The village's backlog of work had finally been sorted out. Although the aftermath of the war was still unfolding, everything had gradually returned to the right track.
Now that he finally had some free time, Chiya remembered the new town that had been growing more prosperous near Konoha.
Rōran Town.
He did not make a grand entrance.
Instead, he only brought Mei Terumi, whom he had brought back from Kirigakure in the Land of Water.
The young woman remained quiet throughout the journey. However, her emerald-green eyes occasionally drifted toward his back, her expression complicated.
There was stubborn unwillingness to submit, but also a faint longing for overwhelming strength that even she had not noticed herself, along with the uneasiness of being in a foreign land.
She had been taken away from the familiar Kirigakure by force and brought into Konoha's sphere of influence.
Although she had not been mistreated and even had a fair amount of freedom, this identity of being someone's possession left her holding back a constant sense of frustration.
Rōran Town had expanded considerably since Chiya's last visit.
Thanks to its unique location, it was close to Konoha while remaining relatively independent.
Combined with Sara's open-minded governance and the regular patrols of the Uchiha Police Force and the ANBU, the town had attracted merchants and refugees from all directions.
The streets were bustling with people, different accents filled the air, and the entire place was full of life.
Not long after entering the town, a commotion caught Chiya's attention.
At the corner ahead, a small crowd had gathered.
In the middle of the crowd stood a tall woman dressed in the distinctive clothing of the Land of Wind, with her smooth, beautiful back exposed to the air.
She had one hand twisting the arm of a skinny man in ragged clothes while pointing at him with the other, sternly scolding him.
Beside her stood a younger kunoichi, helping keep the curious onlookers back.
The two women were Pakura and her disciple, Maki.
"In Rōran Town, no one will look down on you for making a living through honest work, but stealing and ruining the town's atmosphere will never be tolerated!"
Pakura's voice carried the slightly husky tone unique to Sand shinobi.
Even while scolding someone, she still possessed a unique charm.
The thief grimaced in pain as she twisted his arm and repeatedly begged for mercy.
Without slowing his pace, Chiya walked straight over.
Mei silently followed half a step behind him.
Someone in the crowd recognized Chiya and immediately gasped in surprise.
The people instinctively moved aside, opening a path for him.
A person's reputation was like the shadow of a great tree.
Uchiha Chiya's name had already spread throughout the ninja world, and in this town near Konoha, it was even more famous.
Pakura also noticed the unusual reaction behind her and stopped scolding the thief before turning around.
The moment she saw Chiya, the cold expression on her face melted away like snow beneath the desert sun.
A bright and joyful smile bloomed across her face, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Chiya!"
She called out almost instinctively, unable to hide the joy in her voice.
She casually pushed the thief toward her disciple.
"Take him to Konoha. Deal with him according to the rules."
"Yes, Teacher Pakura!"
Maki quickly accepted the order, secretly stealing a curious and respectful glance at Chiya before hurrying away with the thief.
Pakura quickly walked over to Chiya.
A radiant smile filled her face as her eyes carefully looked him over, as though making sure he was completely unharmed.
"What brings you here so suddenly? Have you already finished handling everything in the village?"
"More or less."
Chiya nodded as he looked at her healthy complexion and the relaxed expression she now wore.
"It seems you're doing well here."
His gaze swept over the dispersing crowd and the increasingly developed buildings in the distance.
"It's wonderful here. It's peaceful, and it's free."
Pakura smiled with genuine satisfaction.
"Sara manages this place very well. Everyone comes from different places, so there aren't many deeply rooted grudges. It's much easier for everyone to get along."
Looking at her, Chiya suddenly said, "The war is over now. If you return to the Uchiha Clan with me, there won't be any more problems."
He knew that Pakura had chosen to remain in Rōran largely because her identity as Sunagakure's hero had been too sensitive during the war.
Living in Konoha's core district had not been suitable for either side.
Hearing this, a trace of longing and tenderness flashed through Pakura's eyes.
However, she still shook her head with a gentle yet helpless smile.
"No, Chiya. I know you're thinking of me, but... the war ending doesn't mean hatred has disappeared. Too much blood has been shed between Sunagakure and Konoha."
"After all, I am still a Sand shinobi. I was even... once considered a hero."
"If I suddenly moved into the Uchiha Clan and lived there permanently, it might create unnecessary trouble for you, the Uchiha, and even the fragile peace that has only just been established between Konoha and Sunagakure."
She paused before continuing in a softer voice.
"I'm really happy here. Sara has given me the position of security advisor, so I can still contribute without attracting too much attention."
"As long as... I get to see you once in a while, I'm already satisfied."
Her words were honest and clear.
She understood reality well and was genuinely thinking about Chiya's position.
After hearing Sara's name, Chiya asked, "Speaking of which, I went to Sara's place earlier, but she wasn't there. Has she been busy lately?"
At that, Pakura's smile became slightly playful.
"Our Queen has recently found a brand-new goal in life."
"For some reason, she's become fascinated with medical books. She's always carrying around thick volumes and studying them, and she's even been learning from the town's old doctor."
"Recently, she even set up a small clinic at the east side of town and has been treating villagers and travelers for free."
"Sara? Studying medicine? Treating patients?"
Even Chiya was genuinely surprised.
The Queen of Rōran who had once needed his protection, gentle yet strong, had actually chosen this path.
The change was completely unexpected.
"That's right."
Pakura laughed.
"At first everyone thought it was strange, but she studies seriously and has a wonderful attitude. Little by little, she really has cured quite a few minor illnesses."
"Now she's become rather popular around here."
"If you're looking for her, she's probably still at her free clinic."
As she spoke, she naturally stepped aside.
"Come on. I'll take you there."
"Maki should finish dealing with that thief soon and probably head there to help as well."
Chiya nodded.
Together with Mei, he followed Pakura toward the eastern part of town.
Throughout the journey, Mei quietly walked behind them.
Her emerald eyes carefully observed Pakura and this lively little town.
Her understanding of Uchiha Chiya became even more complicated.
This man always seemed to have remarkable women around him who sincerely cared about him.
Not long afterward, they arrived at a spacious street corner where a simple shelter had been built.
Beneath it stood a table and several benches.
Several villagers waited patiently in line for treatment.
Inside the shelter, a beautiful woman wearing a simple light-purple dress with her hair elegantly tied up was carefully examining the arm of an elderly farmer.
Her gentle temperament now carried an undeniable strength.
She was Sara.
She had changed greatly.
Much of her youthful innocence had faded, replaced by maturity and calmness.
The eyes that had once been filled with worry now shone with the joy of learning and helping others.
However, what caught Chiya's attention even more was the woman quietly standing beside Sara.
She skillfully organized medicinal herbs and handed over medical tools.
She had a tall figure and wore a simple dark-blue outfit that highlighted her graceful curves.
Her long light-brown hair was braided down to her waist.
Her expression remained distant and somewhat difficult to approach, yet whenever she looked at Sara or the patients, every movement she made was careful and considerate.
It was Yugito Nii.
The female shinobi whom Chiya had brought back from Kumogakure, the former jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, Matatabi, who had always been sensitive, understanding, and honest with her feelings.
Now she was quietly helping Sara with these ordinary tasks.
Everything somehow felt perfectly harmonious.
As if sensing a familiar chakra approaching, Yugito suddenly looked up.
Her eyes instantly locked onto Chiya.
A violent ripple passed through her gaze.
Her normally cold expression almost collapsed as she instinctively straightened her body.
The hand holding the medicinal herbs tightened unconsciously.
Surprise, conflicted emotions, a trace of shyness that she could not hide, and the feelings buried deep within her eyes all flashed by in an instant.
Her gaze then briefly landed on Mei Terumi standing behind Chiya.
Sara also noticed Yugito's unusual reaction and the sudden silence around them.
She looked up and followed Yugito's line of sight.
The moment she saw Chiya, she froze briefly.
Then an incomparably joyful and gentle smile bloomed across her face like a rare flower in full bloom.
"Chiya!"
She immediately put down what she was holding.
Without even thinking about the patients still waiting, she hurried out from beneath the shelter.
Her dress brushed lightly across the ground, stirring up a little dust.
"When did you come?"
Her voice overflowed with joy.
Her cheeks flushed from excitement as she gazed at Chiya with unconcealed admiration and longing.
Yugito also walked over, stopping half a step behind Sara.
She lowered her eyes slightly before softly greeting him.
"Chiya..."
Her voice sounded somewhat stiff, as though she still wasn't used to expressing herself in public.
Looking at these two women with completely different personalities, then at the little free clinic behind them that carried such meaningful purpose, Chiya smiled faintly.
"It seems that while I was away, you've managed this place quite well."
His gaze swept over Sara and Yugito before returning to Sara.
"I heard you've started studying medicine."
Sara smiled shyly.
Her hands unconsciously clasped together, though she tried to remain composed.
"Yes... I just felt that I couldn't keep relying on your protection forever."
"The people of Rōran deserve peaceful and happy lives."
"I also want to do something for them and for anyone who needs help."
"Healing people feels like something truly meaningful."
Her eyes were firm and clear.
Finding a new purpose in life had filled her entire being with renewed brilliance.
"Very good."
Chiya nodded in approval before looking toward Yugito.
"And you? Have you gotten used to life here?"
Yugito raised her head and met his eyes before quickly looking away again.
Her voice was still somewhat awkward, but her answer was unexpected.
"It's... it's alright."
"Sara... can't handle everything by herself, and I didn't really have anything else to do."
Pakura watched from the side and couldn't help covering her mouth with a light laugh.
She had clearly become familiar with Yugito's awkward personality.
Standing behind them, Mei silently watched everything unfold.
The strange feeling and curiosity in her heart only grew stronger.
What kind of person was this man?
Looking at the women gathered here in Rōran Town, Chiya saw that each of them had either changed their fate because of him or found a brand-new path because of him.
Between them, a subtle yet harmonious relationship had quietly formed.
After the rain, sunlight finally broke through the clouds.
It shone upon the streets of the town and upon the women themselves.
Warm and bright.
Rōran, the town that had been reborn because of him, seemed to be becoming the new home and new beginning for all of them.
"Nothing is happening in the village today, and the weather is perfect."
"Let's all get together and have lunch."
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