An unknown amount of time had passed before Ryoto opened his eyes.
"Ah, an unfamiliar ceiling."
It was a hospital. He had seen it when he was born and had not been back since. His health was as robust as steel; he had never fallen ill, not with anything serious, nor even with a minor ailment. The silence of the night in the hospital was broken only by the steady beeping of medical equipment. Turning his head, Ryoto glanced toward the wall.
Inuzuka Rin sat on a high stool, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes closed as if she were dozing. But one of her eyes was slightly ajar, watching her son.
Ryoto lowered his gaze to his hand. At the edge of the bed, a young girl slept with her head resting on his arm, her hand tightly gripping his. Her long eyelashes trembled, and a small bandage adorned her lovely face.
"It's Rin..."
Ryoto tried to free his hand, but she held on too tightly.
"Mom, how long was I asleep? I hope it wasn't for ten years," he asked calmly.
"Almost three days and nights," Inuzuka Rin replied, sighing in relief upon seeing that her son was still able to joke. A note of ease entered her voice. "You were sleeping so soundly, it actually frightened me."
She, too, was calm. Mother and son were cut from the same cloth: the more critical the situation, the more rational they became. They were the kind of people who could maintain an icy composure even in the midst of madness.
"So, what's wrong with me?" Ryoto inquired.
"It's not clear yet. Princess Tsunade is still studying your case; you'll need to remain under observation. Do you have any ideas?" Inuzuka Rin asked.
"Well... my head feels heavy, and my body is weak," Ryoto answered, giving his mother a meaningful look.
Understanding him without a word, Inuzuka Rin nodded.
So, it really is about the Chakra Seed.
But the hospital was no place for such conversations. A warning had been issued back when he shared the Chakra Seed with Kage, but Ryoto hadn't paid it much mind. Now he understood: the number of people with whom he could share his power had reached its limit. It seemed as though he was giving a part of himself to others, and as the number of "gifted" individuals grew, his own body could not withstand the depletion of this resource.
Mom, Hakura, Kuroko, Smarty, the trio of Tamago and her brothers, Masao, Zato, Kage, Rin... and the ninja hawk. Twelve in total.
So what exactly had he given them?
"Don't worry, your body is recovering," said Inuzuka Rin. "The problem seems to be more in your head, and for Princess Tsunade, this is a rather complex case."
"Can we really rely on her...?" Ryoto muttered. "That lady who reeks of sake is probably sleeping soundly in the next room."
Ryoto had seen Tsunade many times—at the funerals for the village's heroes. She had lost her brother, her clansmen, her beloved, and she had wept with a heart torn asunder. It was then that Ryoto realized that in this living world, there were countless people whose names he never knew, people he had seen, who now lay in the cold earth. The endless succession of funerals and the perpetually overcast sky were forever etched in his memory. Everyone cried—with their faces and with their hearts.
"Tsunade is just tired, not weaker," Inuzuka Rin replied. "And don't you dare call her 'lady' to her face unless you want a beating. I won't stand up for you. I see you're perfectly fine. Can't sleep?"
Maybe the pain is keeping him awake?
Ryoto shook his head.
"No, I can still sleep. My head is just a little dizzy."
Inuzuka Rin raised an eyebrow slightly, worried that her son was downplaying his condition so she wouldn't worry.
"Does anything hurt?"
Ryoto looked at his mother, then shifted his gaze to Rin, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"My head hurts."
Inuzuka Rin glanced at the sleeping girl, a teasing smile gracing her lips.
"I heard you two are planning to get married. Did you ask for my permission?"
In the world of shinobi, there was no concept of "dating too early." When children fell in love, adults considered it normal, for it had been the same for them. Although five years old was, of course, a bit young. But to forbid it? They would only be delighted. So, Inuzuka Rin simply wanted to tease her son.
"Are you okay with it, Mom?" Ryoto asked.
"Getting married? You can do it right now!" she laughed. "I'll take you to the Nohara house tomorrow to propose."
"Stay out of it!" Ryoto grumbled, turning away.
Crossing her legs and propping her cheek with her hand, Inuzuka Rin looked at her son with a smile.
"You have such a rare expression on your face, kid. What, do you like her?"
"No," Ryoto looked at his mother with desperation. "She's very clingy."
"Hah?! No?!" Inuzuka Rin leaped to her feet and smacked him on the head with her fist. Anger flashed in her eyes. "Then why are you leading her on?!"
Rubbing the top of his aching head, Ryoto muttered:
"Just stay out of it. Mom, that hurts!"
"Serves you right!" Inuzuka Rin looked at the sweetly sleeping Rin. "When that girl ran to my workplace in tears, I nearly lost my mind. Do you know how she found me?"
"By scent," Ryoto answered, looking innocently at his mother.
"Exactly, a nose like a dog's," Inuzuka Rin said, her eyes narrowing. "I'm warning you, I really like her. And she belongs in the Inuzuka Clan."
Hearing this, Ryoto felt his headache return.
"Whatever your plans are, you'd better consider my opinion."
Wow... I've dug my own grave. It's all over. I'm afraid Inuzuka Rin won't wait until I'm twenty.
This woman had married at fifteen herself.
Marrying a minor is a pure crime!
"Speak!" Inuzuka Rin slapped her silent son on the head.
"I get it..."
"You'd better," she said, sitting down again. "After you were brought to the hospital, this girl never left your side. She came every day and waited eagerly for you to wake up."
Oh, for crying out loud...
"Mom, if you're tired, go home and rest," Ryoto said.
"What, kicking me out?" Inuzuka Rin raised an eyebrow. "Fine, fine, I'm leaving!"
"I love you, Mom!"
The corners of her lips twitched and crept upward.
"I'm gone. I have work tomorrow. You're nothing but trouble..." Stretching, Inuzuka Rin opened the door and walked out.
She had been at the hospital for three days and was steeped in its scent. She needed to go home, take a shower, get a good night's sleep, and return in the morning.
She's finally gone.
A moment later, Inuzuka Rin pushed the door open again and peeked into the room, glancing at Rin.
"Mom, did something happen?"
She smiled at her son.
"Nothing," she said, and closed the door.
I won't wake the girl today, let her stay.
Ryoto looked at the sleeping Rin.
"Sigh..."
Is she really comfortable sleeping like that?
Gazing at the moon outside the window, Ryoto shifted and sat up.
The bed seems quite large, actually.
He glanced at the two empty beds nearby.
Too far, too much trouble.
Rin was in a deep sleep. With some effort, Ryoto moved her onto the bed, then lay down beside her on his side and closed his eyes.
…
In the middle of the night, Tsunade, yawning, came to check the room. Seeing the two little ones lying back-to-back on the bed, she felt her eyelid twitch. All her drowsiness vanished in an instant.
Damn it! I can't stand to look at this! What a sickeningly sweet scene. I hate kids these days.
In any case, since the boy had woken up and was now sleeping again, it meant there was nothing serious. Tsunade turned and walked out.
…
The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the window, Rin's long eyelashes fluttered. She woke up drowsily, rubbed her eyes, and opened them.
Why am I sleeping on the floor?
She jumped up nimbly and looked at the bed. Ryoto, who had been lying motionless before, was now spread-eagled across it, taking up all the space. One of his hands was unconsciously scratching his exposed stomach. His expression was no longer one of suffering; he was sleeping very soundly.
So why am I on the floor? That's strange.
Rin stared at Ryoto, and gradually, it all dawned on her. Her eyes widened.
Ryoto-kun... he woke up last night! That's wonderful!
Holding her breath, she approached, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently took his hand.
This is so wonderful!
She lowered her head and began to cry silently. Large tears rolled down her cheeks, but a happy smile played on her lips.
Truly... this is so wonderful!
Rin had finally found her peace.