Chapter 36 The person who had already died and been buried stood before him...

The carriage traveled some more distance, and the outline of a second village appeared in the distance, nestled in a mountain valley. However, before they could get close, Yan Sheng suddenly spoke:

"parking."

Uchiha Masaki tightened the reins, and the carriage stopped at the edge of a grove of trees, several hundred meters from the village.

"What's wrong, Young Master Yan Sheng?" Uchiha Masaki turned around in confusion.

Yan Sheng did not answer immediately. His sharp gaze swept over the distant village, his brows furrowing slightly.

“Poetry,” he said after a long pause.

"Yes!" Shi straightened his back.

"You go into the village first," Yan Sheng ordered, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Observe the village carefully, the villagers' behavior, and note down anything that seems unusual. We'll wait for you outside the village."

Shi paused for a moment, a hint of hesitation flashing across her small face. Was she to go alone?

She hesitated, meeting Yan Sheng's calm, unwavering eyes. She swallowed the words that were about to come out, and nodded, "Okay, Brother Yan Sheng."

Silently taking a deep breath to encourage herself, Shi jumped off the carriage and, with her short legs, walked nervously towards the village.

Watching Shi's departing figure, Uchiha Masaki said tactfully, "Young Master Yan Sheng, is this really alright? This village... might be a bit... um..." Having traveled extensively and seen many things, he naturally noticed that something was amiss with the village.

Yan Sheng's gaze followed Shi Xiao's small figure as he spoke calmly, "Flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand wind and rain. She needs to learn to recognize the true nature of this world."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Masaki said no more, but his assessment of this young master rose even higher: not only ruthless, but also terrifyingly deep-seated.

***

Shi approached the village cautiously. The closer he got, the stronger his ominous premonition became.

The fields surrounding the village were completely barren, as if plowed by some immense force, scorched black and devoid of any vegetation. A faint, indescribable stench of decay permeated the air.

She entered the village and found the villagers even more numb than in the previous village, their eyes vacant, like walking corpses. They glanced at her, an outsider, with indifference, without any reaction.

Shi kept Yan Sheng's instructions firmly in mind, tried hard to suppress his unease, and carefully observed every detail of the village with wide eyes.

She noticed that the damage to many houses was highly unusual: they were not natural collapses due to years of neglect, but rather caused by a powerful impact and crushing, with the broken walls exhibiting an irregular and violent fracture surface.

Several shockingly large potholes were scattered along the road, with the soil around them rolled up and large areas of charred burn marks remaining.

These marks... the more she looked at them, the more horrified she became.

—It's ninjutsu!

Was a battle between ninjas once held here?

Shi felt a little uneasy, but she still mustered her courage and continued to walk inside.

Just then, a little boy who looked a few years older than her, dressed in rags and thin, came out of a dilapidated house. When he saw Shi, he was stunned for a moment, a look of surprise at seeing a stranger flashing in his eyes. Then he noticed Shi's clothes and mistook her for a young lady from a wealthy family who was passing by.

"Who...who are you? What are you doing here?" The little boy's voice was a little hoarse and wary.

Seeing that he was willing to communicate, and even took the initiative, Shi was delighted and gave a friendly smile: "My name is Shi, I'm just passing by. Speaking of which... what happened here?"

Upon hearing this, the little boy's face immediately contorted with immense pain and intense hatred. He interrupted the poem, "It's all those damned ninjas!" His voice became shrill with agitation. "They were fighting! Falling from the sky! Fireballs! Lightning! They destroyed my land! My house! They burned all the food!"

Shi was startled by his intense reaction and instinctively took a step back. Looking into the boy's hateful eyes, she felt a pang of sadness.

She wanted to say something to comfort him, like "Not all ninjas are like that," or "I'm sorry." But looking at the little boy's agitated state, she didn't know how to begin.

A deathly silence spread between the poem and the little boy.

Just then, a dangerous gust of wind swept in from behind. At the same time, the little boy's face changed drastically, and he shouted, "Behind you! Get out of the way!"

The several real battles they had fought along the way, along with Yan Shengzhi's almost harsh training, came into play at this moment. Before the poet's mind could even process the words, his body had already reacted.

She whirled around, her hands instinctively forming hand seals at lightning speed. This was the ninjutsu she was most proficient in, and it was also the one commonly used by the Uchiha clan.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Of course, with her current chakra reserves, the power is limited, but it is by no means something an ordinary person could withstand.

"Ugh—!"

The man behind her who had tried to ambush her let out a shrill scream as his entire body was engulfed in flames. His clothes instantly burst into flames, and the man collapsed to the ground, rolling and struggling frantically, trying to extinguish the flames on his body.

Poetry, still trembling with shock, stared at the man screaming and rolling on the ground, her face pale. She had just breathed a sigh of relief when, remembering something, she stiffly turned her head, and as expected met the little boy's eyes, filled with anger at being "deceived."

"You're a ninja!" The little boy's voice was hoarse, filled with suppressed anger and despair.

Shi opened her mouth, wanting to explain: "I...I didn't mean to...he started it first..."

Before she could finish speaking, the little boy bent down, picked up a sharp stone from the ground, and with all his might, hurled it at Shi.

"You damned ninjas! Die!"

Shi easily dodged to the side, and the stone fell limply to the ground behind her.

After throwing the stone, the little boy didn't look at her again. He just stared intently at the village man on the ground, who was still groaning and rolling around. His thin body trembled violently with excitement and hatred, like a young beast trapped in a desperate situation.

All the words Shi wanted to say were stuck in his throat.

She glanced silently at the dilapidated village before her, then at the little boy whose expression had returned to calm but who was now numb and listless. She pursed her lips, turned around, and ran away quickly.

She ran all the way back to the edge of the woods, where Yan Sheng and Uchiha Masaki were waiting.

“Brother Yan Sheng…” Shi’s voice trembled and choked with sobs. She tried to calm her breathing and recounted what she had seen—the barren fields, the destruction caused by ninjutsu, the villagers’ apathy, and the little boy’s hatred and attack.

Uchiha Masaki listened without any surprise, nodding knowingly with his usual indifference: "Just as I thought. It seems there was a battle between ninjas nearby that affected the village, and all the food must have been destroyed. In that case, there's no need for a deal. Let's go to the next village."

He skillfully prepared to turn the carriage around.

Shi opened her mouth, wanting to ask, "Can we help them?" But the words caught in her throat as she recalled the ferocious faces of the villagers who had looted supplies in the first village, the resentful eyes of the little boy and the stones he had thrown, and Yan Sheng's cold warning...

She finally shut her mouth.

The carriage started moving again, and the atmosphere inside was oppressive and quiet.

After a long while, Shi finally couldn't help but raise her head and look at Yan Sheng, who was resting with his eyes closed. She asked softly, with a confused tone, "Brother Yan Sheng, are there many cases like today?"

Yan Sheng opened his eyes and looked at Shi's eyes, which still held traces of fear and confusion. He did not answer, but instead turned his gaze to the mountains and fields that kept passing by outside the car window.

His silence was the answer.

In Shi's heart, something seemed to sink completely with the swaying of the carriage.

***

After experiencing the second village, the atmosphere inside the carriage remained somewhat somber.

When we arrived at the entrance to the valley where the third village was located, it was completely dark. The moonlight was obscured by thick clouds, and only a few scattered stars shone through.

After observing the terrain, Uchiha Masaki decisively decided, "Young Master Yan Sheng, let's find a sheltered spot near the valley entrance to rest tonight, and then enter the village at dawn tomorrow."

Yan Sheng had no objection.

The three of them quickly cleared a small area, lit a campfire, and ate soldier's rations.

Shi slept very restlessly. The scenes from the day kept flashing through her mind: the greedy, robbing faces of the villagers in the first village, the venomous, hateful eyes of the little boy in the second village, the acrid smell of burning flesh, and the stone that had been thrown at her with despair...

She tossed and turned in her sleep, sometimes waking up in fright.

The night passed without incident, save for the crackling of the campfire and the howling of the wind through the mountains.

The next morning, the sky was overcast, looking like it was going to rain. The three of them got ready, got into their carriage, and headed towards the village in the valley.

The closer you get to the village, the stronger the eerie silence becomes. There are no roosters crowing or dogs barking, no children playing, and no smoke rising from chimneys that should be present in the early morning.

When the carriage finally entered the village, the scene before him made even the well-informed Uchiha Masaki frown.

The houses in the village were intact, and even looked more "tidy" than the previous two villages. Dried vegetables were drying along the roadside, and unfinished bamboo weaving projects were left in front of several houses.

Everything seemed normal. But there wasn't a single person in sight.

It was as if, in a single instant, the entire village had vanished into thin air.

"What happened?" Uchiha Masaki reined in the carriage, looking around warily, his hand already on his ninja tool pouch. "Where did everyone go?"

This eerie silence is more chilling than direct destruction.

Shi also clutched Yan Sheng's clothes tightly in fear, her face pale, as if last night's nightmare had overlapped with reality.

Yan Sheng glanced at the silent houses, and his nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly.

A faint, indescribable sweet and fishy smell permeated the air, suppressed by the morning dampness, and difficult to detect without careful listening.

"Separately investigate," Yan Sheng ordered, his voice calm and unwavering.

Uchiha Masaki gave him a deep look and nodded: "Understood."

After getting off the carriage, the three of them split up to explore the nearby houses.

Uchiha Masaki pushed open a half-closed door. Inside, the table and chairs were neatly arranged, and on the table was a bowl of half-eaten, moldy, and hardened gruel. It seemed that the owner had only left temporarily and had not expected to return.

On the other side.

Shi followed Yan Sheng into another room. It was also empty; the bedding on the kang (a heated brick bed) was piled up haphazardly, as if someone had suddenly woken up from a dream and left.

"Brother Yan Sheng, this is so strange..." Shi whispered.

Yan Sheng's gaze fell on a small patch of dark brown stain on the floor in the corner. He walked over, squatted down, dipped his finger in it, and rubbed it away.

It was blood that had long since dried.

He went to the stove, where the food had long since rotted and spoiled, emitting a foul odor.

“There were no signs of a fierce fight.” Yan Sheng stood up and concluded, “but the person disappeared in a very hurry.”

Just then, Uchiha Masaki's voice came from outside: "Young Master Yan Sheng! We've found something here!"

***

Uchiha Masaki stood beside a well, glanced down, and sighed with a strange expression. Then he turned to Yan Sheng, who was approaching, and said, "Young Master Yan Sheng." He paused, then kindly advised, "It's best not to let the child see this."

Yan Sheng remained noncommittal. He neither stopped Shi nor gestured for her to come forward, leaving the choice entirely to her. He himself walked straight to the well and looked down expressionlessly.

Shi hesitated, uneasy at Ya Shu's warning, but the urge to know the truth ultimately overcame her fear. She gritted her teeth, took a step forward, and cautiously approached the well. She stood on tiptoe and timidly peered into the deep well opening.

"Ugh!" A wave of nausea surged through her stomach, and a strong feeling of nausea rushed to her throat, almost causing her to vomit on the spot.

The well had long since dried up, but what lay at the bottom was not soil and gravel, but... layers upon layers of twisted and tangled corpses, almost reaching half the depth of the well.

Men, women, young and old, in all shapes and sizes, their clothes tattered, their bodies highly decomposed, swollen and deformed in the damp environment, presenting an indescribable and horrific sight, their original human forms unrecognizable. Maggots wriggled among them, and indescribable filth was everywhere.

—It must have rained a few days ago. The damp and sweltering heat at the bottom of the well accelerated this terrible process of decay, creating a hellish scene that challenges the limits of human endurance.

However, despite the large number of corpses piled up, no overwhelming stench permeated the area around the well. There was only a faint, suppressed smell of decay.

A faint chakra fluctuation remained at the edge of the well, indicating that someone had used some kind of ninjutsu to cleverly bind and neutralize most of the odor.

As for why the other party chose to dispose of the body in this way, rather than the more thorough method of destroying evidence commonly used by ninjas, it remains to be seen.

Yan Sheng remained calm.

arrogant.

The perpetrators didn't care whether the corpses would be discovered; perhaps they simply disliked the stench interfering with their actions, or they found dealing with the smell of "garbage" troublesome, so they casually used the most "convenient" ninjutsu to control them. This extreme disregard for life and the condescending abuse of one's own power is more chilling than mere cruelty.

However, he himself wasn't much better off.

But at least he doesn't have that kind of perverse sense of humor.

Shi leaned against the wall, pale-faced, dry heaving. His stomach churned, and his body trembled uncontrollably from nausea.

It took her a while to catch her breath. She looked at Yan Sheng, whose expression remained unchanged, and asked in a low voice, "Brother Yan Sheng, why...why did this happen? Those people...those ninjas...why did they do this?"

She couldn't understand why someone with power would inflict such cruel violence on the defenseless weak.

"There is no why. Does the strong need a reason to commit violence against the weak? Perhaps it's to silence them, perhaps it's to seize something, perhaps... they just do it because they want to. The rules that run this world are never based on 'why,' but on 'can'. Weakness is a sin. If you can't protect yourself, you can only suffer."

His words were like a cold chisel, forcefully carving the darkness of reality into the tender and innocent heart of the poet.

As Uchiha Masaki watched this scene, a complex and indescribable emotion flashed across his eyes. He then sighed softly and formed hand seals: "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique".

A fiery ball, far larger and more refined than any poem could conjure, was precisely thrown into the well.

"boom--"

The flames engulfed everything grotesque at the bottom of the well, and scorching waves of heat surged upwards, enveloping the twisted forms, the putrid filth, and the endless pain and despair in pure firelight, causing them to burn fiercely.

The high temperature purified the filth and dispelled the suffocating cold and stench.

Uchiha Masaki watched the flames burn silently, wishing their souls could find peace.

Although he knew that this was most likely impossible.

No wonder they can't rest in peace after being killed like this.

"Young Master Yan Sheng." Having done all this, he regained his usual composure. "Let's go."

***

For the rest of the journey, Uchiha Masaki noticeably sped up his pace.

Young Master Yan Sheng sneaked out, and it's too late; the clan leader and Lord Izuna must be worried. Those two have limited patience, and he can't afford to be held accountable if they investigate.

Therefore, Ya Shu no longer lingered at each trading point as much as before. He efficiently bartered for the food and supplies that his tribe urgently needed.

Poetry also fell silent, and the innocence of the past was gone from the eyes, replaced by a sense of melancholy and contemplation.

About a week later, the wagon, fully loaded with supplies, drove back to the Uchiha clan's territory.

***

In fact, just as Uchiha Masaki had predicted, Madara and Izuna discovered that Mikoto had run away again on the very day they left. Enraged, Izuna immediately went out to look for him, but Madara stopped him.

The reason was simple: they found a short letter left by Yan Sheng in his room, which read, "[Going shopping with Ya Shu, will return in a few days.]"

Because his companion was Uchiha Masaki—a person who was highly regarded by Madara and Izuna.

Contrary to his public persona, Uchiha Masaki was not as "mediocre" or merely a "logistics officer." On the contrary, he was extremely capable, not only managing the complex logistical tasks with remarkable efficiency but also demonstrating unique insights into strategic planning and intelligence analysis. More importantly, he possessed considerable strength, being a user of the three-tomoe Sharingan.

The reason he is "not famous" is simply because he is a low-key person and dislikes competition.

With him by my side, at least in terms of safety, it's much more reassuring than having Yan Sheng wander off alone. It was based on this consideration that Izuna suppressed the urge to arrest him immediately after Madara calmly explained the situation.

But this did not prevent Yan Sheng from being greeted by his two elder brothers, whose faces were as black as the bottom of a pot, when he returned.

An inevitable conversation began.

Izuna: "Yan Sheng! You've snuck out again! Do you know how dangerous it is outside? Wasn't the lesson learned last time enough?"

Although Madara didn't say anything, the pressure he exerted just by standing there was more suffocating than Izuna's rebuke.

Yan Sheng neither defended himself nor showed any intention of admitting his mistake. He responded in a calm tone, stating the facts: "I left a message."

Izuna laughed angrily: "Leave your information? Leaving your information doesn't mean you have permission; those are two different things."

Yan Sheng remained silent, expressing his attitude through silence.

As Ban gazed at his younger brother's stubborn and unyielding appearance, his anger gradually dissipated, turning into helplessness.

Yes, the three brothers share the same bloodline, and their stubbornness is exactly the same. He himself is like that, Izuna is like that, and now it seems that Yan Sheng, who has been protected under the wing for many years, is exactly the same.

Ban's gaze was fixed intently on Yan Sheng. His face was still pale, and his figure was still thin, but the calmness in his eyes, as well as the indifference and decisiveness... were qualities that Ban was extremely familiar with, qualities that only true strongmen possessed.

He suddenly realized that Yan Sheng was only physically weak, but in other aspects he was by no means inferior to others. Excessive confinement and protection would be a waste, or even stifle him.

Izuna seemed to have thought of this as well. He looked at Yan Sheng, then at Madara, and finally sighed and rubbed his forehead.

All three brothers were like that. Once they made up their minds, they wouldn't change them because of external forces. Ban was, he was, and Yan Sheng was too.

Ban spoke, his voice low and heavy, carrying a sense of helplessness and seriousness born of compromise: "...Fine. From now on, I will no longer forcibly confine you to the clan's territory."

A barely perceptible ripple flashed in Yan Sheng's eyes.

But Madara then changed his tone: "However, no matter where you go or what you do, you must inform me and Izuna in advance. You must not act on your own again. This is the bottom line."

Izuna added, "At least let us know where you went, so that if something happens, we'll know where to get you out of there."

This is the biggest concession they can make. From an absolute ban on going out, to conditional permission.

Yan Sheng looked at the worried looks in his two elder brothers' eyes, paused for a moment, and slowly nodded in agreement: "Okay."

***

Spring goes and autumn comes, cold and heat alternate, and in the blink of an eye, another two years have passed.

The overall situation remains unchanged. Conflicts, large and small, between the Senju and Uchiha clans occur frequently. Hatred is like weeds, impossible to burn out and always growing back with the wind.

That year, Yan Sheng was fourteen years old.

The boy had grown considerably taller, though still thinner than his peers. Years of relentless training had imbued his lean frame with astonishing strength and resilience. His face had lost its childishness, its features becoming more defined and hardened. His dark eyes had grown deeper and calmer, occasionally revealing a hint of indifference that seemed completely out of place for his age, a detachment born of experience.

Madara Uchiha was twenty-four years old, at the peak of his life, with his strength and prestige at their zenith. He was the undisputed and absolute leader of the Uchiha clan.

At the age of twenty-two, Uchiha Izuna, as his elder brother's most capable right-hand man and most trusted deputy, had become increasingly skilled and mature, managing the clan's affairs in an orderly manner.

Shi, on the other hand, had grown to six years old. Under Yan Sheng's strict teaching and numerous "experiences" outside, she was no longer the little girl who only chased butterflies. Her eyes held a newfound alertness and cleverness, and her basic ninjutsu and physical skills far surpassed those of her peers. She was beginning to show the composure of a young adult.

And she became Yan Sheng's most loyal follower.

During this period, the desire for an alliance between the two clan leaders, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, did not fade away during the two years of tug-of-war and covert probing; on the contrary, it became stronger and clearer.

They all knew that continuing the endless fighting would only drain the lives of their people and ultimately benefit some covetous fellow.

Izuna's attitude gradually shifted from initial fierce and uncompromising opposition to silence.

Although he still distrusted the Senju clan, especially Tobirama Senju, he was somewhat reassured that Hashirama had saved his brother and was a reasonably good person. Coupled with the heavy costs of the ongoing war, his attitude softened.

At this delicate moment, an unexpected change occurred.

Their mother, Uchiha Kaori, has fallen ill.

This time, it wasn't a minor ailment that would improve after a few days of rest. The illness came on suddenly and fiercely, and in just a few days, it exhausted the vitality that Uchiha Kaori already had due to years of worry and hardship.

The strong smell of medicine replaced the faint fragrance of flowers in the courtyard, permeating the courtyard where she lived.

Kaori sensed the passing of her life more clearly than anyone else, and she vaguely sensed that her time was coming to an end.

So, on this day, when she felt a little better, she dismissed the maids serving her and whispered her instructions:

"Go and summon Madara, Izuna, and Michikatsu. I have something to say to them."

The maid obeyed and left. Soon after, footsteps echoed outside the corridor.

Madara Uchiha was the first to stride in. He was wearing the clan leader's everyday clothes, and his brows showed an undisguised weariness and worry.

Izuna followed closely behind, his expression grave and his eyes filled with anxiety.

Finally, it was Yan Sheng's turn. His face remained calm and expressionless, only showing a slight ripple when his gaze fell upon his mother's pale and thin face.

The three brothers knelt before their mother's bedside.

Kaori struggled to keep her eyelids open, her gaze lingering on her three sons' mature or soon-to-be-mature faces.

"You've all come." Her voice was very weak.

Ban reached out and gently took his mother's cold hand, whispering, "Mother, how are you feeling? Should we call Hisaji to come and check on you again?"

Kaori shook her head: "No need. I know my own body. I'll be at ease if I can see the three of you one last time before I leave."

Izuna's eyes instantly reddened. He lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion, "Mother, don't talk nonsense. You'll get better."

Kaori's gaze gently fell on Izuna, then looked at Madara, and finally settled on the silent face of Michikatsu.

She seemed to have a lot to say, too many worries, anxieties about the future, and a deep concern for her children.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only suppressed breathing and the faint sound of the wind outside the window.

"Yan Sheng."

Yan Sheng's eyelashes trembled slightly as he looked up and met his mother's complicated gaze.

“You’ve always been the most opinionated and thoughtful since you were little,” Kaori said haltingly, each word seemingly uttered with great effort. “I know you’re different from your brothers. In the future… do whatever you want to do.”

After saying that, she seemed to want to reach out and touch her young son's head, just like she did when he was a child, but in the end, she only moved her fingers slightly.

She had no strength left.

"But you must take good care of yourself. Don't push yourself too hard."

Yan Sheng's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

Kaori understood. A gentle smile bloomed on her pale face, and she closed her eyes, her voice as soft as a dream:

"Alright, I've talked too much, and I'm getting a little sleepy. You can go now, you don't need to stay with me."

As soon as she finished speaking, she fell into a deep sleep, with only the faint rise and fall of her chest proving that she was still alive.

***

Kaori's condition worsened, and her body became so weak that even getting out of bed and walking independently became extremely difficult.

She wanted to sit under the veranda for a while and soak up the sun. But even such a simple action was extremely difficult for her, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Yan Sheng stood silently to the side, his brows slightly furrowed. He stepped forward, reaching out to support his mother's arm.

However, before his hand could touch Kaori, she slightly turned her body to avoid it.

Before she fell ill, Kaori, though not among the clan's top fighters, was still quite strong and possessed her own pride and dignity. She could not accept, nor was she willing to be treated so weakly and helplessly by her child as if she were a fragile object.

Yan Sheng's hand froze in mid-air as a distant and vague memory suddenly flashed through his mind.

That was in his previous life, when he was about seven or eight years old. In that life, his mother was also bedridden and her mobility was gradually decreasing. Ironically, he didn't notice it at the time.

The reason was simple: Yoriichi, the younger brother who was always taciturn and seemed untouched by worldly affairs, took care of his mother in an invisible way. He never deliberately helped her, but walked naturally beside her. It seemed like just ordinary walking side by side, but his arms and shoulders would always become the most solid support for his mother when she faltered, silently bearing most of her weight and maintaining her dignity.

He wasn't unaware of it at the time, but he simply didn't pay attention, and even subconsciously felt a little uncomfortable and resistant to it.

Why had his mother never relied on him like this? Why had she never held his hand so naturally?

It wasn't until much later that he realized that his mother had already become too weak to stand on her own back then.

...At that moment, seeing the stubbornness in Jiazhi's eyes, Yan Sheng came back to his senses and withdrew his hand that he had originally wanted to help her up.

Then he changed his mind, turned around, and walked to Kaori's left side like a guard, keeping a half-step distance from her, and walked side by side.

Kaori didn't understand at first, but when she tried to take her unsteady steps, an arm seemed to unintentionally lie across her side at the most unbalanced position; when her body swayed slightly and she subconsciously wanted to find support, that arm became the perfect point of leverage... She understood.

The baby's walking rhythm was adjusted to match her unsteady steps, each step firmly rooted to the ground, silently conveying the supportive force.

At first, Kaori instinctively wanted to resist the help.

Unfortunately, Yen Sheng acted too naturally.

All her words of refusal stuck in her throat.

One step, two steps... Relying on the incredibly solid support beside her, she was finally able to slowly walk out of the room, relying on her own strength.

The warm sunshine felt on my body, but it couldn't compare to the warmth that suddenly welled up in my heart.

Kaori turned her head to look at the young boy beside her, whose profile was still expressionless and somewhat cold. She noticed that he was still a teenager, yet he was so considerate.

In an instant, all the strength and pretense were shattered by this silent tenderness.

Tears welled up in her eyes and silently slid down her pale, thin cheeks.

She quickly turned her head away, not wanting the child to see her.

Her youngest son... was always cold and unpredictable, and sometimes made her feel unfamiliar and worried.

But deep down... he's such a gentle and kind child.

This gentleness is hidden too deeply, and it takes a lot of effort to feel it, so many people only see the surface of coldness.

Yan Sheng stared straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to his mother's tears.

The sunlight cast long, warm shadows of the mother and child as they walked side by side. A silent, profound tenderness flowed quietly in their unspoken companionship and support.

Two months later, Uchiha Kaori finally succumbed to her illness and passed away on a peaceful morning.

During the funeral, Yen Sheng remained calm throughout, completing all the rituals as if he were an outsider, as if the deceased was not his biological mother.

However, when all the noise subsided and he returned alone to the empty and quiet room, an unexpected soreness gripped his heart.

The feeling wasn't intense, but it pressed heavily on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He frowned in disgust, trying to force down these feelings that he considered meaningless and weak—things he should have already abandoned long ago.

suddenly.

A familiar, gentle call, seemingly impossible to hear, tinged with hesitation and uncertainty, suddenly rang out in the room:

"Yan Sheng...?"

when? !

Yan Sheng's muscles tensed, all his sadness replaced by vigilance. Before he could think, his body reacted.

"Clang!"

The sharp clang of swords being drawn shattered the silence, the cold blades pointing directly in the direction of the sound.

Then.

He froze, his pupils contracting in incomprehensible shock, reflecting a scene that should never have happened—

Not far away, in a corner where the light and shadow were blurred, stood the woman whom he had recently offered white flowers to and witnessed being buried: Uchiha Kaori.

She stood there unharmed, her face completely bewildered, her eyes wide open, staring at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion, while the tip of his knife touched her nose, gleaming with a chilling light.