Ebizo stood at the doorstep of his older sister Chiyo's house. He stood there for a long time, not daring to raise his hand and knock. He didn't dare to look into his sister's eyes.
How was he supposed to tell his sister the news about Chizuru and Akasuna?
However, some things Ebizo couldn't avoid doing, no matter how much he wished to.
Ebizo took a deep breath and raised his hand. As his hand moved to knock on the door, it suddenly opened from the inside.
Chiyo's figure appeared behind the door. She glanced at her brother, whose hand was raised to knock, and asked in confusion, "Ebizo? What are you doing here?"
Ebizo opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Seeing him act like this, Chiyo knew something big had happened.
She glanced at Sasori, who was playing in the living room, then stepped outside and closed the door.
She stood in front of Ebizo, her expression serious. "What happened?"
Ebizo smiled bitterly. As expected of his sister, he had nowhere to hide from her.
"It's about Akasuna and Chizuru…" Ebizo looked at Chiyo hesitantly.
Chiyo's face was expressionless, but her heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand.
She forced herself to remain composed and asked, "What happened to Akasuna and Chizuru?"
If one listened carefully, they would notice a slight tremor in Chiyo's voice.
Ebizo's nerves were taut, as if an invisible mountain weighed upon him. He opened his mouth several times but couldn't utter a word.
Chiyo waited patiently for him, without urging, but only she herself knew how much pain and suffering she was enduring.
"Chizuru is dead." Ebizo finally spoke.
Chiyo's body swayed, but before Ebizo could reach out to support her, she steadied herself and asked, "Then, what about Akasuna?"
Chiyo's lips trembled as she stared intently at Ebizo.
"Akasuna… severely injured…" Ebizo lowered his head, avoiding Chiyo's gaze.
Chiyo staggered a few steps and leaned against the door. Her vision blurred intermittently.
Chizuru, Akasuna…
Chiyo's eyes reddened, her pupils like burning coals, and a hateful light gathered in her gaze.
"Who was it?!"
She grabbed Ebizo's shoulders and asked, "Who killed Chizuru? Who severely injured Akasuna?"
Ebizo's shoulders ached from her grip, but he dared not make a sound.
"It was Konoha White Fang." Ebizo said, word by word.
Did he not hate him?
How could he not?!
Chizuru and Akasuna were his family too. Akasuna was a child he had watched grow up.
"Konoha White Fang!"
Chiyo wished she could chew that name to pieces. She stared fixedly ahead, as if she could already see Konoha White Fang's figure.
She suddenly took a step, heading towards the Kazekage's office.
Ebizo understood Chiyo, he immediately realized what she intended to do.
"Sister!" Ebizo blocked Chiyo's path.
"Get out of the way!" Chiyo shouted sharply, her eyes bloodshot.
"Sister, what about Sasori?" Ebizo pleaded tremblingly, his eyes filled with tears.
Chiyo was instantly rooted to the spot, as if nailed there.
Sasori…
That name jolted her out of her hatred.
Yes!
There's also Sasori.
Chiyo turned and looked towards the doorway. The door had opened at some point, and Sasori stood in the doorway, holding a small puppet. That was something Akasuna had helped Sasori make by hand the last time he returned. Sasori adored it and wouldn't even let go of it when he slept.
Sasori stood at the door, staring blankly at Chiyo. He didn't understand what was wrong with his grandmother.
"Sasori…"
Chiyo's body trembled as she walked towards Sasori.
"Grandma, what's wrong? When are daddy and mommy coming back?" Sasori asked, holding the small puppet and looking up.
His face was filled with longing for his parents.
Chiyo was speechless.
Was she supposed to tell Sasori that Chizuru was dead? And that Akasuna was severely injured?
She couldn't bring herself to say it.
"They'll be back when the war ends." Chiyo hugged Sasori's small body, forcing back her tears.
"Really?" Sasori's voice held excitement.
"Then the war needs to end quickly. I miss daddy and mommy."
Sasori's voice dropped. He lowered his head, fiddling with the puppet in his hands.
Chiyo gazed at the sky, tears quickly sliding from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into the hair at her temples.
…
Land of Grass.
Sunagakure camp.
Akasuna opened his eyes. His pupils rotated, and a smile spread across his lips. He got up from the sickbed and found that the wound on his chest had already been bandaged.
Two eerie bright points flickered in Akasuna's pupils. His hand rested on his chest.
That was a close call.
If not for Chizuru blocking the fatal blow for him, perhaps he would already be dead. Oh, no, more precisely, "Akasuna" would already be dead. Kenjaku, of course, wouldn't die.
"That body is really good."
Akasuna recalled Sakumo's body.
To be able to train swordsmanship to that extent.
Truly astonishing!
Akasuna got out of the sickbed and pulled open the thick curtain of the tent.
"Akasuna-sama!"
Seeing Akasuna, a medical ninja quickly ran over. "You can't get out of bed yet."
Akasuna looked at the medical ninja, the smile on his face completely gone, replaced by unease. "Where is Chizuru?"
The medical ninja immediately fell silent. Not a word was spoken.
Akasuna shook off the medical ninja's hand, which was supporting him, and forced himself to stand up.
"I want to see Chizuru."
The medical ninja knew he couldn't stop him, so he agreed to take him, provided they walked slowly. After all, Akasuna's injuries were too severe.
Supported by the medical ninja, Akasuna arrived at a small, separate tent.
"Akasuna-sama, Chizuru-sama is inside." The medical ninja said in a low voice.
"You can go. I want to see her alone." Akasuna glanced at the medical ninja.
The medical ninja pursed his lips. The war had just concluded, and the camp was full of injured ninjas, he couldn't delay for too long.
"Yes."
After the medical ninja left, Akasuna entered the tent. There was only one bed inside, and the person on it was covered with a white cloth.
Akasuna stepped forward and lifted the white cloth, revealing Chizuru's bloodless face. He gently caressed Chizuru's cheek, his lips slowly curving into a smile.
"Good child." Akasuna's tone carried appreciation.
"Don't worry, I won't give up on you." He patted Chizuru's cheek.
If cursed spirits could be experimented on, then ninjas could also be experimented on. His favorite thing to do was experiments.
(End of Chapter)
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