CHAPTER 25

Uchiha Mina stopped in her tracks, her breath shallow. She opened her palm, staring at the crumpled note clenched tightly in her fingers. Cold sweat trickled down her back.

"It's impossible… Tunan-kun wouldn't have a reason to kill her." She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.

Yet, as she resumed her run toward Konoha Village, a nagging unease refused to fade. Her mind kept circling back to the events of the day.

Suddenly, her body stiffened. Something wasn't right.

Earlier, after parting ways at the training grounds, Tunan-kun had walked in an unfamiliar direction—one that led here.

The way Chiretsu's body had been found… her head burned with Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique). Tunan-kun had mastered that jutsu.

But more than that…

If she had been ambushed while bathing, her first instinct should have been to grab her clothes. Why, then, was she found further from the shore?

"She walked there on her own… completely vulnerable…"

A lump formed in Mina's throat.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stop overthinking.

Just as she was about to continue forward, a figure emerged on the path ahead.

The moonlight behind him cast his face in shadow, but Mina could tell—it was a man, standing eerily still, a white bird perched on his shoulder.

A chill ran through her veins. Her legs trembled, refusing to move.

A creeping, paralyzing fear spread through her body.

Then, the man turned his head.

A pair of blood-red Sharingan gleamed in the darkness, the three tomoe spinning lazily.

Mina's eyes widened in terror. Her mouth opened to scream—

Nothing came out.

She had lost her voice to fear.

Step. Step. Step.

The figure walked toward her slowly, each step pressing against the erratic beating of her heart.

As the distance between them shrank, the flickering moonlight illuminated his face.

Uchiha Tunan.

An elegant, easy-going smile adorned his lips, his expression calm—unshaken. In his hand, he held a woven basket, filled with various wild ingredients.

"Mina, what a coincidence," he said warmly, raising the basket slightly. "Are you out foraging as well?"

Mina forced a stiff smile, her forehead slick with cold sweat.

"Y-Yes… T-Tunan-kun…"

Tunan tilted his head slightly, his smile unwavering. He reached up, gently stroking the white dove perched on his shoulder.

"Little one, go find your own food."

Coo.

The bird fluttered its wings and disappeared into the forest.

Then, without warning, Tunan reached out, his fingers closing gently around Mina's fist, the one still gripping the note.

"You're lucky today," he said softly. "I'll share something good with you."

Mina's mind went blank. She barely registered his touch, barely noticed as he effortlessly guided her forward. Her body moved on its own.

After a short walk, they reached a small clearing.

A bonfire crackled at its center, an iron pot balanced on a makeshift stand of stones above the flames.

Tunan motioned for Mina to sit beside him. She hesitated, but her body felt stiff—resisting didn't seem like an option.

As she sank to the ground, Tunan methodically emptied the basket's contents into the pot, stirring them with wooden chopsticks.

The firelight cast flickering shadows across his face.

Once, she had thought it was an impeccable face. Now, it seemed unsettling, as if something dark and unreadable lurked beneath the surface.

Yet, Tunan acted perfectly normal, staring into the fire with a nostalgic expression.

"I used up most of the money my parents left me on books," he mused. "So I often come out here to cook for myself."

Mina, still on edge, hesitated before speaking.

"Tunan-kun… I want to ask you something."

"Hm?"

"What do you think of Chiretsu?" Mina clenched her fists under the table, ready to bolt at the slightest change in his expression.

Tunan didn't react. He casually flipped the food in the pot, his tone light.

"Didn't I tell you before? I've always seen her as a younger sister." He sighed. "She's cute, sure, but my focus isn't on romance."

Mina let out a quiet breath of relief.

"Mm… smells good," Tunan murmured.

He picked up a single, oddly green mushroom from the pot and held it out to Mina with his chopsticks.

"Here, try this."

Mina stared at the mushroom.

A warning flashed in her mind—brighter mushrooms are often poisonous.

A stiff smile spread across her lips. "I-I'm not really hungry."

Tunan chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a shame." Without hesitation, he popped the mushroom into his own mouth, chewing slowly, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"Delicious," he said. "These are rare. I only found one today."

Mina watched him swallow.

Then, he picked up a different mushroom—brown this time.

He ate a piece himself, then, as if reassured, plucked another and held it to Mina's lips.

"This one is good too. Ah~"

She hesitated.

But she had just seen him eat it.

Slowly, she opened her mouth, letting him feed her.

As she chewed, a warm, rich umami flavor bloomed on her tongue.

"It's good, right?"

Mina nodded. "Mm… it's delicious."

"Then eat more."

Tunan smiled, blowing on another piece before handing it to her.

As they continued eating, Mina's guard finally began to drop.

Something about the warmth of the fire, the familiar way Tunan spoke—it felt… safe.

Her paranoia from earlier seemed foolish now.

"How could I suspect him? Tunan-kun is such a kind person."

Mina bit her lip. A twinge of guilt twisted in her chest.

Should I tell him about Hyuga Chiretsu?

She hesitated.

No.

If Tunan-kun found out, he would definitely go check the scene himself.

If that pervert was still lurking nearby, Tunan-kun could be in danger.

This was a job for the Konoha Military Police.

She glanced at Tunan, who continued cooking with practiced ease.

Besides…

What reason would he have to kill her?

Even if he had wanted her, all he needed to do was ask. That girl would have done anything for him.

Mina exhaled. She was being ridiculous.

After finishing their meal, Tunan dusted off his hands and stood.

"Alright," he said, offering her his hand. "I'll walk you home. It's not safe for a girl to be alone at night."

Mina hesitated, then smiled and took his hand.

They left the clearing, walking side by side toward Konoha.

In the moonlit forest behind them, a single white dove perched on a tree branch, its glowing red eyes watching their every step.