The Konoha Orphanage sat on the outskirts of Konoha, where the land was cheap and home only to the poorest villagers.
When the higher-ups first built this orphanage, their intention was merely to show off. Once the performance was over, they tossed it aside and never bothered to care for it again.
Kairen and Yakushi Nono rode swiftly toward the orphanage.
Yakushi Nono sniffed the masculine scent coming from Kairen and her face flushed. It was her first time being this close to a man. She quickly reminded him:
"You're poking me with that!"
Kairen looked a bit embarrassed.
Yakushi Nono secretly spat in her heart. This new master was generous and close to the people, but he seemed to have some unspoken-rule thoughts toward his subordinates.
They arrived at the Konoha Orphanage, and Kairen tugged the reins.
"Hyah—"
The white horse complained helplessly: "Boss, you only have to tell me to stop. No need to yank the reins!"
"Stop talking nonsense! We need a galloping-on-horseback atmosphere, don't we?"
Kairen held Yakushi Nono and leaped down. Yakushi Nono tidied her clothes, not wanting the children to see her looking disheveled.
The sound of a horse's neigh carried into the orphanage, and two staff members wearing simple black-and-white clothing came out, followed by a group of tiny kids.
When they saw Yakushi Nono, their faces lit up with joy, and they ran toward her excitedly:
"Mother! Mother!"
The kids surrounded Yakushi Nono tightly, treating her as their dearest person.
Yakushi Nono's face softened with warmth as she spoke affectionately with the children, like a caring big sister.
A little girl with a white cloth wrapped over her face grabbed Yakushi Nono's hand and asked:
"Mother! Mother! Where's the baby panda? Did it go back to the bamboo forest to eat bamboo?"
Yakushi Nono nodded and gently rubbed Jinrei's head with a tender smile.
"That's right. It just went back to eat some bamboo. It'll come play with Jinrei another day!"
Kairen stared at the little girl whose eyes were wrapped in white cloth. His Byakugan clearly saw that her eyeballs had already necrotized.
And the boy beside her, panting like a cow… his heart had problems — congenital heart disease.
Kairen swept his eyes around. Hardly any of them were healthy. That was normal — even if they survived the war, their bodies had long been worn out.
A kid wearing a green hat and taller than the others, Uruishi, noticed Kairen standing next to Yakushi Nono.
He tugged on Yakushi Nono's sleeve and pointed at Kairen.
"Mother! Mother! Who is he?"
Yakushi Nono turned her head, her dark-green eyes carrying a glimmer of hope as she replied:
"Children, he is the person who can cure your terminal illnesses!"
"Really? He can really cure our sicknesses?"
"But our illnesses are all terminal! The doctors said even Tsunade-sama can't help us!"
Jinrei, the girl with her eyes wrapped, hopped over to Kairen, grabbing his clothes.
"Can you really heal my sickness?!"
Kairen lowered his head, then slowly crouched down. A tenderness never seen before appeared on his face.
"Of course. I am a sage, and sages are kind."
"As long as you're a good girl, I will help you fulfill one wish."
Kairen placed one hand gently on Jinrei's face.
"Come, tell me your wish."
Jinrei tilted her head, then suddenly said:
"The Mother works too hard outside. I hope someone can help her!"
Kairen froze. Her wish wasn't to heal her own eyes — she wanted someone to help their Mother.
Living in a gutter, every person still has a chance to sprout. And the one who gave them that chance was Yakushi Nono — that ray of light seeping in through the cracks.
Yakushi Nono's eyes moistened. She removed her glasses and gently wiped away the tears with her sleeve. This was why she removed her mask when she was at the orphanage.
Because one cannot wear a false mask in front of such kind children.
Kairen smiled. His hand glowed with abundant life energy.
"Your first wish has already come true. Your Mother now has me to help her."
"As a reward for being such a kind little spirit… I will cure your eyes."
...
Kairen's chakra, overflowing with vibrant life, flowed into Jinrei's eyes. Simulating her cellular structure, he eliminated the old damaged organs and infused Yang Release, forming two new eyes.
Kairen slowly removed the white cloth covering her eyes. In that instant, a ray of light from the human world pierced through Jinrei's eyelids.
Jinrei slowly opened her eyes. The multicolored world entered her vision, her pupils widening.
"I can see! I can see!"
Jinrei twirled joyfully like a butterfly.
The children around her widened their eyes, then happily offered their blessings.
"That's great! That's great! Jinrei can see!"
Kairen smiled, then slowly walked toward the other terminally ill children, healing them one by one.
Yakushi Nono watched quietly. Every time one child was cured, a faint smile appeared on her face.
In her heart rose a deep gratitude, along with a feeling she couldn't name — a gentle happiness, a sense of reliance, a faint urge… the same urge as earlier, the urge to lean into his arms.
Kairen healed the children one after another.
Finally, he approached a pale child sitting in a wheelchair.
Kairen's chakra probed inside and he sighed. This child's hardships were profound — nearly every illness imaginable: leukemia, ALS, cancer…
The fact he was alive was a miracle at all. Surely he was clinging to that one ray of light — Yakushi Nono.
The child spoke.
"My name is Akikawa. I have a wish!"
Kairen's voice was gentle.
"Go ahead."
"Can… can you become Mother's boyfriend?!"
Good kid… Kairen loudly praised in his heart.
As soon as Akikawa said that, everyone's gaze gathered on Kairen and Yakushi Nono.
Yakushi Nono's face flushed red. She didn't dare look at Kairen.
Kairen mentally gave the kid a thumbs-up. For this assist alone, he would treat him with special care.
"Why?" Kairen still asked.
Akikawa trembled as he spoke.
"Mother isn't young anymore… She's always wasting her time taking care of us. She needs a strong ninja to protect her. It's a pity I'm still too small. If I could grow up, I would definitely marry our beautiful mother."
Kairen gently rubbed Akikawa's head.
Childlike words, but it showed how deeply Yakushi Nono had earned their love.
Akikawa continued looking up at Kairen.
"You are strong… definitely a powerful ninja. And you care about Mother so much."
"I hope you can protect Mother and not let her suffer anymore. I'm willing to trade my life to make this wish come true."