Anlan's tone was calm—but decisive.
"First, deploy the Ginza Merchant Group into all major eastern cities."
"From the top down, we'll completely reorganize the Shogunate's old bureaucratic system."
"After that… we deal with the problems at their root."
"I understand."
Mikoto nodded, already grasping his intent.
The two discussed details—
Personnel allocation.
Funding routes.
Potential resistance.
Only after everything was finalized did Mikoto rise.
Her long black hair swayed lightly across her waist.
"I'll go arrange Ah Yan."
"Go ahead."
The door closed.
Quiet Before the Shift
Alone—
Anlan stood by the window.
Watching the bright sky.
He took a slow sip of tea.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
Shizune Arrives
The door opened carefully.
Shizune stepped in.
Plain clothes.
Tired eyes.
A faint scent of antiseptic still clinging to her.
She paused at the entrance—
Quickly locating Anlan—
Then lowered her head.
Hands clasped tightly.
"Excuse me… General."
Her voice carried tension.
And fear.
"Is it about Nohara Rin?"
Anlan leaned back casually.
Gesturing lightly.
"Don't be so nervous."
"I'm not a demon."
"Sit."
Shizune hesitated.
Then—
Slowly approached.
Only daring to sit on the very edge of the chair.
"Thank you… General."
Medical Report
Once she started speaking—
Her confidence returned.
"Rin regained full consciousness about thirty minutes ago."
"Her vitals are stable."
"She's weak—but conscious, responsive, and able to communicate."
"Her organ damage has stopped worsening, thanks to Lady Tsunade's treatment."
"But she'll need long-term care to recover."
She glanced up briefly—
Then lowered her eyes again.
"She was distressed at first…"
"But calmed down after realizing she's safe."
"…though…"
Her voice softened.
"She's very depressed after learning she's the only survivor."
Unexpected Kindness
Anlan listened.
Tapped the desk lightly.
"I see."
Then—
Unexpectedly—
"Go get some rest."
Shizune froze.
His gaze lingered on her tired face.
"You've worked hard."
"…!"
She blinked.
Confused.
This man—
The one she thought of as a captor—
Was thanking her?
"…Th-thank you, General."
She stood quickly and bowed again.
But—
She didn't leave.
Her hands tightened.
Eyes hesitant.
Anlan smiled faintly.
"You want to see Tsunade?"
"…Yes."
Caught instantly—
She nodded timidly.
A Small Gesture
"Alright."
Anlan stood.
Straightened his sleeve—
Then—
Picked up a plate of cherries from his desk.
And placed it into her hands.
"Eat more. You need it."
"I'm heading to see Rin."
"I'll take you to Tsunade afterward."
"…!"
Shizune stared.
Then—
Smiled.
A real smile.
"Thank you, General!"
The sweet scent of cherries filled the air.
For the first time in days—
The fear in her eyes eased.
A Subtle Shift
She followed him.
Half a step behind.
Guards along the corridor bowed.
Eyes full of respect—
For him.
And inevitably—
For her.
Shizune straightened slightly.
A strange feeling rose in her chest.
Safety.
Stronger than anything she'd felt before.
Even stronger than when she was with Tsunade.
Quietly—
She popped a cherry into her mouth.
Sweet.
Her eyes curved.
If I keep working hard…
Will things get better?
If I satisfy him…
Will Lady Tsunade be treated better too…?
Her thoughts—
Slowly changing.
Hospital — Rin's Room
Top floor.
Special ward.
Nohara Rin lay against raised pillows.
Pale.
Fragile.
Her eyes stared blankly at the sky beyond the curtains.
Obito is dead.
…Kakashi too.
The thought sank endlessly—
Dragging her heart down with it.
First Meeting
The door opened.
She didn't react immediately.
Until—
The footsteps stopped.
Different.
Not a doctor.
Not a nurse.
Something heavier.
She turned her head.
A young man.
Elegant.
Calm.
His eyes—
Black.
Deep.
For a split second—
She thought she saw—
Red.
Spinning.
Tomoe.
Then—
Gone.
…?
Was it real?
Or just her condition?
Before she could think—
A voice broke the moment.
"Rin."
Shizune stepped forward.
Quickly setting down the empty cherry plate.
Then—
With surprising pride—
Introduced him.
"This is—"
"The Shogunate's commander."
"The pillar of the east."
"The leader of the Uchiha clan."
"General Uchiha Anlan."
Rin's eyes widened.
Respect.
Gratitude.
"Th-thank you… General…"
Breaking Her Walls
"No need."
Anlan leaned forward slightly.
Meeting her gaze.
"Here… there's no General."
"Just Anlan."
"And Rin."
"We're both Konoha shinobi."
"Protecting the same home."
"You've done well."
Rin froze.
There was no judgment.
No pity.
Only understanding.
Her vision blurred.
A hand—
Gently rested on her head.
Warm.
"It's over."
"You're safe now."
That sentence—
Broke everything.
Her shoulders shook.
Then—
She cried.
Not quietly.
Not restrained.
But fully—
Like a child who had finally found safety.
Shizune Watches
Standing beside the bed—
Shizune's eyes reddened.
She understood that pain.
The kind you hide.
The kind you swallow.
Until you can't anymore.
She looked at Anlan—
At the way he comforted Rin.
And a thought surfaced—
Is he really a bad person…?
Or… did things just go wrong…?
Her beliefs—
Beginning to waver.
A Gentle Anchor
"If you keep crying, your wounds will reopen."
Anlan said lightly.
"…Tsunade might have to save you again."
At that name—
Rin froze.
Hope flickered in her eyes.
"I… won't trouble Lady Tsunade…"
"…If possible…"
She looked at Shizune.
"I want to thank her."
"And… thank you too."
Shizune blinked.
Flustered.
"I-it's my job…"
A New Dream
Rin's voice softened.
"If one day…"
"I could become a medical ninja like her…"
Her smile—
Still wet with tears—
But shining.
The Question
Anlan smiled faintly.
Then—
His expression changed.
Serious.
"Rin."
"I need to ask you something."
"For Obito."
"For his clan."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Did you… personally see him die?"
Silence
Rin's breath stopped.
Her fingers clenched the sheets.
Her pupils trembled—
And she was dragged—
Back.
To that battlefield.
Blood.
Steel.
Death.
Kakashi falling—
And—
Those eyes.
Red.