CHAPTER 54
---
With his students safely on their journey back to Konoha, Hiruzen immersed himself in the daily rhythms of Uzushiogakure, always remaining hidden, yet keeping a close watch on Rias.
He observed her daily life and came to understand that her gentle, optimistic nature was often met with indifference, and at times, even disregard.
Despite her kindness, many in the village saw her as naive and clumsy, some even viewing her warm-hearted nature as a weakness.
One morning, Hiruzen followed Rias to the mission center, where she had gone to pick up a mission.
It was a task she often performed alone, as her former teammates, Aito and Misaki, often declined to work with her.
He remembered overhearing her ask them one day, her voice soft but hopeful.
"Maybe we can try that C-rank mission today? I'll work hard to make sure it goes smoothly!" she had said, looking at them with those bright eyes, her face flushed with hope.
Aito, tall and sharp-faced, only sighed and crossed his arms. "Rias, you're too slow for us. We'd only be delayed if we teamed up," he muttered dismissively, shaking his head.
Misaki, her other teammate, just nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line.
"Maybe you should stick to those low-level missions. We don't want to babysit anyone," she said, her tone barely masking her irritation.
Rias had only offered a resigned smile, trying to shrug off their hurtful words, though Hiruzen could see the way her shoulders slumped as she watched them walk away.
---
From that day forward, Hiruzen quietly decided to make her life easier.
Whenever she took on missions, even the C-rank ones that she accepted on her own, he became her invisible ally, ensuring her success from the shadows.
Whether it was gathering intelligence in advance or clearing any significant threats along her path, he remained one step ahead, subtly guiding her.
On one particular mission, she was tasked with recovering an old artifact from an abandoned outpost.
It was rumored to be haunted, and villagers claimed to have seen eerie lights coming from within at night.
Rias had taken the mission without hesitation, and by the time Hiruzen arrived to tail her, she was already deep inside the eerie ruins, her movements cautious but determined.
The dim corridors of the old building were cloaked in shadows, with cobwebs draped across the walls and rusted chains hanging ominously from above.
Rias took a shaky breath, her hands gripping a small kunai as she moved forward.
Hiruzen remained several steps behind, cloaked and invisible, ready to step in if she needed help.
But, like clockwork, a new obstacle soon arose. When she turned a corner, a loud growl reverberated through the corridor, and a rogue wild animal emerged from the shadows—a bear that had made the ruins its home.
Rias froze, eyes wide with shock, but Hiruzen acted instantly.
In a swift motion, he directed his chakra toward the bear, creating a genjutsu that made it turn away, disoriented and sleepy, wandering back into its lair.
Rias, feeling the tension release, let out a small breath of relief and resumed her mission. She never knew that she wasn't alone.
Later, as she was about to reach the artifact's hiding place, she stumbled upon an old, intricately designed chest.
It was covered in traps, but the girl hadn't noticed yet. Hiruzen leaned closer, watching as she moved her hand to touch it.
"Be careful…" he whispered to himself, his hands twitching to reach for her.
Just then, Rias paused, as though sensing something amiss. She withdrew her hand and tilted her head, mumbling to herself, "Something feels wrong."
Smiling to himself, Hiruzen silently released a faint chakra signal toward the lock, carefully dismantling the trap without her notice.
When she finally opened the chest and recovered the artifact, she grinned brightly, her heart full of pride as she completed the mission and made her way back to the village.
---
Over time, Rias grew more confident along with her soaring reputation among the village, though she still faced neglect from her peers.
Hiruzen watched her silently during these missions, feeling a subtle admiration for her resilience.
One evening, he overheard her expressing her gratitude in a quiet voice.
"Whoever you are, thank you… You've always been there when I needed it most," she murmured to the empty air as she gazed up at the stars from her favorite cliff.
Hiruzen, resting on a nearby rock, smiled, his heart warming at her words. The feeling was unfamiliar, but he allowed himself to indulge in it, feeling closer to her than ever.
---
Days passed, and with each, Hiruzen's involvement grew more frequent.
Whenever he noticed villagers dismissing her or saw her struggling with a task, he intervened, subtly turning events in her favor.
On another occasion, she was paired with two other kunoichi from a neighboring village on a C-rank mission to deliver supplies to a village over the hills.
The pair, Keiko and Sayuri, were harsh and dismissive, frequently ignoring her suggestions and blaming her for any minor setbacks along the journey.
When night fell, the group stopped to rest, setting up camp near a river.
Keiko and Sayuri quickly claimed the only two tents, leaving Rias to sleep outside.
She only sighed and spread her sleeping mat beneath a tree, trying not to let it bother her.
Hiruzen, watching from a distance, felt a surge of protective anger.
He slipped closer to the camp and, with careful movements, set up a comfortable arrangement of branches and leaves above Rias's sleeping mat to form a canopy.
He even summoned a soft, warm breeze to shield her from the chill of the night air.
The next morning, Rias awoke well-rested, feeling unexpectedly cozy and thanking her invisible guardian once more.
On the return journey, when Sayuri sprained her ankle while crossing a narrow trail, it was Rias who stepped in to help, even after the harsh treatment she had endured.
"Just like Naruto," Hiruzen marveled at her kindness, feeling his admiration grow even more.
"Thank you, Rias," Sayuri said reluctantly, her tone awkward as they continued walking. "Guess we didn't expect you'd be so… capable."
Rias only smiled, genuine and forgiving. "It's alright," she replied, "we all need help sometimes."
---
---
RIAS UZUMAKI
I don't remember when exactly I first felt it—the sense that someone was watching me.
It wasn't a cold, unwelcome presence, but a gentle one, warm and silent, like a guardian spirit weaving in and out of my days without ever truly revealing himself.
And every time I felt his presence, I found myself wondering who he was and why he was so intent on helping me.
One afternoon, I was sifting through weapons in the market.
The sun was bright, casting a warm glow on the rows of kunai, shuriken, and intricate, smaller blades.
I was searching for something that would fit me, something balanced and graceful.
My fingers hovered over a pair of elegant twin daggers, the blades carved with a faint wave pattern. They felt right, but a bit heavier than I anticipated.
"Perhaps these will suit me better," I murmured, trying to weigh one in each hand.
As if by instinct, my eyes shifted around, sensing that presence close by again, and the weight in my hands seemed to shift as I adjusted my grip.
Surprisingly, the daggers felt lighter, easier to handle, as if a subtle force guided my hands into a more natural balance.
Smiling to myself, I tested a few movements with them, satisfied.
"These will do," I whispered, a small smile forming. "Thank you… whoever you are."
It had become my habit to thank my unknown guardian whenever I felt his support.
He was always there, always watching, stepping in just when I needed him most. The village vendors often gave me curious glances, but I didn't mind.
---
On another evening, I found myself standing in front of the shop that sold beautiful fabrics and clothing.
Dresses, robes, and other attire filled the walls in an array of colors—crimson, ivory, deep blues.
I was there to replace a few worn clothes after my recent missions, and I couldn't decide between a deep red robe or a lighter, breezier blue one.
"Oh, this would look nice…" I muttered, holding the red fabric up to my frame.
But I didn't know if it was too bold. The blue was lighter, softer. Did I want to stand out, or did I want to blend in?
Soon I glanced a look behind me and asked, while pointing at the dresses.
Just as I began to second-guess myself, a gentle breeze rustled through the shop.
The red fabric in my hands caught the light, glowing with a vibrant intensity.
I glanced around, feeling that familiar presence nearby, and somehow, I knew. This was the one.
"Red it is," I said to myself, beaming as I paid the vendor. I whispered a quick "thank you" to the air, hoping my mysterious helper knew just how much I appreciated his constant guidance.
---
It was impossible to ignore the comfort I felt knowing he was near, especially during missions.
My teammates rarely seemed interested in working with me, so I often ended up taking on solo assignments.
I'd started to accept it—I wasn't from a prestigious clan or anything, after all—but deep down, I sometimes wondered if I was truly enough.
One mission, a C-rank to escort a caravan through the woods, was especially challenging.
Rogue bandits ambushed us halfway through the route. My heart hammered as I readied myself to fight, gripping my kunai as tightly as I could.
The bandits taunted me, thinking they'd have an easy victory against a lone kunoichi.
"You sure you're up for this, little girl?" one of them sneered, brandishing his sword.
I squared my shoulders, feeling my resolve harden. "Try me."
As they closed in, I noticed something peculiar. Just as I was about to make a move, their weapons would shift unexpectedly, or they'd stumble forward awkwardly, allowing me to land a clean hit each time.
I barely had to exert myself. It was like… well, like someone was guiding my every move. It had to be him.
After the fight, I glanced around, trying to catch a glimpse of my mysterious protector.
But, as always, there was nothing—only the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
Sighing, I whispered my thanks again, feeling a little foolish for talking to thin air. But I had to believe he was out there, listening.
---
That evening, I went to the cliff overlooking the village, a place I always went to unwind.
Sitting on a rock, I pulled my knees close to my chest and gazed out at the village lights twinkling below.
The gentle night breeze played with my hair, and I closed my eyes, imagining for a moment what it would be like to meet this unseen friend.
I laughed softly to myself, the thought both thrilling and silly. "Who are you?" I wondered aloud.
"Are you really a guardian spirit, or just a kind soul with too much time on his hands?"
The wind didn't answer, but I liked to think that he heard me, that maybe he was smiling too, somewhere close by.
If I were ever lucky enough to meet him, I would tell him how grateful I was, how much his help meant to me.
I would tell him that because of him, I wasn't afraid of the dark, or of the hard missions, or of standing alone.
---
On another mission, I was assigned to retrieve a rare herb growing in the mountains.
It was a daunting climb, and the path was treacherous, with loose rocks and narrow ledges.
Halfway up, I nearly lost my footing, my heart pounding as I scrambled for balance.
Just as I was about to slip, a sudden, steady force seemed to catch me, anchoring me firmly to the cliffside.
"Thank you," I whispered, clutching the rock tightly. With renewed determination, I pushed forward, retrieving the herb and carefully making my way down.
He had saved me again. If only I could see his face—just once.
---
In the village, rumors started to spread about the "Lucky Kunoichi" as I completed every mission solo without any teammate and flawlessely, without encountering any misfortune at all.
My teammates, Aito and Misaki, seemed bothered by it, whispering behind my back.
During one mission, they fell back as I took the lead, grumbling as they walked.
"She's just too much lucky, without any strength," Aito scoffed, his tone dripping with envy. "Who would bother risking their life just for luck with someone like her? Her luck will run out one day, we shall then see how lucky she will be?"
Hearing them made my heart ache, but I didn't let it show. I would prove to them, and to myself, that I was worthy, that I could stand on my own.
I didn't need their approval. And maybe—just maybe—I didn't need my guardian's help, either.
But as I stood in the forest, feeling their words sting, I sensed his presence again.
Somehow, he was always there, like an unbreakable thread connecting us, his silent support strengthening me when I felt weakest.
---
One day, while running an errand in the market, I stopped by the weapon shop again.
My new kunai felt good, but I was curious to try something else.
As I looked over a set of shuriken, I felt a gentle nudge, as if my hand was being guided toward a small, almost unnoticeable kunai in the corner of the shelf.
"Hmm," I murmured, picking it up. It was lighter, perfectly balanced, and sharp enough to cut through even the thickest fabric.
"Is this one calling to you, miss?" the shopkeeper asked, raising an eyebrow.
I chuckled, nodding. "Yes, I think it is."
As I paid for the weapon, I sent a silent message of thanks to my invisible friend.
His guidance had become a part of my life, a constant presence that I couldn't imagine living without.
Every mission, every difficult task—he was there, always nudging me in the right direction, protecting me in ways I didn't always understand.
And so, each night, I returned to the cliff, gazing out over the village, and whispered my gratitude to the wind.
"Whoever you are… thank you. I hope, someday, I'll be able to repay your kindness."
In the silence, I thought I felt something—a faint warmth, like a gentle touch on my shoulder.
And though I didn't see him, I knew he was there, watching, waiting.
---
Author's Note: it's been a hectic week, festival is coming, So, I have been travelling to my home, so I will be leaving for some time and update if possible, while resuming from 4 November. I will also change the last few chapters and remove some unwanted things that you all didn't like. Thankyou for your support.
---