You Still Have Me

Chapter 39: You Still Have Me

In the dimly lit room, Kagato kept his head lowered, not saying a word.

He still remembered how, when he was little and had just begun to form memories, he quickly realized that he had crossed into another world. At the time, he felt no happiness or surprise, only panic.

Crossing into another world meant losing everything from his previous life. Thinking of that, Kagato had been unable to stop himself from crying. Yuko Uchiha, his mother in this life, had hurried over and comforted him endlessly, treating him with the utmost care, as though he were some priceless treasure.

His father had stood nearby. Although his face had been cold, his eyes had been unable to conceal his concern.

How nostalgic. That memory was from so, so long ago.

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

"Is this snow?"

The room was not completely sealed. A few tiny windows provided ventilation, and the snow had drifted in through them.

It was already the end of December in Konoha Year 55.

The year was about to end. Countless ordinary people watched the snowfall in silence, offering their congratulations for the approaching New Year.

There was no sun that day, but the sky was still fairly bright. Snowflakes as large as goose feathers drifted down from the heavens, landing at the entrances of every household and on the window of Kagato's cell before floating onto his cheek, bringing with them a patch of coldness.

"The New Year is almost here, right? This should be a time for happiness, but..."

Touching the coldness on his face, Kagato smiled.

"But why do I feel so sad? Will this day become my memorial day every year from now on?"

Kagato had once suspected that what Danzo said was a lie. But after thinking it over again and again, he still did not dare doubt it. He did not dare doubt that it was false. What if...

His mother, who waited for him at the entrance every night despite the cold. His father, who was cold every day yet considered him in everything he did.

"Are you doing all right? Mother, Father, I'm sorry. Your son may make you bury your child before you die. If you can hear me, please promise me this: live well for the rest of your lives."

Kagato murmured in a low voice.

Root.

Several Root members cleaned up the bodies of Uchiha Takashi and Yuko Uchiha and covered them with white cloth.

At the instant the white cloth was lowered, a bloodstained snowflake was blown away and began drifting through the air again. An unknown wind swept past, carrying the tiny snowflake northward toward Konoha. The wind grew stronger and stronger, as if urging the snowflake to hurry, hurry, hurry! Hurry to some place.

The bright-red snowflake drifted past the Hokage's Office, past the Uchiha district, and over half of Konoha.

Then, in a slightly dim room, a snowflake carefully passed through a window and drifted downward. There, a person with his eyes covered by black cloth and shackles around his hands waited. The bloodstained snowflake slowly floated into his palm.

"So cold."

Kagato felt the sudden chill in his palm.

"Snow again?"

From the Uchiha district to the Hokage's Office and then to Root, the snowfall grew heavier and heavier.

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage watched the snow growing heavier outside the window. After hearing the Anbu's report behind him, he could not help sighing.

"Is this my fault?"

The Third Hokage did not completely ignore Root. He still had several informants there. Danzo had originally intended to conceal Kagato's parents' deaths for a few days and announce them only after Kagato committed suicide, but he had not expected the Third Hokage to discover the matter ahead of time.

"Send someone to tell Danzo to immediately return Kagato's parents' bodies to the Uchiha. At the same time, release Kagato and send him home to mourn his parents. That will be all."

The Third Hokage gave the order to the Anbu behind him.

"Yes!"

The Anbu answered without hesitation.

The door opened. Kagato could sense it.

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

"Uchiha Kagato, the Third Hokage has ordered your release so that you may return home to mourn your parents."

Kagato stared blankly at the Jonin, his face filled with disbelief. His voice trembled as he asked,

"R-release me to go h-home for what?"

The Jonin sighed and spoke.

"To mourn your parents."

At that moment, all light vanished from Kagato's eyes, leaving them dull and lifeless.

"M-mourn who?"

He hoped—hoped desperately—that he had misheard.

However...

"To mourn your parents."

The Jonin's words were so clear and unmistakable.

The trees in the forest behind the Uchiha district were covered in snow, resembling jade branches and leaves. The once-clean streets were now blanketed with snow as well. Many Uchiha stayed inside their homes, finding a few friends to chat with and shivering at the thought of going outside. Several birds landed on the branches, shaking down sheets of snow. A chilly stillness filled the entire scene.

The weather grew colder and colder, just like Shisui's heart.

"It really is cold."

Shisui looked at the two bodies before him and spoke.

Itachi stood nearby in silence, not knowing what to say.

"The people from the clan will be here soon, right? I'm leaving first, Itachi."

This time, Shisui did not wait for Itachi to reply. He left directly.

The task of returning Kagato's parents to the Uchiha was ultimately transferred from Root to the Anbu. Since Itachi was an Uchiha clan member, the Anbu selected him to return the bodies to the Uchiha.

Before bringing them back, Itachi informed Shisui of the matter. That was how the scene just now had come about.

Along a snow-covered road, Kagato ran nonstop. He had been tortured until he was utterly haggard in the cell, but he still ran with all his strength, falling again and again and getting back up again and again.

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

The snowflakes that had felt merely cold when they landed on his face before now brought pain like needles driven into his bones.

Kagato rushed desperately toward the Uchiha district, but he was far too weak. He fell almost every three steps.

"Smack!"

He fell again. He struggled to get up, but in the end, this time, he did not rise. He collapsed completely into the snow.

"G-get up!"

Kagato shouted in pain, trying to make himself stand, but his body felt as heavy as a thousand jin. No matter how hard he tried, he could not get up.

Snowflakes landed on Kagato's body, as though trying to hold him down and persuade him to rest for a while, just for a while. But how could he 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 rely on yourself alone."

Shisui suddenly appeared and carried Kagato on his back.

"Brother Shisui..."

Kagato stared blankly at Shisui as tears began streaming down his face.

"Why are you crying?"

Shisui asked with a smile.

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

"..."

Shisui remained silent, but Kagato had already received his answer.

"Brother Shisui, I-I..."

It seemed he could no longer speak. The only sound coming from behind Shisui was sobbing.

"Kagato, how old are you this year?"

"Seven."

Shisui's nose stung. It seemed everyone had forgotten that this child, who usually appeared so mature, was only seven years old. He had endured far too many things that no child should ever have had to experience.

"You still have me."

"Mm."

Good morning, everyone! Have you eaten? I hope you all have a friend who will come help you without hesitation when you are at your most desperate.

Mm-hm, and now, please vote and leave comments!