"Is that so."
Samui's movements as she wiped the table came to a halt.
She had already received intelligence regarding Kiyoshi's performance on the battlefield, and her heart was filled with a mix of shock and confusion. The Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii, had actually rampaged, and the catalyst for that rampage was Kiyoshi!
This level of value and potential made Kiyoshi an even hotter commodity. Word was that after the Third Raikage finished handling matters within the Cloud, he would personally address the "Kiyoshi issue." However, by then, their group of ninjas—who were failing to complete their mission—would surely face punishment.
"Clean up yourself. I need to go out for a bit."
Samui wiped her hands dry on her apron, rummaged through the back kitchen for a while, and brought out a box of gifts. She didn't expect Kiyoshi to defect immediately, but at the very least, she had to make him cough up some of Leaf's intel. That way, it would look like they were making progress rather than just wasting time.
Atsui, who had planned to share a meal with his sister, immediately pulled back his enthusiastic expression. Seeing his sister having to humble herself to win over Kiyoshi made him feel bitter.
If he could, he would have gone in her place, but Kiyoshi had explicitly stated that only Samui would do. As for the details of their "transactions," Atsui was kept completely in the dark.
"Wasting so much time on a traitor..." Atsui muttered under his breath.
In his eyes, Kiyoshi—who was born in the Land of Lightning but became an Uchiha because they discovered his talent first—was someone who had forgotten his roots.
...
At Hospital.
"It's time to go."
Nonō Yakushi let out a soft sigh. Her desire to leave Konoha was growing stronger by the day. Through her information network, she had discovered that the Ninja Academy was expanding its recruitment.
Furthermore, the training curriculum was far more intense than it had been during peacetime. This was clearly an effort to cultivate more potential "cannon fodder" for the war effort.
Scenes of this darkness made Nonō increasingly reluctant to remain in the village. The only reason she was still here was because she had taken on a disciple; otherwise, she would have vanished long ago.
*Knock, knock.*
The half-closed door to her office was tapped. Nonō looked up in surprise, but within a second, a smile touched her lips. Through her sensory abilities, she already knew exactly who was standing there.
"Nonō-sensei, it's been a while."
Kiyoshi pushed the door open and placed the gifts he had brought on her desk.
"Life on the battlefield must have been hard, wasn't it?" Nonō beckoned him over, gesturing for him to sit. She didn't know how to tell her disciple that she was planning to leave.
"Little Kiyoshi..."
"Nonō-sensei, are you leaving?"
Kiyoshi was far more perceptive than she had anticipated. Seeing the flash of astonishment on her face, he quickly added, "I've seen people who have retired from the ninja profession. The melancholy on their faces looks just like yours."
As Kiyoshi spoke, his tone carried a hint of sadness, and his expression turned lonely. Inwardly, however, he was as steady as a mountain. He had known about her departure for a long time; seeing her hesitant manner today, he guessed the time had come.
It was actually a bit later than he had expected. He thought she would have left while he was on the front lines, but she had waited until today. This suggested his status in her heart was quite high. After all, there's always a unique sentiment attached to one's first disciple.
"It seems you've guessed it," Nonō sighed gently. The handover process was complete; she could leave at any moment. She had already prepared the funds for an orphanage and selected a plot of land.
"Can you tell me where you're going?"
Kiyoshi's gaze was fixed on her. Expressions and demeanors can be faked, but Kiyoshi—who possessed the Sharingan and observed the minute details of people's faces daily—had an understanding of emotion that far surpassed others. As his ocular power grew, so did his ability to perceive.
That gaze was becoming a bit too intense. A sudden sense of foreboding rose within Nonō. Having been a spy for many years, she was intimately familiar with various looks. To better teach Kiyoshi, she had even read some psychological analyses regarding adolescence.
Kiyoshi's current state was clearly the restlessness of a teenage boy. The hormonal changes of puberty often lead to curiosity about the opposite sex, and the gentle, maternal traits of an older woman can trigger a hazy sort of sexual attraction.
Commonly known as filial piety... turning "rotten."
But Nonō understood very well that they weren't a match. The age gap was too large. Being with him would only harm him, and she knew this feeling was likely symbolic—not true "love." It was a normal phase of growth that shouldn't be mocked or simply dismissed.
"I'm going to open an orphanage," Nonō said. Rude interference would only worsen his rebellious streak or sense of shame. She didn't want him to develop an inferiority complex, especially seeing him look like an abandoned child.
"An orphanage?"
Kiyoshi seemed stunned for a moment, then hurriedly fumbled through his gear to find a scroll used for storing money. "This is my savings. I hope it can help you, Sensei."
Nonō's heart sank. Kiyoshi was in deep. Adolescents in this stage seek attention and validation, feeling euphoric at recognition and anxious at distance, often leading to one-sided emotional fantasies. The lines between "dependency," "admiration," and "infatuation" were blurring.
"Little Kiyoshi, you should keep this money," she declined gently. "I don't need it right now. The war isn't over, and there will be many places where you'll need funds later."
She spoke at length, essentially telling him she didn't want his "blood and sweat" money. Seeing her resolve, Kiyoshi could only take it back. At this point, Nonō hadn't yet been crushed by the harsh realities of society; she didn't yet realize how much of a money pit an orphanage could be.
To fill the financial gap, she would eventually be forced back into the ninja trade, returning to Root to do what she did best: spying in enemy nations.
"Is there anything you want?" Nonō rubbed Kiyoshi's head, praising his gratitude and filial heart. But as for responding to his "feelings," she didn't dare. She didn't even know how to handle it. If Kiyoshi had ended up this way, she felt she was partially to blame for poor guidance.
"I... I want a set of medical equipment," Kiyoshi revealed his true objective. He added, "That way, my medical ninjutsu can keep improving, and I won't tarnish your reputation. In the future, I can even come help treat the children at the orphanage."
"Very well," Nonō nodded. This was something she could handle using her connections. Since she was leaving the profession anyway, she might as well let those relationships serve one last purpose.
Nonō took Kiyoshi to a laboratory and, after consulting with Biwako Sarutobi, secured exclusive usage rights for a specific lab for him. Finally, she handed him a scroll.