Chapter 16: Unusual Rumors

Chapter 16: Unusual Rumors

The dense darkness of the night seemed like an artist's hand, covering everything with a cloak of mystery. The white moonlight, like a brushstroke of paint, helped that hand draw the scenes happening inside the house in real time, allowing curious eyes to observe through the windows.

Thus, the dark night became filled with an exciting allure.

"Ah!" exclaimed the woman from the Nara clan who was outside the garden, watching what was happening in the room. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands and hid among the bushes, secretly observing the second-floor room where Ryoko Nara was.

She couldn't believe that the clan's secret shadow imitation technique could be used in such a way.

Seeing the female shadow sitting on the male shadow's lap, the Nara woman unconsciously licked her dry lips, feeling her throat a bit parched.

"How exciting!" she thought.

At that moment, Ryoko Nara, sitting in a chair, looked deeply at Tobio Uchiha and spoke softly:

"In theory, my information is highly confidential. That you could find out my name and address isn't surprising, but how did you get such detailed information?"

"Oh, someone sold you out," Tobio replied.

"Bang!"

Hearing this, a feeling of betrayal exploded in Ryoko Nara's mind. She stood up abruptly and appeared in front of Tobio, grabbing him by the neck and gritting her teeth.

"Who?"

Seeing her nose almost touching his face, Tobio leaned his head back and responded without hesitation.

"Oda."

"Humph!"

Hearing Oda's name, Ryoko Nara snorted. She already suspected it, but knowing her comrade had betrayed her still hurt.

"That idiot already sold my information. What won't he sell me out for on the battlefield to the enemy?" she thought.

"You don't really need to get so angry. You could also sell me Oda's information and call it even," Tobio suggested.

"Don't even think about it," Ryoko retorted.

Seeing her reject his proposal, Tobio calmly pulled out a scroll from his pocket and, playing with it, said:

"You joined that place to find a cure for your son. Take him from the hospital to home; I can cure that illness."

"Really?"

Surprised by this news, Ryoko Nara looked at Tobio incredulously. Her two-year-old son had been in the hospital for over a year due to an incurable disease.

Whenever she had free time, she spent it at the hospital with her son. If it weren't for the inflammation on her face that she couldn't explain, she wouldn't be home.

After a moment of silence, she put her hand on the scroll Tobio was offering, her voice trembling.

"Really?"

"More or less. If you manage to bring Tsunade, she can also cure him," Tobio responded.

"What do you want me to do?" Ryoko asked.

"Give me information. My dream is to know even when your leaders change their underwear."

"Don't joke. We have seals on our mouths that prevent us from revealing information about the leaders."

"It's just a metaphor. If in the future you receive any missions related to the Uchiha, tell me secretly," Tobio explained, rolling his eyes.

Seeing Ryoko still looking at him with distrust, Tobio sighed.

"Don't worry. I have no interest in you and I won't make you do anything dangerous. If at any moment you feel what I ask is dangerous, just don't do it. Also, don't worry about me using your son as blackmail, because I will cure him first. Then he can go to school, graduate, and complete missions like any normal kid."

Hearing this, Ryoko Nara remained silent. She thought Tobio would impose harsh conditions or have malicious intentions, but it seemed he just wanted to help her.

With a confused look, Ryoko asked directly:

"Why? Why help me like this?"

Tobio shrugged, took a sip of tea, and said casually:

"We live in the same village and have coexisted for 51 years. In the absence of conflicts of interest, isn't it normal to help each other as villagers? You know the conflict between the Senju and the Uchiha. Even though Tsunade complained about the Uchiha, she never stopped healing our sick."

"A doctor must have a benevolent heart, practice medicine nobly, and not let anyone down."

Seeing the doubt in Ryoko's eyes, Tobio added:

"Actually, my real motive for curing your son is that someday you'll remember this favor and give me crucial information for the future of the Uchiha."

Could it be true? Ryoko Nara wondered if she should trust an Uchiha who suddenly seemed so concerned about her. However, hearing his motive didn't seem so improbable.

"Well, if he cures my son, he won't have anything to blackmail me with," Ryoko thought. "If one day he tries to make me do something dangerous, I can always quit being a ninja and repay the favor in another life."

Meanwhile, in the bushes outside the room, the Nara woman couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"What just happened? Ryoko was manipulating shadows, first violently and then kissing the male shadow," she thought.

After reflecting a bit, she understood why Ryoko was angry.

"Her husband left her alone and went to the other world. If she created her husband's shadow, it's normal for her to feel sad," she concluded.

Looking at the hugging shadows, the Nara woman shook her head and decided to leave.

"I never realized how faithful Ryoko is to her love," she thought.

As she turned to leave, she took one last look at the shadows in the room. Seeing the male shadow's face, her surprise became evident.

"Does Ryoko desire a 'happy life' so much? Creating shadows is fine, but she even created that..." she murmured.

Seeing Ryoko's shadow, she squeezed the air with her hand.

"I feel nothing. It seems Ryoko is ill," she thought.

The next morning, with the sun barely rising, the Nara woman left her house with dark circles under her eyes. She looked at the red sun and said to herself:

"How is one supposed to feel squeezing the air? I felt nothing all night."

"Naomi, what are you murmuring about so early?" asked a familiar voice behind her. Naomi turned and weakly greeted.

"Good morning, sister," she said.

"Naomi, what's wrong?" her sister asked with concern.

Naomi sighed, looked at her sister, and gestured for her to come closer. Then, whispering in her ear, she said: "Sister, I have a secret I want to share with you. I need your opinion, but don't tell anyone else; only the two of us should know."

Seeing her sister's tired face, the older one nodded, indicating her to continue.

Naomi then told her sister everything she saw and heard the night before, including her doubts.

After listening, her sister extended a hand and squeezed the air, showing a puzzled expression. "I feel nothing..." she murmured, but seeing the curiosity in Naomi's eyes, she patted her on the shoulder and joked: "Maybe you'll understand that feeling when you find a boyfriend."

Saying this, without waiting for more questions, she excused herself and left. Although she didn't fully understand the situation either, she knew her close friend might.

The sun was already high in the sky when Ryoko Nara left her house, breathing in the fresh air deeply. The previous night had been the most peaceful in a year. Finally, there was hope for her son's illness.

"Good morning, Mrs. Yoshino," Ryoko greeted the clan leader's wife, who was passing by her door. Then she closed her eyes and prepared to enjoy the sun.

The last time she had enjoyed a sunbath like this was two years ago.

Nara Yoshino stood still, watching Ryoko on the lounger with a complex look. Though she didn't understand medicine, she did understand the relationships between men and women.

Ryoko had a rosy and bright face, she seemed very happy, and didn't have dark circles, meaning she had slept very well. Also, the coldness she usually showed had disappeared.

Could the rumors circulating in the clan this morning be true? Had Ryoko's widowhood ended after just one year?

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