Just like that, the three of them wandered aimlessly beneath the rare, sunny sky.
But it didn't last long. Dark clouds soon began to gather overhead once again.
Uchiha Hikaru glanced up at the sky, frowning as he clenched his fists.
This disgusting weather… it's going to drive me—
"Brother Hikaru, it's going to rain. Let's go back to the cave."
Konan gently stroked Hikaru's palm with her small fingers. A forced smile appeared on her delicate, childish face.
"Mm..."
"It'll start soon. Let's head back."
A light drizzle began to fall from the sky. At the same time, the chakra sustaining Hikaru's shadow clones ran dry, and they all dispersed into white smoke.
Their memories instantly flowed back into Hikaru's mind.
Just as expected… With only Dragon Vein chakra, I can't maintain it for too long.
It wasn't that Hikaru was unwilling to use his own chakra. But the moment he did, it would erupt like a tailed beast's. While not quite on the level of the Nine-Tails, it was comparable to the Eight-Tails, Gyūki.
If he released that kind of power, he'd draw far too much attention—possibly even from Madara or Black Zetsu.
Only by relying solely on the chakra of the Dragon Vein could he remain hidden from them both.
After returning to the cave and having a quiet brunch, Hikaru let Konan rest. Then he gently stroked her head.
"Konan, Masked Sister and I will have to leave here sooner or later."
"Leave…!?"
"Where are you going? Can't you take me with you? I want to go with you!"
Panic flashed across Konan's face. Her pupils began to contract as fear wrapped tightly around her heart like a vice.
Am I going to be abandoned again?
No… I don't want to be alone again…!
She rushed forward and threw her arms around Hikaru's thigh, holding on tightly.
Saya, standing nearby, raised a hand as if to comfort Konan, but hesitated. In the end, she said nothing.
Looking at Konan's tearful face, Saya couldn't help but think of herself.
If the day ever comes when Lord Hikaru decides to leave me… what would I do?
That fear… the despair… that crushing loneliness would come flooding back again. She couldn't bear to even imagine it.
"Don't worry," Hikaru said gently. "We're just going away for a while to handle something important."
"But once it's done, we'll come back and pick you up."
"There's no way I'd ever abandon someone as adorable as you, Konan."
Hearing this, Konan's tears slowed. She looked up at Hikaru's masked face, her cheeks stained with tears.
"Really? Masked Brother, you're not lying to me?"
Then she turned to Saya beside her.
"Sister, you'll be my witness, okay?!"
Saya nodded, her voice warm and soft.
"Alright. I'll be your witness."
Hikaru crouched down to Konan's level, extended his right hand, and raised his pinky and thumb.
"We've made a promise. We'll come back for you. So you have to stay alive and wait for us, okay?"
Konan looked at his outstretched pinky and extended her own, hooking her little finger with his.
"Okay!"
"Pinky promise, no take-backs. For a thousand years, no breaking the oath. If you lie… you'll have to swallow a thousand—no, ten thousand needles!"
She pressed her thumb against his, sealing the childish but heartfelt pact.
"Okay~ Now the promise is sealed~"
Hikaru smiled and nodded.
"Mhm. It's official. If I break this promise, the rocks will fall on me."
"So… when are you leaving?" Konan asked, her golden-orange eyes glistening, tinged with sadness.
"In about two and a half months. That's the latest," Hikaru answered.
"Masked Sister and I still have a lot of things we need to do."
He was mostly bluffing, but Saya next to him took his words very seriously.
Lord Hikaru must have many important missions. I need to become someone he can rely on… someone indispensable!
"How long will it take before you come back?"
"Hmm… maybe ten years? Or twenty?"
"But definitely not more than thirty."
"By then, Konan, you'll be all grown up. You might even be the one protecting me and Masked Sister."
"Alright! But you have to come back quickly! I'll definitely become strong enough to protect you!"
Konan punched the air in front of her, a determined look on her small face.
With that, Hikaru took her hand and led her out of the cave. Saya followed close behind.
They walked together into the light rain.
Eventually, they stopped about a hundred meters from the cave.
"Alright," Hikaru said, looking at her seriously. "Starting today, the next two and a half months may be painful."
"But I hope you'll endure it, Konan."
"Only through hard training can you build a strong foundation."
"It's the only way to survive in a place like the Land of Rain."
Konan looked from Saya to Hikaru, then gave a firm nod.
"Don't worry, Brother Mask. No matter how hard it is, I'll stick with it!"
And so, Hikaru began Konan's intense, hellish training.
Every morning, she had to sprint a hundred meters back and forth one hundred times. After that, it was one thousand squats with heavy stones on her back. Whenever she collapsed, Hikaru would immediately use Dragon Vein chakra to perform healing jutsu, then resume training without pause.
After lunch, they switched to chakra control. Konan proved to be highly talented, quickly refining both water and earth chakra natures within just one afternoon.
Hikaru even discovered she had an affinity for Yin Release chakra.
It seemed that her signature Paper Jutsu was formed by blending small amounts of Yin chakra into water and earth.
In the evenings, after more chakra refinement, she would repeat the same morning routine: fifty laps, one thousand push-ups. Whenever her body gave out, healing jutsu would be applied before continuing.
Even before bed, Hikaru would tell her stories—tales of shinobi history, chakra theory, and secrets of the ninja world.
Konan's days became more fulfilling than ever before.
This was precisely why Hikaru hadn't started training her right away during the first ten days. He'd wanted to build trust and adjust her body back to normal conditions first.
Even the food she ate during training was subtly laced with special supplements—secret medicine Hikaru had acquired from the Nara Clan while training in taijutsu.
Time passed quickly.
And so did the healing of the fractures within Hikaru's soul.
Until finally, one morning, two and a half months later…
Hikaru opened his eyes and smiled faintly.
He had fully recovered—stronger than ever before.
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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