You Still Have Me

Chapter 39: You Still Have Me

In the dimly lit room, Kagato lowered his head, silent.

He still remembered, as a child, when he first started forming memories, he quickly understood the fact of transmigration. At that time, he felt no joy, no surprise, only panic.

Transmigration meant losing everything from his past life. Thinking of this, Kagato couldn't help but cry. It was Yuko Uchiha, Kagato's mother in this life, who rushed over, constantly comforting him, treating him with extreme care, as if he were a precious treasure.

His father, standing nearby, though his face was cold, couldn't help but cast a concerned gaze from his eyes.

How nostalgic. Those are memories from a long, long time ago.

A touch of coldness appeared on Kagato's face. He reached up and touched it.

"Is this snow?"

The room wasn't sealed; there were a few very small windows for ventilation. The snow was drifting in from there.

The time was now the end of December, Konoha Year 55.

This year was drawing to a close. Countless ordinary people were watching the snow, silently offering their congratulations for the upcoming New Year.

There was no sun that day, but the sky was bright enough. Feathery snowflakes drifted down from the heavens, landing at the doorsteps of every house, at Kagato's cell window, and then on his cheek, bringing a chill.

"It's almost New Year's. This should be a happy time, but..."

Touching the cold on his face, Kagato smiled faintly.

"But why do I feel so sad? Will every year from now on be my death anniversary?"

Kagato had once doubted Danzō's words, wondering if they were false. But after much thought, he dared not doubt them, dared not believe they were false. What if...

His mother, who braved the cold every night to wait for him at the door. His father, who was always cold but always thought of him.

"Are you both well? Mother, Father, your son apologizes. I may have to make you mourn your child. If you can hear me, please, I beg you, live your lives well."

Kagato murmured softly.

Root.

Several Root members collected the bodies of Uchiha Takashi and Yuko Uchiha, covering them with white cloth.

The moment the white cloth was placed, a snowflake stained with blood was blown away, drifting up again. A nameless wind swept past, carrying this tiny snowflake towards the north of Konoha. The wind grew stronger and stronger, as if urging the snowflake to hurry, hurry, hurry! To hasten towards a certain destination.

The crimson snowflake drifted past the Hokage's Office, past the Uchiha clan compound, across half of Konoha.

Then, in a slightly dim room, a single snowflake carefully passed through the window, drifting downwards. Below, a person with their eyes covered by a black cloth and hands bound by shackles. The bloody snowflake thus slowly floated into that person's palm.

"So cold."

Kagato felt the sudden chill in his palm.

"Is it snow again?"

From the Uchiha clan compound to the Hokage's Office, and then to Root, the snow fell heavier and heavier.

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage looked at the increasingly heavy snow outside the window. After listening to the report from the Anbu behind him, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Is this my fault?"

The Third Hokage wasn't entirely unaware of Root. He had a few informants. Danzō had intended to conceal the deaths of Kagato's parents for a few days, only announcing them after Kagato's suicide. But Danzō hadn't expected that the Third Hokage would discover this matter beforehand.

"Go send someone to tell Danzō to immediately send the bodies of Kagato's parents back to the Uchiha. At the same time, release Kagato to go home and mourn his parents. That will be all."

The Third Hokage ordered the Anbu behind him.

"Yes!"

The Anbu responded without hesitation.

The door opened, Kagato could feel it.

Then, someone removed the shackles from his hands and the black cloth from his eyes.

"Uchiha Kagato, the Third Hokage has ordered your release to go home and mourn your parents."

Kagato stared blankly at the Jonin, his face full of disbelief, his voice trembling as he asked.

"Re-release me home for what?"

The Jonin sighed and replied.

"To mourn your parents."

At this moment, Kagato's eyes completely lost their light, becoming dim and lifeless.

"Mourn-mourn who?"

He so desperately, so desperately wished he had misheard.

However...

"Mourn your parents."

The Jonin's words were so clear and unmistakable.

The trees in the mountain forest behind the Uchiha clan compound were now covered in snow, like jade branches and leaves. The once clean streets were now covered in snowflakes. Many Uchiha were huddled at home, chatting with a few friends, shivering and unwilling to go out. A few birds landed on the branches, shaking off a flurry of snow. The scene was one of desolate coldness everywhere.

The weather grew colder, much like Shisui's heart.

"It's really cold."

Shisui looked at the two corpses before him and spoke.

Itachi, standing beside him, remained silent, unsure of what to say.

"People from the clan will be here soon. I'm leaving now, Itachi."

This time, Shisui didn't wait for Itachi's reply and left directly.

The task of returning Kagato's parents to the Uchiha compound was ultimately handed over by Root to the Anbu. Among the Anbu, because Itachi was an Uchiha clansman, he was chosen to escort the bodies back.

Before returning them to the Uchiha, Itachi had notified Shisui, which led to the scene they had just witnessed.

On a snow-covered path, Kagato ran non-stop. He had been severely weakened by the torture in the prison, but he still ran with all his might, falling again and again, and getting up again and again.

He was no longer a prisoner, so no Jonin followed him; he was alone.

The snowflakes that had previously landed on his face felt merely cold, but now they felt like needles piercing his bones.

Kagato rushed towards the Uchiha clan compound, but he was simply too weak, stumbling almost every three steps.

Crack!

He fell again. He struggled to get up, but this time, he couldn't. He collapsed completely in the snow.

"Get up!"

Kagato cried out in pain, trying to force himself to stand, but his body felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get up.

Snowflakes fell on Kagato's body, as if trying to hold him down, urging him to rest, to take a break. But how could Kagato rest? He had to go back! Go back!!

A pair of hands pulled Kagato up.

"Come on, didn't I tell you? Sometimes, you can't do it all by yourself."

Shisui appeared suddenly and carried Kagato on his back.

"Brother Shisui..."

Kagato stared blankly at Shisui, tears involuntarily streaming down his face.

"Why are you crying?"

Shisui asked with a smile.

"Brother Shisui, my parents, are they really, really gone..."

"..."

Shisui remained silent, but Kagato already had his answer.

"Brother Shisui, I... I..."

He seemed unable to speak, and only the sound of his sobs could be heard from behind Shisui.

"Kagato, how old are you this year?"

"Seven."

Shisui's heart ached. It seemed everyone had forgotten that this child, who usually appeared so mature, was only seven years old. He had experienced far too much for someone his age.

"You still have me."

"Mhm..."

Good morning, everyone. Have you eaten? I hope you all have a friend who will help you no matter what, even in your moments of despair.

Mhm, and with that, please give me votes and comments!