Saiki opened his eyes just as the sky began to turn grey.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting pale ribbons across the room.
Nono'u was still curled against him, lost in a heavy sleep.
Her breathing was rhythmic, her warm breath ghosting over his chest, one hand draped unconsciously over his waist.
Saiki moved with liquid silence, easing her hand away and slipping out of bed.
Nono'u frowned in her sleep, letting out a soft mumble as she rolled over to claim his side of the mattress.
Saiki dressed, leaned down to press a soft kiss to her forehead, and vanished from the room.
The orphanage kitchen was silent; the children hadn't stirred yet.
Saiki began to prepare breakfast with practiced ease—simmering porridge, frying eggs, and preparing side dishes.
He had bought the ingredients from the market the night before.
The porridge bubbled in the pot, the scent of rice filling the air.
He stood by the stove, watching the sky brighten, his heart at peace.
An hour later, when Nono'u woke up, the aroma of food had already drifted into her room.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes, only to find the spot beside her cold.
"Saiki?" she called out.
Silence.
She threw on her robes and walked into the living room.
A simple breakfast was waiting on the table: a bowl of steaming white porridge, a plate of eggs, a dish of pickles, and a warm glass of milk.
A note was pinned under the plate.
She picked it up. It was Saiki's familiar handwriting:
"Sister Director, eat the breakfast while it's hot. I'm gone. Wait for me to come home. —Saiki"
The writing was neat, but the strokes carried the weight of his reluctance to leave.
Nono'u sat down and took a spoonful of the porridge.
It was thick and the rice was soft—exactly the way she liked it.
She ate in small bites, her eyes beginning to sting.
After finishing, she cleaned the dishes and walked to the window.
The courtyard was bathed in dawn light, the children were still asleep, and everything was still.
She gently touched her stomach, where the heat of the previous night still seemed to linger.
"Come back safe..." she whispered to the empty room.
At the same time, Saiki was standing outside Kushina's home.
The sun was barely up, and the streets were vacant.
He carried a tiered food box containing a second breakfast he had prepared in the orphanage—identical to Nono'u's.
He didn't knock; he used his spare key and let himself in.
The house was quiet. Kushina was still out cold.
Saiki placed the box on the table and pulled out a second note.
He drew a simple heart on the paper and wrote:
"Sensei Kushina, remember to eat. I'm sorry about last night. When I get back from the front, I'll make it up to you properly. —Saiki"
He stood by the bedroom door and peeked through the crack.
Kushina was hugging a pillow, her red hair a mess on the sheets, her lips pouted as if she were in the middle of a dream-argument.
Saiki smiled, closed the door, and left.
When he returned to Tsunade's estate, Shizune was already in the yard watering the medicinal herbs.
"Lord Saiki!" Her eyes lit up. "You're back!"
"Mm." Saiki walked over and ruffled her hair. "Watering the plants?"
"They're herbs, Lord Saiki," Shizune corrected him. "Lady Tsunade says we need a surplus since there are so many casualties lately."
Saiki nodded and followed her into the kitchen.
Shizune began prepping ingredients, and Saiki naturally tied on an apron and took over as the chef.
The two worked in perfect harmony, one chopping and one cooking.
"Lord Saiki," Shizune whispered while washing vegetables, "Lady Tsunade waited for you until very late last night."
Saiki's hand paused. "Is she angry?"
"I think... maybe a little." Shizune stole a look at him. "She barely spoke during dinner."
Saiki let out a bitter laugh. I should have known.
Just then, the bedroom door opened.
Tsunade walked out in her sleepwear, her hair messy and her eyes heavy with sleep.
When she saw Saiki in the kitchen, she froze, then immediately turned her head and marched toward the bathroom.
"Morning, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune chirped.
"Mm," Tsunade grunted, not looking back.
Saiki and Shizune exchanged a look. Shizune stuck her tongue out.
By the time Tsunade emerged, washed and dressed in her green haori, breakfast was ready.
She sat at the table and began to eat in silence, refusing to even glance at Saiki.
The atmosphere was agonizingly awkward.
Shizune ate her food with extreme care, her eyes darting between the two of them.
"About last night..." Saiki started.
"Eat," Tsunade interrupted, her voice a sheet of ice.
Saiki shut his mouth.
The meal ended in total silence.
Tsunade set down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and prepared to leave for the office.
"Tsunade," Saiki called out.
She stopped but didn't turn around.
"I'm heading to the Kumogakure front today," Saiki said.
The sentence was like a spell. Tsunade whipped around. "What? Today?!"
"The war can't wait." Saiki walked up to her. "The pressure from the Cloud is immense, isn't it? Jiraiya can't hold that line alone forever."
Tsunade looked at him, her coldness evaporating into a look of deep worry. "But... you just got back. You haven't rested..."
"I've rested enough." Saiki took her hand. "Two years in Shikkotsu Forest was more than enough sleep."
He lowered his voice. "I don't want to see you struggle like this anymore. Let me handle it."
The anger of the night melted away. The words acted like a key to her heart's final defense.
Her eyes welled up instantly. She tried to speak, but her voice failed her.
Saiki reached out and wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye. "Don't cry. I'll be back before you know it."
"Who's crying?!" Tsunade snapped her head away, sounding like a flustered girl despite her tears. "You... you have to be careful. The Cloud is not the Stone. Their Lightning Style and Taijutsu are elite, and then there's the..."
"I know," Saiki interrupted. "I saw the reports in your office the other day. I understand the situation."
In truth, he didn't need the reports.
With his current strength, he had crushed a shadow of Madara Uchiha. The Hidden Cloud, no matter how strong, was just a hurdle to be flattened.
But he couldn't say that.
He let her lecture him, soaking in her concern and the warmth of her presence.
"I'll be careful," he promised.
Tsunade bit her lip and finally lunged into his arms, holding him with a desperate strength. "You better come back alive. We... we're all waiting for you."
The hug was brief but intensely deep.
Tsunade stepped back, wiped her eyes, and reclaimed her Hokage majesty. "Let's go. To the office. I'll give you the final intelligence brief."
They walked to the Hokage Building together.
In the dawn light, their shadows marched side by side.
Inside the office, Tsunade spread out maps and troop deployments for the Kumogakure front, explaining every detail.
Saiki listened intently, though he knew he'd likely just solve everything with a single sword-swing.
"This was the last report from Jiraiya," Tsunade said, pointing to a node on the map. "The AB Combo—Ay and Killer Bee—have been active here. Their goal is to sever our supply lines..."
Saiki nodded, but his gaze was fixed on her face.
The sunlight framed her exquisite profile, her lashes casting fine shadows on her cheeks.
She was so focused, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was breathtaking.
"...Saiki? Are you listening?" Tsunade noticed his wandering gaze.
"I heard everything," Saiki smiled. "It's all up here."
Tsunade looked at him skeptically but didn't push.
She organized the documents into a scroll and handed it to him. "Take this. It's vital."
Saiki tucked the scroll into his gear.
Then he stepped forward, cupped her face, and kissed her deeply.
It was a kiss of promise and farewell.
After a long moment, he pulled back.
"I'm off."
Tsunade, her face flushed with shame and longing, nodded. She fought back a fresh wave of tears.
Saiki walked to the window and wove a series of hand signs.
Sage Chakra surged. The white Auspicious Cloud manifested outside the window, expanding until it could support a man.
He stepped out onto the cloud and looked back at Tsunade one last time.
With a surge of power, the cloud ascended, carrying him toward the Kumogakure front at a speed that blurred the horizon.
Tsunade stood by the window for a long time, watching him disappear. Her finger traced her lips, where the heat of him still remained.
Outside, the morning in Konoha had just begun.
Saiki was on the warpath.
And this time, the Hidden Cloud was going to learn why the world feared the Lightning Fang.