As Shota got to the orphanage there was a lot of noise. The kids played around and they chattered without any care.
Two boys ran past him chasing a wooden ball while a group of girls sat in a circle sharing stories and laughing loudly.
The matron's strong voice cut through the noise. "Brats eat your food!" the matron shouted while chasing after a pair of kids with a frown which Shota knew was her equivalent of a smile.
The two children giggled and tried to dodge around her skirts. One of them called out, "But Matron, the rice is still too hot!" She answered at once, "Then blow on it like proper little shinobi instead of running around like desert mice!"
Another child from the table shouted, "He took my extra dumpling!"
The accused boy yelled back, "It fell on the floor first so it is mine by right of the five second rule!"
The matron groaned loudly and declared, "There is no five second rule in this house. Sit down both of you before I make you wash every dish for a week!"
A smaller girl tugged on the matron's sleeve and asked in a sweet voice, "Can we have sweet buns after if we finish everything?"
The matron pretended to think hard and then replied, "Only if every bowl is clean and no one throws rice at anyone else. Now move!"
Instead of what he believed of seeing the matron crying in despair and isolating herself after seeing the love of her life die she was as cheerful as ever.
Shota felt a quiet relief at the sight. She turned her eyes to see him and spoke, "Ah you finally decided to visit brat. Heard you got me a new brat for the orphanage."
Shota answered honestly. "Yes, her name is Fū. She should not be annoying like these ones. And she is like old man Bunpuku." He decided to tell her this because if there was someone who would not discriminate against a jinchuriki in the village, it was her.
The matron had cared for the previous one Tail jinchuriki for many years and understood the heavy burden better than most. He trusted her to treat the little girl with the same care she gave every child under her roof.
He continued,"Speaking of him I am sorry about your loss. I knew how much he meant to you."
The matron snorted and answered in her usual blunt style. "He was going to die anyway at this age that old fool."
Shota gave her a look as if she had gone mad with her grief. She was trying to hide her sorrow with her rude words. The sharp tone and the quick dismissal could not completely hide the wetness that appeared for a moment in her eyes.
She noticed his expression and spoke again with more force. "Do not give me that look. I am not grieving. Why would I have to feel sad about him? That old fool lived long enough and he lived a good life since he married me."
"Now come and eat. His funeral is scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Be sure to attend it." The invitation left no room for refusal. Shota nodded and joined the children at the table for a simple meal before he left again.
Two days later the funeral of Bunpuku took place under the desert sky. Bunpuku's funeral was attended by the top brass of the village all the elders the Kazekage and many of the retired shinobi.
Shota might be the only young one present there. The gathering stayed quiet and respectful. A simple wooden platform held the old monk's body wrapped in clean white cloth.
Everyone gave their respects to the holder of Shukaku for at least six decades. One by one the visitors stepped forward bowed and offered silent prayers.
The matron gave her speech first. She stood in front of the crowd and spoke,"Bunpuku was a stubborn old man who never knew when to rest. Before he grew too, he helped me with the orphanage, he spent every day watching over the children and telling them stories even when his back hurt and his eyes grew weak."
She paused and looked at the quiet faces around her. "He taught me that a home is not made of walls but of the people who stay kind even on hard days. The orphanage will keep his lessons alive through every child who learns to share and to help."
Her voice softened for the next part. "I will not cry in front of all of you because he would laugh at me and call me a soft fool. Instead I will keep the tables full and the rooms noisy the way he liked them."
She ended with a simple promise. "Rest well you old fool. The children still need the path you showed them."
Rasa stepped forward next and gave his official speech. The Kazekage spoke, "Bunpuku served Suna longer than most of us have been alive. He carried the burden of the One Tail with patience and never let the power harm the village he loved."
Rasa looked over the gathered elders and retired fighters. "We honour that service today and we will remember it when the next generation takes up the same duty."
When the speeches ended and the crowd began to leave after the last rites were performed, Shota stayed a little longer.
"Good bye old man. Rest easy and know that I will take care of Matron." He mumbled before leaving himself.
--------Author Notes---------
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