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Chapter 98 - Chapter 98

"You're not late," she said, sounding almost disappointed, like she'd hoped to ditch him. "Good. Let's move. We've got a hike, and I'm not slowing down for you."

Souta grinned, falling into step beside her. "Morning to you too, Red. Sleep off that door-smashing mood?"

She snorted, elbowing him lightly as they hit the dirt path leading out of the village. "Keep talking, and I'll smash something else."

Kushina led them off the main trail after a mile, cutting through a thicket of pines to a narrow deer path. The river's faint rush grew louder, a steady pulse in the distance. "Shortcut," she said, glancing back. "Keeps us off the roads. Too many eyes lately." Her voice dropped, serious now. "The Uchiha are being watched—ANBU, Root, maybe others. Mikoto's taking a risk just meeting me."

Kushina's eyes flicked to him, guarded. "Not much, probably. She's careful—has to be. Fugaku's got the clan on lockdown, and she's stuck in the middle. We're just… checking in, seeing if there's a way to cool things down before it blows up." She hesitated, then added, softer, "She's my friend, Souta. I don't want her caught in this mess."

He met her gaze, his grin softening. "Then we'll figure it out. Together."

The clearing came into view after another half-hour, a small, sheltered spot ringed by willows, the river glinting through gaps in the trees. The ground was soft with moss, the air heavy with the scent of water and green. Mikoto was already there, standing near a fallen log, her dark hair tied back, her black cloak blending with the shadows. Her eyes—sharp, Uchiha-dark—snapped to them as they approached, her posture tensing until she recognized Kushina.

"Kushina," Mikoto said, her voice low, steady, but laced with relief. Her gaze slid to Souta, and for a heartbeat, something flickered in her eyes—recognition, warmth, quickly buried. "And… Souta, right?" Her tone was polite, distant, like they'd barely met. "I didn't expect you."

Souta played along, scratching his neck with a lazy grin. "Yeah, just tagging along. Kushina dragged me out here—said you two needed backup." He kept his voice light, his stance casual.

Kushina stepped forward, oblivious, her hands on her hips. "He's alright, Mikoto. Won't cause trouble. You okay? You look like you haven't slept in a week."

Mikoto's lips twitched, a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine. Just… busy." She gestured to the log, sitting as Kushina joined her. Souta hung back, leaning against a willow, his arms crossed, watching. Mikoto's hands folded in her lap, her fingers tightening briefly—a tell, he thought, of the strain she was hiding.

The conversation turned quickly to the Uchiha. Mikoto spoke in clipped, careful sentences, her voice low.

As the meeting wound down, Kushina stood, stretching, her eyes on the river. "We should head back. Don't want to stay too long." Mikoto nodded, rising, her cloak rustling. Souta stepped forward, seizing the moment.

"Hey, Mikoto," he said, his tone casual, "your pack's slipping." He reached out, adjusting the strap on her shoulder, his fingers quick but deliberate. As he pulled back, he pressed the note into her palm, his thumb grazing her skin—a fleeting touch, gone before Kushina turned. Mikoto's eyes widened, just a fraction, but she closed her hand around the paper, tucking it into her sleeve with a practiced flick.

"Thanks," she said, her voice even, her gaze meeting his for a split second—enough to say she understood. She turned to Kushina, her smile polite. "Be safe getting back."

"You too," Kushina said, clapping her shoulder. "We'll figure this out, Mikoto. Promise."

They parted, Kushina leading Souta back through the woods, her chatter filling the silence. He nodded along, but his mind was elsewhere.

...

The moon hung low over Konoha's outskirts, its pale light filtering through the dense canopy of willows and pines, casting dappled shadows on the mossy ground. The river's soft rush was a constant hum, blending with the faint chirp of crickets.

Souta leaned against a gnarled tree near the clearing where they'd met Mikoto earlier that day, his cloak loose around his shoulders, hands stuffed in his pockets.

He'd slipped out of his house after Kushina left. The note he'd slipped her had been simple: Meet me tonight, same spot.

Mikoto emerged from the shadows, her black cloak blending with the night, her dark hair catching the moonlight. Her eyes, sharp and Uchiha-dark, locked onto him, blazing with fury. Her lips were set in a tight line, her jaw clenched, and her steps were deliberate, each one radiating anger.

Before Souta could speak, she surged forward, her hand shooting out to grab his ear, yanking him down to her level with a force that made him wince. "You idiot," she hissed, her voice low and venomous, her face inches from his. Her grip tightened, twisting his ear just enough to make him grit his teeth, her other hand fisting the front of his shirt to hold him in place.

Souta stumbled forward, caught off guard, his hands hovering uncertainly before settling on her shoulders, trying to ease her hold. "Mikoto,—" he started, but her glare silenced him, her eyes burning with a mix of frustration and something else.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" she snapped, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. She pulled harder on his ear, forcing him to bend closer, her breath hot against his cheek.

Her body was tense, pressed close in her anger, her cloak brushing against his chest.

"What?" he muttered. Had she discovered that he was the cause of the Uchiha clan's current situation? Well, he was only doing it to eliminate Fugaku without getting directly involved.

"You!" she cried, her voice pitching up as she gave his ear one last playful twist, her eyes wide and shimmering like she was about to fake-cry for effect. "You vanished on me, you jerk! Not a word, not a note, nothing!" Her grip loosened, and she shoved his chest lightly, her lips pouting as she stared up at him.

She stepped back, crossing her arms with a theatrical huff. Souta rubbed his ear.

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