Overreaching

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Horyu sat down and took out a scroll, writing a message to Shisui. He wouldn't leave his sensei to die here, not with A going mad with rage. Once the note was written, he sealed it and called for a messenger hawk. As the bird flew off, Horyu's mind turned to the larger picture.

Horyu wanted to reveal Hirato's identity, but the implications were complex. Hirato was already a traitor to Konoha, which might ease some tensions, but it would also complicate things for Naruto and the Uzumaki clan. He didn't care about Naruto's situation, but he valued his alliance with Mito and the Uzumaki. He couldn't act without consulting them first. Hirato, after all, was Kenji's grandson.

He had previously leaked information about Zetsu and Madara's plans, but claiming Zetsu was behind everything wouldn't be convincing without proof. Horyu needed to strategize carefully.

Kurenai returned, ready to leave. "I'm set," she said.

Horyu nodded. "Good. Let's move."

They traveled swiftly, leaving the camp under the command of the remaining Jonin. Horyu's thoughts remained focused on the next steps. The political landscape was volatile, and any wrong move could plunge the entire shinobi world into deeper chaos.

The journey continued in silence, each lost in their thoughts. The weight of the war and the recent attacks hung heavily over them.

When the duo returned to Konoha, Shisui was already gone. Only two elders remained, and all of a sudden, Horyu was in charge. This wasn't a coincidence or Shisui's orders. Although Shisui had said that Horyu would be part of the decision-making, it was due to various titles and perks Horyu had collected along the way. His reputation in the Uchiha clan, which was now headless with Itachi gone, and in Konoha was so great that his words carried as much weight as Shisui's, even when Shisui was around. Now, with both Shisui and Itachi gone, people instinctively listened to Horyu's orders.

Entering the Hokage's office, Horyu sealed the room and sat behind the Hokage's seat, a rare smile crossing his face. "Hirato ruined a few of my plans, but I can still salvage the situation," he mused to himself. The room was quiet, the weight of his new responsibilities pressing down on him.

He leaned back in the chair, letting out a deep breath. "I need to feed some information to Shisui, otherwise things will get out of my control. I need to see Mito as well and discuss how to handle Hirato."

He very much wanted to throw Hirato under the bus, but that could have backlash from the Uzumaki side. Also, Mito was his teacher. She taught him a lot. No matter how cold he was to outsiders, he never thought of betraying those he cared about. And Mito had shown him nothing but goodwill, so he wanted to at least help her free her clan.

As he contemplated the delicate balance of his plans, Kurenai entered the office. She paused, watching Horyu as he sat behind the Hokage's desk, deep in thought. It had been three years since she had first seen the potential in him, but the transformation she had witnessed was astonishing.

Kurenai recalled the initial moments when she realized Horyu had outgrown her teachings. His prowess had increased dramatically after his return. Then, before she could fully process her own insecurities about having nothing left to teach him, they were plunged into the brutal realities of war. On the battlefield, Horyu was ruthless, his actions swift and decisive. Yet, amidst the chaos, he had always been protective of her.

Her emotions were a whirlwind. Admiration for his strength, worry for his well-being, and a nagging fear that she was no longer of use to him. Despite the bloodshed, there was a bond between them, and she couldn't help but feel proud of his accomplishments.

"Horyu," she said softly, breaking the silence. "Are you okay?"

Horyu glanced up, his eyes cold but not unkind. "I'm fine, Sensei. We have a lot to do, and little time to do it."

She stepped closer, her gaze searching his face. "I know you're capable of handling this, but... if you need help, you can count on me."

Horyu sighed, weighing what he could share and what he needed to keep secret. Even if it was his Sensei, someone he trusted, he couldn't risk revealing everything. Shifting the topic, he asked, "Sensei, why is Asuma still after you?"

Kurenai frowned, remembering Asuma's recent behavior. She had already confided in Horyu about how the Third Hokage wanted the Yuhi Clan heritage and had tried to marry her off to Asuma. Fortunately, Asuma had left to become one of the Guardians of the Fire Daimyo at the time, and her father had used that as an excuse to break the engagement. This was a deviation from the original anime, where Kurenai's father was killed by the Kyubi.

"After you guys left, we both had no students, so we were assigned to some missions together. I suspect the Third arranged those missions," Kurenai said, her tone tinged with mockery. "At every opportunity, Asuma tried to save me to win my heart."

Horyu raised an eyebrow. "And how did that go?"

Kurenai shook her head, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. "He's persistent, I'll give him that. But his methods are... lacking. He thinks being a hero on the battlefield will make me fall for him."

Horyu chuckled softly. "Doesn't he know you're not the damsel in distress type?"

Kurenai smirked. "Apparently not. But it's frustrating. I've made it clear I'm not interested, yet he keeps pushing."

A cold glint passed through Horyu's eyes as he turned to look out the window. In the anime, Kurenai was pushed towards Asuma, and though the details were never fully explored, it was clear. Asuma left her pregnant and then died like a dog. It was a bitter fate for Kurenai, a strong, active kunoichi who was forced into the role of a full-time mother. This was something she could never truly accept. Worse, she had to endure the village's mockery, with people ridiculing her for whoring herself to the Sarutobi heir in hopes of a glorious life, only to end up widowed without even a wedding.

To Horyu, Asuma was just a spoiled brat. A person always overshadowed by his father, and when he realized he could never surpass him, he ran off to make a name for himself in the capital. This only brought more trouble to his clan. When things got difficult, he ran back and enjoyed the same status he had denied all along—the son of the Hokage. If Asuma died, Horyu would only say two words: "Good riddance."

Kurenai sighed, bringing Horyu back to the present. "It's annoying, Horyu. I've made it clear I've no interest at all, yet it is as if he thinks I am just playing hard to get. It's as if he thinks I'll change my mind if he just keeps saving me."

Horyu's expression hardened. "If Asuma becomes a problem, we can deal with him."

Kurenai looked at him, a mix of surprise and concern in her eyes. "You don't mean...?"

Horyu bore his gaze into her beautiful crimson eyes and said, "Why shouldn't I mean that?"

Kurenai saw cold indifference in his eyes. "To me, you are more important than ten Asuma. If he uses his status to corner you, I can use my power to remove him. What's the difference?"

Kurenai's heart shuddered, both from the chill of his words and the warmth of his protectiveness. It felt strange that her student was here to protect her, yet she couldn't deny that it felt nice. She was always targeted by the Sarutobi Clan, and she only had her father, who could do little to help. But now, Horyu, the most prominent Uchiha of late and one of the strongest Jonin in the village, was shouldering the sky for her.

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