Return

Ryomaru took a moment to process this, his mind still grappling with the situation at hand. He then looked up, determination in his ice-blue eyes as he spoke, "Thank you all for your hard work. Our priority now shifts to the Cloud. I'm confident Uncle Bee is handling the situation, but we need to be there to support him. We'll depart first thing tomorrow."

One by one, the others in the room nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. They got up, ready to prepare for the journey ahead. As the room slowly emptied, Miori remained seated, her eyes filled with concern as she watched her son.

Ryomaru, despite his young age, had always shown a level of maturity beyond his years. But right now, he was still a 12-year-old carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Miori could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the toll that the recent events had taken on him.

After a moment of silence, she reached out, her hand gently taking his as she stood up. "Come on, Ryo. You need to rest."

He didn't protest, too tired to argue. He allowed her to lead him to their quarters, the exhaustion finally catching up to him. As they entered the room, Miori guided him to the bed, but instead of lying down, Ryomaru sat on the edge, his mind still racing.

Miori sat beside him, her hand moving to his back as she began to rub soothing circles. She could feel the tension in his body, the way he was trying to hold it all together.

"Ryo, you need to let it go, just for tonight. Rest. We'll face everything together tomorrow," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and love.

Ryomaru looked up at her, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and weariness. "I just... I can't help but think that this is all my fault. If I hadn't suggested the exchange program…"

Miori shook her head, cutting him off. "No, Ryo. You can't think like that. This is not your fault. The actions of others are beyond your control. What's important now is that we focus on what we can do to make things right."

Her words seemed to reach him, as he finally allowed himself to relax, his body slumping against her. Miori shifted, allowing him to rest his head in her lap, her fingers moving to gently stroke through his black hair.

As she did, she could feel him slowly letting go, the tension leaving his body as he succumbed to exhaustion. His breathing evened out, and she knew he had fallen asleep.

Miori continued to stroke his hair, her heart aching for her son. She knew the burden he carried, the expectations placed upon him as the Raikage's son. She had watched him grow up, seen the way he had always tried to be strong, to be what everyone needed him to be.

But at the end of the day, he was still just a child, her child. And she would do everything in her power to protect him, to ensure that he didn't have to carry the weight of the world alone.

As Ryomaru slept peacefully in her lap, Miori made a silent vow to herself. She would be there for him, no matter what. She would stand by his side, help him carry the burden, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.

For now, though, all that mattered was that Ryomaru got the rest he needed. Tomorrow was a new day, and they would face it together.

The journey back to the Cloud was marked by a heavy silence, each step thrumming with the tension of recent events. Ryomaru's sharp gaze rarely faltered, moving from the shinobi flanking their group to the horizon that seemed to hold threats behind every cloud. The air was thick with the weight of responsibility and the fresh grief for the Raikage.

Samui, Mabui, and Darui, their faces set in grim determination, led the formation of elite Jounin spread across the landscape. Their hands rested near their weapons, a silent testament to their readiness. They had a singular purpose – to ensure the safety of the new Raikage.

Miori, her white hair a stark contrast to the blue skies above, walked silently beside her son. Her eyes, the color of winter skies, were watchful and alert, mirroring Ryomaru's own vigilance.

"Mum," Ryomaru's voice broke the quiet, "I know you're worried, but we've got the best with us. Samui, Mabui, they won't let anything happen."

Miori offered a small smile, her hand briefly squeezing his. "I know, Ryo. I trust them, as I trust you. But a mother's heart worries regardless."

Fugaku, Darui, and Itachi formed an impromptu command center, a triangle around Ryomaru and Miori, their communication with the scouting Jounin as silent as it was efficient. Their expressions were unreadable, but their eyes spoke volumes of their commitment to the safety of their charges.

"Keep your senses sharp," Fugaku murmured over the communication jutsu, his Sharingan discreetly active beneath the shade of his forehead protector. "Report anything out of the ordinary."

Itachi, ever the silent sentinel, nodded, his hand signs discreet, communicating back in swift, practiced motions.

The first sight of the Cloud Village gates brought an involuntary ease to the tension in the shoulders of the group. Ryomaru's gaze latched onto the familiar structure, the towering gates now a reminder of the somber reality that awaited them. He could feel the sorrow heavy in the air, the melancholy whispering with the wind even before they crossed the threshold.

He wasn't swamped by grief himself; Ryomaru had never harbored a deep connection with A, his father in title but not in the affections of a son. Respect for the Raikage's strength and leadership was there, but the bond of family was tenuous, strained. His chest held a pinch of sorrow, yes, but he was not crushed under its weight.

Standing at the gates, a sight for sore eyes awaited them — Uncle B, his demeanor dimmed, the usual light in his eyes dampened by the news of his brother's passing.

Ryomaru stepped forward, his pace steady, his young face set in a serious expression that mirrored the adults around him. "Uncle B," he greeted, his voice betraying none of the storm of thoughts behind his ice-blue gaze.

B nodded, the sadness carved into his usually jovial features. "Ryomaru, Miori," he acknowledged, his deep voice steady despite the grief. "I wish I were welcoming you back for a happier occasion."

"We understand, Uncle," Ryomaru replied, his eyes scanning the people who had gathered. "How is everyone holding up?"

"They are shaken, Ryo," B admitted, "but Cloud shinobi are resilient. They will recover, as they always do. As we must."

----

Read 45(15 chapters for each novel) advanced chapters in my Patreon!

patreon.com/IWriteFanfic2