Chapter 60

                                    

                                          
The one responsible for Kankuro's condition turned out to be the grandson of Lady Chiyo, the very woman who had attacked Kakashi earlier. As night enveloped the Sand Village, the streets lay silent, save for the soft rustle of the wind. The moon cast a pale glow over the buildings, illuminating the path that Ugetsu followed as he trailed behind Kakashi.
"But if you think about it, Kakashi-sensei... I could detect their trace a lot faster than Pakkun," Ugetsu pleaded, urgency lacing his voice as they made their way down the dimly lit hallway.
Kakashi shook his head, his hands tucked casually inside his pockets. "Not a chance," he stated plainly, his tone leaving no room for debate.
Ugetsu pressed on, his determination unwavering. "I've got a wide sensory range now, you know," he tried to convince him, his eyes sparkling with a mix of confidence and desperation.
Kakashi's expression remained firm. "No, you shouldn't," he replied, his voice low and serious.
"But—" Ugetsu began, but Kakashi interrupted him.
"It's too risky going out all alone. You might run into the Akatsuki. It'll be too dangerous dealing with them on your own," he warned, a weighty concern creeping into his tone. Ugetsu hung his head, a feeling of disappointment washing over him as he absorbed the implications of Kakashi's words. "Besides," Kakashi added, his voice softening slightly, "we all need rest to store up energy and prepare for tomorrow."
Ugetsu's heart sank at the thought of waiting, but before he could voice his frustration, Kakashi's smirk caught him off guard. "You can't wait to see her, can you?"
The unexpected shift in the conversation left Ugetsu momentarily stunned. He blinked, confusion evident on his face. "H-huh?"
"Tenten," Kakashi clarified, a teasing glint in his eye. "I can see it in your face, you know."
Ugetsu felt a blush creeping up his cheeks as he stammered for words. "I-I just... It's not like that!" He tried to protest, but the heat of embarrassment mixed with excitement at the thought of seeing Tenten again was undeniable.
Kakashi chuckled lightly, shaking his head in amusement. "Just admit it, Ugetsu. You've been looking forward to this."
Ugetsu sighed, torn between frustration and the undeniable thrill of the prospect of reuniting with Tenten. "Yeah, well... I guess I am," he finally admitted, a reluctant smile breaking through his initial hesitation.
"Then focus on resting. Tomorrow will come soon enough, and you'll get your chance to see her," Kakashi encouraged, his voice returning to its calm, mentor-like tone.
With that, they continued down the hallway, the night air thick with unspoken anticipation and the promise of challenges yet to come.
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As Ugetsu turned around the corner, he found himself face-to-face with an unexpected figure—Lady Chiyo. The old woman stood silently, her expression inscrutable as she regarded him with a gaze that seemed to pierce through the shadows of the dimly lit hallway. The air was thick with tension, as if the very walls were holding their breath in anticipation.
"Hello," Ugetsu greeted her with a tentative smile, hoping to break the ice and perhaps find a flicker of warmth in her steely demeanor. He was aware of her reputation, but he also sensed the weight of history and loss that hung around her.
However, Chiyo merely stared at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as if scrutinizing him for signs of his lineage. Her gaze traced the contours of his face, lingering on the sharp lines of his jaw and the delicate arch of his brow. The resemblance was uncanny; the same piercing blue eyes that had haunted her dreams were now fixed upon her, a vivid reminder of Chigetsu. Ugetsu's hair,  fell in the same spiky style that had marked his father's when he was young. The way he carried himself—confident yet burdened—echoed the weight that Chigetsu had borne, the legacy of darkness that had threatened the Sand Village.
Chiyo's heart hardened as memories flooded back—of loss, of betrayal, and of the son she had hoped to protect. The resemblance felt like a knife twisting in her gut, igniting a fierce anger at the thought of the man who had caused so much pain. Ugetsu, standing before her, was a living reminder of that pain, and she couldn't shake the feeling that history was repeating itself.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, she turned on her heel and walked away without a word, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor.
Ugetsu's heart sank at her dismissal, the smile fading from his lips like a candle snuffed out in an unforgiving wind. The brief encounter left him feeling unsettled, as if he had just been judged and found wanting. He stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure, a wave of disappointment washing over him.
"Great," he muttered under his breath, his earlier excitement evaporating. It seemed the shadows of his father's actions would loom large, even in a village so far from the Leaf. With a heavy heart, Ugetsu turned back down the hallway, the promise of tomorrow now feeling burdened by the weight of unresolved past