With matters concluded, Tsunade left without any hesitation.
Konoha, having just held a funeral, was still immersed in sorrow, and the deep night was even quieter than before.
But Black Zetsu was in good spirits.
When Uzumaki Mito was alive, his lurking in Konoha always felt a bit constrained.
Although Mito was basically unable to sense him, he felt a thorn in his side whenever there was even a slight chance of being exposed.
Now it was fine; the only person in all of Konoha who could possibly sense him was dead, and this generation's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki still needed time to grow. As long as he avoided the small area where she was, there was nothing to fear.
He came to the Uchiha Clan Compound as usual to monitor Naraku, and seeing the latter quietly slip out of the Clan Compound under the cover of night, heading straight for the riverside, he quickly followed.
Recently, Uchiha Naraku's frequency of searching for the necklace had gradually decreased. When he did come, he would just stand on the riverbank in despair, seemingly having given up hope on the matter.
Seeing Naraku sitting blankly on the withered grass slope again tonight, gazing at the flowing river, Black Zetsu began to consider whether he should reveal himself now and entice the other party.
He had been waiting for this brat to leave the village, but Naraku, for his part, hadn't left for two months, all to learn Medical Ninjutsu.
He didn't know how often Naraku would leave the village in the future, or if he would have a chance to act.
Perhaps he could try.
The moment Black Zetsu poked his head out from the shadows of the bushes, a string of faint footsteps came from the end of the riverbank path, and he immediately withdrew.
On the other side, Naraku, with his Perception Ninjutsu active, firmly locked onto Black Zetsu's position, silently wondering why the fellow still hadn't shown himself.
After waiting for a long time, he saw Black Zetsu about to come over. Before he could be happy for half a second, he saw him retract with lightning speed.
Naraku:???
Then, a faint Chakra entered the edge of his Perception Ninjutsu, getting closer and closer.
Who's ruining my plans!
When the other party got closer, Naraku stood up and walked onto the riverbank. Not far away, there was a small figure, half a head shorter than him, limping towards him.
Hmm?
Uchiha Shisui?
...Uchiha Shisui had always had a small wish: to meet the legendary genius, "Uchiha Naraku."
It started one day when his father, Uchiha Entō, went to a clan meeting. He returned exceptionally happy, telling him and his mother over supper about what had been announced at the meeting.
What impressed Shisui the most was his father's effusive praise for the young man named "Naraku," saying he was the pride of the Uchiha Clan, a once-in-a-century genius, and had even become a disciple of White Fang, bringing hope to the entire clan for improving their situation.
Noticing Shisui's increasingly bright eyes, his father patted his small head and smiled, saying, "Our Shisui will surely become this excellent in the future."
He nodded vigorously.
From then on, a seed of pursuing the other party fell into his heart and began to take root and sprout.
Some time after that, he learned from other Clan Member that Uchiha Naraku had failed a mission and was brought back to Konoha by White Fang, severely injured.
He wanted to know what exactly happened, but even his father, a Jonin, didn't get much information, only hearing that Uchiha Naraku had at least eliminated two full Amegakure Anbu squads at the time, fighting his way out.
"As expected of the Uchiha Clan's genius, even in the Land of Rain, using the disadvantageous Fire Release, he was still this strong."
His father scooped up a mouthful of his mother's mushroom fried rice, muttering his admiration.
Later, rumors about White Fang kept emerging one after another. He was too young to understand the intricacies, only knowing that everyone seemed to believe that Naraku-senpai's master should not have abandoned the mission to save him.
But when Hokage-sama gave speeches at school, didn't he always talk about the Will of Fire, comrades, and bonds?
Before he could figure it out, the Clan Member no longer cared what those ignorant Konoha people were discussing.
For everyone, those chaotic, uncertain rumors were far less attention-grabbing than the bombshell that "Uchiha Naraku has activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan but suffers from bloodline limit sickness."
"Nine years old, he's only nine years old."
Shisui heard every Clan Member who learned the news exclaim this.
It was unclear whether they were astonished by Naraku's extraordinary talent or lamenting that the Uchiha would soon lose this genius.
His desire to meet Uchiha Naraku became even stronger.
It was said that Obito-nii was Naraku's classmate; he should know him, right?
We have a pretty good relationship; could I ask him to take me?
Before Shisui's small plan could be put into action, another rumor spread throughout Konoha.
White Fang was dead.
No, it seemed he wasn't dead, but in a coma.
All sorts of true and false rumors mixed together flew around, and Shisui couldn't distinguish what was real.
He only knew that Naraku-senpai must be especially sad, even sadder than when he himself was severely injured after a failed mission.
His father had gone on a mission outside the village, so he confided in his mother, who only gently pinched his cheek and praised Shisui as a kind and good child.
"But it's very rude to go uninvited if you don't know the person."
His mother said, taking out a piece of paper.
"How about we fold paper cranes to pray for Naraku? Wishing him all the best in the future."
"Okay!"
Shisui folded many paper cranes that night, stringing them into a long chain, and asked his mother to have the Clan Head's wife help deliver them.
The Clan Head's wife, a kind and warm-hearted person, indeed agreed and returned saying that Naraku was very happy to see the paper cranes.
A few more days passed, and Shisui finally heard good news from the Clan Member.
Uchiha Naraku had returned to live in the Clan Compound, and it was the Clan Head's wife herself who brought him back. It had reportedly been several days already.
The day he learned the news, Shisui, afraid of missing the timing, immediately ran back to the Clan Compound after school, heading towards the path where the Clan Head's wife was said to often stroll.
It was dusk, and the sun was slowly setting. He ran amidst the rose-colored sunset, filled with the joy of soon meeting the other person.
The chirping of birds returning to their nests seemed to carry happiness, and the laughter of the Clan Member talking was also so warm.
Then he saw him, the black-haired young man standing beside the wife, with a tall and straight posture, like a drawn sword; but those beautiful eyebrows and eyes softened this sharpness, and his black eyes held a gentle yet profound expression that captivated anyone who saw him;
The young man simply stood there quietly, and the setting sun voluntarily drew near, gently casting a golden halo upon him, making his entire being exude warmth and tranquility.
Shisui was panting, his heart pounding, and perhaps sweat was running down his temples, but he himself didn't feel it.
Perhaps his gaze was too direct; Naraku seemed to sense it and turned his head. Seeing him staring, he didn't get angry, but only smiled slightly, as if saying "hello."
Shisui immediately stiffened, his mind went blank, and his body reacted instinctively.
He actually bowed to Naraku, and then he ran away.
——
Naraku:???
——
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