Naruto: Threads of Crimson

The compound was usually quiet around this time of evening. Lanterns flickered softly outside of homes, casting warm, golden glows over the Uchiha fan symbol that adorned the walls. This place—his heart, his family's sanctuary now felt more suffocating than any fight he had experienced before. 

The burden of clan and village weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he couldn't just walk away from Danzo's orders, that would lead to guaranteed consequences. 'But how can I ask my most trusted comrades, my friends, to follow me into what is almost certainly a trap?'

As Kaito entered the central courtyard, a familiar group of his most loyal clansmen awaited him. Their faces were a mix of curiosity and concern, as if they could already feel something was off.

"Kaito," Ryota, the oldest and most seasoned of the group, stepped forward. His broad frame and sharp gaze were well-known within the Uchiha, someone who wasn't afraid to stick his neck out for any one of his clan members. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of someone who had seen more than most. "What's going on? This doesn't feel like just another mission."

Kaito nodded, his face grim and thoughts heavy. "It's not. Danzo summoned me tonight. He's given us a mission to infiltrate the Land of Water. A preemptive strike to sabotage the efforts of the regrouping Mist Village. He wants us to eliminate key targets before they can act against Konoha."

The group fell into a silence while exchanging glances. Danzo's name alone was enough to send unease through any of them. They all knew of his distrust, his thinly veiled contempt, for the Uchiha, most were victims of this prejudice. And any mission coming from him, especially one involving their clan, was bound to have a deeper purpose.

Nari broke the silence first. "Danzo? Why would he trust us with something like this?" Her voice carried a skepticism they all shared. "He's never involved us in anything without a hidden agenda."

Kaito sighed as he felt the tension begin to build to higher levels. "I know, It doesn't feel right to me either. But refusing isn't an option. If I turn down this mission, word will spread through the village that the Uchiha have disobeyed Konoha. It would only further damage our reputation, and with tensions as they are… that's not something we can afford."

Shin, always the quiet thinker of the group, folded his arms and frowned. "This feels like a setup. Danzo wants us to fail, or worse. If we go through with this, we're playing into his hands. Besides, why would we ever care what the village thinks about us? We're the Uchiha clan, the village needs us whether they know it or not."

Kaito nodded. "I've thought the same. He wouldn't have involved us without some kind of ulterior motive. The thing is, if we refuse, we give Danzo an excuse to move against us openly with more brazen moves. If we accept, we're walking into a trap that we at least know is going to be waiting for us even though we have no idea what it is."

Ryota spoke up again. "So what do we do? If we're stuck between two bad choices, you can't expect us to just walk head-first into a trap even if we do know it's going to be waiting for us."

Hiroshi, the youngest shinobi in the group, shook his head, the frustration clear in his voice. "Kaito, we don't have to do this. We all know what Danzo is capable of. He's using us, using you. We can find another way, even if he spreads rumors that we betrayed the village. We should refuse this and take it up with the Hokage."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. The others nodded, their distrust of Danzo clear in their expressions. The tension hung thick, but Kaito raised a hand, his face calm, though his eyes betrayed the deep sadness he felt.

"You all know it's not that simple," Kaito said, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of the situation. "Danzo doesn't play by the rules. If I refuse this mission, he'll twist the story, make it seem like we're conspiring against the village. And even if the Hokage didn't believe it, there's only so much he would do to protect us. He was part of the Second Hokage's team, after all."

The weight of his words pressed down on the group, each of them knowing the truth in what he said. The Uchiha clan's reputation was already on thin ice with the village because of their position as the police force. The village's top leaders always have one eye on them anyway because of their connection to Tobirama.

One wrong move, one hint of disloyalty, and the full force of Konoha's suspicion would fall on them. At that point, the clan would be pushed into a corner, and no one wanted to think of what they would be driven to do if that happened.

Ryota, standing with his arms crossed and a deep frown creasing his brow broke the silence. "So what do we do then? Just go along with this suicide mission and hope for the best? Care about the village's opinion of us? Allow this bastard to kick us in the nuts over and over again?"

Kaito met his gaze, "I won't lie to you, guys. This mission is dangerous, as you've all pointed out, and there's a lot we don't know. But when it comes down to it, I trust all of you. I trust our skills, our bond, and our ability to survive this. If I didn't believe we could come out of this alive, I wouldn't ask you all to go through with it."

His words hung in the air, and the group fell into a heavy silence once more. They were more than comrades; they were brothers and sisters in both arms and blood, bound by loyalty to their clan and to each other. Over the years, they had fought together, bled together, and trusted each other with their lives. But this situation seemed different.

Hiroshi's shoulders slumped slightly, Kaito's words sinking in. "I hate it, I hate that fucker," he muttered, glancing at the ground. "But I know you're right. If we refuse… we're giving Danzo and the village's higher ups exactly what they want."

Kaito could see the frustration in their faces, the bitter recognition of the trap they were caught in. He clenched his fists and spoke again, his voice steady. "You have my word that I will do everything in my power to get you home to your families if this mission becomes something we can't overcome."

Kaito lowered his voice, glancing up at the darkened sky, the stars barely visible through the haze of village lights. "There's just one thing I ask of you. If I don't make it back… if something happens to me out there and a decision is made, I want you to bring my eyes back to my wife and son."

The silence that followed was thick. The Sharingan, the pride of their clan, was not just a tool but a symbol of their heritage, their power, and their identity. To ask for it to be returned to his family after his death was a deeply personal request, one that underscored just how serious Kaito believed the mission might become. The thought of him not returning, of his Sharingan being passed on, convinced the group he would put his life on the line for them.

After a moment, Ryota stepped forward, his large hand firm as he placed it on Kaito's shoulder. "You have our word. If it comes to that, we'll bring your eyes home. But don't think for a second we're going to let that happen. We'll watch your back, Kaito. You know that."

The others nodded, their expressions resolute. They had fought together for years and trusted Kaito completely. No matter the danger, no matter the cost, they would follow him, and they would fight to bring each other home.

Kaito offered them a small, grateful smile. "Thank you," he said softly. "Now, let's start preparing. We leave immediately."

The group began to disperse, each member heading off to make their own preparations, their faces grim but determined. Kaito stood alone in the courtyard for a moment longer, watching them go. 

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Later that night, Kaito finally made his way back home, the soft glow of light spilling out from the windows of his home. He paused outside the door, and for a moment, he considered what he was committing himself to do.

Taking a deep breath, Kaito stepped inside. The familiar warmth of the house embraced him, the gentle flicker of the lanterns casting a soft glow over the space. His wife, May, was in the kitchen, her back turned as she tended to something on the stove. She glanced over her shoulder at the sound of the door, her eyes lighting up as she smiled softly at him.

"You're back finally, where'd you get off to?" she aasked, her voice gentle but carrying slight concern. May always knew when something was wrong, when the weight of the world from being a shinobi followed Kaito into their home.

Kaito tried to smile back, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah… something came up," he replied, his voice quieter than he intended. The words felt hollow.

May's smile faded as she set down the ladle she was holding and turned to face him, her expression softening. She could see the discomfort he was in, the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes seemed distant, clouded by something she wasn't aware of. She wiped her hands on a towel and crossed the room to him.

"Something came up?" she asked, her tone light but probing, knowing Kaito well enough to sense he was holding something back.

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