Chapter 10: Between Gratitude and Dark Science

Hiruzen arrived at the three-story building and knocked on the door.

"I'll be right there!" A female voice responded from inside.

The door opened, and Akina appeared, showing significant changes since her arrival. Her health aspect was visibly improved, evidenced by her adequate nutrition and the natural glow of someone who has been taking good care of themselves. She was dressed simply, yet the quality of the clothes gave her a serene and attractive appearance. Her hair was clean, well-cared-for, and fell over her shoulders, gracefully framing her face.

Hiruzen hesitated for a moment at the door, surprised by the evident transformation. It was clear that Akina had taken his advice on both clothing and nutrition.

Seeing Hiruzen, Akina's expression lit up with calm and gratitude, a tangible reflection of the new chapter in her life. With a welcoming smile, she said, "Oh, it's you, Hokage-sama. Please, come in."

"Thank you." Gently, Hiruzen accepted the invitation and entered the residence as she offered him a pair of comfortable slippers.

Soon after, with the door already closed, Akina led him to the living room, where they would continue their conversation.

In the living room, Akina served some tea and handed a cup to Hiruzen before sitting on the sofa opposite him.

"This tea is excellent," Hiruzen commented after savoring a sip and returning the cup to the saucer. He observed Akina for a moment, who delicately held her own cup near her lips. Seeing her also place the cup on the saucer, he began, with a voice full of elegance and charm,

"Akina, I imagine you're curious about the reason for my visit, aren't you? Well, after your and your daughter's rescue, I made sure they paid for it. And this is your share."

From beneath his Hokage cloak, he pulled out a thin black envelope.

"Here are the ownership documents for this apartment, now in your name, and a bank account set up for you with 500,000 ryo available. Use this money as you wish, whether for personal expenses or to start a small business here in the village," explained Hiruzen.

"I... I can't accept this," she protested, shaking her hands in front. Akina felt that Hiruzen had already done too much for her.

Despite hearing that he had received a large reward from the Hidden Village of the Grass indirectly because of her and her daughter, she believed that it was all earned by Hiruzen's merit. To Akina, even if he claimed it was thanks to her, she didn't feel deserving; she was more than grateful for being rescued from that nightmare.

"Please accept. It's for the sake of your daughter as well," Hiruzen insisted.

These words made Akina, until then resolute in her refusal, hesitate.

What mother wouldn't want to provide the best possible future for her children? Akina certainly was no exception, but...

Realizing her hesitation, Hiruzen intervened: "Don't think too much about it. If you truly believe you don't deserve all this, consider it a loan without a due date."

She hesitated, nibbling on her lower lip, understandably torn by the offer. After a brief moment of reflection, Akina quickly drank the rest of her tea, mildly complaining about the heat, before taking a deep breath and committing: "Alright, I promise that one day I will repay everything you've done for me and my daughter!"

Hiruzen nodded lightly, changing the topic of the conversation: "And how is little Karin doing?"

"Very well! She's sleeping right now," Akina, a happy smile adorning her lips as she spoke of her daughter. "Would you like to see her?"

"No, there's no need. I still have pending commitments and need to leave," Hiruzen said: "I'll visit another time."

"I understand, you'll always be welcome." She replied with a smile, thanking him again. "Thank you for everything. I promise to return the favor one day!"

Hiruzen stood up, placing his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of support as he saw her bow in gratitude. After saying goodbye, he headed to the door, changed his shoes, and left.

After Hiruzen's departure and the brief farewell at the door, Akina made a silent promise, with her fist clenched against her heart, to do her utmost to provide a better life for her daughter and, eventually, to repay the generosity received.

Besides the debt she felt she owed to Hiruzen, Akina couldn't help but notice that there was something slightly different about him. He seemed, in some way, younger and more vigorous than when she had first seen him.

"Well... it must be just my impression," she concluded, trying to shake off that intriguing feeling.

"Mommy...?" A door opened softly behind Akina, and little Karin appeared in the corridor.

Dressed in a pink pajama adorned with teddy bear prints, Karin rubbed her eyes with the back of her left hand while holding firmly to the ear of a large teddy bear with her right, dragging it along the floor as she walked towards the figure she noticed upon leaving the room.

"I'm here," Akina rushed to say, moving forward to pick up her daughter in her arms.

Now that she had the means, Akina planned to take Karin for vision exams and get her a pair of glasses. The thought of seeing the joy in her daughter's eyes when she saw the world clearly for the first time brought a smile to her lips.

Karin, touching her mother's face with her little hand, observed: "Mommy looks happy~"

"I am very happy, yes." Akina replied, planting several kisses on her daughter's face, who giggled happily with the play. Pressing her nose against her daughter's and forehead to forehead, she promised: "And there will be many more happy days for us."

Karin, even being too young to understand everything around her, already felt the difference in her life since arriving at the Leaf Village. The happy moments she had experienced made her believe in her mother's promise, responding with a voice full of joy: "Yes~"

-

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In the Hidden Sound Village, tucked away in an isolated corner, there was a secret laboratory. Inside this space filled with macabre inventions, Orochimaru was finalizing the sealing of an artificial creature whose body, white as wax, displayed a grotesquely disfigured right side, contrasting dramatically with the left side, preserved in 'normal' appearance.

The creature in front of them was not unique; the laboratory housed several others of similar appearance. However, for their purpose, only one was necessary.

Fugaku, watching alongside Orochimaru, commented: "These artificial beings are fascinating. It's a pity we cannot create clones from this. It would be intriguing to experiment with this type of body."

"Indeed," Orochimaru agreed, "but it's not a reason for concern. It doesn't mean it will be impossible in the future, just not viable at the moment."

With a nod of understanding, Fugaku agreed with the explanation.

As they left the laboratory in the Hidden Sound Village, they headed towards the Hidden Leaf Village.