Yukika casually spat out the stalk of grass from his mouth, landing it right on the face of Hiruzen Sarutobi's statue not far away.
The motion was fluid and effortless, and watching from the side, Nawaki once again looked at him with eyes full of admiration.
His older cousin was still so graceful.
But…
Why did he occasionally show dissatisfaction toward the Third Hokage?
Even though he only revealed it in front of Nawaki.
Yukika always had his reasons.
Shaking his head, Nawaki let out a sigh. "I skipped class too. I just couldn't concentrate on Yamazaki-sensei's lesson without you there."
"Also... Yukika-nii, did you hear..."
His tone suddenly grew heavy.
Nawaki lowered his head.
"Konene is dead."
Konene — one of the more ordinary members of the Senju clan, who had long hidden his surname to blend into the village of Konoha.
A few days ago, the village had sent him to the front lines, citing a shortage of manpower.
Like the other Senju clansmen sent to the battlefield before him, he died.
His corpse was all that was returned.
Deaths in war weren't unusual.
What *was* strange, though, was that the number of Senju clan members dying — those who had gone to the front while hiding their surnames — was mysteriously increasing.
"He died, huh?"
Yukika's expression didn't change. He looked calmly at Nawaki.
"So? What are you trying to say? Or rather, what do you want to do?"
What did he want to express?
Nawaki's gaze grew firm. "Yukika-nii, we're about to graduate!"
"Of course we're going to the front. We need to avenge our fallen clansmen!"
"Sou ka."
Yukika gave a small nod, then silently raised a hand and rested it on Nawaki's head.
After a long pause, he suddenly smiled gently.
"Just make sure you don't pick the wrong people to take revenge on."
What's that supposed to mean? I'm not blind.
Nawaki rolled his eyes. Konene had clearly been killed by enemy shinobi. If they took out those enemy ninja, then that would be rightful vengeance.
How could he possibly target the wrong people?
The two boys stood up.
Under the twilight, their young figures slowly descended the slope of the Hokage Rock.
But Nawaki didn't see the clenched fist Yukika hid at his side — or the fury in his eyes when he looked toward the Hokage's office.
In the end...
They had bared their fangs.
Not toward enemies from other villages.
But toward their own.
...
Night fell.
In the once-thriving Senju clan compound…
Now, during the height of the Second Shinobi World War — raging fiercely in the Land of Rain — the clan's residence was eerily quiet.
Ordinary Senju members, trying to integrate into the village, had spread out to live elsewhere. The place no longer held the grandeur it once did when Tobirama Senju ruled as the Second Hokage.
However, the small courtyard that once belonged to the clan leader remained lit.
At the dinner table…
Yukika quietly ate a rice ball.
To his side sat a red-haired girl — a survivor of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina Uzumaki — sneaking subtle glances at him.
Directly across from him sat Mito Uzumaki, her once-bright crimson hair now turned a deep chestnut brown.
Tsunade wasn't present.
As a key figure of the village and Sarutobi Hiruzen's prized pupil, she was out on the battlefield, weathering war.
"Yukika-nii, did you hear about what happened to White Fang?"
The atmosphere was heavy.
Kushina's jewel-like eyes sparkled slightly as she broke the silence.
"He…"
"Yeah, I heard. Outstanding feats. He even killed both the son and daughter-in-law of Chiyo, the elder from Sunagakure."
Yukika nodded. But his gaze was fixed on Mito.
"The news has been all over the village."
"And yet... the number of Senju corpses being sent back has tripled."
"No one seems to be mentioning *that*."
"Not a single condolence."
"Not even from the Hokage."
*Clack.*
Mito gently set down her chopsticks, looking at Yukika.
Clearly, this wasn't the time or place to talk about such grim topics.
"You're still as calm as ever."
Watching her carefully, Yukika popped the last bite of his rice ball into his mouth, then stood up.
"Just like when you first heard about the fall of the Uzumaki clan."
"Yukika-nii!"
Nawaki swallowed hard, trying to stop him from continuing.
"I'm full."
"Someone should go pour a drink for our fallen clansmen. I think I'm the most suitable one for that."
And just like that, Yukika vanished from the room.
Mito let out a long, complicated sigh.
Kushina, on the other hand, seemed to recall something. She jumped up and rushed out after him.
...