After a while, Miru's consciousness gradually emerged from the haze, her entire body feeling weak and limp. As she slowly opened her eyes, the first things she saw were the white ceiling and the cold, flickering lights of medical equipment. Transparent fluid was slowly dripping into her veins through an IV.
'Where… am I?'
After Miru fainted, her memory became a little muddled. After a while, she finally remembered, 'I should have been killed by Captain Hoshigaki in front of the cliff, so why was I still alive?'
'Who saved me?'
Miru tried to push herself up but found that even lifting a finger was incredibly difficult.
"You're awake."
The sound of the door opening drew her attention. A Medical-Nin in a white coat and a face mask walked in.
"Who are you? Where is this?" Miru immediately grew wary when she noticed the other person wasn't wearing a Kirigakure's forehead protector.
When the Medical-Nin turned around, Miru spotted the number 81 printed on the back of the white coat, but she had no idea what it signified.
"You can call me No. 81." The Medical-Nin's tone was indifferent as they walked over to check the equipment and the IV drip.
"That's my designation in this experimental zone. It seems like you've recovered enough to talk this much."
"Oh, and a word of advice… this is a fully enclosed facility. If you try to escape on your own, you might just get killed by the patrolling Ninja."
Shadow clone No. 81 raised a finger to his masked lips in a shushing gesture.
'That voice-'
Miru's pupils shrank slightly at this voice, as she felt it was somewhat familiar.
"You are… Shura?" Miru's voice tightened as she recalled the voice she'd heard before losing consciousness. Her eyes widened: "Captain Hoshigaki..."
"You're still worried about Hoshigaki Kisame even now?" Shadow clone No. 81 chuckled, a hint of amusement flashing in his dark eyes.
'Kisame's appearance wasn't just intimidating, it was downright terrifying. Who would've thought a pretty girl like her would still be concerned about him?'
'Meanwhile…'
Shadow Clone No. 81 snorted and said, "Don't worry. He's busy investigating Suikazan Fuguki's betrayal and the leaking of Kirigakure's intel. Next time you see him, he might already be a Missing-nin."
"Suikazan Fuguki?" Miru's eyes widened in shock. She had no idea Suikazan Fuguki was also the Kirigakure's Anbu Commander.
But she had heard his name before. After all, he is one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and one of the three Ninja Sword-wielders promoted after the Third Great Ninja War
'He actually sold out the village's information?!'
"Just focus on recovering. Don't think about running away." Shadow clone No. 81 changed her IV fluids and was about to leave when they suddenly remembered something
"Oh, right. What's your name?" It had just occurred to shadow clone No. 81 that his main body hadn't even bothered to ask this Kunoichi's name.
"Terumi Miru." Miru answered softly, a shadow of gloom lingering between her brows.
"A Ninja from the Terumi Clan?" Shadow clone No. 81 raised an eyebrow, 'Who would've thought the main body had kidnapped a Kekkei Genkai user?'
…
Inside the Hoshinin Base.
After sending Miru to the medical division for treatment, Menma felt like he'd forgotten something important.
"Strange… what was it again?" Walking toward the family residence, Menma crossed his arms, his brows furrowed tightly.
The closer he got, the stronger this uneasy feeling grew.
"Menma-nii!"
Karin's cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.
The once frail little girl now had rounder cheeks and was looking up at him while holding a basket of groceries.
"Oh, it's Karin-chan. Where'd you go?" Menma bent down and picked her up.
The girl, who had once been as thin as a stick, had gained a bit of baby fat after half a year of carefree living. This made Menma couldn't resist pinching her cheeks.
"I went to buy groceries for Mom." Karin pouted but didn't resist, letting Menma play with her face.
"Menma-nii, come eat with us! Nee-chan just arrived, so Mom is making something delicious to welcome her."
"Nee-chan?" Menma was stunned for a moment, then it suddenly hit him. He'd finally remembered what he'd forgotten!
When he stepped into the Kanon's courtyard and looked up, he saw Kanon sitting on the engawa, cradling a child in a kimono and combing their hair.
The child was dressed in an exquisite kimono, and was as obedient as a doll.
They sat quietly in Kanon's lap, enjoying the moment.
'Huh?!'
Menma stiffened, 'That child who looked like a girl no matter how you looked at her… Could it be-'
"Ah, Shura-sama, you're back!" When Kanon noticed Menma, she stopped what she was doing and set the child aside.
"Sir." The adorable, doll-like child stood up and bowed politely.
Karin took the opportunity to jump off Menma's shoulders, holding the hand of this 'Nee-chan', looking back and forth between them curiously.
"Uh…"
Hearing that voice, Menma was absolutely certain now.
He smacked his forehead and said to Kanon, "Did I forget to mention… Haku's a boy?"
"Eh?"
Kanon, who is still holding the comb, tilted her head in confusion. She turned to look at Haku standing on the engawa, still not quite processing it.
"Auntie… I'm a boy."
Haku lifted his head slightly, his timid voice shattering Kanon's last shred of denial.
"B-B-B-Boy?!!"
Kanon's voice cracked as she stared at Haku, who is now dressed in a kimono, looking gentler and more ladylike than her own daughter.
If it weren't for Menma's presence and the fear of upsetting Haku, Kanon might have even reached out to 'check' for herself.
Karin stared blankly at Haku, mechanically taking off her glasses to wipe the lenses before putting them back on.
Her tiny brain simply couldn't comprehend-
'How could that adorable, pretty 'Nee-chan' turn out to be a boy?'
"So… why didn't you refuse these clothes earlier?!" Kanon flusteredly pointed at Haku's feminine attire.
Earlier, she had some official documents to review, so she'd let Haku bathe on his own and left a set of brand-new clothes, which was originally bought for Karin but never worn, on the stool outside the bathroom.
By the time she finished handling the documents and returned, Haku had already changed into the outfit and was sitting obediently on the engawa, drying his hair.
His delicate, pitiful appearance had instantly ignited Kanon's maternal instincts, prompting her to fetch a comb and gently groom his hair herself.
"Because… I liked them…"
Haku lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes as he avoided Kanon's eyes.
What he wanted to say was that no one had treated him this kindly since his parents died.
For the past year, he'd been living a vagrant's life… wandering from city to city in the Land of Water, scavenging through trash for food, drinking dew when thirsty, fighting stray dogs for scraps, and enduring beatings from other beggars and drifters.
Though he'd awakened his Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, the trauma of killing his father and the villagers still haunted him.
Against wild dogs, he could still bring himself to use his Ice Release. But when facing ordinary people… the psychological scars held him back.
"It's alright, it's alright…"
Kanon, having suffered her own hardships, immediately softened at Haku's expression. She knelt and pulled him into a hug.
"Tomorrow, Auntie will take you shopping for some proper boys' clothes."
Kanon patted Haku's head and said with a smile, "Auntie has always wanted a son, you know. If you don't mind… you can live with us from now on."
After saying that, Kanon turned to Menma and asked, "Shura-sama, please let me adopt this child."
Menma didn't mind. Unlike Kimimaro's genetic disease, which requires long-term treatment in the medical division, Haku had no such condition.
As long as he is given a stable environment, he will be able to reach the strength of a Jonin in a few years, possibly even Elite Jonin.
"Of course."
Menma nodded, then glanced at Karin, who still looked dazed, and gently flicked her forehead.
"Ow!"
Karin clutched her head, teary-eyed as she whined, "Nii-chan… Nee-chan disappeared-"
"Pfft… Hahahaha!"
Menma burst into laughter.
Kanon also covered her mouth and chuckled.