While Naruto and Kaida were having their picnic, Yomi sat on the balcony of her house, her gaze distant as she watched the leaves sway in the gentle breeze.
In front of everyone, she was trying to move on, but it was not easy to do so when there was a burden of not being able to do anything when your friend died for you.
She was so spaced out in her thoughts that she had barely noticed when Karin walked up beside her, hesitating for a mont before taking a seat.
"You've been quiet lately," Karin finally spoke, her voice soft but laced with concern. Since they were both of nearly the sa age, they had beco acquainted soon after Karin moved next to their house.
Yomi let out a small sigh, tilting her head slightly but keeping her eyes on the horizon. "Just thinking," she murmured.
Karin fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve before mustering the courage to press further. "About Ryota?"
Yomi stiffened at the na. She closed her eyes for a mont, as if bracing herself. "Yeah," she admitted. "It's just… I should have done more. I should have been stronger." Her fists clenched on her lap. "He didn't have to die for . If I had been even a little bit stronger, maybe—"
"Stop," Karin interrupted, her voice firr than before. Yomi turned to look at her, slightly surprised. Karin was usually timid, but right now, her red eyes were resolute. "You can't keep blaming yourself like this. He protected you because he cared about you. And if he were here, he wouldn't want to see you like this, drowning in guilt."
Yomi looked toward her for a few seconds before looking back towards the sky once again. "I know," she admitted. "But knowing doesn't change how I feel. I can't stand this… this weakness. I never want to feel this powerless again."
Karin was silent for a mont, her own thoughts swirling. She had seen death up close—had nearly lost the only person she had left in this world. The mory of those days in the Land of Grass still haunted her, the fear of losing her family... her mother. It was a nightmare she never wanted to live through again.
Yomi looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to get stronger. No one else is going to die for . I won't let it happen."
Karin took a deep breath, the words forming in her mind before she even realized she had decided. "Then let's do it together."
Yomi blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"I don't want to be weak either," Karin said, gripping the fabric over her heart. "I already almost lost my mother once… back in the Land of Grass…" Her hands tightened into fists.
"I don't want to stand there helpless ever again. So let's grow stronger together, strong enough to never depend on anyone to save us, strong enough to save those who we love."
Yomi looked toward her for so ti once again, a small smile coming on her face. It wasn't much, but it was the first genuine one she had in a while. "You're stronger than you think, you know."
Karin looked away, embarrassed. "Not strong enough," she muttered.
"Then we'll change that," Yomi said, the smile becoming a little more apparent on her face.
...
(Next day...)
Shisui was commanding his troops to maintain constant watch in the region, even though there was no movent from Kumo and Iwa's side anymore.
But they had already surprised Konoha once, and the elders didn't want to take any more risks, so they asked the ninjas to remain at their posts to maintain the watch. They even sent more reinforcents.
Shisui, who ca to know about the attack later, asked for complete details, especially about his family. When he found out about the whole scenario, he wanted to rush back to the village to see his brother, but he didn't get permission for it. He could understand the reason, but that didn't an his heart could.
It took all his willpower to not ignore the Hokage's order and rush back to the village. Finally, after a week, he was given permission to co back to the village. So as soon as he transferred his command to other elite Jonin, he rushed back to Konoha at full speed.
While he was coming back to the village, Kaida was preparing for a very important operation. All of the things were double-checked.
The chief dical ninja had gone through the procedure multiple tis, with Mitsuru taking all of the preparations regarding the operation theatre and all dical equipnt in hand.
Finally, the ti of the operation arrived.
"You are really not going to let enjoy my rest, right?" Itachi asked, sitting in the operation room with Kaida.
Fugaku and Mitsuru were waiting outside.
"Well, if you want, I can co up with an excuse to postpone this operation by a few months later," Kaida said, giving Itachi his change of clothes for the operation.
"I can't waste the hard work of my subordinate, so I will graciously allow you to complete the operation today," Itachi said while changing clothes.
"It is not a problem at all, 'MY LORD'. I will just inform uncle that you are not ready for the operation," Kaida said with a smile and was about to make his way toward the door when Itachi grabbed his shoulder.
"There is no need for that. I don't want any rest," Itachi said.
"Aren't you forgetting about adding sothing in your sentence?" Kaida asked.
"Sorry tch" Itachi said.
"That's more like it," Kaida said, his smile increasing further.
After Itachi changed into a hospital gown, he laid on the bed.
"How are you doing now?" Itachi finally started the conversation, not knowing how he should begin.
"Fine, there is no use crying over the past," Kaida said and then started arranging the dical equipnt.
"You are not just going to focus on dical jutsu now, right?" Itachi asked, half joke, half serious.
"Nope, I have made a promise which will not let do it."
"What promise?"
"There will be only three great ninja villages in the future. Kumo and Iwa will not be in the list anymore," Kaida turned towards Itachi, his eyes resolute and sharp.
For a second, Itachi wanted to think it was a joke. He himself knew what a major village represented in their world, the epito of power, the hegemony of the world, and Kaida was planning on removing two of them. It had to be a joke, but... he couldn't shake off the feeling that it was not.
"Sigh Since you have saved my life twice already, I already owe you. So if you need my help in the future regarding this promise of yours, don't shy away. I will help my subordinates to the best of my capabilities," Itachi said, joking at the end to remove the heavy atmosphere in the room.
"I hope you will not chicken out in the future," Kaida said.
"Not a chance."
"End of the discussion, boys. It's ti to start the operation. Kaida, you will be in charge of the operation as planned, and we will be here to assist you. There is no room for any mistake. Are you ready?" Mitsuru asked, wearing her gloves, followed by two other chief dical ninjas.
"Yes, Sensei," Kaida said.
Itachi was a little tense seeing all this, but he cald down. Till now, he at least knew Kaida enough that he wouldn't have even proposed this if he was not sure of success, so he left the worry and the operation started in earnest.
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