Chapter 50: Let it Burn

Under Karura's cover, Hattori quickly carried the child into her home and shut the door tightly.

Watching the swarm of bees outside gathering and battering against the windows, Karura's brows furrowed in concern.

"We can't hide here for long. We need to think of a plan quickly!"

She glanced at the crying child in Hattori's arms, a hint of confusion crossing her face.

"Who's this child…?"

"Found him on the way here; his family is likely… gone. So, I had to bring him along."

"…"

Hearing this, Karura immediately understood, and her confusion softened into pity.

"Poor child. Let me take him."

She gently took the child from Hattori and soothed him, carrying him to a room nearby. Gradually, the child's cries subsided, and soon there was only silence.

After a few minutes, Karura returned, softly closing the door behind her, and gave Hattori a gentle smile.

"He's asleep, with Temari by his side."

Seeing her tenderness, a complex look flickered across Hattori's face.

"You're such a caring person, Karura. I hope the villagers treat your child the same way someday."

"Hehe, they definitely will!"

"Let's hope so."

Feeling a strange heaviness in his chest, Hattori quickly changed the topic to avoid lingering on it.

"Karura, the situation outside is dire. You need to take Temari to the shelter as soon as possible. I'll find a way to cover for you."

"No!"

Karura immediately shook her head.

"That's too dangerous! There are too many bees out there, and you can't handle them alone. Besides, I'm a ninja—I can't hide while everyone else is fighting."

She glanced toward the nearby room, lightly touching her slightly rounded stomach with a determined look on her face.

"I can still fight. For the village, for Temari, and for the child I'm carrying, I must fight!"

"…"

Hearing her resolute words, Hattori fell silent. He knew that once Karura made up her mind, no amount of persuasion would change it.

Seeing his silence, Karura smiled and playfully ruffled his hair.

"Hehe, is my little Hattori worried about me? Don't worry—I'm a skilled jōnin and will protect you and Temari!"

"Don't call me 'little Hattori,' it's gross!"

Hattori sighed, brushing her hand away and smoothing his hair back.

"And don't forget, I'm also a jōnin appointed by the Third Hokage himself. It's just a swarm of bees; I can handle it. We don't need a big-bellied lady pushing herself."

"Huh?" Karura's eyes widened. "Are you calling me big-bellied?"

"I didn't say that; you did."

Not waiting for her reaction, Hattori headed straight for the door.

Seeing this, Karura quickly grabbed him. "Hattori, don't be reckless!"

"Don't worry; I'm not that foolish!"

He motioned to the bees hammering the window.

"These aren't ordinary bees. If they keep hitting the glass, it'll shatter, and we'll be in trouble. I'll take care of them and be right back!"

"Is that so?"

Karura looked doubtful but finally said, "Then I'm coming with you!"

"Fine."

Hattori slipped from her grasp, dashed to the door, and went outside.

Karura grabbed her three-star fan and followed him out.

The moment they stepped out, the bees surged toward them.

"Perfect!"

Karura shouted, opening her fan wide and giving a mighty swing.

"Wind Style: Grand Net!"

The three-star fan, amplifying her Wind Style technique, created a powerful net of chakra-infused wind that radiated out, engulfing all bees within a fifty-meter radius.

"Pop, pop, pop…"

Bees in midair burst on impact with the invisible net, falling as fragments onto the ground.

Taking advantage of this, Hattori dashed to a collapsed house nearby, throwing out its furniture, cabinets, and bed.

Afterward, he moved on to the next house, quickly gathering anything he could.

With his immense strength and agile movements, he amassed a large pile of furniture from a dozen houses in no time.

Seeing the mountain of tables, sofas, beds, and scattered clothing in the road, Karura was stunned.

"What are you doing? Looting while there's chaos?"

Before she could question further, Hattori made his next move.

Taking a burning stick, he set the "furniture mountain" ablaze and quickly returned to Karura's side.

"Karura, lend me your fan to fan the flames!"

"Huh?"

Karura blinked in surprise, then her eyes lit up as she understood. 

"Got it, here!"

She handed him the fan and then returned inside the house.

Without thinking too much, Hattori took the fan and waved it over the flames.

The three-star fan, designed for Wind Style, worked even for someone like Hattori who couldn't use Wind Style himself. A few waves stoked the fire, sending smoke billowing into the sky.

Just then, Karura reemerged, carrying a large mattress. Before Hattori could react, she tossed it onto the burning pile.

As the mattress caught fire, Hattori finally understood, though it was too late to salvage it.

He looked at her in surprise.

"You're burning your own stuff? Karura, have you lost it? Is pregnancy making you irrational?"

"Pfft, what do you mean by irrational?"

Karura scolded him with a smile.

"This is for the village!"

Taking her fan back from him, she gave the fire two more strong waves.

Watching the bees scatter in the thick smoke, a pleased smile crossed her face.

"Look, the smoke is driving them off! They won't come near here for a while, and our comrades outside the village will see the smoke and come help soon. Hattori, this was a brilliant idea!"

She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with admiration, and pointed toward the house behind her.

"Hattori, go bring out the rest of the furniture from inside! Sacrificing a little for our friends is completely worth it!"

"Sacrifice? Worth it?"

Hearing these words, Hattori's brows furrowed once again.

---