A pale green light flickered, and the speed of the wound's healing instantly accelerated.
"Good."
Seeing this, Nonō Yakushi nodded gently. It had been a long time since they last met; Kiyoshi's medical ninjutsu had clearly made significant progress. As expected, his technique was exquisite. In a short time, he had completely healed Orochimaru's hands.
"In that case, I'll be heading out," Orochimaru said, pulling down his sleeves to cover his arms. Before leaving, he turned back to add: "Danzo is here as well."
With that, he lifted the curtain and exited.
"Danzo?" Kurenai found the name unfamiliar.
"He is a high-ranking official in the village," Asuma explained immediately, eager to show his wide range of knowledge to his crush.
While the Anbu were mysterious to most ninjas, Root was an existence even more shrouded in shadow. They handled the darker, more "bottom-level" affairs, so they weren't exactly publicized.
"..."
Nonō's eyes flickered behind her glasses. If Danzo Shimura was here, it meant her earlier suspicions were likely correct.
"Kiyoshi, please help me look after the patients. The children still know very little," Nonō requested. Orphanage conditions were limited, so the children couldn't undergo formal ninja training. The fact that she had found so many who could use even basic medical ninjutsu was a testament to their private hard work.
"Alright," Kiyoshi nodded.
Danzo's arrival was undoubtedly to pressure Nonō—to force her back into service. Nonō hurried out.
"Nobuhiko needs treatment too." Hyuga Tokuma was still carrying Nobuhiko. The constant travel made Nobuhiko's empty eye sockets prone to infection, and his ravaged body was at its limit.
"Kiyoshi, could you... help look at Nobuhiko?" Ginka followed behind, her expression slightly unnatural as she looked from the injured man to Kiyoshi.
"Put him over there," Kiyoshi pointed to an empty spot, signaling them to lay out a sheet. Nobuhiko's injuries weren't life-threatening, but they were troublesome, which is why he was sent back with the first group.
From what Kiyoshi knew, Hiashi Hyuga's injuries were more severe, requiring precision equipment; Hyuga clansmen were rushing him back day and night. By now, he should have reached the village. Kiyoshi didn't know the specifics, only that his lower limbs were affected.
"Thank you... thank you..." Ginka hadn't expected Kiyoshi to be so accommodating. For a moment, her gaze was complex.
"Kabuto, right? Hand me a scalpel," Kiyoshi said to the boy standing beside him.
"Oh... okay." Kabuto blinked, recognizing Kiyoshi. He remembered that Kiyoshi seemed to have a connection with the Director from before.
After handing over the scalpel, he began to assist Kiyoshi periodically. Even Kurenai joined in, doing what she could, while Asuma went off to help set up the tents—labor-intensive work suited his sturdy build.
...
Inside a wooden room on the first floor of the orphanage.
Two people sat at the only small table: Nonō Yakushi and Danzo Shimura. Standing behind Nonō were the stout nun and the elderly handyman. Behind Danzo stood Orochimaru and Aburame Tatsuma.
"It has been a long time. You look more haggard than ever, Nonō," Danzo's voice was as grim as always, his words laced with intent.
The intelligence his subordinates had gathered showed that the orphanage's condition was deteriorating daily. Danzo had chosen this exact moment to approach her. For a penniless Nonō, who else could provide such a massive sum of money?
Kiyoshi? That kid and Tsunade had simply gotten lucky in a casino once. It wouldn't last long against the daily expenses of an orphanage. Who told the kind-hearted Nonō to adopt so many children?
"What do you want? We already reached an agreement with Leaf regarding the subsidies. Why are you..."
Nonō's implication was clear: she had left Root with his permission. Now, Danzo was going back on his word.
"Heh, Nonō. It seems the easy life of the orphanage has made you naive." Danzo, his left face wrapped in white bandages, stared at her with his exposed right eye. "We aren't just here for the subsidies."
"Then what else..."
"During this battle, we learned that Hidden Stone was heavily impacted by the battle at Kannabi Bridge. They are suspected of redesigning their battle plans to continue the invasion of the Land of Fire," Ryoma Aburame, Danzo's capable subordinate, explained. Root absorbed many from the ninja clans, and Ryoma was once a genius of the Aburame.
"Kannabi Bridge?" Nonō, long removed from the ninja world, felt the situation was foreign and her instincts dull.
"Hehe, it was the achievement of your disciple, Kiyoshi-kun," Orochimaru said, briefly introducing the mission and the current state of the five great nations.
"...Kiyoshi did all that?" Hearing this, Nonō's heart ached. She was taking Kiyoshi's hard-earned money. Even hearing the simplified version from Orochimaru, she could imagine the danger. Kiyoshi and the other team were clearly... bait. Nonō bit her lip.
"So, you want me to return to being a spy?"
"Correct. If we don't intercept this in time, the tides of war could change. We need you to investigate the timing, location, and specifics of this plan. Follow it long-term and report back at any time."
"Please let me consider it."
Nonō wanted to refuse outright. However, Kiyoshi's face flashed through her mind—the face of a boy working tirelessly to gain her approval. Guilt began to seep in.
Truthfully, the moment she saw Kiyoshi today, aside from joy, she felt a flicker of hope that she could secure more funds. But after hearing Orochimaru, she decided she couldn't do that.
Running to Kiyoshi for money whenever there was a problem would create a path of dependency. Borrowing money was essentially transferring pain—transferring her worry about money onto him, making him carry the orphanage on his back. It was shameful. She recited scriptures in her heart, hoping to find peace.
"Consider? Does this even require consideration?" Danzo's tone turned cold.
"You don't understand at all!" The elderly handyman with glasses suddenly stood up, interrupting excitedly. "Do you realize how vital the Director is to this orphanage and these children? She has exhausted himself just to keep this place running!"
The stout nun also chimed in angrily: "For such a dangerous mission, shouldn't Root members do it? Why must you find the Director!"
Danzo waved his hand impatiently. "No one but your Director is fit for this long-term infiltration. No one in Root could maintain their loyalty under that kind of mental pressure, but I believe Nonō will never betray Leaf." He paused, his voice like ice. "If you refuse, the orphanage can forget about receiving another cent of subsidies."
"Inexcusable!" The handyman couldn't contain his rage. "We submitted an application to the Third Hokage. He would never allow this!"
Ryoma Aburame let out a cold laugh. "The Third Hokage is the Third Hokage. This orphanage seems very prone to thieves. Perhaps you should hire a guard. Also, these orphans have unknown origins; they have some utility value..."
"!" The nun and the handyman turned pale. How could leaf be so despicable?
"Do you even call yourselves ninjas!"
"The ones who don't understand the situation are you," Danzo said, interrupting. "As long as it protects Hidden Leaf, none of this matters."
"Give me a few more days to consider," Nonō sighed. If this was the only way, she wanted to spend a few last days with the children. Once she infiltrated an enemy nation, it would take a long time, and returning would be a distant dream.
"Consideration? Given your years of service, fine. However, to obtain this intel, one of my subordinates died. A replacement will be chosen from among your children."
The children who had learned medical ninjutsu had already proven their talent. Root only took children, training them from a young age to extinguish their emotions so they could become the blades of Root.
"Isn't that going too far?" Nonō hadn't expected Danzo to be so greedy.
"These are two separate matters. Next time, we will have the money ready, but the current payment must be exchanged for one of your children. Besides, who's to say none of these orphans want to become Hidden Leaf ninjas? Just ask; perhaps one does."
"..."
The meeting was anything but pleasant. Nonō eventually emerged with a heavy heart.
"Director! That new ninja was amazing; he healed so many people," Urushi called out. This was good news; the more people healed, the lighter the Director's burden.
"Yes, and he's so handsome! Are all Leaf ninjas like that?" The children chirped around her.
Nonō forced a smile. Although her skills had dulled, her acting was still good enough that the children didn't notice the strain in her expression.
"Nonō-sensei, do you have a moment to talk privately?" Kiyoshi emerged from the tent, showing no signs of exhaustion despite using massive amounts of chakra to heal the wounded. He had even gained a new Trait called [Battlefield Medic (Green)], which increased his efficiency in healing others and himself by 10%. To him, it was better than nothing.
"Alright," Nonō nodded, following Kiyoshi.
...
At noon.
"Where is the Director?" Kabuto emerged from the tent, looking for her.
"The Director went to discuss things with that ninja, Uchiha Kiyoshi," Urushi pointed toward the orphanage building.
"Discussing things?" Kabuto murmured. He didn't think much of it and took a cloth to wipe the sweat from his face. Such high-intensity labor was difficult for a child his age.
"Hey, lunch is ready! Everyone come over!" The stout nun banged a ladle against a wooden bucket full of rice. Recently, they had also been responsible for feeding the ninjas, which allowed the orphanage to earn extra fees.
"Hurry up, Kabuto," Urushi urged. If they were late, there wouldn't be much left.
"Coming." Kabuto dropped the cloth and followed quickly. After the long morning of work, he was starving. After eating, they would have two hours for a nap. They needed the rest for the afternoon labor.
...
On the other side, Kiyoshi and Nonō went to the second floor of the orphanage. It was her office area, providing more privacy.
"Nonō-sensei, you've looked haggard lately," Kiyoshi said, his gaze fixed on her. She was still wearing the same modest nun's habit. Yet, her curvaceous figure could still be seen beneath the heavy robes.
With every slight movement, the fabric would tighten, revealing graceful curves. "Plump" was the overwhelming impression. Despite the orphanage's lack of money, she still possessed such a figure; it was purely a gift of nature.
"It's just that I'm getting older," Nonō shook her head gently.
"How could that be? In my heart, Nonō-sensei is always beautiful," Kiyoshi said. To him, the "older woman" type was a bonus. Mikoto, Tsunade, Kushina—all were filled with feminine charm.
They couldn't be compared to girls like Rin or Kurenai; they had the maturity of fine wine. Of course, he drew the line at someone as old as Chiyo or Koharu.
Nonō caught the heat in Kiyoshi's eyes during his heartfelt speech. "Kiyoshi, you should pay more attention to the girls your own age," she tried to advise.
However, Kiyoshi reached into his gear and pulled out a sealing scroll.
"Nonō-sensei, you must be desperate for money, otherwise you wouldn't have taken this business. You said you wanted to retire from being a ninja."
*Clatter...*
A massive pile of cash fell onto the table, clearly marked with the Konoha seal. It was a lot of money. Nonō estimated it at no less than 700,000 Ryo! It was even 100,000 more than the donation Kiyoshi and Tsunade had made previously. For a commoner, this was a lifetime of work; for a ninja, it was several life-threatening missions.
The weight of the money fell onto Nonō's heart. Her voice turned heavy: "This is your hard-earned money. The orphanage is struggling, but not so much that you should have to carry it."
"It's fine. I'm strong. If this money is gone, I can earn more," Kiyoshi shook his head. He also pulled out some snacks and offered them to her. "Nonō-sensei, try these. It's probably been a long time since you've had them."
Nonō stared at the Tri-color Dango in his hand, lost in thought. It had indeed been a long time. She would never buy them for herself. Only when they were in Leaf did Kiyoshi buy them for her frequently. Now at the orphanage, worrying about every meal, it was impossible.
"Kiyoshi, you are young. Just because you can earn money now doesn't mean you always will." Being a ninja was an unstable profession. One mission's success didn't guarantee the next. Failure often meant death or permanent disability. Nonō knew of the "Eternal Genin" Kosuke Maruboshi, who stayed a Genin as penance for a mistake in his youth.
Later, he lost his left eye in a mission. He was a microcosm of the ninja world; even though he had Jonin-level skill, many others simply faded away with lifelong injuries. If something happened to Kiyoshi, this money would be all he had for his retirement. The "Walking Priestess" had seen this a thousand times.
"Isn't that the fate of a ninja?" Kiyoshi didn't look sad; instead, the fire in his eyes grew hotter. "Because of that, I want to try more things. After all... I don't know when I might die, so I want to experience as much beauty as I can while I'm alive."
Nonō didn't know how to argue. Living in the moment? For a ninja in wartime, it was a logical thought.
"Don't say such ominous things," Nonō said, looking into his eyes rather than at the money. Regardless of anything, Kiyoshi was her first disciple. That position was special. Before him, she was the cold ace of Root's intelligence division. Kiyoshi had barged in just as her human side began to grow, leaving a deep mark.
"Nonō-sensei, when my next mission pay comes, I'll continue to support the orphanage. I don't want to see you looking so worried."
"...You," Nonō felt both moved and guilty. Moved that he was so grateful, but guilty that she hadn't taught him well. Perhaps his unrealistic feelings for her were due to a lack of love in his childhood. At least the orphans here had each other; Kiyoshi had been a lone orphan in the Land of Lightning and was initially shunned by the Uchiha in Leaf.
"Nonō... have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"No," she shook her head gently. She had never even used a fake identity as someone's girlfriend during missions; she always worked alone as a single woman.
"A ninja's life is so short. Nonō-sensei, why not give it a try?"
"Try... who?" Nonō frowned, then realized what he meant. Kiyoshi's gaze was scanning her body. Their teacher-student relationship had never been formal; they were more like friends. The only thing standing between them was age; she was much older than him.
"Just once. Just let me experience it."
In the room where only the two of them remained, the atmosphere suddenly turned strange.
*Rustle...*
A stack of money fell from the table to the floor, the binding snapping and scattering the bills. After repeated weighing, thinking, and struggling, Nonō let out a deep sigh.
What one lacks in youth often haunts them for a lifetime. A child deprived of love will spend a lifetime searching for it—and the Uchiha were a clan of love. It was understandable that Kiyoshi might stray from the path.
The one at fault was her for not fulfilling her responsibility. Perhaps if he obtained what he wanted, he would find it wasn't that big of a deal, much like a child's fickle nature.
She would give him a proper "education." Starting with a proper understanding of relationships.
She knelt down. It seemed to be to pick up the scattered money, or perhaps the broken binding? The midday sun grew stronger, and the light from the window turned hot. The bright white light cast large shadows. In the corner where the sunlight couldn't reach, a beastly figure seemed to emerge—imposing, hideous, and peerless.
...
"Is the Director not coming out to eat?"
"Perhaps she's resting after finishing her talk with her disciple."
"Probably."
The nun, the handyman, and the children began to clear the dishes. Nonō sometimes slept at her office desk because she was too tired.
"Alright, everyone go back to sleep," the nun called out after cleaning up. The ninjas in the shack area were managed by their own people; there wasn't much the orphanage could do besides chores, as they were all just children. They mainly relied on Nonō for healing. Today, Kiyoshi had relieved much of the pressure.
"Understood," Kabuto nodded, following Urushi and the others to their sleeping quarters.
"Urushi, do you hear a swallowing sound?" Kabuto's ears twitched. His talent for chakra control was excellent, and his refined chakra was better than that of other children his age.
Consequently, his physical senses were also sharper. He could faintly hear a sound, like a traveler in the summer heat devouring a popsicle to cool down.
"Do I?" Urushi was stunned. "Hey, did anyone else hear that?"
"A sound? What sound?"
"Kabuto, you must be tired and hallucinating."
No one else heard anything.
'Is it really just me being too tired?' Kabuto thought.