disturbed

Life in the capital's aristocratic mansions continued to follow its ancient and refined rhythms, maintaining a facade of tranquility and luxury. Startled deer in the courtyards still made their regular, crisp "thumps," maids shuffled silently through the corridors, and the air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and flowers. Yet, beneath this deliberately cultivated tranquility, Uchiha Aoi keenly perceived an unusual, suffocating undercurrent.

Ever since that unpleasant encounter and clash of ideologies with the man outside the walls, she had struggled to recover. On the one hand, she worried terribly for her brothers' safety. On the other, the cold words, "Life and death are determined by fate," and the long silence that followed, pierced her heart like a thorn, leaving her with a deep sense of disappointment and a deeper sense of alienation from the voice that had once brought her solace. Yet, paradoxically, somewhere in her heart, a faint hope clung to him, hoping that his voice would be heard again from beyond the walls—even if it were just a few words, even if they continued to argue—as if that strange connection hadn't been completely severed. This unspoken, unexpressed, yet stubbornly growing feeling, intertwined with the immense grief of her brother's loss, left her with a tormenting inner state. She could only force herself to devote more energy to the daily rituals, the arduous reading of ancient texts, and the tedious practice of needlework, trying to numb her turbulent emotions through mechanical repetition.

But she was by no means stupid. She quickly noticed that the atmosphere in the mansion had undergone a subtle but definite change.

Her grandmother's attitude towards her seemed different. Though strict and demanding in the past, her eyes held a touch of eldership's kindness (albeit through the veil of formality). But now, her gaze held a sharper scrutiny and an indefinable level of consideration, as if assessing the value of an object. She would even casually broach topics she'd never broached before, like, "Which young nobles in the capital do you think are the most distinguished in appearance and character?" "What do you consider most important for a woman marrying far away?" "I hear the Land of Lightning has magnificent scenery, very different from the Land of Fire..." These probing questions, like stones dropped into a lake, stirred ripples of unease within her.

Even her closest maid, Aju, the taciturn but attentive girl, often revealed worries and anxieties in her eyes that she wanted to express but could not. She seemed to be more cautious when serving her, and sometimes she would unconsciously let out a slight sigh when looking at her.

An inexplicable sense of unease, like a fine yet tenacious spider's thread, quietly grew from the depths of her heart, entwining itself around her heart and tightening ever tighter, often leaving her with palpitations and a sense of suffocation in the dead of night. She had a vague sense that something beyond her control and understanding was brewing, and she was at the center of the storm.

This ominous premonition was confirmed on a seemingly ordinary afternoon.

Grandma formally summoned her. Not to the warm room where she usually enjoyed tea and admired the flowers, but to the more formal side hall, reserved for handling important matters. The old lady sat upright in the main seat, clad in a dark, richly decorated kimono. Her expression was unprecedentedly solemn, even... a hint of an elusive complex emotion that Aoi had never seen before: a mixture of determination, a subtle tinge of guilt, and a cold, unspoken sense of self-worth.

"Aoi," Grandma's voice remained steady, yet it carried an unquestionable, almost icy determination. It was no longer a discussion, but a declaration. "We've just received news from the clan through emergency channels. Your brother, Madara, has officially issued an order in the name of the Uchiha clan leader, summoning you back immediately."

"...Go back?" Aoi's heart suddenly clenched, as if grasped by an invisible hand, and she subconsciously clenched the edge of her wide sleeve. Madara-nii? Hadn't he previously firmly refused her request to return, strictly ordering her to stay in the capital for safety? Why the sudden about-face? The lingering unease suddenly intensified, instantly transforming into a massive panic that nearly staggered her.

"Yes. Leave immediately." Grandma's eyes were sharp as a knife, staring directly at her, as if she wanted to read every subtle reaction of hers. "The clan is in a special situation right now. We are in need of people, and it is a crucial time to unite and overcome difficulties together. As the only biological sister of Uchiha Madara and the daughter of the legitimate head of the Uchiha clan, you should return to the clan when the clan needs you and share the responsibility with the clan members. This is your unshirkable responsibility as an Uchiha."

Responsibility? Responsibility again! Aoi's inner alarm bells were ringing like crazy! She had never had the word "responsibility" emphasized so frequently and so heavily before! This sudden and unwavering summons must have hidden a huge conspiracy that she didn't understand, and it was definitely not as simple as "reunion" or "overcoming difficulties together"!

"Grandma!" Aoi took a step forward eagerly, her voice trembling slightly with fear, "Did something big happen in the clan? What happened to my brother? Is he hurt? Or..." The worst thought flashed through her mind, and her face turned pale in an instant.

"As for the specifics, you'll know everything when you return to the clan," Grandma cut her off without mercy. Her tone was cold and distant, completely blocking any chance of her asking questions or seeking the truth. "Go down and prepare. I'll give you three days. Three days from now, the clan's escort will arrive outside the mansion on time. This trip back is of great importance, concerning the family's reputation and future. You must be cautious in your words and actions along the way, and obey the clan's arrangements in all your actions. You must not act recklessly or cause trouble!"

Grandma's tone was unwavering, leaving no room for negotiation. Kui stared at her grandmother's mask-like, cold, unyielding expression, and her heart felt as if it had been plunged into a freezing cold cave, slowly and desperately sinking to the dark, icy depths. She understood completely that this wasn't a negotiation, not a request for her opinion, but a cold, coercive command. A horrific fate, one she couldn't resist, one she couldn't fully grasp, was dragging her from this glamorous cage she disliked, but at least relatively safe, with an overwhelming force, pushing her into an unknown abyss destined to be fraught with danger.

Unease and intense resistance, like poisonous vines, entwined themselves madly around her heart, tightening ever tighter, bringing waves of sharp pain and a suffocating feeling. She was almost certain that this so-called "recall" would mean more than just a reunion with her brother. The truth hidden behind the word "responsibility" was probably too much for her to bear.