The next day, Tsunade arrived. She wasted no time and immediately set to work on Yukino. There was something about her methods, precise, calculated, and calm, that inspired confidence in me. But despite how expertly she worked, I couldn't shake the hollow feeling in my chest.
Tsunade offered kind praise, saying she was quite impressed that I had stabilized Yukino and performed well during her absence.
"As expected of my student," she had said.
But it didn't sit right. I wasn't looking for praise. Not like this. It was as if she was just going through the motions, a compliment that didn't carry weight because she had been too far removed from the moment. She didn't see how hard it had been to watch Yukino suffer, or how much it tore me apart when she almost didn't make it.
Tsunade eventually finished preparing a concoction of medicine for Yukino, something that would help her rest and recover fully from the poison. She said Yukino was stable enough to be transported back to the Hyūga estate.
If she could recover at home, that'd probably be the best option for her. Minato also agreed immediately with that idea and asked me to bring the kids over, which I did promptly. He would transfer all four of us back to Konoha now. My being benched off the front lines seemed like it was effective immediately.
As much as it pained me, I knew there was nothing I could do. Minato had taken charge, and I couldn't bring myself to argue again.
Yukino sat in her bed, waiting for Minato to place a hand on her shoulder and teleport her away. You could practically tell her body was still fragile even under the blanket and despite the medicine Tsunade had administered.
"I'll take her to the Hyūga estate first," Minato said, glancing over at me with his usual calmness. "It's better if she gets settled before you bring the other two in. I'll be back in a moment to fetch the rest of you."
I nodded silently, but my eyes were fixed on Yukino. Her breathing was steadier now, but she still looked pale, worn down. The sight of her so quiet and still didn't sit right with me. It was like watching the sun fade behind the clouds.
Minato gave us a moment.
Yukino's pale white eyes narrowed on me as she caught me staring.
"You're brooding," she murmured with a faint smile, her voice weak but playful.
"I'm not," I lied immediately, crossing my arms with a huff. "I'm just… making sure you're alright."
"You've been doing that since the second I passed out," she said softly. "I'm not made of paper, Shiro."
"Yeah, well," I muttered, shifting awkwardly, "you didn't see how bad it got."
Her expression softened, and she reached up slowly, her fingers brushing against my sleeve. "But I do know what you would do for me. That's enough."
"I'll come see you when I'm better," she said.
I looked down at her, trying to keep my face neutral, but I could feel the crack in my composure. "You better. I'm gonna be stuck showing these two around the village like a babysitter."
Yahiko glared at me. "You're the one that dragged us along."
"Right, I guess I did put myself in this situation."
Yukino let out the softest laugh, like a breeze through wind chimes. "Well, I'd hate for you to suffer too much without me. So I promise I'll come the soonest I'm able to walk."
Then, more sincerely, she added, "Come visit if you can. It'll be boring just lying in bed without anyone to argue with."
"I will," I said quickly, almost too quickly. Then, catching myself, I tried to act more casual. "I mean, if I can manage it. Depends on how busy I get."
She smiled again, eyes lidded with tiredness. "Right. So busy. With your world-famous babysitting skills."
"Don't make me regret worrying about you," I grumbled, though the corner of my mouth twitched into a smile.
Minato stepped forward gently then, placing a hand on my shoulder as he prepared to teleport. "I'll be back in a flash."
Yukino looked at me one last time, a spark of strength behind her tired eyes. "See you soon, Shirokumo."
And in a blink, they were gone.
I rubbed the back of my neck, then turned around to find Yahiko staring at me with one brow raised and Konan quietly fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.
"…What?" I asked.
Yahiko shrugged. "Didn't think you'd get all soft like that."
"I wasn't soft," I muttered.
"You looked like you wanted to cry," Yahiko said, grinning now.
"I did not," I snapped, cheeks burning. "And she's my teammate. I'm allowed to worry."
Konan tilted her head. "Is she your only teammate?"
"Uh, no, the blond guy is also part of the same team as us. His name is Minato. Anyway, forget about it. You're gonna see your new home in a second."
There was that familiar shimmer in the air and Minato appeared before us once more, as calm and composed as ever.
"She's settled in," he said with a small smile. "The Hyūga are taking care of her now. Ready to head home?"
"Yeah," I muttered. "Let's go."
Minato placed a hand on me while the kids grabbed both my sleeves, and in a flash of bright chakra, the world shifted around us, warped, blurred, then snapped back into clarity.
We stood before the tall gates of Konoha.
Konan immediately stepped closer to me, her eyes wide as they swept over the massive wooden walls, the engraved symbols, the patrolling shinobi above. Yahiko's mouth had fallen open.
"Whoa… We really did teleport..." he said, spinning in place slowly. "So this is Konoha?"
"It's so… clean," Konan whispered. "And big."
I smirked a little, just a little. "Welcome to the Leaf Village."
The guards at the gate gave us curious glances, but didn't question anything once they recognized Minato and me. He nodded politely to them, then turned to me.
"I'll go report to the Hokage and let him know you're back," he said. "You can show our guests around."
"Sure," I said. "We'll stay out of trouble."
Left alone, I turned to the two Ame orphans, both still staring at the village beyond like they'd stepped into a dream.
"Well," I said, stuffing my hands in my pockets, "this is the main entrance. Good place to start, no?"
"Good as any, I guess." Yahiko said, looking around. "Honestly... More impressive than I thought it'd be."
"Shiro, this place is amazing." Konan said.
They were in wonder, but for me... Damn it all. Nothing sits right. The village just felt… wrong. Not bad. Just wrong. Like it was too peaceful.
People walked through the gates carrying groceries. Merchants chatted with one another like the world wasn't tearing itself apart beyond the walls. A woman laughed as her kid tugged on her sleeve, trying to point at a candy stand further down the road.
Nobody looked over their shoulder.
Nobody scanned rooftops.
Nobody checked for hidden wire traps or listened for the sound of approaching footsteps through mud.
I must've been on the front lines too long, huh?
For the first time in what felt like forever, there wasn't rain soaking through my clothes or the smell of blood lingering in the air, and that somehow unsettled me more.
I found myself glancing toward rooftops without meaning to. Counting exits. Measuring distances between alleyways. Watching hands too carefully.
Old habits.
Or maybe new ones.
A cart rolled over uneven stone nearby with a loud clack, and my body stiffened instantly. My hand twitched toward the kunai pouch at my hip before my brain caught up.
…Right.
Konoha is safe, for now...
Probably.
Fuck, what's wrong with me? I hated the fact that the word 'probably' came to mind first.
Meanwhile, Yahiko and Konan looked like they'd stepped into another world entirely.
Konan stood unusually close to me, pale blue eyes wide as she quietly took everything in. Every storefront. Every civilian. Every shinobi passing by. "So many people…" she whispered.
Yahiko, meanwhile, had none of her caution.
His earlier shock and caution had already turned into excitement.
"You people just… live like this?" he asked, spinning around again. "No checkpoints every ten steps? No ruined buildings? No random explosions? Lucky bastards."
"Whoa!" Konan pointed further into the village. "What's that?"
I followed his finger toward a small skewer stall, smoke rising into the air.
"Food stand, they sell ramen."
"Ramen?" Her stomach audibly growled. Yahiko's too.
The two immediately froze.
I stared at them.
They stared at me.
"…You guys hungry already?"
"We're always hungry," Yahiko muttered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Something twisted in my chest.
Right.
War orphans.
Food wasn't a guarantee for them.
Hell, survival wasn't.
Though for who was survival guaranteed in the first place?
I sighed. "Alright. Fine." I jerked my head toward the village proper. "Come on. First lesson about Konoha."
Konan perked up instantly. "What lesson?"
I shoved my hands into my pockets and started walking. "If you're gonna live here," I said, "you need to know where the good food is. I'll get you the best ramen in town!"
Konan blinked. "You're buying us food?"
"Don't sound so shocked."
"But food costs money," she said quietly.
I stopped walking for a second.
Something about the way she said it hit harder than it should have.
Like it wasn't obvious.
Like it was rare enough to question.
"…Yeah," I muttered. "I know. I have money, don't worry. That's one thing I at least got from that mission..."
For a moment, I saw Shinichi again. Blood. Rain. A body falling into darkness. The words, his words, 'Please tell Yukino about my feelings', rang in my head. My chest tightened so suddenly it almost hurt. I stumbled and held my head. The smell of iron lingered in the back of my throat, phantom-like.
I blinked hard.
Gone.
Just memory.
Just memory.
I exhaled slowly.
The smell of grilled meat drifted through the air. Warm. Rich.
For a second, my stomach turned.
Smoke still smelled wrong these days.
Too close to burning camps.
Too close to bodies.
Damn it all. Get it together, Shirokumo!
Yahiko frowned. "You alright?"
"…Yeah."
He looked like he didn't believe me.
I looked down at Yahiko and Konan. Yahiko trying way too hard to look tough despite clearly being overwhelmed. Konan pretending she wasn't nervous while holding onto my sleeve whenever crowds got too close.
Kids.
Just kids.
The kind Shinobi were supposed to protect and not abandon.
I clenched my jaw. Maybe Minato was right. Maybe I shouldn't be on the front lines right now. Because if I went back like this… I wasn't sure what part of me would come back afterward. Plus, these two clearly need me right now.
"…Hey," I said after a while.
The two looked up at me.
"You're safe now," I said quietly. "No one's gonna hurt you here."
Yahiko looked away immediately, awkward.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "I can protect myself."
Konan, though…
Konan just looked at me for a second. Then gave the smallest nod. "…Okay."
For these two, I hoped in this timeline I could maybe... Give them a normal life.
"Now then, kids, are you ready to eat something delish?" I said, faking a smile.
"Oh! Oh! Yes!" Konan jumped up and down.
"What do you mean kids? You're only 3 years older..." Yahiko grumbled, arms hung behind his neck.
I bonked him on the head.
"HEY! What was that for?!"
"Honestly? I outrank you by three whole years. Respect your elders."
"That's not fair, Shirokumo!" Yahiko yelled at me.
"Alright, alright, to Ichiraku Ramen! My treat, you two will want to eat here for the next month straight."
...