"I'll save you, just don't die on me."
Kiyosuke quickly used medical ninjutsu to stop the bleeding.
He took out a pill and shoved it into the woman's mouth. They were already quite far from Kirigakure—better to head for the nearest village instead.
He carried the woman in his arms and left, continuously applying medical ninjutsu to keep her alive.
"Hey, I really can't tell if your luck is good or bad. Don't die on me, you still owe me a date,"
Kiyosuke muttered while holding Pakura. He didn't have time to question why she was even here—this wasn't the moment for that.
Although the wound had been stitched, she'd lost a lot of blood. Combined with the severity of the injury, they needed to find somewhere to treat her—fast.
Up ahead, a tiny village came into view. A gust of cold wind swept past, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
"You've got to be kidding me... snow? In early spring?"
No time to complain. He entered the village, kicked open the door of the first house he saw, and barked,
"I'm a ninja from Kirigakure. I'm taking over your house for now. Get me hot water and strong liquor."
Without waiting for a response, he carried Pakura inside and then stepped back out.
"I need hot water, clean clothes, and towels right now. What are you standing around for? Move!"
He tossed his wallet from his chest and smacked it right into the homeowner's face.
"That's all yours. I'm not making you work for free."
"Y-yes, of course!" the homeowner stammered as he grabbed the wallet and quickly rushed off.
Kiyosuke went back to working on Pakura's bleeding. The wound from the kunai was deep—bad enough that it had pierced her heart.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A snake appeared in a puff of smoke. At Kiyosuke's command, it bit down on Pakura's neck.
Just a tiny bit of venom.
Slowly, the bleeding stopped. Even the wound began to scab over.
The snake's venom contained clotting agents that would rapidly coagulate blood—eventually turning it into a jelly-like consistency. In small doses, it served as an effective coagulant.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Another snake appeared and bit down as well.
This one delivered a numbing toxin, ensuring Pakura lost all sensation. Even though she was unconscious, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Hot water's here!"
Someone hurriedly brought in towels, clothes, and water. Kiyosuke nodded.
"Thanks. Close the door on your way out."
"O-of course!"
Once the door shut, Kiyosuke pulled out surgical thread and a needle.
"You're lucky. Back in the day, I did my fair share of human dissection. Stitching up wounds like this is nothing."
He had studied basic anatomy while helping Orochimaru with experiments—suturing wasn't an issue.
He disinfected the tools with liquor and got to work.
Using a soaked towel, he cleaned the wounds. Then came more liquor for disinfection, followed by stitching. He focused only on the severe injuries. The deepest ones wouldn't heal quickly even if stitched, and the shallow ones would heal on their own.
"A pretty back like this... all scarred up now. Talk about bad luck."
He shook his head. It had been years, and Pakura's figure had only grown more alluring. The backless outfit she wore now revealed a sight that was hard to look at—covered in wounds.
He felt her forehead.
Good. No fever. That would've made things much harder.
Medical chakra once again glowed from his palm as he helped Pakura's body recover faster.
If she hadn't run into him, she might have bled out—or been finished off by that Kirigakure ninja. Whatever mission she was on, she had come all the way to Kirigakure to die.
After working through the entire night, Kiyosuke finally stretched and stepped outside the room.
The sky had just begun to brighten. Who knew what was going on back in Kirigakure—but it didn't matter. Mei Terumī would handle it.
Who knew how long Karatachi Yagura would cling to power? If he kept pushing his "Bloody Mist" policies, it was only a matter of time before someone assassinated him.
"Ninja-sama, we've prepared some breakfast. Would you like some?"
The homeowner was a middle-aged couple, standing nervously and doing their best not to offend him.
"No need. I'm just borrowing your room. Once my companion wakes up, we'll be on our way."
Good thing he was still using his Kirigakure disguise—it wouldn't raise suspicion.
"O-of course."
The couple left. Kiyosuke returned to the room to rest. By noon, he went to a small diner in the village to buy food.
At first, the couple was terrified of him. But after realizing they couldn't even spot his shadow, they gradually relaxed.
...
On the third night, Pakura finally woke up. The room was lit with warm light. Her voice was weak.
"Water... water..."
Kiyosuke walked over, poured her a cup of cold water, then warmed it with chakra flame. He lifted her up and helped her drink.
Gulp gulp gulp!
She downed it in one go, then coughed a few times. Only then did she start surveying her surroundings—an unfamiliar room, an unfamiliar bed... an unfamiliar man...
Wait, his forehead protector!
Kirigakure!
The memories of being ambushed by Kirigakure ninja that night came rushing back. Rage surged within her. Without thinking, she grabbed the pillow and slammed it into Kiyosuke's head.
"The hell?!"
"Kirigakure scum—go die! Ngh!"
Her movements pulled at her wound, and she gasped in pain. Still, she endured it and reached for Kiyosuke's throat to choke him.
"Whoa whoa whoa—stop! Stop! It's me! Pakura!"
He frantically spoke in his real voice.
But Pakura couldn't hear a thing. All she wanted was to kill this Kirigakure ninja!
Kiyosuke's body burst into flames as he escaped her grasp, dispelling the Transformation Jutsu. He stood in front of her and grabbed her wrists.
"It's me! Asakawa Kiyosuke! Calm down! You're safe now!"
"Asa... kawa?!"
She stared at the man in front of her, dumbfounded, grabbing the collar of his shirt and refusing to let go.
"Why are you here?!"
"I was on a mission in Kirigakure. What about you? I came back from a quick loop around the village and found you knocked out by a Kirigakure chūnin. You were stabbed with a kunai, for crying out loud. You're a jōnin with a kekkei genkai—how'd you let that happen?"
"I..."
Pakura's mind was a mess. Then her expression twisted with rage as she gritted her teeth.
"Rasa—the Fourth Kazekage! He's the one who sent me to Kirigakure to die! That bastard! He used me as a sacrificial pawn!"
Being betrayed by her village—treated like disposable trash—was unbearable.
She had devoted everything to Sunagakure, and this was how they repaid her?
She collapsed against his chest, clutching his clothes tightly, her body trembling.
Bit by bit, Kiyosuke felt his chest growing damp.
Pakura's soft sobs turned into full-blown wailing. The strong, proud woman finally broke down when she realized she'd been betrayed by the very village she had given everything for.
At that moment, she had never seemed more fragile.