THE PATH OF LIFE || U. SASUKE

CHAPTER 44 -II

"Enough of this, Katsumi. Should you persist, it will be your responsibility to handle the consequences within the corps," Hiroichi's tone held a stern warning.

Why Nee-san, what are you really doing?

Before Katsumi could respond to her father's warning, a soft yet firm voice cut through the tension like a knife, freezing her in her tracks.

"Stop, Nee-san!"

Even without turning, Katsumi recognized that it was her younger sister's voice – a voice that held both concern and an unspoken plea for restraint.

Y/N's face, etched with both fear and confusion, appeared before her. Her sister's plea for her to stop echoed in the air, laden with the weight of her concern and incomprehension.

"N-Nee San, please stop," Y/N struggled to understand the situation, her young mind unable to process the complexities of the moment.

Katsumi's gaze shifted from Y/N to her father and the clan members as they all watched her, their expressions ranging from shock to disapproval. She abruptly bowed, offering a brief apology to her father and the clan members.

The clan members' scowls grew deeper, a visible testament to their resentment and lingering anger. They couldn't let this incident pass without issuing a parting warning, their voices laced with a tense edge. "Don't think we'll forget what happened here."

Hiroichi's exhale seemed heavy with a blend of exasperation and concern. "As of late, Katsumi has been heavily involved in Anbu missions, which have left her drained."

"Hiroichi-sama!?" A member of the clan exclaimed, the disbelief evident in their voice.

With a measured tone, Hiroichi proceeded to explain, shedding light on the dynamics of the situation. "The Anbu operates under the direct jurisdiction of the Hokage, and neither ours or the uchiha police forces cannot apprehend them without an official order. Moreover, I personally hold the responsibility for my daughter's actions."

The clan members, upon hearing their leader's sincere words, seemed to have their skepticism quelled to a certain extent. "...Understood," one of them conceded, recognizing the depth of Hiroichi's assurance.

Katsumi's gaze remained fixated on the ground as she maintained her bow, showing respect to the individuals present, including her father. However, her Mirangan remained activated, casting an ominous swirling pattern that only Y/N could perceive. This cryptic display left Y/N in a state of confusion, her young mind grappling with the enigma that her sister's actions posed.

Unseen by the others, her Mirangan continued to emit its eerie glow, its energy seeming to churn with an ominous intensity. Her eyes, normally calm and composed, now held an unsettling swirl of emotions and power.

"Let's go back inside, Katsumi," Hiroichi instructed.

Y/N, still wiping tears from her eyes, experienced a moment of visual distortion, seeing a peculiar pattern in Katsumi's eyes. She blinked, and when her vision cleared, Katsumi's eyes were back to their familiar purple hue. 

'My mind is playing tricks on me... it must be the grief over Shion-san's death,' Y/N tried to reassure herself.

As Katsumi walked past Y/N without acknowledging her, Y/N's grip on the door handle tightened. Her tearful gaze followed her sister's retreating figure, a heavy grief washing over her. 

'Nee San, what happened to you?' Y/N's heart ached with a sense of loss and confusion, unable to grasp the transformation in her sister's behavior.

Amidst the chaos, Y/N watched with a mix of emotions. The jarring events had left her skeptical, doubting the intentions of her sister, and the sisterly trust that once was unwavering now hung precariously in the balance.