Akatsuki

"Lord Qinghe, how is Konan?"

In Hanzo's residence, beneath the dim light, an elderly-looking ninja withdrew his hand from Konan's forehead and shook his head. "Her injuries are too severe, and there's poison on the blade. Weren't you helping a border village deal with bandits? How did she get hurt so badly?"

Shinda asked.

"They were merciless. They took advantage of the fighting between Sunagakure and the Cloud Ninja in our country to loot and burn down many villages. At first, we thought they were ordinary thieves. We paid dearly for that mistake."

A member of Akatsuki spoke up.

"It's all my fault. Konan wouldn't have been hurt if she hadn't been protecting me."

Yahiko lowered his head, his voice full of self-reproach.

"It's not your fault, Yahiko. No one could have guessed they'd disguise themselves as women and children."

Nagato stepped forward and patted Yahiko on the shoulder, not even noticing that his own hand was trembling.

His red hair hid his expression. Beneath its shadow, his unusual eyes twitched uneasily.

Looking at the unconscious Konan, he seemed to be back in that rainy night, when a Leaf Ninja with a kunai had given his life to protect his parents.

Why?

Why did everyone I cared about have to leave me?

My life is already so painful. Isn't that enough?

He bit down hard on his lower lip. An urge to make everything fall silent roiled inside him.

"Perhaps... perhaps Sunagakure has a way to help."

The medical ninja named Qinghe stroked his long white beard, looking hesitant.

When he saw everyone's eyes turn to him, Qinghe continued, "People returning from Sunagakure say Hoshino Maki is an outstanding Medical Ninja. He can treat all kinds of difficult illnesses that others can't. The Sunagakure Shinobi even call him 'the next Chiyo.' But... I don't know if he'll treat a Rain Ninja."

Yahiko's eyes lit up, and hope rose in Nagato's despairing heart.

If a Medical Ninja on Chiyo's level treated her, surely Konan would pull through, wouldn't she?

If he refused, I'll kneel before him until he agrees!

Yahiko turned and bowed deeply to Hanzo, who had been sitting there in silence.

Hanzo nodded. "Qinghe, stabilize Konan's condition for now. I'll speak to Hoshino Maki first thing tomorrow."

He believed the man would at least do him that favor.

"Lord Hanzo, Konan can't wait!"

Hearing that they would have to wait until tomorrow, Yahiko forgot all about etiquette. He straightened up and shouted in a panic.

Hanzo furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly and replied coolly, "Medical Ninjutsu consumes a great deal of Chakra. The negotiations today must have exhausted him. If you go to him now, he'll only refuse."

Then he looked at Qinghe. "Will Konan be all right until morning?"

"She should... she should be."

As an old ninja of Amegakure, he knew what Hanzo wanted to hear.

"If Qinghe says so, then go tomorrow."

Hanzo didn't really want Hoshino Maki to help. If one life was lost, so be it. What was the point of spending his own favor to save the life of some small-time group member? Where was the dignity of the Demigod of the Ninja World?

If Yahiko and the others hadn't helped him deal with so many problems, he wouldn't even have bothered to meet them. Speaking on their behalf was already a tremendous favor.

In Amegakure, Hanzo's word was the highest order. It could not be challenged.

The fact that he had even bothered to explain himself today was unusual.

But Yahiko wasn't willing to accept it. In the quiet room, silent enough to hear a pin drop, he clenched his fists. "Forgive me, my lord, but I still want to try."

Before Hanzo could respond, he hoisted Konan onto his back and rushed out. The other members of Akatsuki followed close behind.

In the warm, springlike building, a cold draft seemed to blow in through the open door. Hanzo tightened his robe and stopped his guards from going after them. Then he closed his eyes and said nothing.

"Lord Hoshino! Is Lord Hoshino there?!"

The door was pounded hard. A moment later, a voice came from inside. "Who is it?"

"Is that Lord Hoshino?"

"My lord has gone to bed. Come back tomorrow if you need something."

"I'm Yahiko, the leader of Akatsuki. My companion's on the brink of death. I beg you to save her!"

After he spoke, there came the sound of something heavy striking the water outside. One splash followed another. Curious, Yi peered through the crack in the door and saw an orange-haired boy kneeling in a puddle, prostrating himself with his forehead against the water. Several people dressed like him were doing the same.

"Yi, open the door."

Yi jumped in fright and turned around. Hoshino Maki was standing behind him with an umbrella, though Yi hadn't noticed him arrive.

Creak—

The door swung open. Lightning flashed, and Yahiko felt a shadow fall over his head. Through the warped reflection in the water, he could make out a young man.

An oil-paper umbrella hovered above him as the man asked softly, "Are you Yahiko?"

"I am. Please, save my companion."

Yahiko didn't raise his head. He remained in his respectful, prostrate position.

"But how am I supposed to save her if you don't bring her over?"

Yahiko looked up in delight at the young man smiling as he crouched before him.

He had never met Hoshino Maki, but from what Lord Qinghe and Lord Hanzo had said, he'd imagined him as an arrogant, aloof man. He'd expected to be mocked and humiliated, perhaps even beaten.

He'd prepared himself to endure any insult, as long as the man would save Konan. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. They went so smoothly that he stupidly slapped himself to see if he was dreaming.

Hoshino Maki was taken aback, then smiled and shook his head. "Yi, get a stretcher and bring her inside."

He had already spotted Konan beneath the eaves some distance away, along with two Akatsuki ninjas, and gestured for Yi to help them.

"Here, wipe your face."

Hoshino Maki took out a handkerchief and offered it to him. Yahiko touched his grimy forehead and shook his head, embarrassed.

"It's fine. Handkerchiefs are meant for wiping things."

He took out another one and handed it to Nagato, who was standing behind Yahiko. "You should wipe your face, too."

"Thank you."

Nagato waited until Yahiko accepted his handkerchief before taking his own.

Nagato, huh...

Hoshino Maki glanced at him casually. Who would have thought that in a little over a decade, this man would bring true nuclear peace to Konoha?

To be honest, he was tempted to snatch the Rinnegan right now, but reason won out.

He didn't believe Madara had given Nagato the Rinnegan and then simply walked away, content to wait until the day he had his life support unplugged.

White Zetsu could be watching nearby even now.

Because of her long-term malnutrition, Konan's face was sallow, and she was so thin she looked like a skeleton. She was nothing like the icy beauty she would become.

In fact, Nagato and Yahiko were scrawny, too. They were barely over ten, the age when children were growing fast, but they'd become orphans and had to make do with whatever food they could find. No wonder they were in such poor shape.

"Yi, brew them some ginger tea. And get some snacks and warm clothes."

Hoshino Maki rested a hand on Konan's wrist and gave Yi his instructions.

"My lord, there's no need to go to all that trouble. We've already eaten, and we're not cold."

As Yahiko spoke, Nagato's stomach growled beside him.

Everyone was holding their breath while Hoshino Maki checked her pulse, so the rumble of protest sounded especially loud.

Nagato lowered his head, his scarlet hair hiding his embarrassed face.

He felt he'd brought shame upon Yahiko and Akatsuki.

"Sit down, everyone. I'm hungry, too, so keep me company while I have a late-night snack."

The members of Akatsuki nervously clutched their damp clothes. The floor felt as if it were scorching their feet.

They came from all over, and varied in age, but none of them had ever seen an important person speak so kindly to them. They didn't know how to react.

Hoshino Maki tapped his forehead and smiled apologetically. "Look at me, I've got no sense. Kojima, take them to wash up and change."

The door opened, and Kojima stood outside, expressionless as he looked at the members of Akatsuki. Then he stepped aside. "This way."

When Yahiko and the others still didn't move, Hoshino Maki put on a stern face. "If you don't go, I won't treat her."

Only then did they hurry after Kojima.

Once the door closed, Hoshino Maki's smile vanished, his face turning grim. He closed his eyes and let his Chakra spread outward. The entire residence took shape in his mind as a three-dimensional model.

The kitchen, the walls, the pond—he checked every place a schemer might hide.

"Wait!"

In his mind, a Pitcher Plant silently rose from the shrubs in the garden.

The moment Hoshino Maki saw it, he withdrew his Chakra. He didn't know whether the other party had sensed his probing, but he didn't want to take the risk, especially with Zetsu.

One Zetsu wasn't dangerous. The old man behind him was the real problem.

Hoshino Maki drew a deep breath and continued treating Konan as if nothing had happened.

Good news: I got the 4060 Aurora Pro for 6,000.

Bad news: Looks like I didn't need to compete for it.

Next chapter: daytime