a weak smile – Takafumi would have liked them...
Amaya clenched her hands and forced herself to speak what was stuck in her heart.
– Yumi-san... – The young Uchiha woman looked at her, and the Uzumaki bowed her upper body as a sign of apology – Maybe this isn't the best time, but... – The redhead lifted her face immediately after – I need to give you this.
The girl took one hand out of her pocket, holding something. She extended her hand towards Yumi, revealing Takafumi's necklace, which she had taken from the hideout.
Yumi's contained expression shattered the instant she saw the familiar object, and the flowers in her hands fell to the ground. She took an unsteady step towards Amaya and took the necklace in her own hands.
Yes, it was her son's necklace. She was sure. She was the one who had given it to Takafumi when he graduated from the Academy.
Amaya took a step back after handing the necklace to the Uchiha. She didn't know what to expect from the young woman in front of her.
Yumi kept her eyes on the object for a few moments, then looked at the siblings. The two were standing side by side, their attention fixed on the woman.
She approached them with firm steps, and neither of them moved, accepting whatever Yumi might choose to do to them. And unlike anything they imagined, she hugged them.
– Th-Thank you... – She thanked them, her voice completely choked by the tears streaming down her face – Th-Thank you for bringing him home...
Amaya and Shisui couldn't process that reaction at first, but the words of the young Uchiha woman whose arms enveloped them soon broke through the thin barrier they had built inside themselves to stay strong.
And for the first time, they allowed themselves to cry.
They cried for the loss of their friend and teammate. They cried for what they had been through. They cried for all the pain and guilt accumulated within them. Yumi hugged them tightly, seeking to comfort her own heart and the hearts of the two sobbing children in her arms.