Shadow of the Uchiha Guard

Uchiha Clan.

Inside Bai Ye's residence.

Kurenai Yuhi awoke slowly. Sensing something amiss, she turned over with difficulty and met a pair of eyes. Blushing, she pulled the quilt over herself, taking a moment before summoning the courage to peek out.

"Naruko-nee, did Lord Bai Ye consume something unusual yesterday...?"

It was understandable for Kurenai to think so; his vigor had been overwhelming. Perhaps she had inadvertently triggered a hidden facet of his personality, leading to an unrestrained fervor during their encounter.

"He's always like that; you'll get used to it," Kushina remarked, rolling her eyes, seemingly unimpressed. Despite her role as a maid, the disparity in their abilities had drawn her into the fray, though Kurenai chose not to comment.

"Awake?" Bai Ye's voice came from the doorway.

After spending considerable resources to appease Sarutobi and issuing a stern warning to the old man, Bai Ye was in high spirits during his morning patrol. Recalling the events of the previous night, he returned home to prepare lunch himself. Despite acknowledging his own flaws, he ensured his partners were well cared for, not neglecting them after their shared moments.

At the dining table, Kurenai tasted Bai Ye's special oriental cuisine and expressed surprise, "I didn't expect Lord Bai Ye to be skilled in cooking."

"Treasure this; he doesn't cook often," Kushina commented, joining them at the table with Bai Ye's permission.

"Naruko-nee, are you also good at cooking?" Kurenai asked curiously.

Having adapted to Kushina's role as a maid, Kurenai felt comfortable inquiring about her skills. Their relationship had deepened through shared experiences.

"Of course! My dishes are quite delicious. I'll cook for you another day," Kushina replied proudly.

Bai Ye's mouth twitched. If not for Kushina's questionable culinary experiments, he wouldn't have hired a private chef. Recalling the time he first brought Kushina back and tasted her cooking, even his resilient physique couldn't handle it. He wondered how Minato had endured it all these years; it was commendable.

Despite this, they enjoyed a pleasant lunch together.

...

Konohagakure.

Central residential area.

At the entrance of a house, Yuhi Shinku observed his daughter, supported by Uchiha Bai Ye, her face flushed. From her expression, he deduced the nature of her overnight stay, which was uncommon unless she was at her best friend Anko Mitarashi's place. The current situation was self-explanatory.

"Father, I sprained my ankle," Kurenai said shyly, honestly.

Shinku remained silent, offering a bitter smile, uncertain of his feelings.

"You go inside first; I need to speak with Bai Ye," he said.

After a deep sigh, Shinku led Bai Ye into the living room.

Once Kurenai had retreated to her room, leaving the two men alone, Bai Ye calmly produced two gourds of wine, offering one to Shinku. He took a sip from his own, embodying the disciplined captain of the Guard.

"Bai Ye," Shinku began softly, "personally, I don't have a bad impression of you. But as a father, I hesitate about your involvement with Kurenai. Do you know why?"

He sighed, expressing genuine concern.

Bai Ye understood. During the Nine-Tails' attack, Shinku had ordered Kakashi and Kurenai to stay away from the battlefield but had joined the fight himself, ultimately perishing. However, Bai Ye had saved Shinku during his confrontation with the Nine-Tails, making him a lifesaver.

Despite knowing about his daughter's relationship with Bai Ye, Shinku hadn't intervened. As Anbu's acting minister, he was aware of the tension between the village and the Uchiha clan. Bai Ye's position as captain of the Konoha Guard was sensitive. If there were no conflicts, he wouldn't object to their relationship. But as a father, he didn't want his daughter entangled in political strife.

The Uchiha clan, challenging the village, seemed destined for a grim outcome. Involving his daughter in such turmoil was undesirable. Yet, with their relationship established, he sought an honest conversation with Bai Ye.

"Uncle, I prefer directness," Bai Ye said, standing with a slight smile. "I'll be frank. The higher-ups' issues with Uchiha are their concern. They can handle their disputes as they wish. But no one dictates my actions. As long as they don't violate the Guard's regulations, they're free to act. However, if anyone crosses the line, I won't hesitate to act."

He took another sip of wine before continuing, "Regarding Kurenai's safety, please observe."

An invisible aura surged, exuding a terrifying pressure that seemed to foreshadow the world's end. The atmosphere grew heavy, and when the aura subsided, everything returned to normal.

Shinku was left speechless, unable to comprehend the vision of impending doom he had just experienced. The sheer intensity of Bai Ye's presence left him questioning the man's true intentions and the depth of his concealed power.