Age Sixteen (continued)
I woke up in pieces.
The first piece was sound. Waves crashing against wood. The creak of ropes. The low murmur of voices. I was on a boat. I could feel the sway of the deck beneath me, the salt spray on my face.
The second piece was smell. Blood. Smoke. The sharp tang of antiseptic—Tsunade's healing salves. I knew that smell. It meant she was nearby.
The third piece was pain. Everywhere. My left arm was bound in a splint. My ribs were wrapped in bandages. My eyes—my eyes felt like someone had poured hot sand into them.
I tried to open them. The light was blinding, even through my lids.
"Don't." Tsunade's voice. Close. Her hand on my forehead. "Your eyes need rest. The Mangekyo overuse nearly burned out your optic nerves."
"Kushina," I croaked.
"Safe. She's on the boat with us. We're heading to Konoha."
"Uzushio?"
Gone. I could hear it in her silence.
"How many?"
"Too many." Her voice cracked. "We lost half the village. The elders—Shiro, Takeshi—they didn't make it. The barrier held, but the fire spread. By the time we could get back in, there was nothing left to save."
I wanted to cry. But my eyes were too damaged for tears.
"Tsunade."
"I'm here."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving me."
"I didn't save you. You saved yourself. You saved all of us." She squeezed my hand. "The seal you placed on the barriers—it's still holding. Kiri can't get through. But they've surrounded the island. Anyone still inside is trapped."
"Father."
No answer.
"Tsunade. My father. Is he—"
"We don't know. There was no sign of him. He might still be alive. He might be a prisoner. He might have escaped."
"Might."
"Yes. Might."
I lay in the darkness, listening to the waves. My father. The man who had threatened Kushina, who had broken my ribs, who had held me in the rubble and said he was sorry. He was out there somewhere. Dead or alive. And I couldn't do anything to help him.
"I'm going to find him," I said.
"Ren—"
"When my eyes heal. When I can see again. I'm going back to Uzushio. I'm going to find him."
"Kiri will kill you."
"Maybe. But I have to try."
Tsunade was silent for a long time. Then: "Then I'm coming with you."
"No."
"I'm not asking."
"Tsunade—"
"I'm not losing you. And I'm not letting you go alone." She leaned closer. I felt her breath on my cheek. "We're partners. Remember? In everything."
"I remember."
"Then stop arguing."
I almost smiled. "Yes, ma'am."
---
The journey to Konoha took five days.
I spent most of it in the medical cabin, my eyes bandaged, my body slowly healing. Tsunade checked on me every few hours, her hands glowing green, her touch gentle.
Kushina visited when she could. She was twelve now, too old to crawl into my bed like she used to, but she sat beside me and held my hand.
"You scared me," she said.
"Sorry."
"Don't do it again."
"I'll try."
"That's not good enough."
"I know."
She was quiet for a moment. Then: "I felt you. When you used your Mangekyo. It was like... like a thread connecting us. And I felt it snap."
"What do you mean?"
"Your left eye. I felt it go dark. I felt you lose something."
I touched my bandaged eye. "Half my vision. In exchange for saving you and Tsunade."
"Was it worth it?"
"Yes."
"Even though you're blind now?"
"I'm not blind. Just... half-blind."
"That's not funny."
"It wasn't supposed to be."
She punched my arm—lightly. "You're an idiot."
"So I've been told."
She leaned her head on my shoulder. "I'm glad you're alive."
"Me too."
---
The ship docked in Konoha on a gray afternoon.
I walked down the gangplank with Kushina on one side and Tsunade on the other, my left eye bandaged, my right eye squinting against the light. The Hokage was waiting for us, along with a crowd of onlookers.
"Heir Ren," Hiruzen said, bowing. "We received word of Uzushio's fall. Konoha mourns with you."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"We have prepared quarters for you and your people. You are welcome to stay as long as you need."
"I appreciate that. But I won't be staying long."
The Hokage's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I'm going back. To Uzushio. To find my father."
"Ren, that's suicide. Kiri has surrounded the island. Even if you got past their fleet, you'd be walking into a trap."
"I don't care."
"Your father wouldn't want you to throw your life away."
"With respect, Lord Hokage, you didn't know my father."
Hiruzen studied me for a long moment. Then he sighed.
"You're as stubborn as Tsunade."
"I take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't intended as one." He stepped aside. "Rest. Heal. We'll discuss your plans when you're thinking clearly."
I nodded and walked past him, toward the guest house where I had stayed before. It felt like a lifetime ago.