"Waaah! Aaaah! Sob!"
Pakura finally broke down. His embrace was so warm! His words had touched her so deeply!
She reached out with her slender arms and wrapped them tightly around Xuanhui's neck.
Her tears soaked his shoulder as she sobbed until she could barely breathe.
Of course she felt resentment! Of course she felt wronged! Pakura was a strong woman, but that did not mean she could not be hurt.
Xuanhui could not linger either, so he carried her toward Konoha.
"Brother Xuanhui... I'm sorry... I betrayed your trust..."
"Did I accidentally damage your ears, silly girl? Did everything I just said go to waste?"
"But... I..."
"Enough. Have a good cry. You're coming with me from now on anyway, so I might as well explain a few things you need to remember."
"Okay..."
When Xuanhui grew tired of carrying her in his arms, he shifted her onto his back, which saved him quite a bit of effort.
"First, in the laboratory, you have to do whatever I tell you...
Second...
..."
Xuanhui went on for a long time as they traveled, but he still did not finish.
When Pakura wore herself out crying, she rested against his shoulder.
She neither slept nor made a fuss.
She committed every word he said to memory.
"All this talking has made me thirsty.
There's a scroll at my left hip. The third Sealing Jutsu counting inward contains a bottle of orange juice.
Take it out. Drink half and give me the rest."
"Okay..."
Pakura took out the orange juice, then wiped her mouth clean of any grime.
She stared at the mouth of the bottle and had a bold idea.
Her red lips lightly touched the rim, leaving behind her delicate fragrance.
*Come to think of it, Brother Xuanhui smelled so