Naruto: IHCS Ch. 53

"Wait!"

Unknowingly, Konan's face was already drenched with tears. She stood at the doorway, shouting at the figure growing more distant.

Unfortunately, the person ahead never looked back.

Tears streamed continuously from her eyes.

How could this happen?

They were just fine a moment ago!

"Please..."

[Pain detected: Konan +5000 points]
[Energy transferred to Kenjaku]
[Development progress: 15%]

Her legs went weak. A terrifying suspicion made her dizzy. She clutched tightly to the doorframe, her vision blurring.

"Will you ever come back...?"

Would Shiratori come back?

Would they ever see him again?

"What happened?"

Jiraiya, carrying a bucket full of seafood, looked at the three children in confusion. He had only been gone for a short while, how did things turn out like this?

Why did Shiratori suddenly leave?

Weren't they just planning to stay and eat together?

And why was Konan so heartbroken?

She looked like she might faint from the sorrow.

Nagato stood frozen, as if his soul had already left his body.

Jiraiya looked over at Yahiko, who was choking back sobs. A tear suddenly rolled down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away with his sleeve, stubbornly refusing to admit he was sad.

[Pain detected: Yahiko +10000 points]
[Energy transferred to Kenjaku]
[Development progress: 25%]

Nagato didn't move. He slowly sat down on the floor, hugged his knees, and remained silent.

Jiraiya looked at the three children, then toward the place where Shiratori had disappeared. He walked over to Yahiko, patting him on the shoulder, and asked:

"Did you and him have a fight?"

These four kids weren't blood relatives, yet they were closer than family. How could such a fierce conflict have erupted?

"We didn't fight," Yahiko sniffled. When he met Jiraiya's concerned gaze, all the emotions he had tried to hold back burst forth again. Tears streamed down his face.

"It's him who changed!"

"He changed!"

Yahiko threw himself into Jiraiya's arms, crying uncontrollably.

Jiraiya gently patted his back. "How did he change?"

"He... he's been... been staying by Hanzō's side... working for Hanzō... He said I... even though he knew... I hate Hanzō..."

Yahiko rambled, barely coherent.

Despite Yahiko's jumbled words, Jiraiya managed to piece it together.

So Shiratori had been staying with Hanzō recently, working for him. It was both surprising and, in a way, expected. He was originally an orphan from the Land of Rain. It made sense that he'd join Ame and work under Hanzō.

To be honest, he didn't dislike Hanzō. In fact, he rather admired him.

But Yahiko clearly harbored a deep hatred toward Hanzō.

Children often see things in simpler terms. He couldn't grasp the complex reasons behind the village's current situation, and so he blamed it all on Hanzō.

To him, who viewed Hanzō as an enemy, accepting that Shiratori had become Hanzō's subordinate was impossible, leading to their clash.

"The way he just left... I... I'll never... never forgive him..."

Yahiko sobbed.

Jiraiya let out a deep sigh.

---

Shiratori sprinted along the road back to the village. Along the way, he cheerfully hummed a tune.

"Today is a good day... All the things I wished for will come true..."

Before nightfall, he arrived at the village gates.

"Shiratori!"

The moment Mizu saw his figure, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"You finally came back. Did you meet your friends?"

Mizu opened the iron gate and let him in.

Shiratori nodded slightly.

Mizu's eyes widened in surprise.

He actually found them!

"Why do you still look so unhappy after seeing your friends?"

Seeing his lost and dejected expression, he asked with concern.

"I wanted them to come with me to Ame... but they didn't want to..." Shiratori replied to Mizu with apparent disappointment.

So that was it. Mizu gave a bitter smile and shook his head, explaining, "Not everyone is as brave as you. They don't have the same kind of talent you do. If they come here, they'll be in danger."

"I'll protect them!" Shiratori looked at Mizu and said firmly.

Mizu gave a helpless smile.

"But you can't protect them forever. There'll be times when you're not around, what will they do then?"

Shiratori slowly lowered his head.

"You're right, Mizu-san... I was being too selfish..."

Seeing how downcast the boy was, Mizu comforted him with pity, "How could you be selfish? You're the bravest and most talented kid I've ever seen!"

"Really?"

Shiratori looked up at Mizu cautiously.

"Of course it's true!" Mizu said firmly.

"Then I'll keep working hard. I'll become the bravest and most amazing ninja you've ever seen!" Shiratori promised seriously, word by word.

"..."

Shiratori smiled and nodded. "Alright!"

[Affection detected: Mizu +1000 points]
[Energy transferred to Rika]
[Development progress: 63%]

After saying goodbye to Mizu, Shiratori returned to his apartment.

Through the eyes of crows, he saw that Chiba, Sakikawa, and Kuroi had already started packing.

At a ninja's pace, if they departed late tonight, they should reach the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire by noon tomorrow.

He quickly packed his ninja tools, strapped on his katana, put on his raincoat, left a note behind, closed the apartment door, and set off to join Chiba, Sakikawa, and Kuroi.

Rain was the constant companion in Ame.

Raindrops gently tapped on his raincoat.

He moved like a shadow, blending seamlessly with the night, hiding within the shadow of a massive water pipeline.

He stayed perfectly still, his breath barely audible, merging with the sound of falling rain.

Not far away, three patrolling Ame ninjas were making their rounds.

Rain trickled down the edges of their hats and forehead protectors. Their steps were steady, and their sharp eyes scanned every corner without missing a thing.

Dozens of crows provided him with multiple perspectives, allowing him to easily find a route that avoided the patrolling ninjas.

His footsteps were light and silent, not even splashing a single drop.

The village's collapsed machinery, enormous condensation towers, and crisscrossing pipes served as natural cover.

Weaving through the narrow gaps, he moved farther and farther from the village center.

Guided by the crows, he slipped into the water and swam a distance underwater. Using clever timing, he avoided the sightlines of towers and sentry posts.

Once outside the most heavily guarded area, Shiratori finally exhaled in relief.

He quickly sprinted ahead, his figure cutting through the night rain like a streak.

Once he left the borders of Ame, he took a deep breath, cold air mixed with mist flooded his lungs.

A few crows flapped their wings above his head, and he rushed off in the direction of Chiba and the others.