Northern Suburbs of Konoha
The Konoha Orphanage stood quietly amid the greenery.
A brand-new gate had been erected, and fresh grass sprouted across the lawn. The old, decaying wood of the building had been replaced with strong, polished timber. Everything felt renewed.
Children gathered outside on the lawn, laughing and playing joyfully.
"Alright, little ones, go play outside for a while. The Director has to speak with the kind big brother who helped us."
"Be careful when you're playing—don't get hurt."
Nono smiled gently as she addressed the children.
"Okay~! Go, Sister Director!"
"Don't keep the guest waiting too long!"
"Didn't you say we have to be polite to our guests?"
Nono smiled faintly. Her long undercover mission in Iwagakure had made her forget she'd taught the kids such manners.
She turned and walked back inside, gently closing the door behind her.
Inside, Uchiha Hikaru sat cross-legged on the tatami, calmly observing the refurbished orphanage that he had funded himself.
"So? Are you satisfied with my sincerity, mysterious witch lady?"
Nono offered a small, graceful smile and knelt across from Hikaru.
"Thank you, Lord Hikaru, for supporting the orphanage. Thanks to your generosity, the children's lives will be much more comfortable."
"The name 'The Walking Witch' belongs to the past. Let it fade away."
Hikaru glanced once more at her modest attire.
Her black robe completely concealed her voluptuous figure. Her long brown hair—soft and smooth—was mostly hidden beneath a white hood resembling a nun's veil. From behind, her pale hair was barely visible.
It was a shame. Her face was striking—beautiful enough to make men sin and women swoon—yet carried an air of holiness, untouchable. Her eyebrows held a gentleness tinged with sorrow, and her light blue eyes seemed dull, lacking light.
It reminded Hikaru of Tsunade after long training sessions, her eyes equally glazed.
But in Nono's case, it was just nearsightedness.
Hikaru reached into the ninja pouch on his back and pulled out a small, elegant case.
Grey-black in color, outlined with gold-etched patterns, it bore the kanji for medicine in carefully embroidered strokes.
He handed it to her.
"Since I brought gifts for the children, I figured you should have one too. Please accept it."
Nono hesitated. She wasn't sure if she should accept something so personal.
After all, she was nearly thirty, and in all her years, no man had ever given her a gift before.
Her heart began to flutter, her mind adrift in uncertainty.
Could this be more than a gift?
No… impossible. Lord Hikaru is kind to all the children—he wouldn't have any feelings for someone like me.
He's not even twenty yet… I'm almost thirty…
She tried to convince herself it meant nothing—but couldn't shake the quiet pang of regret buried deep inside.
"Take it," Hikaru said with a teasing tone, "or you won't be able to see properly when you're working in the medical department."
His voice pulled her out of her daze. She opened the case with both hands.
Inside was a familiar pair of black, round-framed glasses.
"Try them on. See if you like them."
Nono stared at the glasses, surprised he had noticed such a personal habit.
She preferred round frames—they gave her the widest field of vision, which helped her keep track of all the children at once.
She brushed aside the hair at her temples, tucked it gently behind her ears, and slipped the glasses on.
Then she looked up at Hikaru.
Only now did she see him clearly: a young man with sharp, masculine features, exuding strength and danger. His hair—jet black and spiked—framed his striking, confident face.
A flush of pink bloomed on her cheeks like early peach blossoms, and a subtle shyness lingered in her gaze.
Though she was older, she was still a virgin. Facing a man as charismatic as Uchiha Hikaru—it was impossible not to feel moved.
"You'll be near the medical department often from now on," he said, "so you won't have as much time to be with the children."
Nono nodded slowly, her eyes drifting toward the window and the playing children.
"I've thought about that. I can only care for so many children alone."
"But now that the village is providing for them, I can let go of that burden and focus on my work in the medical department."
She paused, her mind wandering through the memories of her life.
Her parents had died during the Second Great Ninja War. She was taken in by the orphanage, then recruited into Root for training. Though she later left, Danzo and the elders had used aid funding to force her return.
Now, the orphanage was secure. The Hokage and her assistant had placed their trust in her.
She wouldn't let them down.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll move to a place near Konoha Hospital. It'll make things easier."
Hikaru was momentarily stunned.
She was really willing to leave the children behind?
Seeing the confusion on his face, Nono laughed quietly.
"You're worried I'll miss them?"
"Konoha doesn't need me to watch over them anymore. They'll grow up fine—even without me."
"I was never meant to stay in their lives forever."
"I just wanted to help a few lost kids avoid the tragedy I went through."
"Training at Root stripped us of most emotions. Even the care I showed the children—it wasn't purely instinct. I used hypnosis to implant a self-suggestion: 'Repay the orphanage.' That's how I held on all these years."
Hikaru finally understood.
Her dim pupils weren't just the result of nearsightedness—but a symptom of years of self-inflicted hypnosis.
His heart ached a little.
His gaze softened.
He reached out and placed his hand gently on her forehead.
Startled, Nono flinched and tried to back away, her cheeks burning.
"Don't move."
Hikaru's voice was calm, commanding.
It rooted her in place. She slowly closed her eyes, heart thumping wildly, mind running in all directions.
What is he going to do?
"Release—Genjutsu Dispel."
What she expected… didn't happen.
Nono lowered her hands to her chest, quietly calming the startled flutter of her heart.
Then, suddenly—clarity.
Her mind cleared. The compulsion vanished.
"You're free now," Hikaru said softly. "Live the life you truly want."
And with that, Uchiha Hikaru vanished, his body flickering out of the room like smoke.
His parting words lingered in the air:
"Oh, and—don't wear your nun outfit to the medical department. Try a nurse uniform or a white coat instead~"
A wry smile curved on Nono's lips as her cheeks reddened once again.
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