The severed hand stayed in the shack for three days, neither leaving nor causing trouble.
Shuo could not be bothered to chase her away. She hardly took up any space anyway, just crouching by the door, the pale purple eye in her palm constantly staring outside, like a little dog guarding the entrance, looking rather dazed.
"What does she usually eat?"
Sai crouched beside her, watching the hand munch on candy again-or, more precisely, swallow candy with the eye in her palm-and could not help asking.
Shuo lay on the straw mat, staring at the hole in the shack's roof, his tone casual. "Candy, and my light."
"But you don't have any light now," Sai reminded him.
"Yeah." Shuo nodded. "So I can only feed her candy now. Good thing you stocked up."
Helpless, Sai fished an orange-wrapped chestnut candy out of his pocket and tossed it over.
The hand reacted quickly, hooking her slender fingers around it. She clumsily peeled off the wrapper, brought the candy up to her eye, and swallowed it with a swish, like a child eating a snack.
"Sweet..."
Her thin, high voice drifted over, carrying a hint of satisfaction, and her fingers trembled lightly.
Sai watched her for three seconds, then asked again, "What exactly is she? She's Kaguya, but she doesn't seem like Kaguya."
Shuo rolled over and glanced at the hand. "She's part of Kaguya. She just got blown up until this hand was all that remained. I doubt she even has a complete consciousness anymore."
"Then does she still remember what happened before? Like... wanting to destroy Konoha?"
"No idea." Shuo shrugged. "Haven't asked. Can't be bothered."
As they spoke, the hand suddenly moved, crawling slowly up to Shuo. The eye in her palm stared at him, and after a long