"So cute… what a lovely little girl."
After Kiyosuke brought Haku back, Pakura couldn't help but say that when she saw the timid child.
"I'm a boy," Haku muttered.
"Huh? This adorable kid is actually a boy?" Pakura was stunned.
"So cute, of course he's a boy," Kiyosuke said.
"Did you forget the traits of the Yuki clan?"
"I wouldn't know," Pakura replied.
"People from Sunagakure rarely bother learning anything about Kirigakure. We're totally unrelated. Why would I care about their information?"
"I mean… that's kind of dumb, but fair enough," Kiyosuke admitted.
"The Yuki clan has the Ice Release kekkei genkai. Their entire lineage has these androgynous features. Now you get it?"
"Oh, I see now."
Realization dawned on Pakura, and she nodded.
"Still, shouldn't we make sure the kid's wearing more layers?"
"I'm not cold," Haku said, shaking his head.
At his age, his kekkei genkai had already awakened. A few degrees below freezing was nothing. In fact, he actually felt comfortable.
"Why is someone from the Yuki clan in this village?"
Kiyosuke explained the current situation in Kirigakure. Pakura couldn't help but scoff.
"Bunch of short-sighted idiots. What's the point of sealing off the village? It's like they think there are no enemies outside. They even purged most of their elite shinobi. Just plain stupid. How did the Fourth Mizukage even become Mizukage?"
"I'm more curious how Rasa became the Fourth Kazekage. Was it just because of that gold dust of his?"
"What else did you think?" Pakura sneered.
"After the Third Great Ninja War, the military budget and mission payments got slashed hard. Sunagakure's economy was practically being propped up by Rasa's gold dust. Without that, we would've collapsed. That's why he got elected as the Fourth Kazekage—he had backing from a lot of the elders too."
"Then why didn't you start planting trees around the oases in the Land of Wind?" Kiyosuke asked dryly.
"Ever heard the phrase 'Green mountains and clear water are as good as mountains of gold and silver?' Oases mean there's water. Planting trees there would be super efficient. Higher survival rate, less effort. Even a desert could become an oasis after a few generations of hard work."
"Too much of a time sink."
Pakura shook her head.
"Rasa would never do something like that. Neither would the daimyo of the Land of Wind."
Planting trees might be a good idea in theory, but expecting a bunch of battle-hardened warmongers to go reforest the desert? Might as well kill them.
The daimyo of the Land of Wind wouldn't die of thirst, hunger, or heat. His life was nothing but leisure. As long as nothing happened to him personally, he couldn't care less about the rest.
"Your country is hopeless," Kiyosuke said with a shake of his head.
"Get your stuff together. We're leaving. I'm taking Haku back to Konoha—you're coming with."
"Right now?"
"Exactly. No sense dragging this out. Let's go."
"Fine..."
Pakura still hadn't fully recovered. Even after putting on shoes with Kiyosuke's help, she walked very slowly.
"At this rate, you won't make it to Konoha by next year."
"What do you want me to do about it? Hey—what are you—!" Pakura yelped as Kiyosuke grabbed her hands and hoisted her onto his back. Then he picked up Haku and walked straight out of the house, leaving the village behind moments later.
"Summoning Technique!"
Once they were out of the village, Kiyosuke wasn't planning to travel on foot. He summoned a massive snake capable of carrying passengers. The three of them sat atop its head and slowly made their way toward Konoha.
...
Several days later
Konoha Main Gate
Kiyosuke walked in carrying Pakura on his back and holding Haku's hand. The boy was now dressed in fresh new clothes.
Pakura had changed her hairstyle and buried her face against Kiyosuke's back, going unrecognized. Meanwhile, Haku looked around in wide-eyed curiosity.
"Hey, you're not hoping to get intel on Sunagakure out of me, are you?"
"Huh? Intel from you guys?" Kiyosuke snorted.
"Please. What would we even do with Sunagakure intel? Even Kirigakure's information is more useful than yours."
Sunagakure was a barren wasteland. As long as they didn't come picking a fight, Konoha had little reason to bother spying on them.
Besides, sending spies into the desert was risky—they might not even come back. Easy to get lost in a desert…
Kiyosuke had gotten lost once himself and ended up running into Sasori of the Red Sand.
Pakura's face twitched in irritation, but in the end, she had to admit—he wasn't wrong.
"Let's go. First stop, Konoha Hospital."
"I think I'm already mostly healed."
"Hospital first," Kiyosuke insisted.
They arrived at Konoha Hospital and found Rin working there.
"Oh? Kiyosuke! It's been ages! What happened to your eye? If it weren't for the hair color, I would've mistaken you for Kakashi. And who's this with you?"
"Nothing serious. Just a small injury—I'll be fine. Also, I need a room. This woman's hurt."
"Alright. Come with me," Rin nodded.
She led them to a private room. Kiyosuke gently laid Pakura down on the bed. Rin stared at her face—there was something vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
It had been so many years, and Pakura had changed her hairstyle. It'd be strange if Rin had recognized her.
After checking Pakura's injuries, Rin said,
"Recovery's going well, but there are a few areas I'll need to re-treat. I'll do my best to make sure you don't scar. Also, Kiyosuke—some of the way you treated her wounds was just… wrong..."
Rin had grown into a seasoned medical ninja. From a professional standpoint, she tore into Kiyosuke like a lecture-happy instructor.
"Yes, yes, I get it. My bad. Totally my fault."
Kiyosuke nodded repeatedly, thoroughly humbled.
When she was done, Rin noticed the child peeking out from behind Kiyosuke.
"And who's this little one?"
"Ran into him during a mission. Decided to bring him back. I'm heading to see the Third to report in with him."
"I see. Got it. I've got my hands full here anyway. By the way, what's this lady's name?"
"Just call her Pakura."
"Alright then. Leave Pakura-san to me. Don't worry."
Rin, now twenty years old with long flowing hair and the grace of a goddess, smiled confidently. If Obito saw her now, he'd be drooling.
But it was best not to bring up Obito in front of Rin—she'd only worry.
"I'm heading to the bathroom real quick."
He slipped away to a secluded spot and removed his Sharingan, replacing it with his original eye. As for Shisui's Sharingan—he wasn't returning it just yet. It still had its uses.
When he returned, he said to Pakura,
"You'll stay here and rest for now. If anyone comes looking for you, just give them my name. In Konoha, I'm not afraid of anyone."
"Okay."
"Alright, alright. Kiyosuke-sama, I need to start the treatment now, so get out," Rin said, preparing to begin.
Kiyosuke gave a lazy wave and took Haku with him to the Hokage's office to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After all, Haku's status still had to be settled—and he was already six. Just the right age to enter the Ninja Academy.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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