Awakening

After the decisive battle, Chiyo led the remnants of the Hidden Sand back to the fortress cities in the heart of the Land of Wind. These cities had originally been designed as military strongholds, making them ideal for a defensive retreat.

Neither side would launch a major battle, so the front temporarily fell quiet. The Logistics Department had nothing to do, and Riyue's Shadow Clone there finally got a rare chance to relax.

Riyue himself, however, had no intention of taking it easy. He trained hard every day and made rapid progress. Whenever he had time, he also went to the Medical Station to help out. Just like that, three peaceful months passed. Looking at the date, Riyue realized that he would turn seven in another month. His strength, too, continued to improve steadily.

That day, he went to see Dan Katō as usual. His teacher's complexion had improved, and his injuries had healed well. However, despite being rescued in time, Dan Katō had suffered slight damage to his brain cells, and remained in a coma. He had been unconscious for four months. Though he had opened his eyes a few times during that period, he had shown no awareness and soon slipped back into unconsciousness. He still hadn't woken up.

Riyue sat in the hospital room for a while, then got ready to leave. Just then, Dan Katō's fingers twitched. Riyue judged that he was about to wake up, so he sent a Shadow Clone to notify everyone while staying by his side.

As soon as she received the message, Tsunade dropped what she was doing and hurried over. Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza, Shibi, and Mizuki came as well.

Half an hour later, Dan Katō slowly opened his eyes. Drowsily and groggily, he stared at the ceiling, then at the people gathered around his bed. At last, his gaze settled on Tsunade, and his eyes suddenly cleared a little. (BGM: Ai to Shū, Mutsushi)

"Dan..." Tsunade softly called his name.

"Tsunade?" Dan Katō tried to speak. His voice was hoarse and rough, and came out weakly. He tried to move his fingers, only to discover that Tsunade was holding his hand tightly. He felt the faint warmth and gentle touch of her soft hand, yet everything seemed so unreal. Was he already in heaven?

"Am I... dead? Could it be... that you're dead too, Tsunade?" Dan Katō asked in confusion. He struggled to sit up. Was this the blissful world beyond?

Riyue quickly reached out and pressed Dan Katō back down. "Teacher, you're not dead. You're in the Medical Station. Stay lying down, or your wound will split open again!" Riyue put on a stern tone, but his eyes were filled with joy.

"Riyue... so I'm not dead... I was saved... At that time... I think I saw my younger sister... Then a voice pulled me back..." Dan Katō gradually understood what had happened. Now clearheaded, he lay quietly in bed.

"Everyone... came..." He looked around at them. They were all visibly moved. Then he looked back at Tsunade.

Tsunade held Dan Katō's hand tightly, biting her lip as she fought to contain her excitement. She looked at him, and a tear welled in the corner of her eye before rolling down her cheek.

"Why... are you crying?" Dan Katō wanted to wipe away her tears, but he had no strength. All he could do was smile faintly.

"Thank you... Tsunade..."

That smile seemed to merge with the one Dan Katō had given her just before his heart stopped. Tsunade's heart shuddered. She had once thought she would never see that smile again.

"Dan, I'm so glad you're all right... sob..." At last, she couldn't hold back. She threw her arms around Dan Katō and buried herself in his arms, sobbing loudly. All her worry, guilt, and longing spilled out in a torrent of tears.

Tsunade's sudden embrace made Dan Katō's chest hurt terribly, but he held back his cry. His heart, though, was warm. As he watched her sob in his arms, he struggled to gently stroke her beautiful hair.

"Sob... I'm so glad..." Tsunade had been worrying about Dan Katō all this time. At last, her heart could settle, and she let all her emotions pour out.

"I'm... fine, aren't I? Don't cry..." Dan Katō gently held Tsunade in his arms, comforting the woman he loved.

Tsunade gradually calmed down and lifted her head to look at Dan Katō. She was overjoyed to be able to hold him again, and her face was radiant with happiness, her expression gentle and lovely.

Looking at Tsunade's beautiful, delicate face, Dan Katō could no longer restrain his love. He instinctively kissed her forehead. "Thank you..."

Tsunade was briefly stunned, and emotion showed in her eyes. They gazed at each other in silence for a long time, as though time itself had stopped.

Riyue and the others had tactfully left the hospital room as soon as Tsunade embraced Dan Katō, giving the two of them some time alone.

Mizuki was wiping away her tears, deeply moved.

Shikaku shook his head helplessly. "Women... What a hassle!" The clever man seemed unmoved by such things.

Then he turned and saw Choza crying too, his little eyes squeezing out tears as he sniffled.

Inoichi's eyes were red as well. He stood there silently.

Shibi's sunglasses made it impossible to tell, but he had blown his nose into several tissues. Shikaku suddenly felt a headache coming on and pressed a hand to his forehead. "What a hassle, all of you!"

"Everyone in the Akimichi Clan is kindhearted—bighearted and big-bodied!" Riyue thought. Taking advantage of no one paying attention, he secretly wiped the dampness from the corners of his eyes...

After a long while, everyone returned to the hospital room with smiles on their faces. They looked at Dan Katō and Tsunade, who still held his hand and refused to let go.

"Teacher, these flowers are for you, even if they're only wildflowers," Inoichi said with a smile.

"Teacher Dan, here! Barbecue-flavored chips. They'll help you get better faster," Choza said, rubbing his reddened nose.

"This is the porridge Riyue made this morning, and the soup I cooked!" Mizuki was delighted as she brought over the lunch box.

"Thank you..." Dan Katō couldn't move around, so all he could offer was a faint smile.

"Teacher, while you were asleep, we won a great victory!" Shikaku said.

Everyone chatted and laughed together, and the hospital room grew livelier. Dan Katō had only just woken up and needed plenty of rest, so no one stayed long. They were about to leave when Dan Katō asked Riyue to stay behind. Only Tsunade, Riyue, and Dan Katō remained in the room.

"Riyue, thank you... for saving me." Dan Katō had already heard from Tsunade that Riyue had saved him.

"Really, you should thank Lady Tsunade. She did just as much as I did," Riyue said with a smile.

Tsunade looked at Riyue, her expression complicated. "Riyue, thank you so much... I hope..."

Riyue waved a hand, cutting her off. He looked at Dan Katō without so much as glancing at Tsunade, and said coolly, "If you really have to thank me, then, Teacher Dan, treat me to two more meals."

Dan Katō was perceptive enough to notice that Riyue was deliberately keeping his distance from Tsunade. Tsunade's expression was complicated, too. There seemed to be a deep rift between them.

He had some questions. "What happened between those two? Does Tsunade know that Riyue is her student?"

"Riyue, you're Tsunade's student..." Dan Katō tried to clear things up.

"Teacher, let's not bring that up again. Focus on your health," Riyue interrupted him.

"I'll be going now. Get some good rest, okay?" Riyue waved and left the hospital room.

Tsunade watched Riyue leave, a trace of disappointment in her eyes.

"Tsunade... what's wrong?" Dan Katō asked.

"sigh He won't listen to my explanation..." Tsunade sighed and told him about their misunderstanding. After a moment's thought, she also told Dan Katō that Riyue planned to join Danzo.

Dan Katō was silent for a moment, then said, "Riyue is a wise boy." He chose "wise" rather than "clever," which showed just how highly he thought of Riyue.

"You can't judge him... by the standards of an ordinary child. His resolve is... beyond imagination... He would never betray us..."

Tsunade was stunned. "You mean he was acting back then?"

Dan Katō nodded and continued, "You really are stubborn... You should have a proper talk with this boy. When he comes to see me tomorrow, explain everything to him... Riyue seems easygoing and gentle with others... but he's also very proud... His pride runs deep..."

Tsunade looked at Dan Katō and nodded firmly.