"Black stockings?"
Pakura froze for a moment. Most kunoichi wore fishnets...
This guy's taste seemed a bit different.
But whatever. Since he wasn't willing, she wouldn't push it.
Once the initial anger passed, reason returned. She asked calmly,
"How long do you think it'll take for my injury to heal?"
"Your wounds are pretty serious. At least two months of rest, assuming you don't use medical ninjutsu. If I take you back to Konoha and get you into a hospital, recovery would be faster."
"I'm from Sunagakure," Pakura reminded him.
"Not anymore."
He reached over and removed her forehead protector, then took out the ornamental pin in her hair. Her teal hair fell free—what had been a neat bun now draped down in soft waves.
In an instant, Pakura transformed from a sharp, capable kunoichi into an elegant noble lady.
"Whoa... your hairstyle really makes a difference in your looks."
Kiyosuke stared, momentarily stunned. Honestly, with that face, there weren't many in the ninja world who could compete. Mei Terumī maybe—but when it came to figure, even Mei couldn't match Pakura.
Hey, hey, hey, what are you thinking?! You're just saving someone—nothing else!
He cleared his throat and said stiffly,
"Saving you today... it's mainly so you don't miss our date later, alright? Don't get the wrong idea. It'd be a waste for such a beautiful woman to die."
Pakura didn't say anything. She just stared at him, making his expression twitch awkwardly.
"You're way better than that bastard Rasa. Are you really from Konoha?"
Pakura fidgeted, clearly unused to wearing her hair down.
"Of course I am! I'm a man who inherited the Will of Fire!"
"The Will of Fire?"
Pakura scoffed.
"Just words to deceive ignorant ninja."
She had once believed in the Will of Sand too. And look where that got her.
If she hadn't been lucky enough to run into Kiyosuke while he was on a mission, she would've died out there.
...
While the two of them talked, the man of the house knocked on the door and called,
"Ninja-sama, we've found someone wanted by the village! Please come deal with it!"
Hmm?
Kiyosuke exchanged a glance with Pakura.
"Stay here. I'll handle it."
His face went cold as he shifted back into mission mode.
"Where? Take me there."
He shut the door behind him and followed the crowd.
The weather in the Land of Water was as awful as always. Even though it was early spring, it had been snowing lightly for days. The surroundings were blanketed in white.
His footsteps creaked in the snow as someone briefed him:
"The man's wife has already been killed. She was an outsider he brought back years ago. Very gentle. No one would've guessed... she turned out to be someone on the village's wanted list."
"She's dead? What about now?"
"He's going after their child!"
"... this guy's lost his mind."
Kiyosuke shook his head.
Seems like Karatachi Yagura's propaganda was working well—painting all kekkei genkai users as demons, and threatening collective punishment for those who didn't report them. Under such cruel policies, people like this were becoming all too common.
You had to admit, the Terumī clan was impressive. They had survived despite it all. Now that Yagura had returned to his senses, they likely wouldn't face any further trouble.
"Do you know which clan they're from?"
"No idea, but I heard the child can control ice."
Oh, in that case—it must be the Yuki Clan. Wait, if it's the Yuki Clan...
"Take me there, now!"
"Yes! It's just up ahead—in that yard!"
Ahead stood a small house surrounded by a low wooden fence. A crowd had gathered in the snowy courtyard.
"Tch... my luck's been too good these past few days," he muttered and leapt into the yard.
"Move, move! Out of the way! I'll handle this!"
He shoved through the crowd and entered the house.
It was a poor household, barely any proper furniture. Inside, a man stood with a wooden stick raised, tears streaming down his face. In the corner, a long-haired little girl was curled up, trembling uncontrollably. Her wide eyes were filled with terror—for her own father.
"I'm sorry, Haku, I'm sorry! If only you weren't the child of those ninja... none of this would have happened..."
The man kept apologizing, his body shaking as he raised the stick again. Just as it was about to come down, Kiyosuke caught it mid-swing.
His brows furrowed—not from the pain, but from the blood on the wood.
"Who are you? Ah—Ninja-sama!"
Noticing the Kirigakure forehead protector on Kiyosuke's head, the man paled and quickly let go, bowing deeply.
"Ninja-sama, I've already started dealing with it! Please don't punish the village!"
"I'm taking the child with me."
Kiyosuke didn't scold the man. He only felt that Kirigakure, if it continued like this, was finished.
Not that it had anything to do with him.
"Get out."
"But..."
"I said get out. You didn't hear me?"
"Y-Yes! Yes!"
The man panicked and rushed out.
"You all, get out too!"
The onlookers fled. Kiyosuke sighed and crouched down in front of Haku.
"Haku?"
She nodded timidly, eyes full of fear.
"A-Are you... the ninja Mama told me about?"
"Yeah."
Looking into her eyes, Kiyosuke felt a pang in his chest. That gaze... it was just too...
"Did you come to kill me?"
"No. Do you want to come with me? No one will bully you. No one will treat you like a monster. If you want to, stand up and come with me."
There was no way he'd hand Haku over to Kirigakure. Even if Karatachi Yagura had regained his senses, he still harbored prejudice against kekkei genkai users—like those three major clans.
Sending Haku back would only hurt her. Far better to take her to Konoha and raise her properly.
"R-Really?"
She looked up at him, trembling.
Her father's violence had left a deep scar. She had watched him kill her mother, then turn on her. If not for this man, she'd be dead already.
"Of course. And I'm not even from Kirigakure, you know."
"Huh?"
She blinked in confusion.
Kiyosuke gave her a warm smile.
"I'll show you my true face someday. So, want to come with me? I'll take you somewhere nice. Sound good?"
He reached out his hand—just like Orochimaru had once done to him.
"Mhm."
Haku nodded firmly and placed her small, cold hand in his warm, strong palm.
"Then let's go. First, we'll get you some new clothes. Your family's so poor... aren't you cold, wearing so little?"
Looking at the thin, ragged shirt she had on, Kiyosuke couldn't help but ask.
"I'm not cold."
"Oh, right. You're from the Yuki Clan. Naturally resistant to cold."
"Ninja-sama... what's the Yuki Clan?"
"It's just a name. And also—call me Kiyosuke. Don't use 'sama.'"
"Okay. Got it, Kiyosuke-sama."
"Sigh. You..."
"Kiyosuke-sama, where are we going?"
"To a village called Konoha."
"No one will bully me there?"
"Nope. I'll protect you."
"Then I'll go."
A tall figure and a small one walked slowly through the wind and snow...