"Wuwuwu…"
The muffled sobs echoed through the quiet lounge of Konoha Hospital.
On a soft cushioned bench, a girl with black curly hair and striking ruby-red eyes lay in Rin's arms, her tears soaking into Rin's pale blue kimono. Her delicate shoulders trembled as she clutched the fabric tightly.
"Lin… Asuma left me… He only gave me a breakup letter. He didn't even face me…" Her voice cracked as her tears poured out again. "Does he… does he not want me anymore?"
Rin, her expression full of compassion, stroked the girl's back gently as though trying to smooth away the pain.
"Don't cry, Kurenai, don't cry," Rin whispered. "Asuma is just hurt. He's carrying too much after what happened with the Third Hokage. He must still have you in his heart."
Kurenai sniffled, though the tears didn't stop.
"I know… I know Asuma is suffering. His father's situation crushed him. That's why I've been going to his house every single day—to stay with him, to be by his side. But he wouldn't even see me, Lin! He shut the door, he shut me out completely. And now… now he's gone. He left the village without even saying goodbye, without even looking at me once!"
Her sobs grew louder, and she buried her face deeper into Rin's chest, her soft voice broken with despair.
"Tell me, Lin… does this mean I was never in his heart at all?"
From the side of the room, Kakashi stood silently. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his single visible eye filled with helplessness.
He had only learned about Asuma's sudden departure after hearing the news directly from Minato-sensei.
The situation was… complicated.
After the truth about the Third Hokage's defection spread, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been pursued by the Anbu loyal to him. But the old man, despite his age, had defeated them all single-handedly. Even his eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, was beaten so badly that he had been bedridden for months.
Asuma, unable to accept that his father had become a traitor, completely shut himself away. He refused everyone.
Kakashi had gone to visit him too, knocking at his door as a friend—but Asuma never opened it. He wouldn't even acknowledge Kakashi's voice.
Kakashi understood, though. Strictly speaking, Hiruzen had been forced into defection largely because of Kakashi's actions. Asuma must have felt betrayed, even abandoned, and the guilt gnawed at Kakashi as well.
At first, Kakashi thought time would heal things. He decided to give Asuma some space, then return later when he had stepped out of his father's shadow. But unexpectedly, Asuma had gone directly to Minato-sensei, requesting long-term leave from the village. He claimed he needed distance, needed to "clear his head."
And Minato, knowing the truth about Hiruzen's defection and understanding the boy's pain, had agreed.
There was nothing wrong with that decision. It was fair. It was kind.
But what Kakashi hadn't expected was Asuma leaving without a word to Kurenai. Not even a farewell. Only… a breakup letter.
Kakashi's fingers clenched slightly as he thought.
Brother, you fool… do you even realize what you've done?
Did Asuma think that, because his father had defected, he was unworthy of Kurenai now? Did he think leaving her behind was some noble sacrifice, a way of "freeing" her future?
Ridiculous.
Kurenai never loved him because of status. If that were the case, she would have abandoned him the moment scandal fell on the Sarutobi name. Instead, she kept coming, day after day, refusing to give up even though he rejected her at every turn.
How could Asuma not see that?
Kakashi wanted to shake him, to pry open his skull and figure out what kind of nonsense ran through his mind.
In the original timeline, Asuma had done something similar—running away in his youth, becoming one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja for years. And Kurenai had waited then too, patient and steadfast, until his return.
And yet… here, he had chosen to push her away deliberately.
"Kakashi."
The sudden voice broke his thoughts.
Kurenai had lifted her tear-streaked face from Rin's chest. Her red eyes, though still wet, burned with determination.
"I want to join the Anbu!" she declared.
"...Huh?"
Kakashi blinked, startled.
"I want to join," Kurenai repeated firmly, brushing away her tears with the back of her hand.
Kakashi studied her quietly for a moment.
"Well… I can arrange a test," he said slowly. "But you need to give me a good reason first."
As the heiress of the Yuhi clan, Kurenai certainly had potential. She was already recognized as a genius of genjutsu. But Anbu wasn't a place one joined on impulse. The work was dangerous, bloody, often leaving scars that never healed.
If she couldn't give him a proper reason, he would never allow it. Not even if she was Rin's best friend.
"Hmph." Kurenai crossed her arms. "I want to prove to Asuma that I can live well, even without him!"
Kakashi's expression darkened.
"Just out of spite?" he asked flatly. "Kurenai, Anbu is not some stage for personal drama. We carry out missions that can end in death. You don't join Anbu to prove a point. If you're not ready to sacrifice yourself for the village, you don't belong there."
His voice was cold, decisive.
But Kurenai didn't flinch.
"Sacrificing for the village, right?" she said, her tone unwavering. "My father once served as one of the Third Hokage's personal Anbu. He gave everything for Konoha. If he could do it, then so can I. I'll carry his will forward."
Her gaze was firm now, her tears dried by resolve.
Kakashi paused. For a moment, his eye softened.
So, this is how it begins… the will she inherits from her father.
He remembered. In the night of the Nine Tails' attack, her father—Yūhi Shinku—had stood against the beast, holding the line so that juniors like Guy and Kakashi could survive. He had given his life that night. From then on, Kurenai had grown from a delicate girl into a respected jōnin of the village.
Maybe… maybe this was that first step.
"Alright," Kakashi said at last. "I'll give you a test."
Her eyes lit up instantly. "A test?"
"Yes. I'm about to recruit someone into Anbu myself. If you can break his illusion technique, then I'll accept you as well."
"Deal!" Kurenai replied without hesitation.
Genjutsu? That was her specialty! She was Kurenai of the Yuhi clan, known for their mastery of illusions. And Kakashi expected her to compete with some younger brother? This was practically handing her victory on a silver platter.
Kakashi gave a small shrug. "Then let's go."
Without further explanation, he led her out of the hospital and toward the Uchiha compound.
---
The two arrived at a modest but well-kept house in the heart of Uchiha territory.
"This is?" Kurenai asked, her curiosity piqued. It was her first time inside the district of the Uchiha clan.
Kakashi stepped up to the wooden door and knocked. "Shisui, open up."
From inside came the clatter of utensils, then hurried footsteps.
"Coming, coming! Is that Kakashi-senpai?"
The door slid open, revealing Uchiha Shisui, his face lighting up with a bright smile. He was still wearing a kitchen apron, the smell of fresh food drifting from behind him.
"Senpai, please come in!" Shisui said enthusiastically.
Before Kakashi could reply, another smaller figure peeked out from behind Shisui.
"Hello, Kakashi-nii-san~" chirped a boy's childish voice.
It was Uchiha Itachi, barely taller than the table, wearing a matching apron with a cartoon ninja-cat design.
"Oh? The little weasel's here too," Kakashi chuckled, amused. His eye drifted to their aprons. "Nice aprons, Shisui. Where'd you get those?"
Shisui scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Ah, these? Custom-made by Granny Cat. Cute, right? If you like them, I can get you one!"
Kakashi waved a hand. "No need to give me one for free. But… do they come in couple's sets? I could use them when cooking with Rin."
At that, Shisui's grin widened. "Of course! In that case, I'll take you there myself later. You can pick out a matching pair."
Kakashi chuckled. "Good. But let's get to the point."
His tone shifted, growing more serious.
"Shisui, I came here today for two reasons. First, I want to invite you to officially join Anbu—and not just as a member. I want you as a squad captain. What do you say?"
Shisui's eyes widened, his expression lighting up with excitement. "Really? Of course! I've wanted to join for so long! Didn't you say before that I wasn't ready?"
There was a faint edge of grievance in his tone, as if he had been waiting for this moment forever.
Kakashi winced slightly at the look. His little fanboy's disappointed face was unexpectedly lethal.
Wasn't I only holding you back so you and Obito could spend more time guiding Itachi? So he wouldn't be led astray?
He coughed lightly. "Ahem. You know, the situation before wasn't suitable for you to go out on missions. But now, things have settled. And I need your help. So… are you willing?"
"I do!" Shisui declared without hesitation, his voice filled with eagerness.
"Good," Kakashi said, nodding in satisfaction. "From today, you'll be the captain of Anbu Team One."
A smile tugged at his lips. With Shisui on board, Anbu now had two powerhouse-level shinobi under his command. Between himself and Shisui, their strength could rival the Kage.
As for Obito, he was already too high-ranking within the Uchiha to be placed in Anbu formally. But that didn't matter. He was still part of Kakashi's team. If something truly critical arose, Kakashi could always assign him missions directly.
And with that thought, Kakashi's gaze flickered to Kurenai.
The test was about to begin.
---
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