Holding hands

"What is it? Tell me quickly!" Koki her delicate face slightly to the side, her head tilting playfully, her gaze sharp as an arrow, staring straight at Ban in front of her, as if trying to see through the secrets deep in his heart.

Ban, however, remained silent, as if his soul had been ripped away.

His handsome features, which were usually hard to look away from, made him avoid Koki's piercing gaze at this moment, silently looking away.

"If you're not going to tell me, I'm going back to sleep!" Koki's voice was filled with deep weariness. He opened his mouth, let out a big yawn, and even a crystal tear rolled down his cheek.

After saying that, he dragged his lazy steps past Ban, his loose coat swaying gently in the breeze, the hem like soft silk, lightly brushing against the back of Ban's hand, leaving a faint touch.

As if struck by something, Madara suddenly snapped back to his senses and abruptly stretched out his long, strong fingers, tightly gripping Koki's arm.

Koki was startled by this sudden action, a look of confusion instantly appearing on his face. He turned his head, looking directly at Madara, his eyes full of doubt. "What?"

He was utterly baffled as to why Ban was behaving so strangely tonight. His behavior of neither opening up to him nor allowing him to rest left him feeling incredibly helpless.

Madara seemed to realize his lapse in composure, and slowly, with a hint of reluctance, withdrew his hand to his side. His fingertips unconsciously curled slightly, and he loosely grasped the palm that had just touched Koki, as if trying to hold onto that fleeting tenderness.

He coughed lightly, trying to ease the awkward and tense atmosphere, then slowly said, "Let's go back to your room and talk in detail."

Izuna frequently visited Koki's house, where the two would chat, while he himself rarely went there.

Upon hearing Madara's suggestion, Koki remained silent for a moment.

In that brief silence, Madara felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. Just when he thought he was about to be swallowed up by the oppressive atmosphere, Koki suddenly smiled brightly, "No problem."

Koki then turned and walked into her room. Seeing this, Madara took a deep breath and followed closely behind.

The moonlight, as clear as water, bathed them, casting long shadows of the two of them.

Koki stepped into the house, she skillfully closed the door behind her, the soft creak shutting out the hustle and bustle of the world.

The air in the room was slightly heavy. Koki walked to the table, gently lifted the kettle, and the clear water flowed into the cup like a ribbon, accompanied by a crisp musical sound.

He gently lifted the rim of the glass to his lips, tilted his head back slightly, and let the liquid slowly slide down his throat, moistening his parched senses.

Then, he gently set down his cup and said calmly, "Now you can tell me, right? Stop keeping me in suspense."

Ban stood in the shadows, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

Koki listened quietly. When Madara finished speaking, he was taken aback at first, then a faint smile appeared on his lips, "I thought it was something important."

For the Uchiha Senju Clan, the reconciliation with the Uchiha Clan was undoubtedly a decision that would cause a huge upheaval.

Madara had been hesitating over this matter for a long time. Opinions within the clan were like a tangled mess, and Izuna was firmly opposed to it. In his heart, the hatred between the two clans was like a bottomless abyss that was difficult to cross.

The reason Madara came to ask for Koki's opinion was because of a past event.

His past "secret meetings" with Hashirama Senju, if discovered, would have ignited a powder keg of family hatred.

At that time, Koki resolutely stepped forward and hid those secrets in the shadows.

"Is this really worth getting so worked up about?" Koki stepped forward slowly, gently tugging at Ban's sleeve, her gaze sincere. "No matter which path you choose, my support will always remain the same."

Madara was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Koki to give such a response.

He slowly turned his head, gazing at the distant window shrouded in darkness, and whispered, "What I worry about is that one day in the future, you might think I made the wrong choice, and I..."

Koki didn't say anything, but he held Madara's hand tightly.

Ban's gaze was fixed on that spotless hand, the blue veins winding beneath the skin like the river of life flowing quietly.

Madara Uchiha, a figure revered like a legend within his clan, experienced for the first time the profound meaning of "helplessness."

He could feel the warmth of Koki's palm, a temperature like molten lava, slowly warming his hesitant heart.

In the deepest corner of that sea of memories, he seemed to return to the moment when they held hands and walked together as children, pure and flawless, without a speck of dust.

Madara often pondered that if Izuna were by his side, it seemed that everything would fall into place naturally.

Madara had witnessed countless times Izuna and Koki strolling leisurely in the courtyard, their shadows stretching and intertwining in the sunlight as they chatted casually. At these times, Koki's eyes would sparkle like a galaxy, their brilliance so captivating that Madara could hardly look directly at them, yet he was utterly mesmerized.

I don't know when it started, but these images would inexplicably surface in my mind during those quiet nights or peaceful afternoons.

As Madara reminisces about the moments he spent with Izuna and Koki, his inner turmoil spreads like wildfire.

He tried to analyze the source of this emotion: was it jealousy, or fear of loss?

Even Ban himself couldn't explain it, but this feeling was ever-present, causing him immense torment.

That night, when Koki reached out her hand, Madara's heart raced. He knew this was an opportunity, an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.

Although it felt like two little voices were arguing fiercely inside him, his body reacted before his reason could.

Madara reached out and tightly grasped Koki's hand. The moment their fingertips touched, his body involuntarily trembled slightly.

"Okay." A faint smile appeared on Ban's lips, a smile so beautiful it seemed like a dream, bathed in moonlight.

"Don't worry, I'll handle Izuna's matter."

Speak of the devil and he appears.

"Koki... Madara-nii?" Izuna's familiar voice came from outside the door. The door opened, and Izuna's figure came into view.

His gaze was instantly drawn to the two people standing facing each other inside the room. Despite the distance between them, Izuna could sense the unusual atmosphere.

"Koki!" Izuna called out, running over happily and leaping to Koki's side.

As usual, the two held each other's hands intimately.

Madara Uchiha silently turned his face away, his eyelids drooping slightly.