Cherry Blossoms in the Drizzle

A cherry tree stood in the village, its branches adorned with new leaves and a few scattered blossoms.

Tsunade stood beneath the cherry tree in the misty rain, quietly examining the sparse blossoms on its branches. Her lovely face held an indescribable glow, along with a hint of confusion.

It was early spring, in the beginning of March. The weather was warming, though still chilly, and it was indeed the season when cherry blossoms should bloom.

But cherry blossoms shouldn't bloom in the Land of Rain. They could bloom in any country or corner of the Ninja World—anywhere but here.

That was because cherry trees were typical sun-loving plants. Plenty of sunlight was vital to their healthy growth and flowering. They needed at least six hours of sunlight a day to ensure they would bloom.

The Land of Rain didn't get six hours of sunlight in a whole year.

Jiang Feng couldn't help asking, "Do you know how many blossoms are on that tree?"

Tsunade answered at once. "Twenty-three."

"Then you must be very lonely right now."

Tsunade turned to him, confused. "How did you come to the conclusion that I'm lonely?"

"Someone who's fulfilled and has a rich inner life wouldn't count cherry blossoms."

Tsunade froze. Jiang Feng was right—she was indeed very lonely. It wasn't the narrow kind of loneliness that came from wanting a man or missing family. It was a broader loneliness: a cold, solitary feeling deep inside, an emptiness of spirit.

That was why she counted cherry blossoms, and Jiang Feng didn't. Tsunade had never met anyone as fulfilled and spiritually rich as Jiang Feng.

Even Minato Namikaze, known as the Little Sun, couldn't compare to Jiang Feng. They were both optimistic and fulfilled, but their fulfillment was entirely different.

As if he didn't want Tsunade to sink deeper into those thoughts, Jiang Feng quickly changed the subject. "Looking at them and counting them is fine, but don't pick any. I don't want Yahiko and the others kicking me out of the village."

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were Jiang Feng's friends in the Land of Rain. This was the Akatsuki Organization's base, founded by Yahiko. At first, it had consisted of just two shabby wooden huts. Now it had become a village with a little life in it.

"Why is there a cherry tree here?" Tsunade pointed to the tree beside her.

"Yahiko and the others probably planted it."

Jiang Feng knew just as much about cherry trees, so he understood why Tsunade had asked. He explained, "You know Konan can use Paper Ninjutsu and fly. If she flies high enough to break through the clouds, she can give the cherry tree some sunlight.

"So, do you understand now how precious these blossoms are?"

Tsunade understood. These few blossoms truly meant a great deal to Yahiko and the others.

The unending rain, the disasters that struck without warning, the pointless wars... Perhaps every person in the Land of Rain was lonelier, emptier, more lost, and more desperate than Tsunade.

And yet, despite everything, some people in the Land of Rain had refused to be crushed by fate.

They had followed the Akatsuki here, gathering beneath that ray of sunlight. They pursued the ideals in their hearts, struggling and striving for a ray of sunlight that might not even exist.

This cherry tree was the light in their hearts.

As Tsunade fell silent, a dozen or so people dressed alike came in through the entrance. Three young people led them, all around sixteen or seventeen: Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.

Tsunade knew them. A few years ago, the Sannin had found the three children together. Orochimaru had planned to kill them and be done with it, but Jiraiya had stopped him and taken the three in as students.

Tsunade instinctively turned her head, unable to look at Yahiko and the others.

They were too radiant. Not just Yahiko—even the nameless followers walking behind him all seemed to shine.

Their backs might have been a little hunched, their faces a little gaunt, but every one of them was spirited and full of hope.

That only made Tsunade seem more like a useless wreck, crawling in the dark of a sewer.

And when they looked at Tsunade, there wasn't a trace of hatred in their eyes. They should have hated her, but they didn't.

That was what made Tsunade feel most ashamed.

"Thank you so much for bringing their bodies back. I've buried them in the cemetery behind the village. In recent years, we've buried all the bodies of people from the Land of Rain that we've managed to find there..."

Yahiko thanked Jiang Feng first for bringing the bodies back from thousands of miles away, then asked, "Would you like to pay your respects?"

Tsunade hesitated, but in the end she declined. "I'd better not. They probably wouldn't want to see me."

The manga had shown what the Konoha Ninja had done in the Land of Rain. When Orochimaru first met the three children, he wanted to kill them. Nagato's parents had also been killed when Konoha Ninja searching for food mistook them for enemy ninja...

Many civilians from the Land of Rain had died at the hands of Konoha Ninja, directly or indirectly.

Tsunade had never personally killed any civilians from the Land of Rain, but she had been one of the commanders of Konoha's forces. She had to take responsibility for the actions of Konoha Ninja.

"If you want to pay your respects, I can think of a way to make it work," Jiang Feng suddenly said.

"What way?" Tsunade was curious.

She wasn't going because she couldn't get past her conscience. Could Jiang Feng really find a way to spare her the guilt?

Jiang Feng smiled. "That pretty girl died with her eyes open, but I figure she was happy before she died. She probably had a great time.

"After all, she stabbed you twice. Maybe she even thought you'd kick the bucket soon after taking those two stabs.

"We'll go together. You can bow your head a few times first. Then, once you're done, have Yahiko stab you a few times. You can lie down and play dead, and we'll carry you away.

"When they see you, a Class-A war criminal, die in front of their graves, they'll be able to rest in peace."

Pfft...

Yahiko and the others couldn't hold back their laughter. It was a rather cruel idea, but it did have its merits.

They had let go of their hatred and forgiven Konoha, and now they were fighting for peace in the Ninja World. But they didn't think they had the right to forgive Konoha on behalf of the dead.

So having Tsunade "die" once really was a great idea. It was as good as a cat owner pretending to sob and trying to "rescue" their beloved pet from the doctor when taking it in to be spayed or neutered.

Tsunade rolled her eyes. There was no way she'd "play dead" just because Jiang Feng made a joke. It wasn't that she was afraid of pain—she had Hemophobia.

Yahiko and the others didn't take Jiang Feng's joke seriously either. They moved on and warmly took Jiang Feng by the hand. "How many days are you planning to stay in the Land of Rain this time? Are you in a hurry to get back to Konoha?"

Jiang Feng thought about it. "Three to five days."

Konoha hadn't reached the point where it couldn't manage without him. He could spend a few days with his friends in the Land of Rain. The Third Hokage and the others would surely understand. If they didn't, he'd just whisk Kurenai Yuhi away and run off with her.

"Wonderful!"

Yahiko was overjoyed and clapped his hands. "Everyone's saying you defeated the Third Raikage's son. They all want to see the legendary Heavenly Flying Immortal Uchiha Jiang Feng and ask you for some advice.

"I'll go have someone prepare dinner..."

"Mm."

Konan nodded, reserved as ever.