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Naruto: Uzumaki Patriarch
Chapter 7: A Kunoichi's Shadow
The sun hung high over Uzushiogakure, casting dappled light through the village's spiraling rooftops. Reina Uzumaki moved through the bustling streets, her crimson hair tied in a tight braid, her steps purposeful. As a jounin and Kazuto's right hand, her days were a blur of missions, reports, and training, but today held a rare moment of calm. The sabotage team was preparing to target the Kirigakure ship, and Kazuto was holed up in his workshop, refining his Tidebreaker seal. For once, Reina had a few hours to breathe—though her thoughts, as always, lingered on her clan head.
She stopped at the market, picking up supplies for the clan compound: ink for seals, herbs for medical poultices, and rice for the communal kitchen. The vendors greeted her warmly, their voices tinged with awe. "Reina-san, is it true Kazuto-sama stopped three Mist shinobi alone?" an elderly woman asked, her eyes wide. Reina nodded, a faint smile masking her unease. The village's faith in Kazuto was growing, but so was their fear. His brilliance was undeniable, but his intensity—a stubborn, terrifying force—set him apart, even among his own clan.
Carrying her purchases, Reina headed to the training grounds, where she'd promised to oversee a genin squad's fuinjutsu practice. The kids were young, barely eight, their hands clumsy as they traced basic storage seals. Reina knelt beside one, a girl named Hana, correcting her spiral with gentle precision. "Keep the lines even," she said. "A crooked seal can backfire." Hana beamed, her admiration for Reina clear. To the genin, Reina was a hero, a kunoichi who served the Crimson Patriarch himself. They didn't see the quiet ache she carried, the feelings she buried beneath duty.
As the session ended, Reina lingered, watching the genin run off, their laughter echoing. She envied their lightness. Her own childhood had been cut short by war's shadow—Uzushiogakure's isolation made every shinobi a soldier, even the young. Now, at sixteen, she was Kazuto's shadow, her life orbiting his. She didn't resent it; serving him was her pride. But the way her heart quickened when he glanced her way, the way she noticed every tired line on his young face—it complicated things. A clan head didn't have room for love, especially not one like Kazuto, whose every breath was for the village.
She sighed, heading to the clan compound to deliver the supplies. The main hall was quiet, the elders in a meeting elsewhere. Reina slipped into the kitchen, unpacking the rice, then moved to Kazuto's workshop to leave the ink. The door was ajar, and she hesitated, peering inside. Kazuto sat at his desk, surrounded by scrolls, his small hands sketching furiously. The Tidebreaker seal glowed before him, its lines sharper than yesterday. He didn't notice her, lost in his work, his crimson hair falling into his eyes. Reina's chest tightened. He was ten, but he carried a weight that would break most adults. She wanted to protect him, even if he'd never let her.
She set the ink quietly on a shelf and turned to leave, but his voice stopped her. "Reina." It was soft, almost distracted, but it sent a jolt through her. She turned, meeting his dark red eyes. "The sabotage team. Are they ready?"
Reina nodded, steadying her voice. "Yes, Kazuto-sama. They'll depart at dusk, using your proximity seals to track the ship. Non-lethal, as you ordered." She paused, then added, "I'll lead them myself."
Kazuto's pen paused, his gaze sharpening. "No. You're needed here. Send Kaito instead." His tone was final, but Reina caught a flicker of something—concern, maybe? It was gone too fast to be sure.
She bowed, hiding her disappointment. "Understood." She turned to go, but his voice stopped her again.
"The ink," he said, glancing at the shelf. "Thanks." It was curt, but for Kazuto, it was as close to warmth as he got. Reina's lips curved into a small smile, her heart traitorously light.
Outside, she leaned against the wall, exhaling. Serving Kazuto was her duty, but her feelings were a secret she guarded fiercely. She'd loved him quietly for nearly a year, drawn to his stubborn resolve, his terrifying genius. He was untouchable, a prodigy with a village on his shoulders, but she couldn't help it. Every time he pushed himself to the brink, she wanted to pull him back, to remind him he wasn't alone. But he was the Crimson Patriarch, and she was just Reina.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout. A genin messenger skidded to a stop, panting. "Reina-san! The elders need you at the council hall. It's about Konoha."
Reina's smile faded. Konoha again. The elders were still pushing to inform the Hidden Leaf about the Mist raid, despite Kazuto's orders. She straightened, her jounin instincts kicking in. "I'm coming," she said, her mind already shifting to strategy. Kazuto's distrust of Konoha was absolute, and she shared it. The Hyuga envoy's snooping had left a bad taste, and rumors of Konoha's internal politics—whispers of a man named Danzo—made her wary. She'd back Kazuto's decision, even if it meant clashing with the elders.
As she headed to the hall, Reina glanced back at the workshop, where Kazuto's silhouette was still bent over his scroll. The sabotage mission would send a message to Kirigakure, but it was only the beginning. Uzushiogakure's survival hung on Kazuto's seals, and Reina would stand by him, no matter the cost. Her heart might ache in silence, but her loyalty was unbreakable.
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End of Chapter 7
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