Chapter 8

In the morning, the storm had passed, but the rain always there, as if it had never left. We woke up to the sound of water droplets gently tapping on the windows.

"Looks like we're going to have another wet day," I said, stretching my arms.

Konan nodded sleepily, her eyes still adjusting to the early morning light. "It's fine," she murmured. "We have plenty to do inside."

As we started our day with a simple breakfast of chicken soup and glass of milks.

"Haruto, can we train today?" Konan asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Sure," I replied, taking a sip of the milk.

---|||---

We spent the morning training in our makeshift dojo, pushing each other to our limits. The rain pattered against the roof, creating a rhythmic backdrop to our practice. We focused on honing our individual skills, but also worked on our teamwork.

Konan's observation haki had grown more precise, allowing her to anticipate my moves with uncanny accuracy. Meanwhile, my observation haki finally awaken. Enable me to read a glimpse of her intentions.

"You're awaken it, right?" she ask, after I had successfully dodged her punch five times in a row, "Your observation haki," she said with excitement in her voice.

I nodded, a bit surprised myself. "I guess so," I said, wiping the sweat from my brow.

The feeling was exhilarating. It was like a sixth sense had been switched on, and suddenly the world seem different.

We keep engaging in combat training, Ame would occasionally dart between our legs, pouncing on imaginary enemies, her playfulness bringing a smile to our faces.

---|||---

After training, we took a break, panting and sweating. "We're getting stronger," I said, a hint of pride in my voice.

"Yes, we are," Konan agreed, ruffling Ame's fur as the kitten curled around her legs.

We took turns preparing the midday meal, enjoying the quiet domesticity that had become our routine.

After that, we learning about herbs from the books. It was a slow process, but it was surprisingly relaxing, as we read through the detailed descriptions and studied the intricate illustrations.

We even trying to make medicine from the herbs we have copied. It's like playing chemistry but with real ingredients and actual purpose, I thought with a chuckle.

The afternoon sun cast a dim light through the rain-soaked windows, creating a cozy atmosphere in our little house.

"This is going to be interesting," I murmured, carefully crushing a handful of herbs between my fingers, trying to remember the instructions from the book.

Konan watched me with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "You're sure you know what you're doing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I've copied the book, so we have all the instructions" I said, "And we have all the ingredients."

Konan couldn't help but chuckle, "Okay, let's see what kind of alchemist you are."

"You know, I'm something an alchemist myself," I said, winking at her and nodding my head.

Konan just chuckled, her skepticism not entirely gone but her curiosity piqued.

I rolled up my sleeves and focused on the task at hand, carefully measuring and mixing the crushed herbs with a bit of water in a small pot. The smell was faintly minty and soothing, filling the room as the mixture began to bubble.

Konan read aloud from the book, guiding me through the process. We worked meticulously, with her keeping a watchful eye on the instructions while I handled the ingredients.

"Careful, Haruto," she warned as I added a pinch of a particular herb. "Too much could be toxic."

"Got it," I said, feeling the weight of her words. This wasn't just a game, we were creating something that could potentially save our lives.

We've been doing it for a few hours, and finally, the medicine was ready. I took a deep breath, hoping I hadn't messed up the proportions.

"What do we do, with this medicine?" Konan asked.

"We should test it first," I suggested. "On something small, like a small animal maybe? If it doesn't harm it, we'll know it's safe for us."

Konan nodded in agreement, her gaze thoughtful. "But we don't want to harm any creature unnecessarily."

"True," I said, stroking my chin. "Let's just keep it as a backup for now, until we're absolutely sure."

We decided to store it inside my inventory. Satisfied with our day's progress, we turned our attention to other tasks. We worked on strengthening our house, patching up any leaks and reinforcing the windows against the relentless rain.

---|||---

While we worked, Konan ask me a question that had been on her mind. "Haruto, have you ever thought about your dream? Like what you wanna do in the future"

I paused, hammer in mid-air. "Dream? Huh... Well this life is like a dream for me though, so I just do what I want to do."

"How about you, Konan?" I asked, turning the question back to her.

"I don't know... I just want to make a place where Ame can play without fear, and we can live without hiding." Her voice was soft, but the determination in her eyes was evident.

"That's a beautiful dream," I said, smiling genuinely. "And I'll do everything I can to help you achieve it."

Konan nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Haruto."

We continued to work on the house, and as the day turned to evening, we sat down for dinner, the warmth of the fireplace spreading throughout the room.

"It's been a good day," I said.

Konan looked up from her plate, her eyes shining with the same joy that I felt. "Yes, it has," she agreed.

As we ate, the warmth of the food and the fire filled the room, creating a sense of peace amidst the ever-present rain.

"You know," I said, "I've been thinking about what you said earlier, about making a safe place for Ame and us."

Konan looked up from her dinner, her eyes filled with curiosity. "What about it?"

"We can make it, maybe about five or ten years," I said, trying to sound hopeful.

Konan looked at me, her eyes filled with a mix of doubt and hope. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "As long as we keep getting stronger, learning new things. We can create a place like that."

Konan took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "I hope so," she said.

The conversation lingered in the air as we finished our meal. We had made significant progress in the last few weeks, but the path ahead was still fraught with unknowns. The war's shadow loomed over us.

After the dinner, we cleaned up the dishes, and we take a bath to wash off the day's sweat and grime.

---|||---

Done with the bath, we settled into our bed, the sound of the rain outside a lullaby to our weary bodies. Ame was fast asleep on her new blanket, the events of the day having exhausted her. As we lay there, the warmth of the blankets and the comfort of our shared space wrapping around us, I couldn't help but think about something.

If Konan with me, who is with Yahiko and Nagato?

Mob Chara? Or someone that I didn't know?

Well, I'm a mob chara too.

"...."

Or Nagato and Yahiko didn't meet?

Well, Konan and Yahiko can become a ninja because Nagato, right?

If Jiraiya didn't know that Nagato had the Rinnegan, Jiraiya wouldn't have taught them to become a ninja, right?

"...."

Is that so? I don't remember the exact details of their meeting, I thought, my mind racing with the possible timeline shifts my presence could cause.

But before I could delve deeper into the "what-if," I felt a gentle nudge on my shoulder.

"You okay?" Konan's voice was filled with concern, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, just thinking," I replied.

"About what?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Just... the future," I said, looking over at her.

"Don't worry too much," she said, her voice soothing. "We'll face it together."

Her words brought comfort, and I nodded, the weight of the uncertainties easing slightly. "Yeah," I agreed. "Together."

We lay there in the quiet of the night, listening to the rain outside. I fell into a restless sleep, my mind filled with images of the village, the herb book, and the potential futures that lay before us.

The next morning, we awoke to the same rhythmic tapping of rain on the windows. We decided to take the day easy, focusing on rest and recovery. While Konan reading the herb book and taking notes, I took Ame outside for a brief walk.

The forest was alive with the sounds of the rain, each drop creating a symphony as it hit the leaves and the ground. Ame's curiosity led us to a small clearing where a group of frogs had gathered, seemingly unfazed by the downpour.

"Look, Ame," I whispered, pointing to the frogs. "Nature's not letting the rain ruin their day."

Ame's eyes lit up as she watched the frogs jump around, seemingly playing in the puddles. She tried to mimic their movements, her tiny paws barely making a splash. Her joy was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile.

On the way back to the house, we found a bird on the ground and soaking wet. It was struggling to fly, obviously injured.

Ame looking at the bird with curiosity. "It's looks like, I have found a patient" I said, and we approached the bird carefully. It didn't fly away, which made me think it's pretty bad.

It was shivering from the cold. "We need to help it," I murmured to Ame, who mewed.

We carefully picked the bird up and brought it back to the house. It was a crow, its feathers ruffled and damp. Konan's eyes widened when she saw it. "It's hurt," she said, her voice filled with empathy.

"We need to warm it up." I suggested, already reaching into my inventory for a dry cloth.

Konan nodded, her expression one of concern. We placed the crow near the fireplace, wrapping it gently in the cloth to keep it warm and dry. "Do you think we should try to use the medicine we made?" she asked, looking at the bird.

"I don't know what the injury is, but we can try to make it comfortable," I said, stroking the crow's feathers. "The wings... It doesn't look like injured..."

"Oh, there's a wound on the bird wings," I said, pointing at the slight tear on the bird's wing. "And there's on leg too."

Konan nodded gravely, her gaze fixed on the injured bird. "We should clean and applying ointment that we have," she said, her voice gentle.

"Right," I agreed, pulling out a small jar of ointment from our supplies. "This should help with the wound."

We worked carefully, using the cloth to clean the bird's injuries before gently applying the ointment. And then wrap it with the bandage. The crow's eyes fluttered closed in what I hoped was relief.

"Let's give it some space," I suggested, placing it on a high shelf out of Ame's reach.

Konan nodded in agreement, her eyes never leaving the crow. "We should let it rest," she said, her voice low and gentle.

I look at Ame, "don't touch it, okay?" I said in a low voice.

Ame looked at the crow and then back at me, she nodded her head slightly, she understood.

"...." I'm dumbfounded at Ame's understanding. She's really growing smarter with every passing day.

I pick up Ame and stroking her head, "Good girl," I said, and she purred in response.

The rest of the day was spent caring for the crow, which we had named Ranko. We took turns feeding it small bits of food and keeping it hydrated, hoping it would recover.

---|||---

As we tended to Ranko, the rain outside grew heavier.

"It's going to be a stormy night again," I said, peering out the window.

Konan nodded, her eyes on the book she was reading.

"Let's keep an eye on Ranko," she said, "maybe Ranko will recover for a few days? Then we can release it back into the wild."

"That's the plan," I said, watching the crow's chest rise and fall with its shallow breaths. "We'll set it free when it's ready."

---|||---

As the day turned to night, the storm grew in intensity. The wind howled through the trees, and the rain pounded against the house. Inside, the warmth of the fireplace fought back the chill, creating a cozy cocoon of safety.

Ranko had improved slightly, and its eyes followed us as we moved about the room. It was a comforting sight.

As the storm raged outside, we sat around the fireplace, enjoying the warmth of it.

---|||---

In the next day, Ranko's condition improved significantly. The crow ate more and even tried to hop around the shelf it was placed on. We watched with a mix of relief and concern, knowing that the time to release it was approaching.

But before that, I sense something, not just me even Konan look tense.

"Do you feel that?" I asked her, looking toward the door.

Konan set her book down, her eyes narrowing. "Chakra... It's coming from outside."

I can't sense chakra, but through my observation haki, I can sense a glimpse of movement outside the house. "Someone's coming," I said, my voice low and urgent.

Konan's eyes snapped to the door, and she quickly rose to her feet. "What should we do?" she whispered.

"Prepare to go out through back door, I will face them, we didn't know they are have good intentions or not," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising tension. "Remember the cave before we got here?" I asked.

"Yes" She replied, "If you sense someone approaching the house or you hear the battle sound, go to the cave, wait for me there." I tell her.

Konan nodded. "Got it," she murmured, I also gave her a light supplies, some shuriken and kunai just in case.

"Go, take Ame and Ranko" I instructed, my voice low but firm. "I'll deal with whoever it is."

Konan nodded, scooping up the kitten and the bird in her arms, "I believe in you, but be careful." She dashed to the back door. I turned my attention to the front, my heart racing.

I stepped outside our house, the cold rain slapping against my skin as I faced the unseen threat. The trees swayed violently, their leaves dancing in the tempest.

Through the downpour, I can see six figures approaching.

No, it's eight, the two of them... There in the tree.

I whispered to myself, counting the number of figures that approached. Two of them were hiding in the tree, which meant they were ninjas. My heart raced as I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves.

The leader of the group stepped forward, his cloak drenched from the rain. He pulled back his hood, revealing a stern face with piercing eyes. "You're not from around here," he said, his voice gruff and authoritative.

"Who are you?" I called out, trying to get some information.

"We're from the nearby village," the leader said. "We've noticed some unusual activity here."

"We just live here." I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Where is the other one?" The leader's eyes scanned the area.

"Other one?" I feigned ignorance, my mind racing.

"Don't play dumb," the leader said, his voice laced with accusation. "The girl with the kitten. We've seen her around."

"She's inside," I admitted, but I'm ready for whatever it comes. "What do you want?"

The leader's gaze grew sharper. "Go inside," he said to his people.

"You're not going anywhere, if you don't tell me what your purpose here." I said, trying to sound firm and assertive.

The leader's eyes narrowed, he snorted, "just a brat, catch him," he ordered his men.

Three people charging at me and the two of them want to go inside our house.

Deathly Gift.

I retrieving the kunai, into the heads of these five people.

"...."

*Thud* *thud* *thud*

Five people simultaneously stopped moving for a few seconds, before falling to the ground with blood coming out of every orifice.

The leader's eyes went wide with shock and horror as he watched his men fall. He stumbled backward. "What...what did you do?" he stuttered.

Before I could answer, the two ninjas in the tree one of them jumped down, while the other throw a shuriken at me.

With my observation haki activated, I caught the glint of the shuriken mid-air. Without a moment's hesitation, I dodge the shuriken.

*Swish*

The shuriken missed its mark, embedding itself in the soft earth. I took advantage of the momentary confusion, using my chakra enhanced feet to charge at the ninja that jumped down with surprising speed.

*Swoosh*

He was caught off guard, and before he could react, I thrust the kunai in my hand towards his groin.

*Stab*

He let out a pained grunt, his eyes going wide as he collapsed to the ground, clutching his injured area.

*Thud*

With my swiftly move, I don't give the other ninja from the trees any time to react. He saw his companion fall and his eyes filled with disbelief. But before he could make his move, I moved through tree surface, and dash to him.

He quickly dodge my initial attack and pulled out a kunai. "You're not going anywhere," he snarled.

But my observation haki had anticipated his move. I sidestepped and slashed at his arm.

*Slash*

He yelped as my kunai sliced through his sleeve, leaving a shallow cut.

"You!.." but before he could say anything else, I end the battle with my Deathly Gift.

"...."

*Bam*

He stop moving and fell from the tree with the blood coming out from his orifice.

I came down from the tree.

I glanced at the ninja that still alive.

Deathly Gift.

The ninja body stopped instantly.

"...."

The leader, the only one left, took a step back, his hand trembling. "Who...who are you?" he stuttered, fear evident in his voice.

"It's me actually asking you that," I said, my voice cold as the rain. "But you won't be leaving here to tell anyone."

The leader took a shaky breath, his eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. "Please!" he begged, his bravado gone. "I... I'll tell anything! Anything you want to know! Or money!? I'll give it to you! Just don't kill me!"

Really, why he didn't run away? At least you still have a chance to escape, I thought, but his fear paralyzed him.

"What's your purpose here?" I demanded, the rain plastering my hair to my face as I towered over the trembling man.

The leader stuttered, his eyes flicking from me to the carnage around him. "We...we were just looking for supplies," he lied.

"Really? Then I have to kill you," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.

The leader's eyes widened further, his fear palpable. "No, wait! I-i will tell you everything! Please, just spare me!"

Ignoring his pleas, I advanced. "I don't have time for games," I said, the chill in my voice mirroring the rain around us.

The leader's eyes widened even more, and he took a step back, stumbling over a rock. He had nowhere to run. "We're not bandits," he stammered, his voice cracking with fear. "We're just...desperate."

"Desperate? For what?" I asked, my gaze unwavering.

The leader swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the clearing as if searching for an escape that wasn't there. "M-money," he stuttered out. "We're desperate for money. We need it for... our village."

"Why would you attack us for money?" I asked, my voice like the crack of a whip in the silence.

"We... We got money from selling people, or kidnapping them," the leader confessed, his voice shaking.

My grip on the kunai tightened. "You're slave traders."

The leader's face paled, his eyes darting from side to side. "P-please," he begged. "We don't have to do this. We can make a deal."

"You're not in a position to negotiate," I said, closing the distance between us.

The leader's desperation was thick in the air, his eyes darting around like a trapped animal. "Anything! I'll leave you alone. I won't tell anyone about you or the girl. let me go!"

But my mind was made up. "You're not leaving here," I said firmly, raising the kunai.

The leader's eyes went wide, and he finally found the strength to run. He stumbled through the rain, slipping on the wet ground. My sharp gaze followed him as he tried to escape into the forest. I didn't move to chase him, knowing that his fate was sealed.

Deathly Gift.

"...."

*Thud*

I watched the leader body stop moving, the life draining from his eyes. His desperate sprint through the rain had been futile. His body fell to the ground, joining the other.

"...."

"I have killed people today." I whispered to myself, looking down at the lifeless body of the man. The weight of my actions was heavy on my shoulders, but I knew I had no choice.

Or is it my choice?