Pakura chuckled softly and said nothing more.
She lay against Mirai's back, feeling his steady steps and the faint scent of grass and trees on him, her yellow-green hair stirring gently in the wind.
The sea breeze blew toward them from beyond the canyon, carrying salty moisture and the hazy outline of Kirigakure in the distance.
She closed her eyes and buried her face against his shoulder, staying still for a long time.
Mirai carried Pakura along the coastline for a while, then stopped in a sheltered cave.
He dug bandages and medicine to stop the bleeding out of his Ninja Tool Pouch and treated the wound on Pakura's leg and the cuts on her arm.
Pakura leaned against the rock wall, watching Mirai bow his head as he bandaged her wounds. She remained silent for a long while.
"Where are you going next?" Pakura asked.
"Kirigakure." Mirai kept working. "I'm going to see what their Mizukage is up to."
Pakura fell silent for a few seconds, then said, "I'm coming with you."
Mirai looked up at her. "Your wounds haven't healed yet."
"I can walk." Pakura moved her leg. Though the pain made her mouth twitch, she still braced herself and stood up.
"Besides, I'm pretty familiar with Kirigakure's terrain. I studied maps of the Land of Water back when I was in the Hidden Sand."
"All right." Mirai put the bandages away. "But if things get dangerous, get yourself out first. Don't try to be a hero."
"I know," Pakura replied, then added, "I won't hold you back."
The two continued along the coastline.
After half a day's walking, the terrain began to change. The coastline narrowed, the mountains on either side grew steeper, and the mist thickened.
The air was so heavy with moisture that it felt