Leaving Sunagakure

As she was about to return to her room that evening, the captain of the merchant caravan she had been escorting sought her out. Hui watched him with cold eyes, a bad premonition stirring in her heart.

The man approached her timidly, his eyes filled with fear, though for some reason, he still dared to come and speak with her.

Wringing his hands, he said with great deference, "Lady Hui Youling, we are departing tomorrow. You still need to escort us out..."

A cold glint flashed in Hui's eyes. The man recoiled in fear, his face a contorted, ugly mask as he struggled to suppress his terror and disgust.

Hui narrowed her eyes at the captain. He had actually started calling her "Lady," and despite being scared to death, he insisted on negotiating with her. She could clearly see the cold sweat on his brow, and his body trembled slightly. Driven by some unknown force, he steeled himself and said, "I... I have already given you... more than half the commission... I beg you..."

Hui could sense four chakra signatures appearing in the surroundings as he spoke, lying in ambush in different locations. Their target seemed to be her, and there was even one in her room. Was the man before her just cannon fodder? They really dare to come, Hui thought.

The surrounding chakra signatures, seeing that she remained silent, began to stir. In the next second, they would surely pounce on Hui Youling. She finally spoke: "Very well."

The merchant captain let out a sigh of relief, instinctively raising a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. Hui ignored him further, opened her door, and stepped inside. As she turned to close the door, she feigned the action, while the person lurking in her room leaped out through the window. Hui stood facing the door, lost in thought, as the surrounding chakra signatures also departed, leaving only two people to monitor her.

A sense of bitterness welled up in Hui's heart. Must I leave already? It's only been two days; they won't even give me a moment's time. Rasa!

A wave of hatred seemed to spread within her, accumulating in her eyes. Her eyes felt dry and painful; she wanted to cry but couldn't. Her mind was filled with images of Gaara.

She truly could not imagine the pain and loneliness Gaara would have to endure after she left. It was so agonizing; her heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed. A massive sense of loss enveloped her. What exactly am I doing?

A voice in her mind seemed to interrogate her: Why can't you do it? Why not do more for Gaara? Why are you so weak?

The voice was too clear, even tinged with the sound of weeping, circling her ears like a soft sob. A light drizzle seemed to fall within her heart, and the chaotic state of her mind once again caused her to feel tinnitus. She felt as if she were being imprisoned.

Hui Youling turned around, leaning powerlessly against the door, and slowly slumped to the floor. Her gaze fixed on the open window as the cold wind poured in, causing the room's temperature to plummet. Her eyes were hollow and unfocused, a cold sneer playing on her lips.

"My... Lady... I have lured her away. Does this mean we can get a discount for our caravan next time?" the merchant captain said, his eyes gleaming with greed.

"The Kazekage has promised you; you need not worry. Return now, lest you arouse her suspicion," the man said coldly.

"Yes... yes..." The captain turned and left, satisfied.

Shortly after he left, the ninja looked toward the direction of Hui Youling's room, sneered, and departed to report back to Rasa.

Hui felt as if she had fallen into a dark place. Dazed, she could not perceive her surroundings; her ears were filled with low whispers.

"I like him... I like him... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

These words repeated over and over, as if trying to carve themselves into her brain. She opened her mouth to speak, but her body would not obey. That feeling of being at the mercy of others, as if her soul were trapped within her body, made her resist fiercely.

Hui suddenly snapped back to reality, the discomfort vanishing in an instant, yet those words remained imprinted in her mind.

Knowing she had to leave tomorrow, and still having many new techniques she wanted Gaara to test, she slowly stood up, walked to the table, took out a blank scroll, and began to write down all her ideas in greater detail.

Time slowly slipped away. When a beam of light finally hit the desk, Hui's entire body trembled slightly, and a bitter smile touched her lips. She knew it was time to go and say goodbye to Gaara...

Hui Youling arrived outside the Kazekage Residence early. Before long, she saw Gaara open the door and step out.

He was surprised to see Hui Youling, though her face looked haggard, and she seemed to have dark circles under her eyes.

Because Yashamaru had told him the night before that even friends needed to give each other space, he had not gone to find her.

He had happily shared his experiences with Hui to Yashamaru, speaking of his joy. Yashamaru had also said that it was truly wonderful to meet a friend like Hui Youling. Now, being able to see her the moment he opened the door felt like an unexpected surprise.

Gaara smiled at her. "Hui!"

Hui lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, her tone heavy as she said, "Gaara, how about we go to the rooftop to talk?"

Gaara looked at her with confusion, but did not object. "Alright."

The two walked to the rooftop—a place that overlooked Sunagakure. Because it was still early, there were only a few ninjas on the streets. Hui pulled a small box from her bag, and Gaara's gaze fell upon it, puzzled.

Hui Youling solemnly opened the box, revealing a piece of warm, lustrous jade to Gaara. The jade was carved into the shape of a small gourd, with the character "Love" engraved upon it. The jade was the same color as his eyes—cold, yet beautiful.

Hui took out the jade; it was a necklace. She held it up before Gaara, her eyes fixed on him.

Gaara looked at the jade, then at Hui, his confusion deepening.

Hui Youling explained slowly, "Gaara, this is a gift for you. Try putting it on."

Gaara watched her impassively. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling she was going to leave. This special girl was about to depart, yet alongside the sense of loss, he felt a strange sense of relief. She would be safe; he always remembered that he had nearly killed her, as well as his father's obvious hostility toward her.

Though he did not understand why Hui was giving him this jade, it seemed nice to have a memento. He followed her wishes, took the jade, and fastened it around his neck.

Hui Youling looked at the jade on Gaara's neck, her eyes unusually calm. Although she was leaving, his life had held a shadow of her, and he would remember her. This gift gave her peace of mind, and she was glad she had gone to craft it.

"Gaara, I must leave Sunagakure. Although I cannot stay by your side, this jade will take my place and watch over you." Hui smiled, her eyes as gentle as water.

Gaara looked into those black eyes. So, she really is leaving? Even though he had a premonition, hearing it confirmed still left him feeling lost.

"Must you go?" he asked softly.

"Yes."

Gaara fell silent. He looked at Hui Youling and suddenly asked, "Will I see you again?"

Hui tilted her head and smiled, her eyes filled with Gaara's reflection. "I will. Gaara is so strong; you will surely become one of the village's top ninjas in the future. Perhaps we will meet when you are out of the village on a mission."

"Alright. When that time comes, I will give you a gift," Gaara also smiled and said softly.

Although he wished for her to stay, he knew the current situation would not allow it. Hui was not a person of Sunagakure, and staying here only meant danger. Moreover, he did not know if he could control Shukaku, and he did not want her to get hurt. Her life was so brilliant...

Hui's gaze fell upon the jade, lingering on the character "Love." It was a constant reminder that Gaara was about to experience Yashamaru's betrayal and the assassination attempts by the ninjas sent by Rasa. Now, she finally understood: if she still harbored delusions of changing their fated path, it would only lead to her own destruction.

Hui looked at Gaara solemnly, as if making a vow. "Gaara, no matter what you become, even if you become a monster, I will never betray you. Please believe in me, and I will believe in you, for this is our promise."

Gaara looked at Hui. She was not smiling, yet he saw the radiant version of her in his mind, along with the gaze that held only him.

"Alright," he promised softly, the smile on his lips gentle.