Mangekyou Sharingan

The large group of Uchiha quickly exited the danger zone toward their territory. Due to the large amassing of warriors, other clans would quickly get the wrong impression. It was already almost winter, and most clans would have several births in this time. A summer birth was very rare in the warring states, as this was the most active time period.

They would be very wary of enemy clans trying to take advantage of the situation. Additionally, the Uchiha also had many children due in the winter as well, so returning was of the utmost importance.

Natsume looked over Hinako as she was carried by one of the Uchiha reinforcements. Her chakra was incredibly weak, and she had lost consciousness during the fighting. Her heart ached and stomach churned. She couldn't find an outlet for her feelings and began to hate the Uzumaki clan.

Once they arrived at the clan, she immediately followed them to the medical ward. There were already medical ninja waiting to treat the wounded. However, based on their expression upon seeing Hinako, Natsume's heart dropped.

"I'm sorry, we can't save her." The medical ninja knew their relationship and told Natsume directly. Tajima was also standing there but he wasn't surprised. He knew how vicious the Uzumaki could be.

"Can you extend her time?" Tajima suggested.

"Yes, Tajima-sama." They did their best to stabilize the situation and after 2 hours they let Natsume back in. Hinako's condition was no longer rapidly declining, but she wasn't recovering either. Her face was bandaged to cover the empty eye sockets. Tajima called a meeting in his study while Hinako rested. Seeing that there was nothing more to do, she followed along.

…

Natsume and the others were standing together in Tajima's office. Ryunosuke was debriefing him on the mission details. Tajima nodded a few times and wrote some notes before dismissing everyone except for Natsume. She was mostly just tired, since she didn't suffer any serious injuries.

"What did you think of the Uzumaki girl?" He asked.

"Terrifying." This was the first word that appeared in her mind. A child younger than her with more chakra capacity and a stronger body with understanding of fuinjutsu was a terror for any opposing clan. If not for her timely maturation of sharingan, she would not have been able to compete.

"Indeed. You did well. I am renewing your mission with Kono and our first born. Here are the details. This is not compulsory; it is up to you whether to accept it or not. I will respect your decision."

Natsume nodded and received the scroll. She read through the details and understood why Tajima said it was optional. The mission to protect Kono was still ongoing so she would have to continue that. However, the subsequent mission would last for at least five years. Like Hinako toward her, Natsume would become a guardian, teacher, and friend to Tajima's child. This meant that she would not be taken to the frontlines in the summer.

Seeing the seed of anger planted in her, Tajima understood if she wanted to go to war. He sighed internally and lamented the curse of their clan. Once an Uchiha began to hate, it would strengthen their dojutsu, but also lead them down a narrow path. When Natsume responded, he thought he misheard at first.

"I accept."

"I understand… Hm, you accept?" Tajima raised his brow and tapped the wooden table. He certainly heard her correctly. When he thought of questioning her further, he saw the righteous and determined look in her eyes. 'Perhaps there is hope for the Uchiha after all.' He thought.

"Tajima-dono, Ryunosuke-san told me about a stronger sharingan beyond the three tomoe. He mentioned it is the reason Kyuubi is cautious toward Uchiha. Is this true?" Hearing this, Tajima paused and thought for a moment. He could see the eagerness in her eyes.

"There is indeed a stronger sharingan. However, I can only confirm its existence. This is our clan's most guarded secret. Should you be captured one day, we cannot risk exposing it. I'm afraid that we would become like the Uzumaki should it be revealed one day."

"Tajima-dono…" Seeing her nervous expression, he continued.

"The legend exists in history, so the existence of a stronger dojutsu is already rumored in the upper echelons. However, there are aspects that must not be known without sufficient strength to protect it." Tajima was being intentionally mysterious causing Natsume's curiosity to well up.

"How many Uchiha can use it in the clan?" she asked tactlessly due to her excitement. Tajima didn't reprimand her but gestured to the scroll.

"Kono and I look forward to your stay. You can take the guestroom next to Kono's room."

…

"Hina-chan, this is all my fault. If only I had been braver back then…" Sahiro knelt by Hinako's bedside. His cold expressionless face was filled with grief. A pair of tears broke free from his control and dripped down onto the sleeping Hinako. The hand he held gripped back weakly and Sahiro looked up, causing more tears to slip out.

"Sahiro-kun, it's not your fault. I never regretted my life, even now." She spoke with a weak voice, which caused Sahiro even more grief. Her selflessness was a constant source of torment for him. "I can't manipulate my chakra anymore. I don't want Natsume to see me pass, Sahiro-kun, please…"

His eyes turned red from the stinging. He could feel the pain in her voice. He couldn't go through with it. He was not strong enough. "Sahiro-kun, do you remember the promise you made me as kids?"

"That was not supposed to be used like this—" He wanted her to be selfish once in her life, but not like this. Her other hand had slowly made its way to his face, and she wiped away the two drops from his cheek. She let out a light giggle.

"Cry baby Hiro-kun, be brave." Hearing the words, he hadn't heard since he was a child caused his heart to skip a beat. He raised his other hand and placed it on her forehead. She sensed the chakra and mouthed a single syllable 'love' before the chakra keeping her alive was interrupted by Sahiro.

Realizing what he had just done, he began to scream. His sharingan activated from pure grief. First his son, then his wife, and now his childhood friend and first love. The negative emotions surged, and his three tomoe merged before forming a jagged saw-like pattern surrounding his pupils.