I Can Look After You Instead

A heavy sense of despair, like a dense cloud, enveloped everyone in a pitch-black darkness, seemingly obscuring any glimmer of hope.

Just when everyone was almost giving up, thinking that everything had fallen into an abyss, suddenly—footsteps sounded outside. The sound was particularly abrupt in the deathly silence, and it was clear from the sound that it was not one person.

All eyes turned to the source of the sound. As the footsteps drew closer, a familiar figure emerged into the light at the cave entrance. It was Nagato; he had returned!

In his hand, he was holding a clear water bag!

Water!

Sweet, life-saving water!

For them, who hadn't eaten a single grain of rice and were parched for days, this was undoubtedly a godsend.

Konan suddenly stood up, rushed forward as fast as she could, and hugged Nagato tightly in her arms.

Her hands trembled, tears welling in her eyes. "Where did you go?! You scared us to death!"

Nagato explained hastily, "I went out to find food."

A hint of fatigue showed on his face, but he quickly handed the water pouch to Konan, "Everyone, quickly share some!"

As Konan and Nagato embraced, Koki was behind them, quietly observed her in the dim light.

Konan looked a little older than him. Her light blue-purple hair was like silk from a dream, and her bun hairstyle highlighted her playfulness and resilience.

A pale blue paper flower was tucked behind her right temple. Her light orange eyes were clear and bright, and her delicate face was adorned with pale purple eyeshadow that complemented the lip piercing.

What a beautiful young girl! Koki couldn't help but admire her.

However, Koki felt a deep sense of regret for the fate of these three children. Konan lost the protection of her parents at a young age and experienced the hardships of life far too early in this harsh world.

After that, they embarked on a life of wandering, with no relatives or friends to rely on, and had to steal to survive.

Life was starting to look up, but fate once again showed them its cruel side.

Misfortune struck one after another. The eldest brother died, the second brother was wounded in the fierce battle and his leg was crippled by the explosion, and the third sister also lost hope and dreams, and started listening to the dark Nagato carrying a bag of rice up several floors.

"Sigh..." A sigh escaped from Koki's lips, echoing clearly in the empty cave.

"Who are you?" Upon hearing the unfamiliar voices, Konan immediately became alert. She shoved open the Nagato and nimbly turned to face Koki and the others.

Her light blue-purple hair swayed gently, and her light orange eyes were filled with wariness. At this moment, she was like a frightened bird, and any unfamiliar face might indicate potential danger.

At this moment, everyone in the cave, including Yahiko, turned their gazes to Koki and his two companions, waiting for his answer.

Koki's smile was as warm as the sun. He was about to explain when Nagato anxiously stepped in front of him, looking at Yahiko and pleading, "Yahiko, believe me, they're good people!"

Yahiko and Konan both froze, staring at Nagato in surprise.

In their memory, Nagato had always been taciturn, and they had never seen him so anxious, as if he were afraid that they would harm the person behind him.

"A good person?" Kyusuke's gaze was as sharp as an ice blade, fixed on the Forehead Protector worn by Koki, his tone filled with a gloomy doubt.

"Aren't you a ninja from Konoha?"

"Not bad." Koki nodded slightly, neither humble nor arrogant, meeting Kyusuke's scrutinizing gaze.

"Ha, how could Konoha possibly produce a few virtuous people?" the bald man next to Kyusuke said sarcastically, a contemptuous smile on his lips.

His eyes burned with the flames of revenge. The smoke of the Second Shinobi World War was still vivid in his memory. The destruction and suffering brought by the Konoha Ninja in that war were still etched in his heart.

"Daibutsu!" Nagato's voice carried a hint of displeasure as he rebuked the speaker.

On the way here, Nagato had already learned some of the details. He trusted his judgment and secretly glanced at Koki, afraid that he would be angry.

But Koki was laughing and teasing the monk beside her in a low voice, "He's bald just like you, but he's not as good-looking as you."

"Boss, this kind of joke is inappropriate in front of everyone," the monk sighed helplessly.

"Ahem." Koki coughed lightly, her smile fading as her expression turned serious. "Everyone, please don't be nervous, we mean no harm."

"I heard about your plight from Nagato, and I sympathize with your situation. I came here to see if there's anything I can do to help you."

"Ha, why should we believe in your sincerity?"

"Do people from Konoha easily extend goodwill?"

"We will never be fooled by trickery again."

Deep within the dim and damp cave, Yahiko sat silently on a simple straw mat. Every slight movement seemed to tear at the scabs on his body, and the searing pain swept over him mercilessly once again.

He clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and tried his best to suppress the pain. Exhaustion flickered in his eyes. He slowly raised his head to look at Koki and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, they've just been deceived."

Having endured too much betrayal and hurt, it's natural for them to be wary of strangers face-to-face; their vigilance is understandable.

Koki shook her head slightly, a knowing smile on her face. "It's alright. My name is Koki, and I am indeed a ninja from Konoha. I'm in the Land of Rain on a mission. Although I can't reveal the details, I assure you I have no intention of harming you."

He looked around, and the suspicious gazes were obvious. Koki knew that words alone could not completely dispel their doubts.

After a moment's thought, he took out a letter from his pocket. "Oh, right, I know Jiraiya. He said I could come find you when I arrive in the Land of Rain. This is the letter he wrote; you can take a look."

As soon as the words were spoken, Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato's faces lit up with excitement, as if they had caught a ray of dawn in the long night.

"Jiraiya- sensei?"

Under Yahiko's tacit approval, Konan eagerly took the letter, and Nagato quickly moved closer, their longing for their Jiraiya evident in their expressions.

The two excitedly squeezed to sit next to Yahiko, their three small heads huddled together. With the help of the dim light from outside the cave, they carefully unfolded the letter and read it intently, holding their breath.

The letter was short. It first expressed his longing for them, then mentioned Koki, saying that he had come to the Land of Rain to investigate the affairs of Sunagakure and earnestly requested their care.

He then changed the subject, saying that he was currently on the front lines of a war, fighting against Sunagakure. After the war, he would definitely visit the Land of Rain, where he hoped to have a meal with them and reminisce about old times.

"It really is Jiraiya- sensei's handwriting." Yahiko read the letter carefully, examining it again and again, before his gaze fell on Koki once more.

However... a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Jiraiya- sensei. What you see before you is our current predicament. We're too busy taking care of ourselves to look after you."

Yahiko looked around at his exhausted companions, who were struggling to survive and had no energy left to care for others.

Koki smiled, "It's the same if I take care of you."