Teizawa straightened and took one step toward her.
Yugao instinctively stepped back.
Her back hit the wall, leaving her with nowhere else to retreat.
He stood in front of her.
Looking down at her.
Her reflection appeared in those deep eyes of his.
"You should know what I want."
His voice was soft, but every word was as clear as if it had been carved into stone.
"Bringing someone back from the dead is not simple. Why should I revive Gekko Hayate for nothing?"
"What, did you think you could take advantage of me for free?"
Yugao's breathing quickened.
For free?
The phrase made her both ashamed and furious.
But she did not dare lash out.
Hayate's life was in his hands. She could not afford to offend him.
"If you want to make a deal with me..."
Teizawa lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, his voice low like a devil's whisper.
"Then you need to pay a price."
Yugao's body trembled faintly.
She closed her eyes, her lashes shaking hard.
She bit her lip and said nothing.
She knew what he wanted.
She had known last time.
She had thought she could escape. Thought he would forget about her.
Thought the matter would simply fade away.
But he had not forgotten.
He had been waiting.
Waiting for her to come to him herself.
"I..." Her voice was rough as sand. "I can't..."
Teizawa straightened, took one step back, and looked at her.
"Then there's nothing more to discuss."
He turned and walked toward the mouth of the alley.
"Wait..."
Yugao suddenly opened her eyes.
She reached out and caught the corner of his robe.
Her grip was very light.
So light it seemed a breeze could scatter it, but her fingers were trembling.
Teizawa stopped, but did not look back.
"I..."
Her voice came in broken pieces, like a jammed recording.
"You... can you really revive Hayate?"
"I can."
Teizawa's answer was short and certain.
Yugao fell silent.
The alley was so quiet that only the rustle of wind passing over dead leaves remained.
Along with the two of them breathing, their breaths slowly growing faster and tangling together.
After a long time, she let go and lowered her head.
"I agree."
Teizawa turned and looked at her.
She stood there.
Her long purple hair covered half her face, hiding her expression.
But her shoulders were trembling slightly.
Her hands hung at her sides, clenched into fists.
"Good."
Teizawa reached out.
He gently pinched her chin and lifted her face.
Her face was streaked with tears.
Her purple eyes shimmered with moisture.
But she did not avoid him.
She only bit her lip and looked at him stubbornly.
"The deal is made."
Teizawa turned and walked toward the inn.
His steps were unhurried.
His dark-gold robe gleamed faintly beneath the sunlight.
"Follow me."
Yugao followed behind him.
Her head was lowered, and her purple hair covered half her face, hiding her expression.
Her footsteps were very light, as if she were walking on cotton.
Every step carried hesitation and struggle.
Neither of them spoke along the way.
Only their footsteps echoed over the stone path.
One in front, one behind.
Like hunter and prey.
When they returned to the inn room, Teizawa pushed the door open and sat down on the bed with casual authority.
His hands rested on his knees.
His gaze fell on the stiff figure standing at the doorway.
"I leave Konoha tonight. You still have one afternoon."
His voice was neither light nor heavy.
It sounded as if he were stating a simple fact.
Yugao stood at the doorway without moving.
Her hands hung at her sides.
They were clenched into fists, her knuckles white.
She looked at Teizawa. At that young, composed face. At her own reflection in those deep eyes.
Her heart was pounding like a drum, and her mind was in chaos.
Teizawa leaned back against the headboard.
His arms folded as he looked at her.
"I don't like forcing women. If you don't want this, you can leave right now. As for the deal..."
He paused. "Treat it as if I never mentioned it."
"No... I can't."
Yugao's voice was rough as sand.
Every word seemed forced from deep inside her throat.
"You promised me... you would revive Hayate."
Teizawa's expression did not change.
There was even a faint smile still hanging at the corner of his mouth.
"Then it depends on your sincerity."
Yugao fell silent.
She stood at the door like a tree bent by the wind.
On the verge of collapse.
A long time passed before she raised her head.
Her purple eyes were full of tears.
But her gaze was unusually firm.
"You can really revive Hayate?"
Her voice was very soft, soft enough to sound like a dream.
"Of course," Teizawa answered, brief and certain. "I swear it in the name of the Kazekage before me."
In the name of the Kazekage before him.
Yugao's eyes flickered.
That was a heavy oath.
Ninja valued promises.
A village's Kage would never use the reputation of his predecessors as a joke.
In her heart, she already believed most of it.
Or rather, she had believed him from the start.
Otherwise, she would not have come looking for him. She would not be standing here. She would not have let herself fall into this impossible position.
"I hope you keep your word."
Her voice was very light, but every word carried weight.
"Otherwise... I will kill you."
Teizawa said nothing. He only looked at her.
Yugao lowered her head.
Tears finally spilled from her eyes.
They slid down her cheeks and dripped onto her clothes, spreading into dark stains.
She raised her hands to the ties at her collar.
Her movements were slow, as if she were trying to delay time itself.
Then she stopped.
Her fingers clenched against the fabric.
Her whole body trembled as if she were standing at the edge of a cliff.
"Hayate, I'm sorry."
She whispered the words silently in her heart, her vision blurring with tears.
"Please forgive me."
She stepped toward Teizawa.
Her bare feet touched the cold floor.
Every step felt like walking across knife points.
When she reached him, she stopped.
Her head was lowered, and she did not dare look at him.
Teizawa reached out and gently took her wrist.
Then he drew her into his arms.
"Don't cry."
His voice suddenly softened, and he wiped the tears from her face.
"This is not just a deal. This is the choice you made."
Yugao bit her lip and said nothing.
She buried her face against his chest.
Her eyes closed as tears slid down in silence.
Outside the window, sunlight squeezed through the gap in the curtains.
It fell across the room and cast a hazy shadow on the floor.
No one knew what happened inside that room.
Only the quiet afternoon stretched on, heavy with a choice that could not be taken back.
(End of Chapter)
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