"But... what should I do?"
Chiya smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"To truly take care of those children, we need our own people running the orphanage. I think you are the most suitable person for it. Both in terms of your background and everything else, you are the most qualified. Once we have the right person in place, what is left is resources. The Uchiha can fund the expansion of the orphanage and improve the children's living conditions and quality of life. After that, we can continue providing older children with the opportunity to enroll in the ninja academy, giving them more choices."
Yakushi Nono's breathing quickened slightly.
"Is that really possible?"
"Of course."
Chiya tightened his grip on her hand.
"You are the clan head of the Uchiha. Will this put you in a difficult position?"
Chiya patted her on the head.
"Do not worry. I know what I am doing."
Yakushi Nono pressed down the excitement rising in her chest.
Having the Uchiha fund the orphanage was certainly a good thing, but...
She still did not want to cause trouble for Chiya.
After a moment of silence, she shook her head.
"I cannot let the Uchiha Clan help the orphanage unconditionally!"
Chiya was briefly taken aback. He looked at the firm expression on Nono's face and quickly understood.
"A loan then. That works, does it not?"
Yakushi Nono looked at him. The worry in her eyes was gradually replaced by hope.
She nodded firmly.
"I want every child in the orphanage to understand what it means to stand on their own feet!"
Chiya smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Right, lead by example. Good thinking."
"Alright, alright. It is getting late. Let us eat first. We need to be full before we can get anything done."
Yakushi Nono laughed through her tears and wiped her eyes.
"Yes!"
The two ordered a full table of barbecue. Chiya grilled while laying out his plan for her. Yakushi Nono listened with full attention, occasionally offering her own thoughts. The atmosphere gradually grew lighter.
Halfway through the meal, Chiya suddenly asked.
"Nono, have you seen Tsunade today?"
Yakushi Nono shook her head.
"Lady Tsunade came to the hospital this morning but left within five minutes. She is probably working on a new training program for medical ninja. If you want to find her, go in the afternoon. She comes back to the hospital every afternoon to handle medical matters."
Chiya thought about that.
"Is that so. Then I will go to the hospital this afternoon and find her there. I can bring her in on the orphanage project at the same time. Her medical ninjutsu and her influence would make things go a lot more smoothly."
Yakushi Nono's eyes lit up.
"If Lady Tsunade is willing to help, that would be wonderful!"
Chiya smiled and picked up a piece of freshly grilled meat and placed it in her bowl.
"So stop worrying. Things will get better."
Yakushi Nono looked at the meat in her bowl, then looked at Chiya's gentle smile, and the shadow hanging over her heart lifted completely.
She said softly.
"Chiya-kun, thank you."
Chiya raised an eyebrow.
"Thank me for what?"
"Thank you for... always showing up when I need you most."
Her voice was quiet, but unusually steady.
Chiya paused briefly, then smiled.
"Come find me whenever something is wrong then. Do not keep things bottled up on your own."
Yakushi Nono nodded. A genuine smile finally appeared on her face.
"Chiya-kun, I do not have much going on at the hospital today. I will be heading home a little earlier this afternoon. Would you like to..."
Like to what?
Chiya watched as Yakushi Nono's face began to flush. She seemed almost too embarrassed to say it outright.
He understood perfectly well what she meant.
Chiya gently tickled her palm, making her whole body give a small shiver.
Nono was terribly ticklish.
Being ticklish and sensitive at the same time could make things quite interesting on occasion.
"I know. I will be there at eight o'clock tonight without fail."
The low voice sounded close to her ear.
Yakushi Nono made a sound barely louder than a mosquito's hum, her face bright red as she tucked her head down even lower.
Sunlight poured through the window and fell warm over the two of them.
Chiya looked at her profile in the light.
Her fair cheeks, even more lovely and bright under the sun.
That afternoon, Konoha Hospital.
Chiya stood outside Tsunade's office and knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in."
Her cool voice answered from inside, just as expected.
He pushed the door open. Tsunade was bent over her desk writing quickly, her long golden hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, brow lightly furrowed. She was clearly working through a pile of medical paperwork.
At the sound of footsteps she did not look up, only said flatly.
"What is it?"
Chiya smiled and walked over to sit across from her desk.
"What, can I not come see you without a reason?"
Tsunade finally looked up. Those bright brown eyes swept over him, a brief flash of surprise passing through them.
She set down her pen and gave a cold snort.
"You came all the way to the hospital. You definitely have something. Speak."
Chiya spread his hands.
"This time is different. I am here to discuss a partnership."
"A partnership?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed.
"What are you up to this time?"
Chiya did not answer directly. Instead he reached into his coat and pulled out a prepared document, sliding it across to her.
"Take a look at this first."
Tsunade took it with a skeptical look and quickly read through the contents.
Gradually her expression shifted from indifferent to surprised, and finally her brow furrowed slightly.
"You want to make Yakushi Nono the director of the orphanage?"
"That is right."
Chiya nodded.
"The orphanage right now is poorly managed, underfunded, and the children's living conditions are terrible. Nono grew up in an orphanage herself. She understands the suffering of those children better than anyone. If she manages it, with the Uchiha's financial backing on top of that, things will definitely improve."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"You certainly care a lot about her."
Chiya caught the meaning behind her words. The corner of his mouth lifted.
"What, jealous?"
Tsunade gave a cold laugh and tossed the document back onto the desk.
"I just think you are being a little too eager."
Chiya stayed calm and laid out the reasoning he had prepared.
"Tsunade, you know perfectly well what the orphanage in Konoha is like. Some of those children may even become ninja one day, yet right now they cannot even manage basic food and shelter. If we do not look after them, who will?"
Tsunade was quiet for a moment, her eyes flickering slightly.
She was tough on the surface, but she was not indifferent to the children of Konoha.
"The Uchiha is willing to pay for this?"
She finally spoke.
"Yes, but as a loan."
Chiya nodded.
"The Uchiha can cover the repairs to the orphanage for now and even provide long-term support. But money alone is not enough. We need you involved."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Chiya looked her straight in the eyes.
"Lady Tsunade is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, one of the Sannin, and the head of Konoha's Medical Corps. If you publicly back Nono as director, combined with the Uchiha's support, even the Third would have to think twice before opposing it."
Tsunade stared at him, as if weighing his true intentions.
After a long pause, she spoke.
"You have it all calculated out, do you not."
Chiya smiled.
"This is not calculation. This is a situation where everyone gains. Nono has the ability. The Uchiha has the funds. You have the influence. Together, we can actually change the lives of those children."
Tsunade was silent for a long moment, then let out a sigh.
Being able to change the fate of those children was something she would not refuse.
And on top of that, this was a proposal coming from Uchiha Chiya.
"...Fine."
A flash of satisfaction crossed Chiya's eyes.
"You agreed?"
"Do not celebrate too soon."
Tsunade said coolly.
"I simply think those children genuinely need a better environment. This has nothing to do with helping you win over Yakushi Nono."
Chiya laughed.
"Alright, alright. Think whatever you like."
Tsunade shot him a look but said nothing more.
She had agreed.
That evening, outside the orphanage.
Chiya stood at the entrance, looking at the run-down building in front of him. He let out a quiet sigh inwardly.
Yakushi Nono stood beside him, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes nervously.
"Chiya-kun, did Lady Tsunade agree?"
Chiya glanced sideways at the worry all over her face.
"Tsunade agreed. This afternoon she already got approval from the Third. Director Nono, from here on out, it is up to you."
The Third was so swamped right now that he had no energy to spare for something like this.
Nono took a slow, deep breath. A steady light shone in her eyes.
"I will make this place better. I promise."
Chiya nodded and reached over to ruffle her hair.
"I know you will."
"Come on, it is getting late. We have a whole evening to ourselves today."
At those words, Yakushi Nono's heart gave a small jump.
A flush spread across her face instantly.
"Chiya-kun, I, I am going home to make dinner first. Oh, I bought a few new outfits yesterday. After we eat I will put them on for you to see!"
She finished in a low voice and turned to leave.
Chiya watched her go, and the grin on his face was impossible to hold back.
'I did not expect an extra surprise today. Those outfits? I only mentioned it offhandedly before. Looks like Nono has been giving it serious thought.'