"Yoichi-kun... I'm so sorry..."
Hikari's eyes fluttered, slowly opening her eyes and forcing a weak smile on her pale face. At this point, the burden of mental and physical exhaustion pushed the young girl to the brink of death.
Earlier, she was countlessly assaulted from all sides without having any other instructions as Hikari realized that her life always solely relies on Yoichi's teaching and care like a stray cat, helpless and weak without his cold rational yet friendly camaraderie.
"Don't say it like that! Just rest and you will be fine..." In his past life, he knew solitude too well yet his emotions and his heart were screaming, helplessly clawing his way to get an eventful life with trustworthy friends by his side.
And now, his current life has been dramatically changed into worrisome situations but he acknowledged its difficulty regardless of the precarious task since he has friends on his side, something that he yearned for in his past life.
"Hmmm... Yoichi-kun, you are too warm..."
Snuggling deeply into his kindly embrace, Hikari gradually closed her eyes as her breath became slow and steady, feeling the warmth akin to being in a blazing furnace in the middle of a rough winter.
A faint smile on the corner of her lips didn't escape his glance while Yoichi shook his head and gently combed her messy hair into her sleep. Then, he silently took her body into his arms and went outside, hinting for someone to help them.
"Hmmm? What's wrong?" A stationed shinobi immediately rushed ahead, catching sight of a movement from the sleeping quarters.
"Sir, do you mind checking her? She was having a fever and I couldn't help but ask for assistance..."
Upon hearing Yoichi's reply, the shinobi gently grabbed Hikari's wrist and instantly understood the situation. The symptoms were evidently apparent.
"... Just wait here, I'll take some medicine for her." The shinobi hesitated before deciding to help these children and returned to the patrol post.
"What happened?" A lazy tone rang while the shinobi took some time before taking the medicine.
"That child's friend was sick and required medication..." The shinobi glanced at his companion.
"Child? You mean Yoichi, that brat? Why are you helping them?" The lazy shinobi felt annoyed. His job was only to patrol at night, not to babysit children.
"Do you want to end up like Yoritoki?"
Once he heard his companion's remarks, Yoritoki's cruel fate suddenly resurfaced in the lazy shinobi's mind as a cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Always being on the good side of his superiors was important. Otherwise, he might end up like Yoritoki, who was ruthlessly disabled without a chance of finding work in the future.
After all, this is Amegakure. A buffer zone for wars while countless shinobi were desperate just to meet the day's end.
The considerate shinobi arrived and fed Hikari medicine for the common illness. Then, Yoichi felt grateful for the kind shinobi and sighed in relief, gently laying Hikari down into the rattan bed.
As Hikari's fever began to slowly subside, Yoichi instantly fell asleep.
...
In the patrol room.
"Good call. Thankfully you have a decisive mind to help them."
After reading the nightly reports, Motoyasu went to the patrol room and praised the shinobi for his decision.
"I am grateful for the acknowledgment, Motoyasu-sama." The shinobi kneeled and bowed slightly with a faint smile on his face.
His generous actions were merely vested interests. As a youth, his aid was deeply coincidental and worked in his favor with his desire to be powerful through connections.
"Hahaha. At ease, young one. I'll never forget this favor." As for why Motoyasu was glad, it was because of Hikari's condition.
Even though she wasn't an excellent child compared to Yoichi, her talents and abilities were above average than the normal children around the courtyard.
Furthermore, she was also loyal and had a close connection to Yoichi. If they could be a team in the future, they would definitely shine brightly in this land of never-ending downpours.
Afterwards, Motoyasu left with delight while the shinobi went to his work and felt satisfied with his actions earlier.
...
[Monthly Ticket Supply!]
[Reward: +1 Silver Ticket]
In the morning, the shocking notification prompt made Yoichi's eyes widen and he slowly remembered his time in this world.
'It is my 2nd month after arriving here... For now, I should save my tickets... I hope Genji and Sabito are alright...'
Thus, Yoichi felt Hikari's unhurried breathing and checked her condition.
Luckily, her unusual temperature steadily decreased overnight as the medicine substantially helped her body to recover from the fever.
"Are you alright?"
Hikari sluggishly opened her eyes and was awakened by the commotion of the children. Noticing Yoichi's obsidian eyes looking at her, Hikari slightly blushed and said, "I'm fine... Just a little bit hungry."
"Good to know that..."
After that, Yoichi stood up and felt his arms were sore from hugging her for the full duration of the night. While stretching, Hikari was a little bit reluctant to depart on his side until she hid her blushing cheeks silently.
"Haaaaahhh... Huh? Hikari, why are you blushing?" Hearing Haruhiko's voice, Hikari's rosy cheeks went slightly menacing and she glared at Haruhiko.
Haruhiko also took a considerable amount of damage but his physique looked uncharacteristically vigorous based on his condition.
Looking at Haruhiko's stable status, Yoichi sighed and fell in line with the children, patiently waiting for the line to move into a fulfilling breakfast.
"Can you shut your mouth?" Hikari sneakily pinched Haruhiko's arm and rushed ahead behind Yoichi.
"Ouch! What was that for?!" Stinging in pain, Haruhiko winced before following suit.
...
In the highest tower of Amegakure.
*Knock*
"Hanzō-sama, here's the report..."
"Come in..." A sluggish voice was heard.
With a gentle knock, a shinobi went in and saw Hanzō's occupied state, buried with a bunch of paperwork stacked across the desk.
The shinobi was filled with admiration for his leader before he passed the scroll with a serious expression on his face.
As Hanzō unfurled the scroll and read the report with a frown on his face, he muttered, "Danzo... This arrogance will be your end..."
"Tell them to find the lairs of these rats immediately. These unscrupulous actions of Konoha must not be left unchecked. If they can't find them, I'll have to resort to other methods..."
Hanzō requested while a bright light shone on his mind bulb, revealing a faint smile on his face.
"Understood, Hanzo-sama!" After being issued on a dutiful assignment, the shinobi vanished in an instant.
'I'll send orders to Shigeno to implement my idea into the plan.'
His thoughts were out of place until Hanzō went back to his tiresome work once more, occupying himself with the tremendous task of revitalizing the village.
____________
(Current Progress)
[Heavenly Demon Posture: (Small Success) 183/300]
[Tickets: 1 Prismatic, 2 Gold, 2 Silver.]
______________
It's time to time-skip! There will be nothing new to be revealed in the plot. Perhaps I should add Genji's viewpoint or Sabito since it will be enough to look at their change for months.
Thanks for reading the chapters and bookmarking the novel. See ya! XDD!