Conversation

"Then, Lord Hokage, is this about the Kurama Clan? I'll report what happened that day!" Ueno Kei said gravely as Naruto left, his expression serious.

The Third Hokage paused slightly with his pipe in his mouth. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, then he smiled.

"Kei, there's no need to rush. We can talk about that later. How are you feeling now?" The Third Hokage didn't respond to Ueno Kei's words. Instead, he smiled and casually changed the subject.

Ueno Kei froze, unsure what the Third Hokage was getting at. Hadn't he come because of the Kurama Clan? Wasn't he going to ask about Ueno Kei killing Kurama Yakumo?

The image of the girl with a faint smile flashed through his mind. A dull ache stirred in Ueno Kei's heart, and a trace of sadness crossed his face before he quickly hid it.

Well, since he couldn't figure out the Third Hokage's purpose, he'd wait and see.

Ueno Kei thought it over and decided not to say anything more. After all, the Third Hokage hadn't asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage. I'm more or less fine. The doctor said I should rest today and can be discharged tomorrow," Ueno Kei replied carefully, choosing his words with precision.

He was fairly sure this was only an ordinary greeting from the Third Hokage, but it was always best to be cautious. After all, the Third Hokage held a position equivalent to that of a nation's leader.

In Ueno Kei's previous life, the hierarchy in his family had been strict, let alone the hierarchy within a whole nation.

When visiting the elders or the family head, he had to observe all the rules.

Ueno Kei had been born into a prominent family, and those influences had run deep, even though he himself was mild-mannered.

He had been gentle with servants and subordinates, and wasn't much of an imposing presence.

But he was completely different when dealing with his elders. So when facing someone like the Third Hokage, the leader of the village and an equal to the Land of Fire's daimyo, Ueno Kei still observed the proper etiquette.

The Third Hokage smiled faintly. He could hear the caution and care in Ueno Kei's voice. Of course, he didn't find it surprising.

Given Ueno Kei's background and the Third Hokage's own status, it was only natural for the boy to act this way. He might have been a little too cautious, but the Third Hokage didn't dwell on it. It was possible that experiences from his childhood had shaped his meticulous and guarded nature.

The Third Hokage said, "Well, if that's what the doctor says, then that's good. Don't worry too much about school. I've already spoken to them for you. Just focus on recovering."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

The Third Hokage nodded, then asked, "Kei, what do you think about what happened this time?" His tone made it sound like an offhand question, yet he emphasized a few words as he spoke.

Ueno Kei's eyes narrowed slightly. Here came the main event!

Ueno Kei fell silent for a moment. He knew he had to give a report, but what he should say—and how he should say it—was the key.

The Third Hokage's question was a curious one: "what happened this time." Did he mean the Kurama Clan's rebellion, or the matter of Kurama Yakumo herself?

Or was he asking about how Konoha and the Third Hokage had handled the two matters?

He could speak, but he couldn't afford to say the wrong thing. Because of his complicated relationship with Kurama Yakumo and everything that had happened, Ueno Kei had pieced together most of what had led to the whole affair.

Even with Kurama Yakumo's vague explanations, and combining what he knew of Yuhi Kurenai's situation with what he had witnessed himself, Ueno Kei had guessed almost all of it.

This might actually have been the Third Hokage testing him, trying to find out how much he knew and how deeply he had been involved.

What if he said the wrong thing? Ueno Kei didn't dare imagine what the consequences might be.

In the span of just a few breaths, a faint sheen of sweat had appeared on Ueno Kei's forehead.

The Third Hokage furrowed his brow slightly. He couldn't tell what Ueno Kei was thinking, but it was clear the boy was tense and a little afraid.

Then the Third Hokage realized the child was probably overthinking it. He simply wanted to know how Ueno Kei felt after experiencing everything firsthand.

After the Kurama Clan incident, by the time the Third Hokage reached the scene, Ueno Kei had already passed out. Only Yuhi Kurenai had managed to remain barely conscious.

The Third Hokage still remembered the scene: Ueno Kei embracing Kurama Yakumo, the Lingyu Blade plunged into her heart.

While Ueno Kei was still unconscious after the incident, the Third Hokage had already learned most of the truth from Yuhi Kurenai. The one moment she hadn't witnessed was why Ueno Kei had appeared beside Kurama Yakumo, and why Yakumo had seemed utterly unguarded when he finally pierced her body.

Yuhi Kurenai hadn't known about those details.

But what Yuhi Kurenai had told him about Ueno Kei had already impressed the Third Hokage. And he had a duty to learn about the part she hadn't witnessed.

On top of that, the Third Hokage had a vague, uncertain idea in mind. He simply wanted to get a closer understanding of Ueno Kei.

That was why the Third Hokage had come to Ueno Kei's hospital room. But now, seeing the boy's expression, the Third Hokage sighed inwardly.

He was still just a child, after all.

Just as the Third Hokage was considering whether to say something, Ueno Kei spoke.

"Lord Hokage, about what happened this time... I think that sometimes, it might be better to talk about certain things openly."

Ueno Kei had hesitated at first, but then spoke without reservation.

Ueno Kei knew that even though he had lived two lives, he was probably still like an immature child in the Third Hokage's eyes. Should he play dumb or hide some of the truth? Ueno Kei didn't think he could conceal anything from the Shinobi Hero before him, a man who had dominated the Ninja World for decades.

Especially when he looked into the Third Hokage's deep, wise eyes.

The last trace of wishful thinking in Ueno Kei's heart vanished completely.

Though the old man was in his twilight years, the power he possessed—and the strength of his spirit—still felt unfathomable to Ueno Kei.

Telling the whole truth and honestly expressing what he felt might be the best choice. That was what Ueno Kei truly thought in that moment.

"Oh? Kei, why do you say that?" The Third Hokage's eyes brightened slightly. It seemed he hadn't expected Ueno Kei to say that, yet at the same time, he seemed to have been waiting for him to say it.

Ueno Kei drew a slow breath to ease his tension. Now that he had made up his mind, he felt there was nothing left to hesitate over.