The location was the Fire-Rain Border. Even returning rogue ninjas from the Land of Fire weren’t allowed in without the explicit permission of Hanzo of the Samander.

  Although the past two days hadn’t involved much beating or punishment, the prolonged interrogation left Kita’s legs unable to straighten. Her clothes were at least clean. Except for the iron colr repcing her original blue silk scarf, her white-and-bck yukata was exactly as it had been on the day she left.

  Bound hands were expected. Blindfolded eyes were natural. She had no idea which path they were taking or who had come to escort her.

  When she finally saw sunlight after so long, a pair of warm hands covered her eyes, and without needing to ask, she knew whose embrace it was.

  Konan actually came personally…

  “Don’t move, you’ll hurt your eyes,” the voice was soft, the touch gentle. Kita hadn’t intended to cry, but the moment she heard the voice, it was unbearable. A trace of moisture touched Konan’s palm. Feeling it, Konan’s eyes inexplicably reddened. Tears fell, nding on Kita’s face.

  It’s okay, Kita thought, screaming inwardly.

  The journey was silent. Kakuzu and Hidan fnked left and right, Itachi led the way, Deidara covered the rear. This was the formation after exchanging with the vilge ninja.

  As they neared Amegakure, Kita tugged at Konan’s clothes, gesturing.

  ——Put me down, there are vilgers.

  “They can’t see,” Konan reassured. Her hand stayed over Kita’s eyes the whole way. Thanks to Deidara’s cy birds, the trip from the border to the vilge didn’t take long.

  The vilge was under light rain. Upon returning home, they stopped in the living room. Itachi sat at the porch, watching the rain, silent as Deidara. Eyes closed, Kita couldn’t see the humiliating marks left on her neck after the colr was removed, but they could. Without a mirror, she couldn’t see the difference from months ago, but they could.

  The one skilled in medical ninjutsu wasn’t the best but competent enough. As she tried to uncover her clothing to examine the wounds, Konan blocked her, covering her eyes. Kita couldn’t see Konan shaking her head subtly but felt it. After nodding, medical ninjutsu enveloped the girl, restoring her body.

  ——It’s okay now, Konan. It’s been a long time.

  “Really? Have you adapted?”

  Kita nodded. Before removing her hand, Konan checked the room’s lighting. Kita felt no gre, turned to Konan, and smiled.

  ——Sorry for making you worry.

  “You’ve always been like this; I never worry,” Konan said, smiling for the first time since Kita’s disappearance.

  The seals suppressing her chakra disappeared. Her chakra returned. Konan said softly, “Don’t overexert yourself recently. Your legs need another half month to recover. Don’t train. Bones have been reset many times—don’t damage them before they heal.”

  Kita nodded.

  ——Thank you.

  “No need for medicine, just supplement your nutrition,” Konan said. She nodded, stood, and went to the veranda. Gncing at Itachi, her look was puzzling, but he said nothing, turning to Kakuzu: “Won’t die.”

  “Was that Ibiki Morino’s handiwork?” Kakuzu asked. It was obvious, even without details. Deidara, still confused, watched their reactions.

  “What does that mean?” he asked.

  “You’re better off not knowing.”

  Konan returned, and before speaking, asked, “Do you have any external medicine?”

  Kita hadn’t been injured anew, so she didn’t need any.

  “For scars,” Konan said softly. Nodding, she asked quietly, “What kind of wounds?”

  “Burns, whip marks, cuts.”

  Deidara lowered his head. Even without knowing Ibiki, he understood now. He nodded.

  “Not guaranteed to work. Too old, some won’t heal,” Konan said.

  “Okay, give it to me.”

  “Will bring it ter.”

  Konan patted Kakuzu’s shoulder, “You go back. Kita’s fine. Thanks.”

  Deidara’s mood dipped. “Um… is there anything I can do, Nan?”

  Konan paused, then smiled, ruffling his blond hair. “Rest. You’ve all been tired. Kita’s fine. Thanks.”

  Her smile was gentle. Kakuzu left silently, Deidara followed quickly. Itachi bowed slightly. “If you need me, I’m happy to help.” Polite, respectful. Konan nodded, patted Deidara’s shoulder, and returned to the room.

  Kita had already fallen asleep, utterly exhausted. Konan gently covered her with a bnket, hid her mouth, and tears fell like rain, endless. The one she cherished had been treated so cruelly. She wanted to tear Ibiki apart, ftten Konoha. Yet just as they left, Kita had said:

  ——I drove Ibiki Morino insane. I can brag about that forever.

  Then Konan saw her body: marked as if cut segment by segment, dense horseshoe-shaped burns on chest and back, overpping whip wounds, old and new.

  I’m sorry, Kita. We should have found you sooner. Sorry you waited…

  A long, uninterrupted sleep didn’t st till the next afternoon. Hunger in her stomach was the only sensation. Sensation in her legs hadn’t returned. She couldn’t yet go to the toilet, but could sit up. Just as she stirred, the door opened.

  “Awake?”

  Shouldn’t Nan be working now?

  ——Aren’t you working?

  “Shigure is. Want to eat first?”

  ——To the bathroom first, then wash.

  “Come, I’ll take you.”

  With that, Konan lifted her lover. Kita spoke as she was held:

  ——Later, call the leader. I need to tell him something important.

  “Okay, I’ll call him ter.” Konan pced her on the toilet, supporting her weight. “Is it about before?”

  Kita nodded.

  ——Major discovery. Totally worth it.

  “I’ll kill you, do you believe me?”

  Konan feigned anger, discontent. Kita shook her head, smiling.

  ——Rex. I’m showering.

  “Best not to wet the wounds. Or together?”

  Kita chose cleaning first. Water flowed with a soft patter. In the closed bathroom, nakedness contrasted with the porcein whiteness.

  The water was just warm enough. Konan gently held her, wetting her snow-white hair. “The ointment worked, the skin absorbed it. Washing now lets me apply fresh medicine.” She gently touched the new wounds, eyes full of pain.

  “Does it hurt?”

  Kita shook her head.

  ——I can’t feel it.

  Stomach cramped, aching in her chest—it was Nan.

  “I’ll kill him.”

  ——No need. I drove him insane.

  “Really?” Konan said, brushing aside her hair to reveal the horseshoe-shaped burns on her back, kissing them lightly, cherishing them.

  “Next time, tell me when you’re coming back, okay?”

  Kita nodded, holding Konan’s hand, writing in her palm:

  ——Sorry for worrying you.

  “Idiot, I wasn’t worried.”

  ——Really?

  “Really. Not worried at all.”

  ——Good. My greatest fear is you worrying. I’m fine. I’m strong.

  “I know.”

  Konan wrapped her around her shoulders, as if holding a treasure, as if embracing the world.

  Cleaning, then applying ointment to every wound—cuts, burns, whips—all treated correctly. The full jar from yesterday was now empty.

  When Kita finally ate, she had been awake for some time. Luckily, during the ointment application, she had eaten a little, avoiding extreme hunger.

  Eggs, meat, beans—high protein for absorption. She ate without burden.

  When Nagato arrived, Kita was drinking soup—rich ginseng chicken soup, with herbs, old ginseng, and Konan’s culinary talent—a true delicacy.

  “Feeling better?” Nagato asked, worried, scooping a bowl. Kita nodded, setting down her bowl with a slight bow.

  ——Sorry for troubling you.

  Nagato waved him off, joking, “You’re making Konan take revenge on me. Don’t manipute like that.” Kita ughed, shook her head. Konan also smiled, serving another bowl.

  “What happened? I don’t believe you were beaten by the Four Brothers.” Nagato said, eating. Kita shook her head, expined everything, adding:

  ——I was unlucky. After falling into the water, Kakashi rescued me. And he was the same person I met st time in Konoha. My luck really is terrible.

  “If truly unlucky, you’d have died fighting Madara,” Konan said sternly. “You were reckless. In that situation, you should’ve escaped him and returned. Why did you fight him?”

  ——Had no choice… but he could use Wood Release, plus Izanagi…

  Kita expined, continuing her meal—now somewhere between lunch and dinner, around three PM.

  “Izanagi… tricky,” Nagato said, lightly scolding. “That Uchiha probably collected many Sharingan after the cn’s demise. Can use them at will.”

  Kita nodded.

  ——Also, Konoha knows little about our affairs. I can’t tell what Itachi passed to Jiraiya, but from their questions, they don’t know the internal situation.

  “What questions?” Nagato asked.

  ——Who was the Wood Release ninja that fought me, my retion to Akatsuki, why I have the Mizukage Token, and who I truly am. Only these four.

  Nagato sighed, “You’ve worked hard.” He added: “Next time, tell us when you’ll return. We only realized you were missing a month after the fact.” Konoha had rarely contacted Kita; her freedom had been nearly complete. With her chakra sealed, she couldn’t reach out herself.

  Kita nodded.

  ——It happened suddenly. I intended to return after dealing with the Four Brothers. But Konoha retrieved their bodies… a quarter’s harvest lost.

  Konan smiled.

  ——So much money.

  “That doesn’t count for you. Akatsuki isn’t short on that. Now rest and heal. Don’t go out before the New Year.” Less than four months to the New Year—a long break.

  Kita nodded.

  ——Just enough time to study Madara again. The first time seeing him use Wood Release… feels weird.

  “Heh, you really have no blood left,” Konan said helplessly. Kita shook her head, smiling.

  ——It’s fine. Fighting him seriously made him less mysterious. Izanagi caused losses but is defensible. Plus his Sharingan is missing an eye—something’s off.

  “Be careful.” Nagato warned. “Also, this—this saved your life.” He pced the Mizukage Token on the table. Kita was surprised.

  ——I thought Konoha wouldn’t return it.

  “This token only works with your chakra. If Konoha kept it, it would be like a plot to kill you. When the truth comes out, Kirigakure won’t let it go. You’re a hero of their vilge.” Nan added a hint of jealousy. Kita smiled, reached under the table, held Nan’s hand, feeling a bit embarrassed. Nan only lightly teased, offering her another piece of chicken.

  “Eat it all.”

  Kita smiled, nodding, genuinely happy.

  Nagato watched, relieved. Konan hadn’t smiled for days. Though no tears fell, Nagato could sense her heart slowly recovering. With Kita’s return, the pce began to bloom again.

  “Kita,” Nagato said carefully,

  “Next time, prioritize your safety.”

  His tone was earnest.

  “Whatever happens with Akatsuki, I’ll be there. But for Konan, it’s only you.”

  Kita smiled, a little forced.

  Human… the Third Hokage asks: Are you human?

  ━━━━ ? ━━━

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