A week slipped by in no time.
During that week, Mitsuki Mui relied on her extraordinary talent to finally perfect her own version of latiao—a spicy snack she had been experimenting with until she was satisfied with the result.
In some ways, that achievement carried more meaning for Mui than another event that happened that very same day.
Konoha had won.
The shinobi on the front lines were already preparing to return.
Among them were none other than the "White Fang of Konoha" and two of the legendary Sannin.
Yes… only two.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya made it back.
But Tsunade… did not.
It wasn't that she had died. The official word from the village was vague: she hadn't returned yet, but was traveling outside for the time being.
But Mui knew the truth.
Someone had died.
Dan Katō.
The man who had been her teacher for three months was gone.
"I see…" Mui paused when she first received the news, her hands halting in the middle of preparing her latiao. After only a breath's hesitation, she continued cooking as if nothing had changed.
"So then, what else?" she asked without looking back, addressing Kakashi, who had brought the message. "Is there anything more?"
Kakashi's expression shifted slightly. Mui's tone hadn't carried the slightest tremor, not even as she faced the death of her mentor. He was about to speak again when he noticed something: her arm trembled, ever so faintly.
"Is she… holding it back so I won't see?"
Relief softened Kakashi's heart. After all, it had been three months together with her teacher. Of course she must be hurting. Maybe she just didn't want him to witness it. Perhaps, behind that averted face, tears were already falling.
"That's all. My father just returned, so I'll head back now. If you need me… you know where to find me."
"Mm. Got it."
Mui still didn't turn her head, but Kakashi thought he detected a slight quiver in her voice.
"…She cried, didn't she?"
"Then I'll be going," he said quietly.
With that, Kakashi left. He figured it was better to let her be alone at a time like this.
Once she felt his presence fully gone, Mui glanced back, then reached into the pot to scoop out the simmered bean curd skins.
"Honestly… looks like I pulled it off," she murmured, shaking her head before resuming her latiao preparations.
Mui's emotions… perhaps they were faint. Or maybe it was simply that everything in her life revolved around herself.
The death of someone she had trained with for three months wasn't nearly enough to make her feel genuine sorrow.
"Well then… rest easy on your journey. Though, if I recall correctly, you'll probably show up again when the Fourth Great Ninja War rolls around, won't you?"
Mui eyed the completed batch of latiao with a small nod. Now all that remained was to wait.
Afterward, she went into the kitchen and fetched two onions.
She began slicing them thin, then pressed the fresh pieces against her eyes. In the next moment, tears poured down her cheeks like a sudden storm.
"Really now… How unlucky can you be? Didn't you say the risk this time was low, that it was just a cleanup mission? Ugh, well, it's not like I could have done anything about it. But you've left me stuck here, forced to put on this whole act…"
After all—no one likes a person who seems cold and unfeeling. Better to look as though you're brimming with emotion, to show "weakness" others can recognize. It makes people think you're easier to understand, maybe even easier to control. That was a very important advantage.
Because in so many versions of this world—in countless fanfictions she'd read—the shinobi world was painted as an incredibly dark place.
And even in the manga itself, the darkness was there between the lines.
All the more reason to tread carefully. Better safe than sorry.
Gradually, her tears subsided. Mui tossed the onions into the trash, then studied her reflection. Her eyes were puffed, reddened—perfect. She exhaled slowly.
"Yoshi—done. No one will spot a single crack in this performance."
Satisfied, she gave a small nod, then headed next door toward the Hatake household, where Sakumo Hatake resided.