After sending off the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei, Kita calculated the time carefully. Nearly ten days had passed since she returned from the upper village; the plan was for fifteen days. Orochimaru had said thirteen days "just in case," leaving three days remaining for that contingency. Counting with her fingers, she thought she could notify Nagato and request leave when the time came.
Looking at the pills left in the medicine bottle—six in total—she carefully split one in half using a trace of chakra and only consumed half.
The discomfort subsided considerably. For once, Konan hadn't insisted she accompany her to the administrative hall. Kita decided to wander casually. She didn't know how many more times she could endure the strain; maybe the next flare-up would be unbearable. Before her life ended, she wanted to see the village once more—a small wish fulfilled.
Most residents lived in the middle of the village; the upstream area contained public buildings—library, hospital, ninja school, administrative center, and commercial streets. Upper-residents were rare. Kita usually went straight to the administrative center when visiting, rarely wandering aimlessly as she did now. The streets were crowded today, likely because of the sunny weather.
Walking among the people, she felt curious stares—though much less than before. The village's atmosphere had improved greatly. Streets were cleaner, people appeared healthier, and their clothing suggested prosperity.
For Kita, this was astonishing. Amegakure was a small ninja village. Compared to the great nations, its missions were limited, especially given its focus on assassination. Normally, it wouldn't be wealthy—but now, shops displayed new clothes priced at twenty thousand ryo, something Kita had never seen.
When did the village become this rich?
It wasn't her fault for being unaware. In her absence, Konan had devoted herself entirely to governing, striving with relentless effort. Governance isn't solved with effort alone, but Akatsuki had its people—and the most useful was Kakuzu. He didn't govern the village, but he knew how to make money. Not from killing bounties, but through finance. Konan leveraged this, pushing herself and the village to the limit.
Using battle-oriented ninjutsu for mundane tasks was revolutionary for ninja. If a mission required filling an empty pond, most ninjas would carry buckets of water—never daring to use Water Release. To them, using jutsu outside combat was abuse. Old habits die hard; even during annual droughts, no one would attempt it.
Konan broke that mold—forcefully. Shigure resisted, protested, and defended the mist ninja, but all opposition was suppressed. Over time, dissent faded. The results were visible: no war, full bellies, and better food.
The village's transformation amazed Kita—socially, economically, and culturally.
As she wandered upstream, she noticed a new district: the North District. A modest gate stood at its entrance, with guards, and a small courtyard. People came and went, signing papers—men and women, ninja and civilians alike.
Village secrets? Kita wondered.
She hesitated, listening as the guards whispered.
"—Hey, look, is that… her?"
"—Really? Could it be?"
"—I heard she's back…"
The North District remained a mystery. Kita considered following her Akatsuki escorts to ask, but decided to see for herself. It seemed lively, just as Itachi had mentioned.
Stepping forward, she approached the gate.
"Excuse me… you need to sign in first," said a guard, a sturdy, honest-looking man in his thirties. Kita, surprised by his respectful tone, nodded and took the pen.
The form contained neat columns of dates and names—among them were Itachi, Kisame, and even Deidara.
Even they need to sign in to the North District?
Confused, she entered. Four Akatsuki followed her; one left for the administrative center. The remaining three signed their codes obediently.
The district looked no different from the commercial area outside—newer buildings, more residents, orderly streets. Shops represented all five nations: a Land of Earth milk tea shop, Land of Iron honey ice cream, Land of Waves dumplings, Land of Wind sand sweets, Water Country embroidery. The world in miniature.
Kita felt her eyes sting. She sat at an open-air café, ordering a specialty milk tea from the Land of Earth, listening to the foreign-accented laughter. She almost choked on her emotions.
They were all strangers, each with physical scars—missing limbs, crippled legs, facial marks—but all bore the same humiliating brand on their necks that she once did.
Non-humans.
From all over the world.
This village accepted them, allowing them to live like people—feel Amegakure, bask in the sun, without subservience or fear. Clothed, fed, living with dignity.
They live like humans.
Overwhelmed, Kita fled the North District, tears she had suppressed spilling freely. This Amegakure had accepted her, accepted outcasts, provided them shelter and warmth. For the first time, she felt hope for the future. Even for beings like them—like her—there was a chance to stand in the sun and live like people.
------------
Meanwhile, Konan, hearing reports from subordinates, learned that Kita had gone to the North District. Shigure realized the angelic leader was about to take off again. Seeing this, Konan stood, heading out—but paused with her hand on the door handle.
Three seconds of silence passed before she returned to her chair, signaling the remaining Akatsuki to continue reporting.
"I understand, Chi, you may return to your post. Shigure, continue," she said calmly.
Shigure, confused, asked, "Konan-sama, aren't you going?"
Konan shook her head, rising and sitting at a side sofa to brew tea. "Come, sit. Let's talk over tea."
Her approachable demeanor left the seven-year attendants—Tsubame, Suzume, Gan, and Taka—astonished. Shigure, however, was unsurprised; this was the angel he knew. He watched her brew tea, perfectly at ease.
Tea was sipped, work reports given, and time passed until the teapot was empty. When Shigure left, he noticed Konan hadn't budged—no hint of shirking duties.
"Do you have anything to say?" she asked, seeing his hesitant expression. He blushed, ashamed for his curiosity, and quickly bowed.
"No… nothing, Konan-sama. Sorry."
Konan waved, smiling. "That's what makes you so cute, Shigure~"
His face reddened further. "S-sorry, I take my leave."
As the door closed, her smile froze, then softened into fatigue. She wanted to rush to Kita immediately, but the knot was Kita's to untie. No matter what Konan did, it wouldn't help—Kita needed to see for herself. Only then would she understand that the line between human and non-human was thin, almost imperceptible.
"Tsuru, tell Chi, once Kita returns downstream, report back. No need to follow today."
"Yes."
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