Despondency

Night.

Lying on the grass in the camp, Katsuo stared blankly at the full moon overhead. In fact, he had been lying there since noon... He had not moved for seven or eight hours!

For over three years, he had trained tediously day and night without ever daring to slack off, not even for half a day. Even when his body was so exhausted that he could not move, he could recover through his powerful willpower, aided by Might Duy's Body Tempering Elixir.

He had worked himself to the bone, desperately chasing strength. All of it had been for that one obsession and longing in his heart.

"Dad, Mom, have you been well while I've been gone? I miss you so much!"

In his previous life, he had been an only child. His parents had treasured him in the palms of their hands, afraid he would fall, and held him in their mouths, afraid he would melt. They had spoiled and loved him beyond measure...

Whenever he thought of those memories, his heart filled with longing and restlessness. He yearned to return someday, even if only to see them one more time...

Yet the deeper his longing, the stronger his fear. He feared he would never find his way home. He feared it would take too long, that his parents' lifespans would run out and they would not live to see the day he returned!

Though he knew the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu could bring the dead back to life, he feared that too much time would pass, leaving him without even the chance to use it...

What was the point of working so hard, of trying so desperately? Wouldn't it all just end up being a dream?

"Heh heh, hahahaha..."

He covered his eyes and laughed for no reason, but as he laughed, tears streamed down his face!

He hated his own weakness, hated his own helplessness. The drastic changes in his body filled him with anxiety, and all his years of perseverance had ultimately brought no reward...

He felt as though all hope had been shattered, as though the road ahead had been cut off!

The emotions he had suppressed for more than three years finally erupted!

He cried like a child, his tear-blurred eyes filled with loneliness and helplessness!

Just as he wept alone, sobbing bitterly, two bright, pleasant young girls' voices drifted over from afar.

"Mikoto, he lives here?"

"Yeah. I don't know what he was thinking either... Living alone in a place like this!"

"Mhm, he's really brave!"

Uchiha Mikoto had come looking for Katsuo with Kushina Uzumaki!

Since Katsuo had not gone to school that day, the teachers had asked Mikoto, who was also from the Uchiha Clan, to check on him. After all, Katsuo had almost never skipped class... And the two of them were the closest, so the teacher had assigned her the task.

Because Katsuo was so dispirited and mentally dazed, he did not even realize the two girls had arrived in front of him...

Mikoto and Kushina froze on the spot when they saw the boy with tears all over his face!

"!!!"

"!!!!!"

What happened to him?!

Mikoto was shocked!

Oh my god! He's actually crying! And crying like this?

Kushina's mouth hung open for a long time, unable to close!

In their hearts, Uchiha Katsuo was a strong and hardworking young man... Whether in grades, strength, or perseverance, he stood at the absolute top of the entire school!

To every girl in the school, he was the undisputed perfect dream guy!

"..."

"..."

And now, that dream guy was crying?

And he was crying his eyes out!

Crying so... ugly!!!

Neither girl knew what to do in the face of such a scene...

After a long while, Mikoto and Kushina finally gathered the courage to ask:

"Um... What's wrong with you...?"

"Are... are you okay...?"

They felt it would be rude to stand before him and watch him cry, so they each knelt beside him and waited quietly.

Katsuo showed no reaction for a long time. Other than tears, his eyes held only deep sorrow and emptiness!

Mikoto, looking somewhat flustered, gently and carefully wiped away his tears and snot.

Kushina, sitting beside them, frowned deeply with concern...

The two girls stayed by his side for a long time!

Gradually, they realized that something was seriously wrong with Katsuo's condition, so Kushina asked quietly:

"Mikoto, do you know what's wrong with him? It's been more than an hour. Why is he still like this...?"

"I don't know either. He was perfectly fine yesterday..." Mikoto answered with a frown.

Suddenly, Kushina boldly poked his cheek with her index finger. When he still did not react, she gave it a hard pinch!

Mikoto was completely dumbfounded by the sight...

"Hey! Are you okay?!!!"

Kushina leaned close to Katsuo's ear and shouted. Her voice was so loud it was deafening!

Even Mikoto jumped in fright...

All at once, Katsuo seemed to be awakened by that shout. Light returned to his vacant eyes!

He looked at the two girls, a hint of complexity and helplessness surfacing in his eyes. Then he got up on his own and walked into his tent.

"..."

The two girls watched him, utterly confused. They did not know whether they should follow him inside or simply leave.

Mikoto walked up to the tent and asked softly:

"What's wrong? Can you tell us? Maybe we can help! If not, I can go find my Grandfather. He'll definitely be able to help you!"

Katsuo remained silent inside the tent for a long while before his faint voice drifted out:

"Just go. Stop bothering me!"

He truly had no mood to share his troubles with two little girls right now...

"!!!"

Mikoto froze where she stood.

Kushina's face darkened at the sight. Clenching her fists, she charged into the tent!

But just as she stormed in, she unfortunately tripped over something... and fell face-first straight onto Katsuo!

"!!!"

Katsuo's tent was not large; it was merely a place for him to sleep. As soon as he had entered, he had lain back down, leaving his feet by the entrance. Kushina's view had been blocked by the hanging tent flap, and the camp was dimly lit, so she landed directly on top of Katsuo!

Her shocked, flushed round face and her utterly bewildered eyes were so close that they could feel each other's breath...

Faced with such a melodramatic accident, and breathing in the girl's sweet fragrance, Katsuo was not only shocked but also at a loss...

"Can you get up now?"

"Ah..."

Kushina suddenly let out a shrill scream, then hurriedly scrambled to her feet and fled the tent. Once outside, she did not even say goodbye to Mikoto. With her face burning red, she ran away!

After staring blankly for a moment, Mikoto hurried after Kushina.

Staring at the tent ceiling and feeling the silence return around him, Katsuo's loneliness and fear once again surged into his heart!

But in the next instant, he suddenly clenched his fists. His fingers cracked sharply at the knuckles, and three tomoe spun around his pupils!

An unyielding will rose fiercely within him, while flames of unwilling rage burned bright!

"I can't resign myself to this. I can't give up so easily. There must be another way!"