Dark clouds swept across the sky, casting a heavy veil of rain over the Land of Rain.
Shinobi from all nations lurked within its borders, fighting battles filled with intrigue, deception, and the ever-present risk of death.
And on a small hill in the eastern region of the Land of Rain, five figures appeared amid the storm.
"No matter what village they're from—if any ninja enters within a ten-mile radius, eliminate them."
"If it's someone Uchiha Hikaru recognizes, use genjutsu and send them away."
All four shadow clones nodded in unison.
"Understood. It's all for Lord Hikaru."
"Go."
The shadow clones immediately scattered in the four directions—east, south, west, and north.
Still uneasy, Hikaru created a fifth shadow clone and instructed it to patrol within a three-kilometer radius.
"Is that the Shadow Clone Jutsu…?"
"What an incredible technique. I didn't expect something so advanced to be this easy to use…"
"But with this, it's so much more convenient. That way, my real body can always stay by Lord Hikaru's side…"
With that thought, she turned and returned to the cave.
"Hikaru… I'm back."
"Hikaru what? Masked Sister, what were you about to say?"
Konan, who sat beside Hikaru, looked up curiously at the mask on Saya's face.
"…Nothing."
"I was just going to say, be careful. It's still raining outside, and the ground's muddy. Don't let yourself get dirty."
Saya struggled to come up with an excuse, hoping to distract Konan.
Fortunately, the young girl didn't seem to suspect anything.
She tilted her small head, thought for a moment, and then puffed up her cheeks, nodding solemnly.
"You're right, Sister, but the Land of Rain has always been like this."
"It almost never stops raining all year round."
As she spoke, she suddenly felt a large hand rest on her head.
"Sister just wants you to stay inside. You're still weak."
"You don't want to get sick again like before."
Konan nuzzled into Hikaru's palm, feeling the warmth radiating from his touch. Her eyes and mouth curved softly as she hummed contentedly.
"I know, Masked Brother, Masked Sister~"
Saya finally breathed a small sigh of relief and sat down again beside Hikaru. The three of them gathered around the campfire in the cave.
After a while, Hikaru checked the pot of fish porridge and saw it was ready. He took out the same porcelain bowls they'd used the night before, ladled out the porridge with a large spoon, and handed it to both Saya and Konan.
Suddenly, Konan's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She looked eagerly at Hikaru and Saya.
Were the masked brother and sister finally going to take off their masks?
You couldn't exactly eat porridge with a mask on, right~?
Under her watchful gaze, Hikaru reached up and placed a hand on his mask.
Yes! It's finally coming off!
Konan leaned forward anxiously, completely ignoring the steaming porridge in her hands, her eyes glued to him.
Then Hikaru's hand shifted… and moved behind his ear.
Click~
A soft sound echoed.
Click~
Another faint snap.
Together, Hikaru and Saya removed the lower halves of their masks, revealing only their mouths and jaws.
"Ah…"
Konan let out a small, disappointed sigh.
The good news: they took off the masks.
The bad news: only half of them.
But she didn't press the issue.
After all, she'd spent the entire night pestering them about it before falling asleep and even dreaming strange dreams.
If they didn't want to talk about it, they must have their reasons. It would be rude to ask again.
After removing the lower half of his mask, Hikaru gently flicked Konan on the forehead.
"Alright, enough thinking about the masks."
"The time's not right yet. When it is, you'll see everything."
"Now drink your porridge before it gets cold."
...
Just like that, Hikaru, Saya, and Konan continued living quietly in the cave for nearly a week.
No one disturbed them during this time. Every morning when Konan woke up, she would find Hikaru cooking breakfast and Saya helping him.
At first, simply having enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and kind people nearby made her feel content.
But she was still a child. As the days passed in the same repetitive rhythm, she began to grow a little restless. She never complained—she was mature for her age—but Hikaru noticed.
Because no matter how well she tried to hide it, a child's emotions always found a way to peek through.
On the morning of the eighth day, Konan awoke and was stunned to discover—
The rain had stopped!
"Masked Brother! Masked Sister! Look!"
"The rain stopped in the Land of Rain!"
From the moment she was born, Konan had lived under constant rain. She had never once seen her homeland bathed in sunlight.
She had once longed for it with all her heart.
But then the war began, and her parents abandoned her. That was when she truly understood the nature of this land.
Like herself, the Land of Rain was always weeping—never warm, never bright.
It wasn't until Hikaru and Saya appeared that she smiled again.
As for her parents… however much they once loved her, that's how much they must have hurt now.
She didn't hate them. It was hard enough for ordinary people to survive during wartime, let alone raise a child. She understood their desperation.
But… that didn't stop the pain.
The rain has finally stopped!
"Masked Brother! Sister! Hurry and come look!"
Konan dashed outside the cave, her bare feet hitting the wet stones. They scraped her skin, making her hiss from the sting—but it reminded her this was real.
Five kilometers away, one of Hikaru's shadow clones sat cross-legged in the rain, using the chakra of the Dragon Vein to resonate with nature energy in the atmosphere, sending bursts of chakra into the sky—
Calling upon natural chakra to push the dark clouds away from above the cave.
"Unfortunately, the main body's soul hasn't fully recovered from its shattered state."
"I can probably maintain this for no more than half an hour."
Hikaru and Saya stepped out of the cave and came to Konan's side. They each took one of her small hands and walked slowly together beneath the rare, sunlit sky.
Konan smiled through her tears.
(It's okay. The past is over. I still have my Masked Brother and Masked Sister…)
(Whatever happens, as long as I'm with them, I'll be fine…) (;▽;)
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