"A woman dressed as a shrine maiden?"
Tsukikage's eyes lit up.
Nagi's face grew grave, his voice heavy with awe. "If she can cure such a tricky infant illness, her mastery of medical ninjutsu chakra is meticulous. She might save this guy!"
The Uchiha's expressions shifted, their shattered hope rekindling.
All eyes turned to Tsukikage.
Yakari's face paled, fear creeping into his brows, his voice hesitant. "She's… a bit terrifying."
Minamikaze frowned. "What happened?"
Yakari took a deep breath, steadying himself. "When she came up the mountain, her shrine maiden robe was drenched in blood, and she carried several rogue ninja headbands. I suspect she wiped out the nearby rogues."
The Uchiha leaned in, eager for more, but Tsukikage's sharp glance silenced them, urging Yakari on.
Yakari's pupils shrank, a chill running through him as he recalled their meeting.
"She reached our doorstep and knocked politely. I opened the door, and the stench of blood hit me.
Beneath her white hood, she was beautiful, but her glasses were blood-streaked, eyes squinted, a gentle smile on her lips, holding blood-soaked white cloth bundles, dripping.
Her voice was soft, asking to stay, offering plenty of coin for meals. I wanted to refuse, but reason held me back. My gut said she meant no harm, just needed shelter.
Swallowing fear, I led her to the vacant cabin to the right. That night, hearing my son's pained cries, she came and healed him.
She's likely a good person. Tonight, I went hunting to repay her with game—usually, we don't hunt at night. Captain Tsukikage… don't tell her I shared this."
Tsukikage nodded. "The cabin a hundred meters right of the entrance, with lit windows?"
The Uchiha's eyes flickered, marveling that Tsukikage had memorized the terrain upon arrival.
Even Mikoto, meticulous during her active ninja days, cast a surprised glance his way.
Izumi shivered, picturing a blood-soaked blonde beauty in the dark, clutching heads—like the opening of a ghost tale.
"Yes," Yakari confirmed, his face grim, resolute.
"Minamikaze, bring men and follow. Izumi, guard here," Tsukikage ordered briskly.
He moved decisively, leading them out, spotting the candlelit cabin along the rugged path.
Four shadows darted forth.
At the cabin, Minamikaze kicked the door open with a bang. His two subordinates winced, thinking, Our captain's still so blunt.
Tsukikage shot him an odd look, calm. "We're here to invite someone."
"Sorry, sorry…" Minamikaze muttered, reaching to close the door for a do-over.
But his men followed Tsukikage inside.
A wooden bathtub sat in the hall, pink petals floating on steaming water. The floor was damp.
A bed with clean bedding stood inside, beside a bloodied black-and-white shrine maiden's attire and two purple lace undergarments, embroidered with classic patterns, delicately hollowed.
A fragrance like orchids lingered.
Clearly, a woman had bathed here but fled in haste, leaving clothes behind.
Tsukikage scanned the sparse cabin, his gaze passing over the garments, forming an assessment: Dignified appearance, hidden passion. She masks ruthlessness with kindness, like a ninja.
"Where is she?" Minamikaze asked, peering around the small cabin.
A teammate sighed. "If anyone was here, Captain Minamikaze's kick scared them off."
Minamikaze's face flushed, silenced, glancing at the expressionless Tsukikage.
Splash. Tsukikage's hand grazed the bathwater, petals parting. Feeling the temperature, he concluded, "She left before we arrived." His hand pressed the tub, focusing, attempting something.
"Captain, I'll track her—" Minamikaze began, but his eyes widened.
The other Uchiha gaped.
The bathtub vanished without a trace.
Captain Tsukikage wields the rarest spatial ninjutsu! they thought.
"She doesn't want to help or meet us. Finding a ninja roaming the wilds takes time we don't have," Tsukikage said.
Ignoring their shock, he left, the bathtub and water now in his spatial vault.
Tsukikage knew her identity.
He hadn't expected her at Kikyō-yama.
Golden hair, round glasses, shrine maiden attire, striking beauty, skilled in medical ninjutsu—none other than Yakushi Nonō, once of Root, renowned in the ninja world.
Around the Uchiha massacre, she was still alive.
Her presence here sparked guesses in Tsukikage's mind.
Returning empty-handed, Tsukikage saw dimmed eyes from Izumi, Mikoto, and the others, even Yakari slumping in disappointment.
Tamao laughed suddenly. "If I die, your burden's lighter. It's fine—don't mope!"
The Uchiha's grief deepened.
In their absence, Izumi, guided by Nagi, learned bandaging, using Yakari's materials to craft a simple stretcher for Tamao.
Tsukikage approached Yakari, instructing, "We're leaving. Tomorrow, take your family to an inn in Kikyō no Sato for a while."
He offered no explanation.
Yakari nodded solemnly, trusting him, then rushed to the kitchen.
The Uchiha packed lightly, two lifting Tamao's stretcher, heading out.
Yakari ran back, arms full of food. "Captain Tsukikage, take these!"
Tsukikage turned, seeing Yakari panting, holding ten pounds of smoked boar and bags of chicken and duck eggs.
The Uchiha felt a warm sensation. In Konoha, villagers scorned them, yet this refugee, thanks to their captain, treated them with sincerity.
Yakari stuffed food into Minamikaze's hands, then pulled a rough paper from his pocket, handing it to Tsukikage with a grin. "Captain, I don't know your mission, but here's a map I charted of the area. Hope it helps!"
Tsukikage accepted it, a faint smile forming. "Go back, care for Miri and your son."
Yakari nodded, beaming.
Izumi, holding the egg bag, hesitated, then advised softly, "Yakari-san, we're taking your Kirigakure rogue headbands. Don't pose as rogues in the wilds—it's risky in the Land of Fire, even at the border."
Yakari scratched his head, sheepish. "It was just to scare off mountain thieves. We'll try to grow stronger, no more tricks."
Izumi nodded, pleased by his compliance.
Nagi hurried out, relieved to see the "calamity" group leave. Finally, freedom!
Under the dark night's veil, Tsukikage's team sped northwest, vanishing into the mountain path with a few leaps, blending into the shadows.
…
In the wilds, under moonlight, a graceful, mature silhouette perched on a branch, wrapped only in a white towel.
(End of Chapter)