The laughter and warmth of Uchiha Gourmet lingered as the four stepped out into the cool night. The lanterns of the restaurant flickered behind them, casting long shadows across the quiet streets of the Uchiha compound.
Kaya stretched her arms with a satisfied sigh. "---ngh-----!! That was perfect. I'll have to come back here again."
Sakumo gave a small nod. "You'll need someone to drag you to trouble next time too, I suppose."
Kaya swiftly looped her arm through his and grinned. "Then you'd better walk me home, Sakumo-kun. I'll get lost in all this Uchiha gloom."
Sakumo let out a helpless sigh still un-accustomed to Kaya's bustling energy, but he allowed himself to be tugged along. The two quickly waved Shinichi and Keiko goodbyes and disappeared down the path toward the compound's exit as Kaya's cheerful voice echoed faintly in the distance.
Keiko watched them go, with a sigh of exasperation. "I wonder where she gets all that energy from."
Shinichi nodded in agreement. "She's definitely one of a kind. Even among the Senju."
The two matched their eyes and smirked in agreement.
Keiko then crossed her arms and turned slightly away from Shinichi. "ahem... Well. Courtesy demands you walk me back."
Shinichi raised an eyebrow.
Noticing the faint blush rising on her ears, Shinichi's lips arched slightly as he fell into step beside her. "Well then. Where too my lady?"
Keiko flushed once more and muttered silently, "my house is along the path back to yours.."
---
The streets of the compound were quieter now, the solemn atmosphere returning as they moved away from the restaurant. Shinichi walked with his usual calm, hands tucked into his sleeves, while Keiko kept pace beside him, her posture stiff but her steps were light with hint of joy and excitement.
After a stretch of silence, Shinichi spoke. "You seemed close with Kaya tonight. That wasn't the impression I had during the exams."
Keiko's steps slowed to a halt.
Shinichi turned, Keiko stood still with her eyes hidden under the shadow of her fore hair. After a moment of silence she raised her head, her gaze now distant as starlight glistened, reflecting on her pupil.
"...Two years ago," she began in low voice, "I was on a mission with my chunin mentor. It was supposed to be a simple C-rank Bandit clear-out mission."
Her hands clenched at her sleeves. "But it wasn't bandits. It was bloodline hunters. the kind that used to thrive before Konoha stabilized the world. They are rare now, but that night, they were waiting."
Shinichi's gaze sharpened, but remained silent.
"My mentor held most of them back as I escaped. But there were more of them ambushing my escape route. They purposefully left a secure escape route to lure the younger and weaker among the two of us."
Keiko closed her eyes then opened them. Her turned into a crimson single tomoe sharingan.
"I luckily awakened these eyes, but it was not enough. It only made my enemies more excited."
Keiko rubbed her arms, chilled, just by recalling the experience. Shinichi patted on her stiff shoulder, relaxing her.
"I was lucky that they wanted me alive. I was seconds away from being captured when I saw a pair with Konoha hitai-ate(forehead protector). But when I saw that it was Kaya and her mentor. I doubted for a second that it was over for me. But Kaya didn't hesitate. She demanded they save me and they did."
Keiko raised her head to match with Shinichi's eyes while giving a self-deprecating smile. Her voice faltered, mixed with guilt and broken pride.
"She risked herself for me and fought through enemies she might have had no chance of beating, just to drag me out alive. And I didn't trust her. that the Senju.. that she... that Kaya would save me."
After a moment of silence, Shinichi spoke.
"...So that's why you chose her."
Keiko nodded her head honestly, crossing her arms tighter. Then relaxed her shoulders and smiled. "How could I be in debt of Senju? It will be me who saves her next."
Shinichi widened his eyes for a moment but quickly smiled back and nodded in acknowledgement. Keiko was clearly putting up a strong front to mask her emotion, whether it be the guilt she felt for distrusting Kaya or her reflection of self.
After all, her eyes now bore two tomoe.
---
As they reached the gates, Keiko stopped. Her voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. "Thank you.... You're not as unnoticeable as you think Shinichi. People notice you. Kaya, me... others too. If you have something bothering you, you don't have to bottle it inside. I-I might not have the answers, but it's better than thinking alone. Good-bye!"
And with that Keiko rushed inside.
Shinichi watched her disappear through the gates in bewilderment. He then gave the faintest nod towards the gates. "I'll keep that in mind."
He took his step back home.
The streets of the Uchiha compound were hushed and lanterns flickered faintly against the solemn walls. Shinichi walked alone now, his steps were steady, but his mind was restless.
Keiko's words lingered. Through her fluster he had glimpsed the honestly hidden behind her pride; her guilt, her gratitude, and the bond she had forged with Kaya. Strange he thought, how emotions worked for his clansmen. For such unlikely pair of rivals to forge a bond strong enough to evoke Sharingan evolution.
'{The antithesis of Love is not hatred, but indifference. Hatred is only misdirected love...}' Shinichi recalled the words of his subordinate from another life, a paladin of the Empire. Perhaps that explained why Keiko's rivalry with Kaya had transformed into something deeper.
His thoughts drifted to the Senju and to recent Nawaki's birthday celebration a week ago. The short but telling exchange of childhood rivalry between Kaito and Tsunade. He remembered his conversation with Tobirama years ago. Shinichi boasted that the younger generation would not carry the grudges of their parents. He thought he might have been wrong. But tonight, those words were beginning to bear fruit.
The great tree called Konoha was ripening. Bonds like Kaya and Keiko's, and potentially Tsunade and Kaito's, could soften the village's wary gaze toward the Uchiha. Even after Madara's betrayal. Even with Hashirama's looming death. And perhaps the Senju's acceptance could turn the tide. If Kaya alone stood beside them, it might be enough; after all her lineage carried weight. Her great grandfather is one of the Senju's grand elders.
Shinichi stopped, gazing up at the stars. A faint self-deprecating smile tugged at his lips.
'And. Here I am again. Thinking about politics. Calculating every step I take and every bond I forge... as though they were all tools.'
Shinichi flexed his hand, then let it relax.
'If I were strong enough, I wouldn't need to be so calculating. But strength has its limits... and mine are bound by age.'
Shaking his head, he resumed his walk, pushed through the courtyard gates, and stepped inside as the quiet of his home embraced him.
For now, he decided, to forget about politics, forget about the burdens of clan or village. and focus on the peace. And fully embrace the gift of a second life.
Shinichi closed the door behind him, allowing himself a rare, quiet smile. 'I'll savor this while it lasts.'