𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝒀𝑶𝑼 | 𝑲.𝑰𝑵𝒁𝑼𝑲𝑨

|I{•------» [49] «------•}I|

When he first laid eyes on Sarutobi Ruka, it was a serene spring day beneath the blossoming Cherry Blossom Tree. The vibrant pink petals danced in the gentle breeze, casting a dreamlike ambiance over the scene. Kiba, fourteen years old and accompanied by his faithful puppy Akamaru, felt an inexplicable curiosity toward the enigmatic girl. However, he found himself unable to approach her until a fateful day when he discovered her sobbing alone in the middle of a bustling street.

Under the shade of the cherry tree, Kiba basked in the tranquility of nature. The air carried the delightful aroma of tea, lavender, and a hint of caramelized sugar, immersing his senses in a delightful symphony. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept behind him, carrying with it the tantalizing scent that signaled her arrival. Kiba turned with a grin, his eyes lighting up as he greeted her.

"Oh? You're finally back!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with genuine excitement. "How was the mission?"

Ruka, her voice laden with weariness, joined him on the grass, nestling her head gently against his shoulder. Exhaustion radiated from her being, and even Akamaru sensed her fatigue, finding solace on her lap with a contented yawn. Kiba couldn't help but notice the sadness etched into her eyes as she questioned whether he had been waiting there all day. He shook his head, confessing that he had taken a break for training before coming to join her.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they sat side by side, their gazes fixed on the ever-changing hues of the sky. The sun gradually gave way to the gentle glow of the moon, painting the village of Konoha in a mystical light. Kiba stole a fleeting glance at Ruka, her entranced expression mirroring the beauty before them. In that moment, he found himself captivated by her enigmatic presence, sensing a delicate vulnerability that made him fear she might vanish like a fleeting dream.

Softly, Kiba whispered her name, his voice barely audible but laced with genuine concern. Ruka responded with a gentle hum, lifting her head from his shoulder and turning her body to face him fully. Her eyes, deep and captivating, locked onto his distinctive slit pupils, and in that shared gaze, unspoken words reverberated.

"I know," she whispered, her words penetrating deep into Kiba's heart. In response, a smile, tender and reserved only for her, graced his lips. A quiet chuckle, a sound that only she had the privilege to hear, escaped him. Their eyes met, and in that momentary connection, a warmth flowed between them—a silent language of love, understanding, and unwavering support.

In those unspoken moments, actions surpassed words, speaking volumes through their silent conversations. Their bond transcended language, a deep and unbreakable connection that fortified their resolve and brought solace in times of turmoil.

---

---

---

Ruka's heart raced as she hurried to the hospital rooftop, drawn by the commotion echoing through the hallways. She arrived just in time to witness Sasuke and Naruto teetering on the edge of a violent clash. The intensity of their rivalry shook her to the core, and she couldn't help but whisper a horrified realization to herself. Instinctively, she moved to rush forward, but a firm grip on her wrist stopped her in her tracks.

"You're here," Kakashi's calm voice reached her ears, tinged with a hint of concern.

"Let me handle this," he asserted, his movements a blur as he swiftly intervened, deftly seizing both boys' hands before they could collide. With a graceful twist of

his body, he redirected their momentum toward the water tanks, bringing them perilously close to disaster. Kakashi's authoritative tone sliced through the tense air as he demanded an explanation for their reckless behavior.

Ruka's gaze fixated on the aftermath—the gaping hole in the water tank caused by Sasuke's Chidori, dwarfing Naruto's Rasengan. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon her as she uttered Sasuke's name, a mix of concern and disappointment in her voice.

Kakashi reprimanded Sasuke sternly, but the Uchiha prodigy only responded with a dismissive scoff. In one fluid motion, he executed a defiant backflip, landing effortlessly on a neighboring rooftop. Casting a final contemptuous glance at Naruto's damaged water tank, he vanished into the distance, leaving behind a trail of unresolved tensions.

Turning her attention to Sakura, Ruka approached her with a softness in her eyes that belied the chaos of the situation. "Sakura," she whispered gently, her voice laced with empathy. The weight of the moment overwhelmed Sakura, her tears flowing freely as she tried to regain composure.

Kakashi's weary sigh hung in the air, his disappointment palpable. "Well," he muttered, his words tinged with resignation. "So much for teamwork."

---

---

---

Weariness settled upon Ruka like an unwelcome shroud, her body slumping against the wall as she sought solace from the throbbing headache that had plagued her for days. Fatigue seeped into her bones, and the weight of recent events bore down upon her, casting doubts on her capabilities as a leader. Frustration and self-doubt wavered in her voice as she confided in Kakashi about her inner turmoil.

"What kind of leader am I?" Ruka's voice trembled with a mixture of exasperation and self-criticism. "If only I had realized sooner and intervened..."

Kakashi's gaze softened, recognizing the toll recent events had taken on Ruka. He approached her with a comforting presence, his hand reaching out to rest gently on her head as he offered reassurance. With a tender gesture, he ruffled her hair, trying to alleviate some of her burden.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Ruka," Kakashi's voice conveyed a comforting sincerity. "Master Jiraiya will talk to Naruto, and I'll do my best to knock some sense into Sasuke. We'll find a way to bring them back together. Things may not be the same as before, but we'll adapt and overcome."

A weary smile tugged at Ruka's lips, tinged with resignation. She looked up at Kakashi, her gaze tracing the horizon as she balanced herself on the steel railing, basking in the warmth of the sunlight that bathed her face. "No, it won't," she replied softly, her voice carrying the weight of her experiences. She paused, her eyes fixated on the ever-changing sky, contemplating the nature of change itself. "Once things change, they never go back to the way they were before."

With those profound words hanging in the air, Ruka cast one final glance at Kakashi, her weary expression etched with the weight of her burden. Then, without another word, she turned away, vanishing from his sight. Left standing alone, Kakashi watched her departure with a mix of admiration and concern, vowing silently to himself to support her and find a way to mend the frayed bonds that threatened to tear their team apart.