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Oblivious to Danzō's methods of dealing with the situation, Yuta returned home to find Nono, acting like a responsible older sister, helping Kiko care for the twins, who were now toddling around with unsteady steps.
Suddenly, Shingo, in a manner reminiscent of a playful puppy, approached his sister and vigorously smeared a handful of food across Kyoko's face.
"Pa!"
Kyoko, never one to indulge such behavior, promptly raised her chubby little hand and slapped him soundly on the cheek.
Shingo froze for a moment, his face crumpling before he opened his mouth and let out a wail.
"Wah!"
Seeing the crying Shingo, Nono panicked and rushed into the house to find Kiko, completely missing Yuta's entry.
"Auntie Kiko, look! Kyoko hit Shingo again!"
After hearing Nono's frantic explanation, Kiko sighed with a touch of exasperation. She couldn't fathom what compelled her younger son to constantly tease his sister.
Each time, Kyoko showed him no leniency and immediately retaliated.
Kiko followed Nono out of the house and saw Yuta holding Kyoko. Kyoko was nestled in Yuta's arms, animatedly complaining to her father, while Yuta chuckled and nodded in agreement, occasionally glancing over to scold the dumbfounded Shingo.
"What did the Third Hokage say about Nono?" Kiko approached, gently rubbing Shingo's reddened cheek before looking up at Yuta.
She had also heard Nawaki and the others recounting Nono's ordeal, and it had stirred her own anger. This matter had struck a raw nerve with everyone; no one who heard the story could remain unmoved.
"The Third Hokage tasked Danzō with handling it. Don't worry, there will be a resolution soon," Yuta reassured her, concerned that her anger might make her unwell.
"Who? Who did the Third Hokage ask to handle this matter?!"
When Kiko heard that the Third Hokage had entrusted Danzō with Nono's case, disbelief etched itself across her face.
"Thoroughly handling" a matter in Danzō's hands often meant a root-and-branch approach, leaving no one unscathed. She feared that Danzō might even take action against Nono herself.
"Don't worry! He wouldn't dare. How about we adopt Nono formally in the future? This would not only ensure her safety and allow her to grow up in a healthy environment but also provide extra help with the children at home. Nono is a very sensible girl."
Yuta understood her apprehension and seized the opportunity to suggest adopting Nono outright. After all, having an older daughter in the household could alleviate many worries.
"I had the same thought. Nono is so pitiful."
And so, after seeking Nono's consent, Nono formally recognized Yuta and Kiko as her godfather and godmother, and she officially became a member of the Yuta family.
As for her original house, the day after the incident, following Danzō's swift and brutal actions, it was returned to her, along with a substantial sum as compensation.
Nono had initially wanted to register the house under Yuta's name, but Kiko had dissuaded her. Now, Nono was not only their daughter but also Kiko's disciple.
After joining the Yuta family, Nono proved to be a great help with the children and also joined Nawaki and the others in their training with Yuta. Kiko soon recognized Nono's natural talent; her chakra control was exceptional, not far behind Ganta's. Kiko then expressed her desire to take Nono as her personal disciple.
Nono readily agreed without hesitation.
With Yuta and Kiko as her protectors, anyone who sought to exploit her would have to think twice, eliminating the need for any unnecessary precautions.
…
A remote village in the Land of Rain.
When Akano finally stirred from his deep unconsciousness, he opened his eyes with considerable effort. The space directly above him was pitch black, so he slowly turned his head, and more light finally filtered through his pupils.
He found himself lying in a small hut.
To his surprise, the room was remarkably clean and tidy, a stark contrast to the dilapidated thatched hut he had vaguely imagined.
At that moment, Akano's primary sensations, beyond the throbbing pain that coursed through his entire body, were an overwhelming thirst, a burning sensation in his chest, and a raw, uncomfortable dryness in his throat.
He attempted to sit up to get some water, but the intense pain and profound weakness that gripped his limbs made even lifting a finger an arduous task.
"Creak!" The door was pushed open from the outside, and a girl with vibrant red hair entered the room.
Akano laboriously turned his head towards the doorway. When he saw someone enter, he murmured in a hoarse whisper,
"Water! Give me water!"
"Ah! You're awake!" The girl, having just stepped inside, noticed Akano's gaze. She gasped in surprise and realized he was trying to say something.
She hurried to Akano's side, lowering herself and placing her ear close to his mouth, listening intently.
"So, he wanted water! You scared me half to death."
Having clearly understood Akano's request, the girl patted her chest in relief and quickly ran to fetch him a cup of warm water.
Akano lay weakly in the girl's gentle embrace, watching as she carefully cooled the water and then tenderly fed it to him. At that moment, his thirst seemed to intensify, and a faint blush crept onto his pale cheeks. 'This… this might be love,' He couldn't help but think.
And so, under the girl's dedicated care, Akano gradually grew stronger day by day.
Even Akano himself was astonished. He had been certain he had died, yet here he was, alive.
"You mean to say you found me in the woods near here?"
"Yes! I went out to chop wood and found you collapsed under a tree. You were covered in blood and some sticky white liquid, and I thought you were dead. Fortunately, I checked carefully and found you were still breathing, so I carried you back."
Looking at Kanako's confident expression, Akano scratched his head, a puzzled frown creasing his brow.
"Strange… who saved me then?"
Hearing Akano's muttered question, Kanako placed her hands on her hips and retorted,
"I am your savior, after all! Why do you look so unconvinced?"
She seemed determined not to relent until Akano offered a satisfactory explanation.
However, Akano found himself captivated by her slightly puffed-out cheeks, thinking they were incredibly charming, and couldn't resist gently pinching them.
"Ah! You are a very annoying person; do you know that? How can you touch someone's face so casually?"
Kanako's face, suddenly pinched by Akano, flushed crimson instantly, but she still glared at him with mock anger.
"Okay, okay, I'm wrong; isn't that enough?" Akano, seeing Kanako's indignant expression, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Humph! That's more like it. Akano! Did you also escape from the Land of Whirlpools?"
Just one sentence left Akano utterly stunned.
How could he not know if he was from the Land of Whirlpools? However, considering his distinctive red hair and significantly larger chakra reserves compared to ordinary ninja, he couldn't be entirely certain if he was a member of the Uzumaki clan. 'Could it be that my my parents truly had Uzumaki blood?' Akano mused.
Seeing Akano's silence, Kanako assumed he was also worried about the fate of the Land of Whirlpools and let out a deep sigh.
"Why don't we move to Konohagakure? There are many Uzumaki people there too, and it's much safer than the Land of Rain."
Akano looked at Kanako's sad expression and couldn't help but offer the suggestion.
"No! When I left, my father told me never to go to Konohagakure. He said we should leave more avenues for the Uzumaki clan to retreat, and Konohagakure cannot be trusted."
Kanako shook her head firmly after hearing Akano's suggestion.
That night, Akano found himself unable to fall asleep for a long time. Thinking about Kanako's vehement reaction to his suggestion of moving to Konohagakure, he knew she wouldn't go.
So, what should he do? He realized, with a growing certainty, that he had fallen in love with this strong and lovely girl.
The night in the Land of Rain was punctuated by a gentle drizzle, gradually washing away the anxieties in Akano's heart. Lulled by the soothing rhythm of the rain, Akano drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.