The next day.
Before going to complete her discharge paperwork, Konome Taketori borrowed one of the bouquets Shikamaru and the others had brought and went to visit Kazama Yue, who was once again hospitalized with serious injuries.
Whether it was coincidence or not, he was still in that same dim hospital room as before. Nothing had changed at all.
Because both his arms were gone, he relied entirely on a caretaker for his daily needs. When Konome entered, the caretaker happened to be changing the medicine on his wounds.
The blood-soaked bandages were carefully unwrapped.
Everything from his arms up through half his shoulders was just gone. The exposed wounds were charred and bloody, what remained of the bone blackened and horrible to look at, smeared with some yellow ointment she did not recognize.
Losing both arms was a fatal blow for a ninjutsu specialist.
His shinobi career was over.
"I heard you twisted that bastard's head off."
Seeing Konome walk in with flowers in hand, Kazama had the caretaker help him sit up.
He tilted his neck so he could lean against the wall at the head of the bed, just like when Konome used to visit every day to study Wind Release.
"I used the Wind Release you taught me."
Konome set the bouquet down on his bedside table and noticed that poor lone lily was still there, now on the verge of withering. Next to it were a fruit basket and flowers identical to the ones in her hands, probably left by Hinata and the others when they visited yesterday.
Hearing her words, Kazama could not help the small smile curving his lips.
"I'm not that impressive."
Little bubbles of joy and pride rose one after another above his head.
Sometimes Konome really struggled to keep a straight face.
The moment her emotional-sense ran into someone who said one thing and felt another, the comedic effect went straight to max. Her mood had been much better lately because of it.
"What about your arms?"
"I'm done as a shinobi. I'll just live off the village's pension."
Kazama's voice carried a hint of bitterness he could not quite hide.
"How much can they even give you?"
"No idea. They haven't paid anything yet."
"If they still haven't in a few days, I'll go ask for you."
Kazama blinked at that.
"You can speak up on that level now?"
"More or less." Konome tilted her head, sounding casual.
The room went quiet for a moment.
The caretaker, wearing gloves, dabbed ointment onto the stumps of his shoulders. Kazama gritted his teeth through the pain, his dark green eyes fixed on the girl in front of him, so changed from before, his expression complicated.
He had not missed the way doctors and nurses had been whispering these past few days.
The old elite jonin from Kumo, "Rampaging Thunder," beheaded.
The Third Hokage personally pushing her wheelchair.
The strongest genius in Konoha's history, a monster with hopes of surpassing the First Hokage.
There were even rumors that the Third was going to take Konome in as his final disciple, making her the "fourth Sannin" in all but name.
Of course, there were always "clear-headed" people in this world.
From the moment the news spread, some had doubted whether Konome's achievement was real.
So Kazama Yue, lying harmlessly in his bed, had been dragged out as a living example.
During the Academy entrance period, she had easily defeated Kazama Yue in front of a crowd; he had suffered a broken sternum and recuperated right here in this room. Doctors, nurses, and Academy teachers could all verify it.
Beating an elite jonin while still in her first year at the Academy sounded absurd, but when stacked against her previous achievements, it did not seem so impossible.
The doubting voices vanished almost overnight.
In the space of just a few days, the blind girl who had not even qualified to enroll in the Academy back then had become the symbol of a new generation of genius in Konoha.
Kazama did not know whether Konome's words about helping him would work.
He did know that they carried far more weight than his own.
"Thanks."
"No need."
Konome waved a hand.
"Focus on recovering. Who knows, maybe one day medical ninjutsu will advance enough that your arms can be restored."
"I'll take that blessing."
Kazama did not sound hopeful.
Techniques that could regrow lost limbs were not going to be developed in a day or two. Even if the legendary Tsunade herself came, she might have to admit defeat.
After that, Konome chatted with him for a bit longer, then stood and prepared to leave.
"Wait."
Kazama called after her.
"There's a Wind Release technique I want to give you."
Those unfamiliar yet familiar words made Konome halt.
Ever since she woke up, people had been delivering things to her door nonstop.
Lightning Release, Yin and Yang, precious ninjutsu knowledge that had once been incredibly rare was now being given to her like it was nothing.
"What kind of technique?"
"An S-rank Wind Release I developed myself. It still has some flaws that need fixing."
Kazama glanced down at his empty shoulders, eyes going dim.
"You can see my situation. Keeping it in my hands is a waste. I hope someday you can finish it in my place."
Konome was silent for a moment.
Her plate was already overflowing.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Yin and Yang Release, either one was a nightmare to train.
And the Third Hokage's words on the rooftop were still fresh in her ears.
There were thousands upon thousands of powerful techniques in the shinobi world.
The only ones that really mattered were those that matched your fighting style.
An original S-rank Wind Release technique, created based on Kazama's level and combat habits, would almost certainly not fit her own methods.
On top of that, the version in his hands was incomplete.
Training it would be difficult, and she would also have to pour enormous time and effort into reconstructing, modifying, and perfecting it.
Even if she pulled all of that off, S-rank difficulty did not guarantee S-rank power.
If the final product turned out underwhelming, all of that time and effort would have been wasted.
With the looming risk of Shikotsumyaku's bloodline disease in front of her and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's world-ending threat behind, her time was painfully tight.
She could not afford even a little waste.
"Sorry. I'm probably going to be… very busy for a while."
She phrased it as gently as she could, but Kazama still heard the refusal underneath.
The "Thunder-Piercing Drill" he had poured his entire life into did not mean much to Konome.
Cloudy bubbles of disappointment spread over his head and rushed toward her in a wave.
"It's fine. Your priorities come first."
Konome looked at him, at a loss for how to comfort him.
She could easily pretend to accept and leave the scroll sitting in some corner to gather dust, but that would be trampling his life's work.
More cruel than refusal.
There were so many shinobi in Konoha.
One day, some talented poor boy would stumble into Kazama-sensei's guidance. With enough talent, he might perfect that technique and make it shine across the world.
There was no need to hang everything on her branch.
"Then I hope you recover soon. I'll get going."
"Yeah. Alright."
Kazama smoothed his expression and forced a smile.
Click.
Konome turned the knob.
A sliver of sunlight spilled through the opening and made the dark room suddenly much brighter.
"Leave the door open. A bit more light will lift your mood and help you heal faster."
"Che. Mind your own business."
Kazama lowered his head to look at the caretaker changing his bandages, his thin face softening in rare warmth.
The caretaker was half leaning against his chest, pretending to focus on her work.
The delicate profile of her face had a suspicious blush.
Tch.
Clack.
Konome shut the door with a flick and strode away like a giant walking lightbulb removed from the scene.
The discharge procedures went through without a hitch.
Her hospitalization costs were fully covered by the village.
She did not have to pay a single ryo.
On top of that, she was told she would be receiving a large cash reward later for her contribution during the crisis.
Konome did not think much of that money.
Her Byakugan's "gambling" and Shikotsumyaku's "mining," either one was worth a fortune.
When Might Guy had burned ten billion right in front of her, her reaction had been mostly for show.
The main point had been to make Guy feel guilty, so he would be easier to manipulate later.
Her attending physician brought out two forms for her to sign.
One was the discharge document, so the hospital could not be blamed if her condition flared up later.
The other was just for her signature, to be saved and cherished for when it became worth something someday.
Konome signed both.
She had no idea when Shikotsumyaku's disease might hit.
If she ever wanted to study medical ninjutsu in the future, she might need this doctor's help.
Leaving a signature now was investing in a good relationship.
By the time all the formalities were complete and Konome stepped out of the hospital's front doors, the blazing sun was already hanging high in the southern sky.
"Done with everything?"
"Yeah. Why are you here?"
Not far from the hospital entrance, a silver-haired man with a mop of hair like a broom crouched in a patch of shade and waved at her.
"The Third says you're still badly injured and might run into danger.
Since you're living at my place anyway, he told me to guard you for a few days."
Kakashi squinted with his one visible eye. He looked like someone who had just been dragged out of bed, still half asleep.
"Fine."
Konome knew she did not have the right to refuse.
Her ties to Kirigakure had not been fully cleared yet. Hiruzen had almost certainly already sent people to investigate, but no concrete information had come back.
Until then, he was worried she might be lying and try to run.
After killing Yotsuki Isao, there were only a handful of people in the village who could restrain her.
Kakashi had the strength, and he was her landlord. He really was Konoha's best option.
"For the next few days, you stay home and behave. I don't want to follow you all over the place. I'm supposed to be on vacation right now."
Kakashi ruffled his messy hair, still the same listless, slouching figure.
"What do I get out of it?"
"You don't have to pay rent."
"Not enough. Add more."
Kakashi shut his eye and silently counted to three.
Then, thinking about the mission pay he would receive for guarding her, he raised one finger.
"I'll cover your food, clothes, and lodging for the next few days. Any more and I'll be losing money."
"Deal."
Her goal achieved, Konome did not bother haggling further. She pointed toward the street leading to Konoha's center.
"Let's go. Ichiraku Ramen."
Konome strode ahead in big steps.
Kakashi weighed his wallet, then followed at a slower pace, completely resigned to his role as a bodyguard.
Her blind staff, which had accompanied her out of Kirigakure, had gone flying during the battle with Yotsuki Isao and did not know where it had ended up.
She had not gone looking for it.
After such a life-and-death fight, that cane would not fool anyone again anyway.
Both of them were shinobi, and they moved quickly.
Before long, they stepped onto Konoha's main street.
It was the height of noon, and the road was packed with people.
Steam drifted from a dango shop, and the aroma of grilled squid floated over the stone steps, but even that could not compete with the crowd gathered outside the full-to-bursting Ninja Tools Hall.
The shop owner, eyes squeezed into narrow smiles, stood on the steps preaching to the crowd.
"You all know about Konome Taketori, right?
The one who broke Hatake Kakashi's record and is the real Number One Genius of Konoha.
When she tested her chakra attributes in my shop, the chakra paper went crack and split into five pieces all at once. Scared me half to death.
I'm telling you, talent that outrageous can't be measured with regular chakra paper.
You have to use this brand-new 'High-Grade Chakra Paper' from my shop."
Blah, blah, blah.
The owner waved a few beautifully packaged slips around and kept bragging.
Konome, passing by, listened until her whole body went stiff with secondhand embarrassment.
She ducked her head and hurried through the throng, dragging along the previous record-holder, "Number Two Genius of Konoha."
Kakashi's dead-fish eye rolled upward as he walked.
Back when he sold the Shadow Clone Technique, he really should have asked for more.
Soon, the two of them reached Ichiraku's entrance.
Before they even got close, the rich fragrance of tonkotsu ramen hit them.
After three days of hospital cafeteria food, Konome's appetite flared instantly.
She pushed aside the noren curtain.
Every seat at the counter was taken; customers sat shoulder to shoulder in a neat row.
"We'll have to wait a bit."
Kakashi, clearly a regular, found the waiting area and sat down on a small stool, quietly waiting.
Ichiraku was tiny.
Coming at the busiest time of day meant you were guaranteed to deal with waiting in line.
That was why Kakashi usually chose the quieter afternoon for his visits.
Konome could only sigh.
She had been here twice, and both times had been like this.
"Your large tonkotsu ramen. Please enjoy."
Ayame swept out from the back with a tray, bowls of ramen balanced on it.
She set the bowls down one by one in front of the customers and then happened to glance toward the waiting area.
Two silver-haired, visibly injured regulars were sitting there.
"Kakashi-san, and… Konome. Are you feeling better?"
Joy flashed in her eyes, and her raised voice drew the attention of everyone enjoying their food.
"Much better."
Konome was a little overwhelmed by Ayame's enthusiasm.
They had only met once, yet Ayame could call her by name right away.
Apparently even she knew Konome had been injured.
Konome knew this was Hiruzen's handiwork, but she had not expected that while they talked, the other customers would also suddenly react.
"She, she's that Konome Taketori?"
"That silver-haired blind girl. It has to be her."
A middle-aged man squinted between Konome and Kakashi, then decisively dismissed the exhausted-looking man who seemed like he had just pulled a hellish all-nighter.
"It really is unbelievable."
No one knew who sighed that first line, but the agreement was instant.
Blind.
Shorter than one meter forty.
Thin and delicate.
Skin white and soft.
She looked softer and sweeter than the chashu that covered the ramen.
Set her on the street with a cracked bowl in front of her and people would be fighting to throw coins in.
Who would ever think she was an elite-level fighter who could tear tigers and leopards apart with her bare hands?
You really could not judge people by appearances.
Customers turned to openly stare at Konome in the waiting area, debating in low voices.
Even the steaming tonkotsu ramen in their bowls could not compete for their attention.
Ramen was always there.
A monster who had defeated an elite jonin at six years old was not something you saw every day.
Under the curious gaze of so many, Konome felt like she should just move into a zoo and sell tickets.
"When I graduated from the Academy, it was like this for me too. Give it some time and it will pass."
Seeing Konome's discomfort, Kakashi kept his face neutral as he spoke.
She could not tell whether he was trying to comfort her or just bragging.
"Ayame-san!"
A middle-aged woman with a small boy waved Ayame over.
"What is it, ma'am? Is the ramen not to your taste?" Ayame asked, startled, hurrying over.
"No, it's delicious."
The woman stood, patted her son's head, signaling him to get up as well, then smiled toward Konome.
"My son Ika was at the training ground that day too. If you hadn't defeated that attacking shinobi in time, I don't dare think what might have happened.
Ayame-san, we'll take our ramen to go. Please give our seats to Miss Konome and her friend."
"Mom, ramen doesn't taste good in takeout bowls," the boy protested, mouth still shiny with broth.
Smack.
Konome watched the kindly looking woman casually slap Ika across the face.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, eyes teary, and did not say another word.
"Then… alright."
Scratching her head and glancing at her hair, Konome followed the woman's repeated thanks and sat down in the boy's original spot with Kakashi.
"Oh, and Miss Konome's meal will go on my tab. I'll pay for it next time I come."
The woman popped back in from outside to tell Ayame that before leaving.
"That's okay, big sister. Someone else is treating today."
Konome politely declined the offer and patted Kakashi's shoulder.
Sitting beside her, Kakashi nodded with a face full of resentment.
Dragged off his vacation to work, forced to act as a bodyguard and pick up the tab, and now being compared unfavorably in public.
Back when he achieved his own child-prodigy fame, he had been gawked at like a monkey in a cage.
He definitely had not gotten this treatment with people giving up seats and offering to pay.
Where had he fallen short, exactly?
Watching doubts and sourness swirl together in rainbow-colored bubbles above his head, Konome barely kept a straight face as she raised her hand.
"Ayame-san, twenty large bowls of tonkotsu ramen."
"Got it. Please wait a moment."
Ayame knew Konome's appetite and was not surprised. She grabbed the order slip and dashed back to the kitchen.
Kakashi, who had also raised his hand to order but been completely ignored, rolled his dead-fish eye and glanced up at the price list on the wall.
Twenty bowls for Konome, one for him.
Twenty-one bowls of ramen would cost…
Two bubbles popped up over his head.
The emotions swirling inside were so complicated it looked like a rainbow.
Konome could still make out the faint outline of two large characters.
Regret.
(End of Volume Two: Wrath of Wind and Thunder)
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