Chapter 51: Homecoming
The journey back to the Land of Fire took them through early spring. By the time the Konoha team neared home, the signs of the New Year were already fading, replaced by the gentle warmth of the season.
After washing up by a clear riverbank, everyone gathered around a fire, and Liumu demonstrated a simple way of grilling fish that earned him no small amount of praise. Even the usually reticent Orochimaru was seen quietly taking a second portion.
Months of shared hardship and covert operation had forged a bond between them. Tsunade, in particular, had grown attached to the boy. Every night, she would pull him into her bedroll, citing the pragmatic reason that "a child is a natural furnace—very warm to hold."
As they rested, Minato surveyed the familiar landscape. "We should be back in the village by this afternoon."
Orochimaru heard him, stood, and began gathering his few belongings. "I have matters to attend to. Proceed without me."
Neither Minato nor Tsunade were surprised. They understood Orochimaru's solitary nature. This parting was expected. Yuhi Makoto had already returned ahead of them to deliver a full report on their activities in Kiri to the Hokage.
"I should go pick her up, then," Liumu said. Unable to explain the Time Chamber, he had told the others that Haku would be making her own, separate way to the Land of Fire by sea.
"I'll come with you," Tsunade offered, starting to rise.
Liumu stopped her with a small shake of his head. "I'd… prefer to go alone."
Before Tsunade could argue, he was already gone, a flicker of light disappearing into the trees.
Outside the gates of Konohagakure, by a secluded stream, Liumu released Haku from the Time Chamber.
She blinked, taking in the completely unfamiliar surroundings—the tall trees, the dry, warm air, the sounds of birdsong instead of crashing waves. Disorientation filled her eyes.
"We're near Konoha. I'll show you the way."
At his gentle assurance, Haku gave a small, obedient nod.
They walked side by side along the path. The vibrant sounds of life from the woods—chirping birds, rustling leaves—continually drew Haku's attention. Konoha was a world apart from Kirigakure. Kiri was an island realm, damp and cool even in its warmth. Konoha was inland, its air dry and filled with the scent of earth and growing things. Early spring had dressed the path in tender green shoots, and butterflies danced in compete swarms around clusters of wildflowers.
"I'm… a little scared," Haku admitted softly, pausing amidst a swirl of butterflies. She looked at Liumu, genuine worry in her eyes.
Liumu smiled, a simple, reassuring expression. He reached out and took her cool, slender hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze before continuing forward without breaking stride.
"There's only one path now. No choice but to move forward. And…" He glanced at her, his voice firm. "I'm right here."
Haku's possession of the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai was no secret after the Chunin Exams in Kumo. As a foreign shinobi, her arrival in Konoha would undoubtedly draw scrutiny. But Liumu knew that anyone who understood the truth of Kirigakure's "Bloody Mist" policies—Tsunade, Minato, perhaps even the Hokage—would comprehend her choice to seek refuge.
Upon returning to the village, Liumu first settled Haku into his small home, the only legacy from his parents. It was a modest house with three bedrooms, which had felt too large for a lone orphan but now promised a new kind of life.
He then went to report to the Hokage's office, only to find it empty save for Tsunade, who had waited for him.
She pulled a small, sealed box from beside her feet and handed it to him. "Your mission compensation."
Liumu took it. "And the others? Their share?"
A flicker of something unreadable—sadness? weariness?—passed through Tsunade's eyes. She quickly covered it with a smirk. "Don't ask so many questions. We've been on the road for months. Go home and rest."
With that, she vanished in a poof of white smoke, leaving Liumu alone in the quiet office with a growing sense of unease.
Something's happened. Something big.
It was late by the time Liumu finished shopping for daily necessities, fresh food, and a few personal items for Haku at the village market. He returned home, his mind still turning over Tsunade's cryptic behavior.
"You're back."
The voice was soft. He looked up to see Haku emerging from the bathroom, wearing a simple white robe and an apron, a broom in her hands. A small, tentative smile graced her lips.
Liumu blinked. "You've been… cleaning?"
He'd been gone for months. The house had been thick with dust. Now, it was spotless—far cleaner than he had ever kept it himself.
"Hah, having a girl in the house really does make a difference," he chuckled, shaking off his thoughts as he carried the groceries into the kitchen.
Soon, the aroma of a simple meal filled the air—three dishes and a soup, prepared with a touch of his past-life culinary habits.
"Is it… okay?" Haku asked hesitantly after they'd eaten, patting her slightly full stomach.
"It's delicious," she answered her own question, her smile growing more genuine. "Even better than the food in the Kumo lodgings."
Haku's past had offered little in terms of comfort or variety. The trip to Kumo for the exams had been her first time outside Kiri, her first taste of a wider world. Liumu's cooking, simple but flavorful, was another new and welcome experience.
"Good," Liumu smiled. "I'll clean up. You go ahead and shower, then get some rest."
Later, after washing the dishes and taking his own bath, Liumu finally lay in his bed, his mind returning to the shadow in Tsunade's eyes. What could have happened in Konoha while we were away?
Hsss…
A sudden, cool sensation at the foot of his bed. Something slid under the covers. A presence moved upward.
"Han?" Liumu whispered into the darkness.
Like a silent, pale kitten, Haku emerged from the blankets, her long white hair gathered over one shoulder. She settled quietly beside him.
Liumu: "…?"
"I was… a little scared," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Liumu understood. He remembered his own first days alone in a vast, unfamiliar city in his previous life, standing at a train station, feeling utterly consumed by the unknown. Haku was in a foreign village, with no friends, no family, no connections save for him. Of course she was afraid.
Though Haku was a few years older, in this moment, Liumu felt like the elder, the protector. He quietly slipped an arm beneath her neck, offering a solid warmth.
"Don't be afraid. Sleep now. Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to some friends."
The moon cast soft silver light through the window. In the quiet dark, Liumu's breathing soon evened out into sleep. But Haku remained awake, curled on her side, her bright eyes fixed on his peaceful face in the moonlight, unmoving.
"Aren't you asleep yet?" Liumu mumbled, half-conscious, sensing her gaze. He thought she was still anxious.
"No…" came her soft, slightly pained reply. "It's just… your arm is on my hair. It hurts."
(End of Chapter)
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