"Is this... our new home?"
Emerging from the Hokage Building and stepping into the sunlight, Konan tilted her head back to gaze at the towering stone faces carved into the cliff behind the building. Her eyes shone with disbelief.
Qi Luna bent down and gathered all three of them into her arms.
"Yes. Starting today, this is your home. From now on, you're my family—and Konoha's family too!"
Nagato watched the shadow he cast in the sunlight. For the first time, he felt that the shadow... didn't seem quite so dark anymore...
The setting sun over Konoha cast a golden glow over the vermilion gate of the Senju Clan Compound.
Qi Luna took Nagato by the hand. Behind them, Yahiko looked around in wonder while Konan clung tightly to Qi Luna's sleeve as they stepped onto a path paved with cobblestones.
"It's so~ big!"
Yahiko gazed up at the spacious buildings, his mouth hanging open as if he could fit an egg inside.
"The houses here are so much bigger than the ones in Amegakure!"
Konan's fingers twisted unconsciously at the hem of her clothes. The blooming camellias in the courtyard were reflected in her brown eyes. She had never seen such brilliant colors. In the Land of Rain, everything was shrouded in gray rain and smoke.
Nagato, too, silently watched the neat stone path beneath his feet. With every step he took, he couldn't help remembering the muddy battlefields of the Land of Rain and the puddles stained red with blood.
His eyes beneath his bangs grew slightly warm, as if reminding him how out of place he was in this peaceful village.
"Don't worry."
Feeling the boy's body tense, Qi Luna crouched down to meet Nagato's gaze.
"This is my home, and it'll be your home from now on, too."
As soon as he finished speaking, a fiery red figure came sprinting from the end of the hallway.
"Qi Luna! You're finally back!"
Kushina rushed into Qi Luna's arms like a leaping flame, her red ponytail tracing a graceful arc through the air. But when she spotted the three unfamiliar children, she abruptly stopped and tilted her head curiously.
"Who are they...?"
"Our family."
Qi Luna smiled warmly and turned to the three children.
"This is Uzumaki Kushina, my cousin."
"Kushina, these are Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan."
Kushina blinked her big eyes. Her gaze lingered on Nagato's dark red hair, a sign of his malnutrition. She seemed to sense a strange kinship with him—just like her and Qi Luna once had, he was an orphan who had lost his family in the war!
"Is he from the Uzumaki Clan too?" Kushina asked bluntly.
Nagato instinctively touched his red hair and shook his head. "We... are just orphans from the Land of Rain."
"Not anymore."
A voice both dignified and warm came from the Japanese-style room. Uzumaki Mito stood beneath the eaves, the setting sun gilding her red hair. Though advanced in years, the old woman still stood tall and straight as a pine.
Qi Luna immediately greeted her. "Grandma Mito!"
Uzumaki Mito's gaze passed slowly over the three children, lingering on Nagato for a moment. Her eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, narrowed slightly as if she had seen through something. But she merely beckoned to them warmly.
"Come in, children. I've just made some sweets."
Inside the Japanese-style room, Tsunade was tossing a jutsu scroll around, looking bored. When she saw everyone enter, her eyes lit up.
"Oh? Looks like the old man is pretty reasonable after all. He agreed to your request so quickly."
She put away the scroll with a practiced motion, then strode over and crouched in front of the children.
"Good timing. Since we have a moment, I'll check their health!"
Tsunade professionally pressed her fingers lightly against their wrists and necks. As she felt the feedback from their chakra, her expression grew increasingly serious.
"Long-term malnutrition has stunted their muscle development, and they've got some minor skin infections... Nothing too difficult to treat."
"Have these first to replenish their basic nutrients. Starting tomorrow, report to the Medical Department every day. Since you know medical ninjutsu, Qi Luna, you can handle their full treatment yourself."
As she spoke, she somehow produced three pills.
Yahiko took a pill and swallowed it without hesitation. His whole face scrunched up at once.
"It's so bitter! It tastes worse than moldy, stale bread!"
Konan cautiously licked her pill and frowned too, but obediently swallowed it anyway.
Nagato stared intently at the pill in his hand. Only after a long while did he slowly put it in his mouth.
"That's more like it~"
"But I'll be leaving on a long-term mission again in a few days. While I'm away, Qi Luna, you can take good care of them. From the look of things, they'll need at least three months of nutritional support and rehabilitation!"
Uzumaki Mito gave a slight nod, but her gaze never left Nagato. Suddenly, she spoke.
"Child, are your eyes bothering you?"
Nagato stiffened and instinctively lowered his head, letting his red hair completely cover his eyes.
"N-no..."
The atmosphere in the room shifted subtly.
Qi Luna, unconcerned, picked up her teacup and took a sip. Tsunade and Kushina, however, looked back and forth between them in confusion.
Uzumaki Mito walked slowly over to Nagato and gently stroked his red hair with her warm hand. Her voice flowed like a gentle stream.
"Don't be afraid, child. No one will hurt you here in the Senju Clan Compound."
Nagato slowly raised his head. His rippling purple eyes glimmered in the dim room, making Kushina gasp—her contribution to global warming was immense!
Tsunade suddenly shot to her feet!
"Those are... the Rinnegan?! The eyes possessed by the legendary Sage of Six Paths!"
Tsunade stared at Uzumaki Mito and Qi Luna in disbelief.
"Grandma, how is that possible? Isn't that just a story from picture books?"
Uzumaki Mito remained exceptionally calm. "Anything is possible in this world."
She withdrew her hand and turned to Qi Luna. "Does Monkey already know?"
Qi Luna nodded. "I've already informed Lord Hokage using a secret technique. He let Nagato and the others stay, but only on the condition that I join Anbu and keep watch over them."
"That was a sensible decision."
Uzumaki Mito furrowed her brow slightly, then soon relaxed. Returning to the seat of honor, she clapped her hands.
"All right, the children must be hungry. Kushina, take them to wash up, and then we'll have dinner together."
Kushina hesitated for a moment, then held out her hand to Nagato.
"Come on. I'll show you the washroom and the bathroom."
Nagato paused briefly, then gently took the red-haired girl's hand. A strange warmth spread from her palm, reminding him of his mother's face, now hazy in his memory.
Dinner was unexpectedly lavish. Yahiko stared at the dishes covering the table, his eyes wide.
"Are... are all of these really for us?"
"Of course!" Tsunade heartily placed the fried egg from her own plate into Yahiko's bowl. "Eat up. You're as skinny as a bean sprout."
Konan ate her rice in small, reserved bites. Then Uzumaki Mito served her a bowl of miso soup. "Have some hot soup. It's good for your stomach," the old woman said kindly.
Nagato ate quietly, occasionally glancing at Kushina and Qi Luna across from him. Whenever the three red-haired children met eyes, Kushina and Nagato quickly looked away from each other. Only Qi Luna gave Nagato a warm smile whenever their eyes met.
After dinner, Qi Luna took the three children to the rooms prepared for them.
There were clean futons, wooden desks, and even a small potted succulent on the windowsill.
"Are these... our rooms?"
Konan touched the soft bedding, unable to believe it.
"One room each." Qi Luna smiled and opened two neighboring doors.
"Yahiko's in here, and Nagato's next door. If you need anything, just call me. I'm in the room at the end of the hallway."
Yahiko had already jumped excitedly onto his bed, then ran to the window to look outside. "Wow! You can see the training grounds from here! Can I go take a look tomorrow?"
"Of course, but only after you've had your full checkup at Konoha Hospital."
Qi Luna patted his head, then turned to the silent Nagato.
"What about you? Is there anything you'd like to do?"
Before you continue