Even when they tried to hide it, Yugao's sharp senses could always feel the subtle disdain.
But Arata was different.
He lacked that superiority entirely.
On the road, at meals, and in conversation, he treated her as an equal.
Because of that, Yugao couldn't bring herself to dislike him. In fact, she felt a strange warmth from him.....a calm, grounding presence that drew her in without her realizing it.
Whenever they rested, she'd secretly steal glances at him.
After all, handsome people always drew attention...and she had no reason to resent him.
Her thoughts wandered as she watched him.
He's only a few years older than me, but his strength… everyone in Anbu knows he killed Danzo in a single strike with his Susanoo.
At his age, he's probably nearing marriage.
I wonder if the Uchiha clan allows marriage outside their bloodline…
The thought made her cheeks warm.
Admiring strength was human nature.....and Uchiha Arata combined strength, beauty, and a kind temperament.
It was no surprise her imagination began to wander.
Time passed quietly....Arata plotting his next bloodline conquest, Yugao lost in her quiet infatuation.
When midnight came and the entire Hidden Grass Village fell silent, Kakashi completed his infiltration and returned, rejoining the two in the shadows without a sound.
Uchiha Arata's Sharingan remained active the entire time, so Kakashi's camouflage technique was as obvious to him as a hundred-watt light bulb shining in the dark.
By the time Kakashi returned, Arata had already sensed him.
The faint sound of his footsteps confirmed it.
Beside him, the ever-alert Uzuki Yugao instantly snapped out of her quiet daydreaming, her expression turning sharp and focused as she waited for Kakashi to approach.
After exchanging a few Anbu hand signs to confirm their identities, Kakashi moved closer to rendezvous with Arata and Yugao.
In truth, if it came down purely to power, Uchiha Arata alone could probably overwhelm the entire Grass Village without much effort.
But this mission wasn't one that could be solved with brute strength.
Their objective—rescuing the Uzumaki mother and daughter.....had to be accomplished without alarming the Grass shinobi.
If the enemy panicked, they might kill the targets.
And with Iwagakure so close, any rash move could spark a political crisis between nations.
Subtlety was the only safe path.
Once reunited, Kakashi outlined the situation inside the village, marking the exact location of their targets.
His tone, however, darkened when he spoke of their condition.
"I used my Sharingan to check them closely," Kakashi said grimly.
"The little girl is still fine, but her mother… her chakra has been almost completely drained by the Grass shinobi.
If we don't act soon, she'll die. It has to be now."
Before Arata could respond, Yugao blurted out, wide-eyed, "Drained of chakra? You can absorb chakra? Is that some kind of secret jutsu from the Grass Village?"
Arata smiled faintly and answered in Kakashi's stead. "Our targets belong to the Uzumaki clan.....Konoha's long-standing allies. But years ago, their home, the Land of Whirlpools, was destroyed.
The survivors scattered, wandering across the world. These two must be among them."
He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "The woman likely possesses a rare Uzumaki ability known as Vital Healing.
It allows her to restore another person's chakra and vitality by letting them bite her skin.
Naturally, it drains her own chakra in the process."
Kakashi's jaw tightened as Arata continued. "Judging by what you've said, the Grass shinobi have been exploiting her.....treating her like a living healing tool.
They don't care whether she survives or not."
When Arata finished, Yugao's eyes sparkled like tiny stars.
She couldn't help it...his serious, composed expression fit perfectly with the kind of man she had always dreamed about.
Kakashi, seeing her lovestruck look, sighed helplessly and rubbed his temple.
These girls and their weakness for pretty faces…
Still, Arata's explanation had surprised him. He'd only known fragments of the Uzumaki clan's lore, not the level of detail Arata just shared.
After a brief silence, Kakashi spoke again, his tone turning practical.
So, what's our next move? If the Grass keep draining her chakra, she'll die within days.
And if that happens, our mission fails."
Although Kakashi was technically the leader, he still sought Arata's opinion.
Not only was Arata the Uchiha clan's vice chief, but those twin Mangekyō eyes of his demanded respect from anyone who had seen them in battle.
Arata, however, made no attempt to seize command. "You're the captain, Kakashi," he said calmly.
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