Knock, knock, knock!
"Hidan, get the door."
A boy with slicked-back silver hair wore glasses and a necklace bearing a money symbol.
He put down the test paper in his hands and jogged over to open the door.
"Kakuzu, it's a guy and a lady I don't know."
"Who is it?"
Kakuzu came out bare-chested, holding a dumbbell.
"Xuanhui? What brings you here?"
"Black Zetsu's been busy helping Obito and Orochimaru with their experiments lately, so I thought I'd come check on you two."
Kakuzu's gaze moved past Xuanhui and settled on the woman behind him.
"You're Pakura of the Scorch Release, from Sunagakure, right?"
"She's from Konoha now."
Pakura nodded and linked her arm through Xuanhui's.
"I'm Brother Xuanhui's girlfriend."
Kakuzu's eyes shifted as something came back to him.
"Right, I knew I'd seen you somewhere. We met when you were little and with Xuanhui, didn't we?"
"Yes, many years ago."
Kakuzu put down the dumbbell and patted Xuanhui on the shoulder.
"Not bad, kid! Orochimaru and I thought you weren't interested in women!"
"You two are the last people I want to hear that from..."
Kakuzu wiped off his sweat and called Hidan over.
"Call him Brother Xuanhui, and her Sister Pakura."
"Hello, Brother Xuanhui! Hello, Sister Pakura!"
Pleasantly surprised, Xuanhui patted Hidan's head.
"Nice work, Kakuzu! I never knew you had such a knack for raising kids!"
"I haven't done much. I just tossed him those books you gave me, then had him practice Taijutsu at night and taught him some history. I didn't bother with much else."
"You haven't taught him bookkeeping?"
"What's the rush? Let him get a little older first."
Xuanhui gripped Hidan around the waist with both hands and lifted him up.
He held him in the air, spun him around twice, and