Ebizō stood at the doorway of Chiyo's ho. He lingered there for a long ti, not raising his hand to knock.
He could not bear to see his sister's eyes. How could he possibly tell her the news about Karasu and Akasuna?
Yet, so things were not up to him to avoid. He drew a deep breath and raised his hand. Just as his hand was about to knock on the door, the door opened from within.
Chiyo's figure appeared. She glanced at him, his hand still poised mid-air, and asked in confusion, "Ebizō? Why have you co?"
Ebizō opened his mouth, but no words ca out.
Seeing him like this, Chiyo imdiately knew that sothing terrible had happened. She cast a glance at Sasori, who was playing in the living room, then stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
Standing before Ebizō, her expression turned solemn: "What happened?"
Ebizō let out a bitter smile. Truly, she was his sister, before her, he had no way to hide anything.
"It's about Akasuna and Karasu…"
He hesitated, glancing at her.
Her face showed no expression, but her heart felt as though an invisible hand had seized it tight. She forced herself to stay composed: "What about Akasuna and Karasu?"
If one listened closely, they would notice the faint tremor in her voice.
Ebizō's nerves were taut, as if a great invisible mountain weighed upon him. He opened his mouth several tis, but no words would co.
Chiyo waited patiently. She did not urge him on, but only she knew how much anguish and dread she was enduring.
"Karasu is dead…"
At last, Ebizō forced the words out.
Chiyo staggered, but before Ebizō could reach out to steady her, she had already braced herself and stood firm. "Then… what about Akasuna?"
Her lips quivered, her eyes locked unblinkingly on Ebizō.
"Akasuna… is gravely injured…"
Ebizō lowered his head, unable to et Chiyo's gaze.
She stumbled back a few steps and leaned against the door, waves of darkness washing over her vision.
Karasu… Akasuna…
Chiyo's eyes reddened, her pupils like burning embers. The light of hatred gathered in their depths.
"Who was it!"
"Who was it!"
She seized Ebizō by the shoulders. "Who killed Karasu? Who wounded Akasuna?"
Her grip on his shoulders hurt, but Ebizō made no sound.
"It was Konoha's White Fang."
Ebizō uttered each word with difficulty.
Did he not hate him too? How could he not!
Karasu and Akasuna were his kin as well! He had watched Akasuna grow up with his own eyes!
"Konoha's White Fang!"
Chiyo could almost chew the na into pieces.
Her eyes bored forward, as if she already saw the figure of that man.
She suddenly strode away, heading toward the Kazekage's tower.
Ebizō knew his sister too well, he instantly realized what she intended to do.
He blocked her path.
"Move aside!"
She shouted sharply, her eyes crimson.
"There's still Sasori…"
Ebizō pleaded, his body trembling, his eyes brimming with tears.
Chiyo froze, as though nailed to the spot.
Sasori…
That na pulled her out of her burning hatred.
Yes, he was still here!
Chiyo turned back toward the door.
At so point, it had opened. There stood Sasori, cradling a small puppet in his arms.
It was the one Akasuna had helped him make, the last ti he returned ho. Sasori loved it so much that he would not let go of it, not even when he slept.
He stood at the doorway, staring blankly at Chiyo. He did not understand what was wrong with his grandmother.
"Sasori…"
Chiyo's body trembled as she walked toward him.
"What's wrong? When are Daddy and Mommy coming back?"
Sasori hugged the puppet, tilting his head upward to ask. His small face was full of longing for his parents.
Chiyo could not speak.
How could she tell him that Karasu was already dead? That Akasuna was gravely injured?
She could not bring herself to say it.
"When the war is over, they will co back."
She hugged him tightly, forcing her tears back.
"Really?"
Sasori's voice carried a spark of joy.
"Then the war has to end quickly!"
"I really miss Daddy and Mommy…"
His voice lowered. He bowed his head, fiddling with the puppet in his hands.
Chiyo looked up at the sky. Tears slid swiftly from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into her hair.
---
At the Suna camp in the Land of Grass, Akasuna opened his eyes. His pupils moved, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.
Rising from the bed, he found his chest wound already wrapped with bandages. A strange gleam flickered within his eyes. He placed his hand upon his chest.
That had been close.
If not for his Karasu blocking that fatal blow, perhaps he would already be dead.
Oh no, more precisely, "Akasuna" would be dead.
The one possessing this body, of course, would not die.
"That body isn't bad at all…"
In his mind, he recalled the body of Konoha's White Fang.
To think swordsmanship could be honed to that level!
Remarkable!
He stepped down from the bed.
The heavy curtains of the dical tent were lifted aside.
"Akasuna-sama!"
A dical-nin rushed over. "You mustn't get out of bed yet!"
Akasuna looked at him, the smile vanishing from his face, leaving only unease: "Where is Karasu?"
The dical-nin fell silent.
Not a word.
He pushed away the man's supporting hand and forced himself upright.
"I want to see her!"
The dical-nin knew he could not stop him. He could only agree, on the condition that they walk slowly.
After all, Akasuna's wounds were still severe.
With the dical-nin's support, he arrived at a small, isolated tent.
"She is inside," the dical-nin spoke softly.
"Leave . I want to see her alone."
Akasuna gave him a glance.
The ninja pressed his lips together. With so many wounded after the recent battle, he truly did not have ti to linger.
"Yes."
When the dical-nin left, Akasuna entered the tent.
Inside, there was only one bed. Upon it, a body lay covered with a white cloth.
He stepped forward and lifted the cloth, revealing Karasu's bloodless face.
He gently caressed her cheek. The corners of his mouth slowly curved upward.
"Good girl."
His voice carried a tone of praise.
"Rest assured, I will not abandon you."
He patted her cheek.
Cursed spirits could conduct experints, so too could ninjas. And experints were his favorite thing of all.
---
As a hawk landed by the seaside, a tall figure stepped forward, removed the ssage tube from the hawk's leg, and took out the slip of paper inside.
The figure stood by the shore for a mont, then set the paper afla.
The hawk took off again, soaring into the sky.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
From the distant wooden cabin ca a familiar voice.
Yahiko stood at the doorway, shouting toward Jiraiya in the distance: "Dinner's ready!"
Only then did Jiraiya, who had been standing at the seashore, co back to his senses. He walked toward Yahiko, a smile once again returning to his face.
"Why were you staring at the sea just now?"
Watching Jiraiya change his shoes, Yahiko asked curiously.
Jiraiya paused for a beat. "It's nothing."
He ruffled Yahiko's hair and sat down at the table.
Yahiko sat next to Konan.
Looking at the three children before him, Jiraiya felt a heavy weight in his heart.
"Was it news about Shiratori…?"
The silence at the dinner table was suddenly broken.
Jiraiya looked in surprise at Nagato.
Compared to Yahiko and Konan, he was more reserved and rarely spoke. Jiraiya hadn't expected him to guess so accurately.
"…Yes."
He still nodded.
He thought, These children share such deep bonds. It's true, I shouldn't hide things from them.
Even if they quarrel, they always keep each other in their hearts.
"Jiraiya-sensei, when we went to the town today to buy supplies, we heard villagers talking about him. They said…"
"That he is the hero who defeated Suna…"
"Is that true?"
Konan, unable to hold back any longer, pressed both hands on the table, leaning slightly forward, speaking rapidly. Her eyes fixed on Jiraiya, desperate to hear a more accurate answer from him.
"…"
Yahiko turned his head away, as if not wanting to hear the na "Shiratori" at all. But Jiraiya noticed, his ears were perked up the whole ti. He gave a helpless little smile.
"It's true."
He nodded at them.
"He defeated the Suna forces on the border of the Land of Wind."
He thought of the intel Tsunade had just sent. The report said he had summoned six monsters.
Could he already be capable of summoning all six curses?
"That's amazing!"
Konan couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes sparkling.
"If it weren't for Hanzō, the Land of Rain wouldn't even be at war with the Land of Wind! He claims he wants to stop the battlefield, but in the end, he still joined it…"
Yahiko's face was full of indignation.
Jiraiya's gaze lingered on Yahiko's expression. Of course, he didn't scold him. Yahiko was still young, too young to fully understand the bigger picture.
When Yahiko grew older, he would gradually co to understand Hanzō's choices.
If Jiraiya had been in Hanzō's position, he might have made the sa decision.
"He… wasn't hurt, was he?"
Nagato lifted his head, his gaze falling on Jiraiya through the veil of his red hair.
Jiraiya froze for a mont, then his eyes softened as he looked at Nagato.
He was a gentle child. His concerns often differed from those of others, and that made them all the more precious.
"No news yet, but he should be fine."
Jiraiya reassured Nagato.
No news was always the best kind of news. Because, on the battlefield, only death would ever be confird.
Konan glanced at Yahiko, lowered her head, and murmured softly, "I miss him…"
Nagato pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
Seeing their reactions, Yahiko suddenly burst up from his seat in anger. "He's the one who betrayed us! He's the one who abandoned us! And you still miss him, don't fool yourselves, he'll never think about us!"
With that, he stord out of the wooden hut.
"Yahiko!"
Konan had just started to rise, but Jiraiya shook his head at her.
"Let him be alone for a while."
He knew these three children well by now.
Yahiko's personality was stubborn and awkward. Even if he missed Shiratori, he would never admit it.
---
Yahiko stood at the seashore, staring out at the boundless horizon. Lowering his head, his eyes grew red with unshed tears.
He wasn't wrong!
It was Shiratori who abandoned them, choosing Hanzō instead.
They were supposed to be friends, yet he had so firmly chosen Hanzō!
All this ti, he hadn't even co back to see them once. They didn't even know if he was alive or dead…
---
[Pain detected: Yahiko 5000 points]
[Energy transferred to Kenjaku]
[Developnt progress: 45%]
Shiratori's eyes snapped open.
The white canopy of a tent ca into view. Turning his head slightly, he saw Mizu and Amanagi standing nearby.
He quickly realized where he was, inside a dical tent at the A camp.
After a proper sleep, he felt refreshed.
He had fought for two days and two nights straight. Even with his stamina, he couldn't hold out forever. After being carried back by Hanzō, he had slept soundly until now.
Lifting the blanket, he found himself in a set of clean clothes.
Glancing at Mizu and Amanagi again, he thought silently, they must've taken care of him while he was unconscious.
"Shiratori!"
"You're awake!"
Mizu turned, seeing him sitting up in bed. His expression imdiately softened, and he strode quickly to his side.
"Anywhere hurting? Do you feel dizzy?" Mizu asked at once.
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
Mizu looked at him with concern.
"Where's Sensei?" he asked.
"Hanzō-sama is in the command tent…" Mizu began to reply, but before he could finish, Shiratori had already dashed past him.
"Shiratori…" he called out in worry.
But Shiratori was already running straight for Hanzō's tent.
"Sensei!"
He barged inside, breathless and flustered. Within were the last remaining A ninjas of the camp. All of them turned their eyes toward him.
"Did you rest well? How's your body?" asked Amanagi, who stood beside Hanzō.
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
Hanzō beckoned him over, and he walked to his side.
"Sensei… are we going to keep fighting?"
He looked up at Hanzō with uncertainty.
Hanzō's heart clenched painfully as he lowered his head to look at him. It hadn't been that long, yet he already seed so much more grown.
---
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20 Advance chapters!
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