Night quietly draped Konoha in a veil of deep blue, with stars set sparsely but brightly upon it like carefully polished diamond chips.
The waters of the Naka River sounded gentler and more tender than they had by day, lapping against the blue-gray stones along the bank as though humming an ancient song.
The Uchiha Residence, the home that held countless memories of Shinichi and Tsunade's youthful years and newlywed bliss, was brightly lit, but its atmosphere was far from the usual warmth.
In the bedroom, on the tatami spacious enough for Shinichi to perform his "eighteen lazybones rolls" to his heart's content, the newly married couple were not the only ones sitting upright-or at least trying to maintain that posture.
Tsunade had changed out of her Hokage Ceremonial Robe and into a simple, elegant house kimono. Her long golden hair was loosely pinned up with a wooden hairpin, a few unruly strands falling beside her cheeks. She looked a little less fierce and imposing than usual, and a little more like the gentle lady of the house.
Yet her brow was tightly furrowed above her bright amber eyes, an unshakable gravity lingering in her gaze.
Shinichi wore his eternally unchanged loose house clothes, his naturally curly silver hair a tousled mess as though he had just woken up. He sat cross-legged beside Tsunade, holding a steaming cup of tea, occasionally blowing aside the floating leaves and taking a small sip. His leisurely manner was entirely at odds with the room's faintly oppressive atmosphere.
Opposite them sat several figures who carried considerable weight in Konoha.
Mito Uzumaki was a legendary woman who had lived through the Warring States era and Konoha's founding years. Though silver now threaded her long, fiery-red hair, her deep eyes remained as keen as a hawk's,