Collecting the basic data wouldn't take long, but the analysis required time. Tsunade stared at the data and the blood samples before her, then recalled the sample Orochimaru had sent over half a year ago. Frustration overtook her; the data slipped from her hands onto the desk. Rarely staying in the hospital for more than a moment, Tsunade leaned back in her chair, exhausted, eyes closing heavily.
She had never been able to decipher the sample Orochimaru sent. And now, both the slides and the data analysis, combined with the blood samples, all pointed to the same stark truth: Kita's entire body was permeated with this poison. That she was still alive… was nothing short of a miracle.
Late into the night, the hospital lights remained on. Konan walked in casually, no need to avoid the guards, and went straight to Tsunade's workspace. She didn't need guidance; after all, she had often followed the Fifth Hokage as a guard and companion, almost like a pet.
After reporting, she was invited in. Unexpectedly, Tsunade reclined unceremoniously in her soft chair; expectedly, the desk was strewn with Kita's data and blood samples.
"Apologies for the intrusion at this hour, Fifth Hokage."
Konan spoke respectfully. Tsunade straightened slightly, fatigued, waving a hand.
"No need. I just happened to need to see you."
With that, she sipped a small mouthful of sake, shedding her daytime political demeanor. Konan was unsurprised; even in her own private moments, she had habits best left unseen, and drinking was nothing extraordinary.
"How much do you understand about her condition?"
Tsunade asked bluntly. Konan nodded slightly.
"I was just about to discuss it." She retrieved a sealed scroll from her hands. Upon unsealing it, a stack of densely annotated A4 sheets appeared.
"These experiments have been ongoing for about seven years. I thought this might help you, so I brought them."
She handed over the neatly ordered files. Tsunade took them. The pages were copies, filled with handwritten notes—Orochimaru's handwriting, complete with dates. The first several sheets meticulously documented the poisons administered, and the torturous experiments conducted. But midway, question marks began to appear in the records—first one, then several. By the end, aside from variations in dosages, no new components were noted. Only basic data remained: the dosage administered on a certain day, the reaction observed, the level of deterioration, etc.
After skimming through them, Tsunade drained her sake, bypassing the delicate porcelain cup.
"Orochimaru… that bastard! What the hell is he doing?!"
Her anger erupted, shattering the porcelain bottle in her grasp. Blood mingled with the shards. Konan remained calm, watching the Fifth Hokage wrestle helplessly.
"Orochimaru could only erase the Otsutsuki consciousness in her body this way. If he had killed Kita, he would have claimed her body as well."
Tsunade said nothing, feeling as though a mountain of pressure weighed down on her.
"Orochimaru said that in the end, he could no longer distinguish the poison inside Kita. He didn't know how to neutralize it. Fifth Hokage… can you save her?"
Konan pressed on, leaving Tsunade speechless.
"There is no absolute certainty in medicine. The data is grim, but not hopeless. Otherwise, she would have died seven years ago, when he administered the third experiment."
That was all she could say.
After a long silence came Konan's deep sigh. She bent at the knees, lowering herself to kneel, forehead kissing the floor.
Tsunade forgot to speak. She forgot to breathe.
"Fifth Hokage, whatever method you use, please… preserve Kita's life. To Konoha, she may be nothing, but to me… she is everything."
Sincere, humble, and unwavering. Konan admitted that a non-human was her everything. Tsunade could not help but be struck by her courage, even as a leader, she felt awe at this rare devotion. Yet looking at the bowed figure, she knew: this was not a rain-ninja leader kneeling before her. It was a relative of a patient.
Tsunade lowered her eyes, setting aside any thoughts of non-human status or responsibilities.
"Even if you hadn't come, I would have done everything in my power to save her."
The world… was worth it.
Konan's expression remained calm; no reddened eyes, no humiliating kneel. She rose gracefully.
"I know. I don't know about medical ninjutsu. I am not skilled with poisons, nor can I cure anyone. I can't help in this matter, so I just want to do something."
Her voice was low, heavy with despair. Tsunade wanted to say something—but before her, words failed. Konan loved someone deeply, enough to act this way.
"Excuse the intrusion, Fifth Hokage."
She bowed slightly and turned to leave. Tsunade watched her slender figure go, sighing.
"I understand… but it can only be Kita."
Konan paused briefly, then nodded. "I know."
…
During treatment, staying in Konoha was natural. But the treatment hadn't started yet; there was no need to remain at the hospital constantly. When Kita was stable, her physical condition was healthier than most. Outside of medical necessity, it could almost pass for a date.
A wooden shuriken left Konan's hand, spinning along a strange arc, hitting the wooden target.
"Clack."
Unfortunately, it fell to the ground.
Konan frowned, disappointed.
Even for simple amusement in the village, hitting a stuffed target required some skill. The three-meter target had a front barrier; if the shuriken couldn't curve around it, it would never hit the bullseye. Without hitting the bullseye, the fuzzy little tiger plush was hers to take.
"Ugh, why must you make it so difficult for a ninja!"
Konan sighed, frustrated. She was skilled at throwing shuriken, but wooden ones were entirely different from paper. Nearly a hundred ryo wasted—enough to buy two plush toys! If Kakuzu knew, he'd never let her live it down.
Kita laughed. If she didn't make life difficult for ninjas, the shopkeeper would starve long ago.
Still, it was a challenging little game.
"Haha, what a shame, miss~"
The shopkeeper sighed in mock disappointment, while Obito teased.
"Oh no, another waste~"
"Shut up! Don't act like you could hit it yourself!" Konan snapped. She had tried six times, never realizing throwing a wooden shuriken straight into the bullseye was so difficult.
Kakashi, silently observing, said nothing.
Kita smiled, placing two ryo on the table.
"You fool, let me try."
Konan brightened and pulled her to the target.
"Quick, let me take revenge!"
"Mm." Kita nodded. Obito nudged Kakashi.
"I bet five ryo I can't hit it~"
"If you hit, you buy us ramen, okay?"
Kita laughed. Obito said, "Ramen until we're full."
"Just ramen?"
Konan pouted.
"Disrespecting ramen, huh? Ichiraku in Konoha is amazing."
"Sure, sure," Konan muttered, unconvinced.
"Mm, I can attest. It's really good." Kita picked up the wooden shuriken, noting its weight difference.
"You've eaten it before?"
"Several times."
Kakashi felt the pressure. "Several times" implied Kita had snuck into Konoha more than once.
Bending the shuriken mid-flight, she managed to hit the bullseye. The force wasn't enough to stick it to the target, though.
"Hahaha~ see! Told you~"
Obito laughed. Kita, embarrassed, lightly tapped him.
"You try!"
Konan cheered from the side.
"If you miss, you buy us lunch!"
Obito rolled up his sleeves, determined.
"Time to show off my Uchiha throwing skills! Watch closely, you amateurs~"
Usually, when Obito said this, trouble followed—a premonition Kakashi felt.
Raising the shuriken with kingly poise, the arc precise… but—
"Clack!"
"Ha! How's that, Uchiha technique?!"
"Wow, amazing~"
Sarcasm filled the air; the shuriken, like Kita, hit the target then fell.
"Damn it! You're making this impossible, boss!"
Even for an Uchiha, hitting perfectly was rare. Eventually, after more than ten tries, Obito succeeded, and the plush tiger was theirs. It cost enough to buy ten!