Past Memories

Swish, swish...

Uchiha Yukino's fingers turned the pages gently, producing a faint, rustling sound.

Through her delicate, scallion-like fingers, it was clear that this was not a complete book.

Instead, it was composed of individual sheets of paper neatly arranged together.

The edges of these pages seemed to have been meticulously trimmed, allowing them to fit together tightly as if they were one.

Her beautiful face, like a finely carved work of art, was focused solely on the paper before her, as if this small space were the entire world.

Her pupils were as black as ink, perfectly sized, resembling deep, tranquil, and mysterious lakes.

However, her gaze was not vacant; it was locked firmly onto the words within the pages.

To her, these words were like a key to a wondrous world, leading her into a realm filled with imagination and fantasy.

Although she had leafed through these stories and described worlds countless times, every reading felt like a brand-new adventure. For her, unable to leave the house, it was a form of salvation.

The worlds outlined by those words—whether ancient mythological epics, romantic legends, or thrilling adventures—attracted her like a magnet, pulling her in until she was deeply enthralled, unable to pull herself away.

Due to the illness triggered by her Kekkei Genkai, a heavy mountain pressed down on Uchiha Yukino, making it hard for her to breathe and turning even the act of stepping outside into a luxury.

Even the slightest exertion would cause her condition to worsen like a bursting dam.

Not to mention the prospect of becoming a ninja, the family profession passed down through generations; this sudden turn of events was like a bolt from the blue, dealing Uchiha Yukino a heavy psychological blow.

Even with the efforts of countless physicians, her condition showed no signs of improvement. It was like an endless darkness, constantly devouring Yukino's hope and filling her with fear.

She did not know when her life would flicker out like a candle in the wind, or when her father and sister would vanish like bubbles.

Under the shadow of death, Uchiha Yukino's spirit matured prematurely, like fruit ripening too early.

At such a young age, she had already deeply grasped the meaning of pain.

She began to grow increasingly reclusive.

She became more and more silent.

She became increasingly indifferent to the world.

It was as if she were calmly waiting for death to arrive.

That was what she had once believed.

Until...

The arrival of that person!

Two years ago...

"Hey, are you little sister Yukino? My name is Uchiha Tenshu! I've been studying under Elder Raimon lately. From today on, we're officially acquaintances!"

"Wow, your name is so pretty, and your eyes look like they have stars twinkling in them—so beautiful!"

"I heard you can't go outside! Then let me tell you about some interesting things from the outside world!"

"From today on, we're best friends!"

The boy spoke his piece with high spirits.

Even though Uchiha Yukino ignored him, staring out the window without any reaction.

The boy kept telling stories happily.

He lay by her bedside, whispering his tales.

However, she didn't quite like the story of the Little Match Girl.

The ending of the story.

Actually made Uchiha Yukino speak for the first time.

"Are you here to mock me on purpose?" Uchiha Yukino's face was as dark as water. Her calm eyes, like deep pools, stared straight at Uchiha Tenshu. Her small, soft, and youthful face, which had been expressionless, now looked like a flower battered by a storm, showing anger for the first time.

"What? How could I do such a thing!" Uchiha Tenshu looked at Uchiha Yukino with utter astonishment and disbelief, as if he had heard the strangest thing in the world.

"Then why tell this story? Do you think I will also die lonely and helpless like that little match girl? Let me tell you, I won't! I will live on strongly, like a plum blossom braving the snow!" Uchiha Yukino's gaze was as cold as frost, like two sharp swords piercing straight at the boy, filled with resistance against her fate.

In Yukino's stubborn words, there appeared for the first time a resistance to her own destiny and the bitterness of her unwillingness to yield.

"How could that be? It's just a simple story! Besides, no matter how tragic this story is, our lives are still filled with even more tragedies. All we can do is find joy in the midst of sorrow and live on strongly."

"Really, I had absolutely no intention of deceiving you!"

Uchiha Tenshu's explanation fell on deaf ears, failing to gain the slightest approval from Uchiha Yukino, earning only her endless indifference.

Realizing that Uchiha Yukino's heart was filled with misunderstandings about him, Uchiha Tenshu stopped explaining.

From then on, he simply came to Uchiha Yukino's bedside day after day, telling stories of his own accord.

Every day, there was a brand-new story, like a babbling brook, never repeating.

From the Little Match Girl to the Princess and the Pea, from Aladdin's Lamp to Snow White, from the Ugly Duckling to Little Red Riding Hood—he recounted every story with vivid detail.

At first, Yukino remained indifferent, only occasionally letting her gaze linger for a fleeting moment when the stories reached their most exciting parts.

As the days passed, those colorful and vivid stories acted like warm sunlight, gradually melting the thick ice within Yukino's heart.

Once, after Uchiha Tenshu finished telling the story of Cinderella, Yukino actually took the initiative to ask, "Can she really live a happy life?" Her eyes were filled with a pitiful, longing expectation.

Uchiha Tenshu's eyes lit up, and he said earnestly, "Of course. As long as you hold onto hope, life will always get better. Just like you—you will definitely be able to overcome this Kekkei Genkai Disease. If you give up, you've already lost."

Uchiha Yukino fell silent, a different kind of radiance appearing in her eyes.

From then on, Yukino began to slowly respond to Tenshu, and their interactions grew more frequent.

Uchiha Tenshu would share fresh news from the outside world with her, and Yukino would share her own thoughts on the stories.

Accompanied by Uchiha Tenshu, Uchiha Yukino gradually became more cheerful, no longer just waiting for death.

Instead, she began to look forward to the future.

She hoped that one day, like the protagonists in the stories, she could walk out of this door and embrace a beautiful life of her own.

In the process.

Because Uchiha Yukino had listened to these stories constantly, she went from initial resistance and apathy to familiarity and acceptance.

Later on, she began to rely on him completely.

Step by step, she accepted Uchiha Tenshu's presence, eventually regarding him as the most important person in her life.

When the ice encasing her was stripped away, what was revealed to the world was a soft, adorable, and incredibly gentle Yukino.

From that day on.

Uchiha Yukino also began to keep herself busy, constantly transcribing every story she had heard from Uchiha Tenshu, starting with The Little Match Girl.

Although the effects of the Kekkei Genkai Disease had stripped her of her qualifications as a ninja, the innate condition had also pushed certain aspects of Uchiha Yukino's natural talent to a level that others found inconceivable: an astonishing memory.

With her natural photographic memory, these stories became a tether connecting her to the outside world. She neatly bound the stories she had transcribed and kept them by her bedside.

Each book carried the memories of the time she spent with Uchiha Tenshu.

However.

As time went on.

Yukino's condition did not improve; instead, there were signs that it was worsening. Upon learning this, Uchiha Tenshu visited her even more frequently. He provided a vast amount of medical knowledge he had obtained from unknown sources, hoping it would help with Yukino's illness, and even declared his intention to study medical ninjutsu and medicine, determined to cure Yukino's condition no matter what.

In the days that followed.

Uchiha Tenshu increasingly dedicated himself to the study of medical ninjutsu, constantly searching for a way to treat Yukino.

Meanwhile, Yukino waited, using her powerful memory to continuously organize theoretical knowledge regarding ninjutsu and medicine.

Although she could not become a ninja to fight, she hoped that her knowledge would be able to help Tenshu in the future.

Or perhaps others in need.

The growing bond between the two.

Could not help but make Uchiha Lingyue, who had always been dissatisfied with Uchiha Tenshu, even more furious. It was all that damn brat's fault; if it weren't for him, how could her sister Yukino be so exhausted when her health was already so poor?

All of this.

Was Uchiha Tenshu's fault!

For this reason.

Uchiha Lingyue began a series of targeted actions against Uchiha Tenshu, picking faults with him in every way possible.