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The following day, Akano awoke before dawn. Having finished his morning ablutions, he noticed the front door standing ajar.
"Akano, wake up and eat."
Kanako's cheerful voice preceded her as she entered, placing a generous spread of food before him.
Observing the care with which Kanako had prepared his breakfast, Akano nodded with a warm smile and began to eat the meal laid out before him.
Kanako moved with a quiet domesticity, carefully pouring tea and water for Akano; their interactions carried the unspoken familiarity of a couple who had shared many years.
Akano harbored a wish for Kanako to return to Konohagakure with him, yet he knew such a desire was likely futile. Though Kanako projected an image of carefree nonchalance, their time together had revealed a sharp intellect and a resolute will that would not yield easily.
Once Akano had finished eating, Kanako inquired if he was satisfied.
"I'm full, thank you for your hospitality," Akano replied sincerely.
He then reached into his pocket and produced a thick wad of banknotes. "Take this money for now. You haven't been able to earn anything while taking care of me, and you still need to buy medicine for my injuries. Please use this. Otherwise, I won't feel comfortable staying here."
Without giving Kanako a chance to protest, Akano pressed the money into her hand and turned to wash the dishes.
Kanako reluctantly accepted Akano's offering, her gaze lingering on his retreating back, a soft, happy smile gracing the corner of her lips.
Kanako understood that Akano had his own plans, but she had made a promise to her father never to go to Konohagakure. Their future together, she realized, hinged on Akano's ultimate decision.
If he insisted on returning to Konohagakure, then it would be best for them to maintain a certain distance to avoid causing unnecessary complications for either of them.
Kanako watched Akano enter the small kitchen and shook her head, chiding herself for her wandering thoughts. Her immediate concern was procuring more medicine for Akano's deep wound.
The gash inflicted by the Sand Ninja had been alarmingly deep. Akano recalled with a shudder the first time Kanako had changed his bandages, revealing the stark white of his bone.
While Akano could now move about, strenuous activity remained out of the question. Even with his enhanced healing capabilities, a full recovery was estimated to take at least two months.
However, Akano's current preoccupation extended far beyond his physical well-being. He wrestled with the dilemma of his future.
Leaving Kanako here alone was unthinkable, not only due to safety concerns but also because he found himself increasingly unwilling to part from her.
Just as Akano was lost in his thoughts, a sudden, loud commotion erupted from nearby, followed by the faint sound of Kanako's distressed cries.
Rushing outside, Akano found Kanako clutching the money he had given her, her arms being roughly pulled by a group of thuggish men attempting to snatch it away.
"Stop!" Akano's voice rang out.
"Hey! Look what we have here, a pretty boy. What's this? Playing the hero to save the damsel in distress?" One of the gangster's companions sneered at Akano.
Due to the significant blood loss he had suffered, Akano's complexion was still quite pale, lending him an almost delicate appearance.
Seeing that the thug dragging Kanako remained indifferent and continued to pull her arm, Akano swiftly moved forward, grabbed the thug by his hair, and forcefully threw him aside.
Turning to the visibly shaken Kanako, Akano quickly helped her to her feet, his voice filled with concern as he asked if she was alright.
Kanako shook her head, her voice laced with urgency as she exclaimed,
"Go back inside quickly! You're still injured! You can't fight them."
"Don't worry, they're just a few petty thugs." Ignoring the menacing figures, Akano carefully examined Kanako for any injuries. Reassured that she was unharmed, he turned his cold gaze towards the hooligans.
"Apologize!"
"Huh, listen to the big shot!"
Another thug stepped forward, mocking Akano. Simultaneously, six or seven more burly men emerged from behind him, sneers plastered on their faces. The thug Akano had just thrown aside had also gotten back to his feet, glaring fiercely at Akano, clearly underestimating the "pretty boy."
Akano spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. Just as the local thugs thought he was about to yield, Akano moved with lightning speed.
In an instant, he was before the leading thug, his fist connecting with the man's chest with brutal force.
Despite his own injuries, Akano's punch was not something to be easily dismissed. It nearly shattered the man's ribs, likely damaging his heart. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and it was clear the man was either dead or near death.
Witnessing a seemingly frail young man suddenly kill someone with such brutal efficiency, the thugs, likely unaccustomed to such violence, were visibly shaken.
"Hurry! Go to Konohagakure quickly! They won't be able to touch you once you're there!" Kanako was also deeply worried. Seeing Akano's lethal action, she urged him to flee immediately.
However, Akano disregarded Kanako's desperate plea. Having already resorted to violence, he wouldn't give them a chance to spread news of his actions.
While he wasn't afraid for himself, he didn't want to bring any trouble upon Kanako.
He unleashed his true speed, a blur of motion that was simply terrifying in their eyes. 'How can a human move so fast?' The thugs couldn't help but think, realizing they had severely misjudged their opponent.
They weren't even afforded a chance to beg for mercy. Having dared to covet another's meager possessions, they should have understood the potential consequences.
Akano was no longer a man inclined towards leniency. Killing one was the same as killing many in this situation.
He swiftly dispatched the remaining hooligans in a horrifying display of speed and precision.
Turning to Kanako, who watched him with a mixture of fear and worry, he reverted to his usual gentle demeanor.
"I've decided not to go to Konohagakure."
Hearing Akano's unexpected declaration, Kanako momentarily forgot the brutal violence she had just witnessed.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she punched him weakly in the chest before throwing herself into his arms.
"You bastard! Why did you come out just now? I was so scared."
At this moment, Akano was no longer a wounded man requiring her care. When he chose to stay, she knew, with a profound certainty, that this man would protect her for the rest of her life.
And in that moment, Kanako showed Akano her truest, most vulnerable self.
Holding the trembling Kanako tightly in his arms, Akano knew that his life would be incomplete without this woman.
But the immediate situation required attention. When the thugs had accosted Kanako, the nearby villagers, fearing involvement, had long since disappeared. This provided Akano with an opportunity to clean up the scene of the murders.
After all, he and Kanako would continue to live here, and he didn't want her to bear the stigma of being the wife of a killer.
After comforting Kanako, Akano formed hand seals and swiftly used an Earth Release technique to bury all traces of the altercation.
"You're a ninja?!" Kanako exclaimed in surprise. She had never known Akano possessed such skills. When she had found him, she had assumed he was a civilian injured while fleeing some pursuers. In the Land of Whirlpools, despite its large population, only a select few ever became ninja.
"Of course! You don't have to worry about being bullied by anyone in the future. I promise."
"Yeah," Kanako murmured, clinging to Akano's waist and burying her face in his chest. In that moment, her heart, too, had found its home once more.