The streets of Konoha still bore the scars of the night before. Crumbled walls and shattered tiles lined the roadside, while villagers moved quietly, repairing what they could. The air carried a faint smell of smoke and dust, mixing with the scent of antiseptics wafting from the hospital ahead.
Through the bustle, Teuchi walked steadily, his large hand wrapped protectively around Ayame's smaller one.
"Ayame," he said, his tone gentle but firm, "If we find Renji later in the hospital, be more polite. He's probably hurt right now, so let him rest as much as possible."
Ayame tilted her head up at him, eyes sparkling with mischievous energy. "Hehe, don't worry, Dad! I'll be the best on my best behaviour!"
Teuchi exhaled a long sigh, already resigned to that cheeky smile. "Just… at the very least, don't start a fight with him. You'll only end up hurting him more."
"Okay!" she answered brightly, this time with a little more conviction.
After arriving at the hospital, Teuchi asked a nurse for Renji's whereabouts. They were quickly directed down a crowded hallway, Ayame's usual chatter fading into silence. Surrounded by rows of bandaged villagers and groaning patients, even her mischievous spark couldn't hold up against the heavy weight of the scene.
She glanced at the wounded, then clutched her father's hand tighter. Worry for Renji pressed against her chest until her steps grew quicker, almost pulling Teuchi along.
Renji had been their neighbor for as long as she could remember. Whenever Teuchi left to fetch supplies, it was Renji who watched over her—kind, steady, and dependable. He wasn't just a neighbor; he was family.
But though her father had told her Renji may be in the hospital, the concept hadn't sunk in until now. Seeing so many injured faces, the thought of Renji lying among them hit her all at once.
"He'll be alright. Don't worry," Teuchi said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
At least, that was what he wanted to believe.
In truth, Teuchi's own heart was unsettled. Their luck had been uncanny—they had gone to Ayame's late mother's hometown for a short trip and had only just returned. The devastation they found upon arriving back in Konoha had left him shocked and deeply worried. They hadn't even gone home properly, stopping only long enough to check Renji's house before hurrying straight to the hospital.
The nurse's directions led them to a quiet ward tucked near the end of the hall. Finally, they stopped before a sliding door. Teuchi slid it open gently, careful not to disturb anyone inside.
Rows of beds stretched along the room, most occupied by wounded shinobi and civilians wrapped in layers of bandages. The scent of medicine hung thick in the air.
Near the middle, they spotted him.
Renji lay on his back, his head swathed in bandages. Though his face was pale, the steady rise and fall of his chest was proof enough that he was alive.
Ayame froze in the doorway, her hand trembling in Teuchi's grip.
For the first time in her young life, she had to see Renji—her dependable older brother figure—not smiling, not watching over her, but lying helpless in a hospital bed.
Renji stirred, the faintest sense of presence tugging him out of uneasy sleep. His eyelids felt heavy, but with effort, he forced them open. He blinked the haze away.
Two figures were approaching his bed.
One was a tall man with a kind, weathered face, broad shoulders of someone used to hard work. Beside him clung a small girl with brown twin braids, her hand wrapped tightly around his, eyes wide and trembling as she looked at him.
Renji immediately recognized them!
'Wait… that's Teuchi. And the little girl—that has to be Ayame.'
The names surfaced not from this body's memories, but from the anime. The gentle ramen shop owner who would someday serve bowls of comfort to countless shinobi. And his bright, lively daughter, who would someday grow up to run Ichiraku's alongside him.
Teuchi stepped forward and reached out, placing a gentle hand on Renji's shoulder. The sudden touch startled him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He jerked slightly, and Teuchi's brows lifted in surprise—but he didn't press the matter.
"How are you feeling, Renji? Are you hungry? We brought some dango."
He set down the small package he had been carrying onto the table beside the bed. A weary sigh escaped him. "We were very worried about you… especially seeing the state of the village."
Renji nodded slowly, hesitantly. "I'm sorry… You look really familiar, but I don't remember anything. Do we… know each other well?"
Teuchi froze.
Before the silence grew heavy, Ayame puffed out her cheeks, her voice rising in protest. "Jerk! Don't try to prank my dad! He was really worried about you, you know? Keep it up and I'm going to eat all your dango!"
She crossed her arms with a loud huff, pouting in indignation.
Teuchi blinked, then glanced at Renji's bandaged head. Understanding dawned in his eyes. His expression softened, and he let out a laugh—light, almost forced. "Haha, that's a good one, Renji!"
Turning quickly to Ayame, he said, "Ayame, I almost forgot. Can you run and ask that nice nurse from earlier when Renji might be allowed to leave for home?"
"Sure, Dad!" Ayame stuck her tongue out at Renji before sprinting out of the room, her small footsteps fading down the hall.
Once she was gone, Teuchi's smile dimmed. His expression turned solemn as he looked back at Renji. "Did you… lose your memories?"
Renji lowered his gaze, guilt flickering across his face. "I'm sorry. I really don't remember."
It wasn't technically a lie. He had no memories of this life.
Teuchi sighed softly, then patted his shoulder with reassuring warmth. "It's alright. You don't need to apologize."
He paused before continuing. "We've been neighbors for a long time. Ever since I opened my ramen shop, your parents helped me out a lot. But when you were ten… they were killed by bandits on a trip outside the village. Since then, I've been looking after you, and you've helped me raise Ayame. She's always been close to you—almost like a little sister."
Renji nodded slowly. "I see… Thank you for looking after me."
Teuchi shook his head firmly. "Don't worry about it. We're family."
Relief washed through Renji. Finally, some fragments of his past—this body's past—were no longer a mystery. And Teuchi… Teuchi seemed like an understanding, reliable man.
Still, Teuchi's brows furrowed as if weighing something heavy in his heart. "Renji… I have a favor to ask. Please don't tell Ayame about your memory loss. Not yet. I don't think she could handle it well. You mean a lot to her, and I'll ease her into it slowly. I'm sorry for asking this when you're already hurt."
Renji shook his head. "Don't worry, Teuchi-san. Ayame seems like a good girl. I wouldn't want to hurt her either."
Teuchi's shoulders relaxed, gratitude flickering in his eyes. "Thank you." He straightened, forcing a smile back onto his face. "Now then—hope you're hungry! Have some dango."
Renji accepted the skewers and began to eat, the sweetness feeling pleasant.
A short while later, he felt two presences at the door. Looking there, the door slid open again. Ayame returned, along with a nurse.