If This Isn't a Bond, What Is?

Seeing that Shisui had finally been talked around and wasn't entertaining the foolish ideas he'd had in the original timeline, Hayato finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Then he braced himself against the ground and tried to get up. Shisui hurried over to support him.

"I'll take you back now. Your injuries need treatment, too," Shisui said, his face full of guilt.

"No need." Hayato waved a hand. "We need to take that Anbu's body back, too. He can't be left buried here."

Shisui nodded solemnly, then helped Hayato toward where they had just been.

But when they arrived, Shisui couldn't help staring in shock.

The Anbu's corpse was burning in the flames. The head in particular had already lost all recognizable features.

"But it wasn't burning when I left!"

As he spoke, Shisui hurried forward, intending to pull the body out.

Hayato stayed where he was, the corner of his mouth lifting. That had taken care of his lingering worry.

Once the body was reduced to ash, not even the Intelligence Division could get any information from it, no matter how powerful they were.

"Shisui, be careful. The fire's intense," Hayato called out as Shisui risked everything to reach the body.

"Hey! You two Uchiha brats, what are you doing?"

A voice rang out. Hayato's heart jolted, and he quickly turned around.

A burly figure stood not far away, his face more serious than Hayato had ever seen. After glancing around, his gaze settled on Hayato and Shisui.

"Lord Jiraiya," Hayato said respectfully.

One of the Sannin and a prominent figure in the village. No matter how reluctant Hayato might be, he had to show him the proper respect.

"Lord Jiraiya, I was trying to get our comrade's body out," Shisui said, his face clouded with guilt.

He didn't know what had gotten into him today. First Hayato was injured because of him, and then he'd been careless and hadn't taken the Anbu's body away right away, allowing the flames to consume it.

Jiraiya noticed Shisui's hands, covered in blisters, and paused in surprise.

He leaped over to Hayato and Shisui, then crouched to look at the Anbu's body that Shisui had dragged out, examining the wounds.

As Orochimaru's teammate, Jiraiya knew that only Orochimaru could have inflicted injuries like these.

The last of his suspicions faded. He helped the guilt-ridden Shisui to his feet.

"It's all right. You've done more than enough."

Then he looked around once more before turning to Hayato and Shisui. "Did you fight Orochimaru here?"

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya. By the time we arrived, this Anbu was already gravely wounded."

Hayato nodded.

It was the truth. When he had tampered with the Anbu's brain, the man had clearly already been on the verge of death.

Jiraiya couldn't help staring. He'd assumed Hayato and Shisui had teamed up with the Anbu.

He hadn't expected that these two Uchiha boys, both in their teens, had faced Orochimaru themselves. Jiraiya opened his mouth. "You two..."

"I'm a member of the Konoha Military Police Force. I came to investigate Orochimaru's underground laboratory under the Third Hokage's orders," Hayato said quietly.

"As for Orochimaru, we weren't strong enough to stop him." As he spoke, Hayato revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Jiraiya was clearly wondering how they'd survived a fight with Orochimaru. Hayato figured he might as well tell him.

Besides, this was no longer his final trump card.

At the sight of it, Jiraiya understood. He'd known for a long time that Uchiha Shisui had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

But this Chunin from the Police Force had it, too. It wasn't surprising that he'd survived a fight with Orochimaru.

"Sorry. I let my suspicions get the better of me."

Jiraiya apologized to Hayato without hesitation. That was just his way—he was a true hero, the kind rarely seen in the entire Ninja World.

Though he was also quite the lecher.

"It's all right, Lord Jiraiya," Hayato said with a nod.

"Good. I'll go after him first. You two head back, and be careful." Jiraiya patted Hayato on the shoulder, then leaped away, following the trail he'd spotted earlier.

Shisui came over and supported Hayato. Only after Jiraiya's figure had disappeared did he ask uncertainly, "Hayato, do you think Orochimaru will tell Lord Jiraiya that I awakened the Mangekyo?"

Hayato kept his expression neutral, though inwardly he was pleased.

Good. At the very least, Shisui asking that question showed he'd made real progress.

It meant that Shisui had truly taken his words to heart.

"He won't."

Hayato shook his head. Seeing Shisui's puzzled expression, he continued, "You have to understand: the strong are always proud. Besides, you forced Orochimaru to retreat."

"Orochimaru won't tell anyone about this, but you've caught his interest. You might want to be extra careful if you get assigned a mission outside the village in the future."

Shisui nodded.

They sealed the Anbu's body inside a scroll, then slowly made their way toward the village.

They hadn't gone far when a tremendous rumble sounded behind them.

Hayato looked back. A Kage Level battle really could change the weather.

At the very least, altering the terrain was nothing unusual.

Rumble—

Layer upon layer of dark clouds filled the sky, lightning flashing through them now and then.

Drip—

Hayato held out his hand and caught a raindrop just as it fell.

A falling-out—most of the time, it seemed to come with a certain kind of weather. Rain was the most common.

It was as if things in the Naruto world always happened this way, as though it helped set the mood.

Hayato shook his head and couldn't help laughing.

Rather than the heavens responding to what had happened, it was more likely that Jiraiya and Orochimaru's battle had directly affected the clouds overhead.

One master of Wind Release, one master of Fire Style.

Wasn't it only natural for that to produce extreme heat?

"Hayato, what are you laughing about?" Shisui asked, puzzled. He didn't understand why Hayato would laugh at the sight of the rain.

"Nothing. I was just wondering whether bonds really are so fragile."

Since Hayato wanted to bring Shisui over to his side, he knew exactly how to talk to him in a way that would resonate.

Shisui fell silent. The Sannin had earned their reputation on the battlefield. The story went that Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, and Orochimaru had supported one another and survived together.

But the title of Sannin no longer held the glory it once had.

Lady Tsunade had left the village, and now Orochimaru had defected as well.

Perhaps the Sannin would officially fall apart today.

Shisui was quiet for a long while before he looked up at Hayato, his expression earnest. "No, Hayato. Bonds aren't that fragile!"

"I want to protect the village and the Uchiha Clan, but I often don't know which way to go. You've only said a few things to me, but you've helped me find the right direction." Shisui smiled, his voice tinged with self-mockery. "Kotoamatsukami can change other people's will, but it can't dispel my own confusion."

"But you can point me in the right direction."

"If that isn't a bond, what is?"

Hayato smiled but said nothing.

Shisui held out his fist, stopping it in midair. "Hayato, I promise you: I won't reveal the secret of Kotoamatsukami to anyone but you."