Southwest Battlefield, Konoha Camp.
When Chiya's figure appeared at the outer edge of the camp, the patrolling ninja immediately recognized him and bowed respectfully.
"Chiya-dono! Why have you come?"
"I'm here to see Tsunade."
Chiya said plainly.
The ninja quickly led the way.
"Tsunade-sama is at the medical tent. I'll take you there."
Passing through the busy camp, Chiya was brought to a spacious tent.
The guiding ninja tactfully stepped back. Chiya lifted the tent flap and walked inside.
Inside the tent, Tsunade was hunched over a desk writing quickly. She looked up at the sound, and for a moment she froze.
The next second, a flash of delight lit up her eyes, but she quickly put on a stern face.
"Hmph. So you still know how to come see me?"
Chiya's lips curled slightly as he walked up to her.
"Tsunade-sama is so busy. How could I dare disturb you so easily?"
Tsunade grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close, lowering her voice.
"Less nonsense! We haven't seen each other in so long, and the first thing you do is talk smooth?"
Her breathing was a little unsteady, and her eyes flickered with intense light.
Chiya took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her waist and laughed softly.
"Then let me make it up to you with actions?"
Tsunade's cheeks flushed slightly. She slapped Chiya's hand away.
She turned and walked briskly to the entrance of the tent, then instructed the guards outside.
"I have important matters to discuss. No one is to come near!"
"Yes!"
The guards obeyed and stepped back.
Tsunade lowered the tent flap. In the instant she turned around, Chiya had already embraced her from behind.
She let out a soft grunt but did not pull away.
"You, this guy...
I'd like to see just how smooth-talking you really are!"
Before her words had finished.
The temperature inside the tent suddenly rose, and the longing of their reunion became a fierce, lingering warmth.
...
Late at night, the tent finally fell quiet again.
Tsunade rested lazily against Chiya's chest, tracing circles on it with her finger.
"Speak up. You came over so suddenly. What is your actual purpose? Don't tell me it was only to see me."
Chiya laughed softly.
"Seeing you is the main purpose. And I also came to find someone."
"Who?"
"Yakushi Nono."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Nono? She really is in my Medical Corps!"
After saying that, her gaze took on a trace of sulking. She pushed Chiya away and sat up on her own.
"I didn't think you'd have such abundant energy!"
Hearing those words full of sarcasm, Chiya hooked his finger and flicked Tsunade's fair, jade-like nose.
"Oh? You seem to doubt my abilities. Do you want another round?"
At this point, Chiya's physical condition had improved tremendously.
The days of weak legs were gone for good.
Tsunade pouted and rolled her eyes at him.
She grabbed her clothes from the side and then kicked Chiya off the bed in one clean motion.
"Get lost already!"
Chiya laughed. He knew Tsunade wasn't actually angry.
He dressed quickly and used the Body Flicker to leave the tent.
Watching Chiya's departing figure, Tsunade let out a cold snort.
"What a troublesome man!"
Chiya left the tent.
He walked through the Medical Corps camp of Konoha's Southwest Battlefield, breathing in the air thick with the mixed scent of medicinal herbs and blood.
His steps were light, his gaze sweeping across the busy medical ninja, before finally stopping on a slightly quieter corner.
There, Yakushi Nono was crouching on the ground, holding a bowl of hot soup in both hands, carefully and gently feeding it to a thin, small boy.
Her movements were soft and patient, as if she were handling the most precious treasure.
The boy timidly took the bowl, eyes full of wariness, yet still unable to resist being moved by her gentleness, and began drinking it in small sips.
Chiya stood quietly not far away and did not approach right away.
He watched her fingertips, slightly pale, watched her cheeks that were thinner than when he had last seen her, and let out a quiet sigh inside.
'Nono. Still so kind-hearted.'
Nono seemed to sense something. She raised her head, and her gaze crossed the busy crowd, meeting Chiya's eyes directly.
Her eyes widened slightly at first, then curved into a crescent, and a gentle smile lifted the corners of her mouth.
"Chiya-kun..."
She called out softly, her voice unable to hide the joy within it.
Chiya walked over and crouched down beside her. He reached out and gently touched her cheek, his thumb brushing the faint exhaustion beneath her glasses.
"You've gotten thinner."
He said quietly.
Nono gently held his hand and pressed her cheek into his palm, closing her eyes, as if savoring the warmth of that moment.
"So have you."
"Things on your end... must have been hard, right?"
Chiya shook his head, his gaze soft.
"Compared to you, I had it much easier."
Nono smiled, then seemed to remember something and turned to look at the children beside her.
Five thin, small figures were huddled together, watching Chiya timidly, their eyes carrying both curiosity and fear.
"Don't be afraid."
She said gently to reassure them.
"He is my loved one. Chiya-kun won't hurt you."
The children still did not dare to come closer. They only huddled tighter together.
Chiya did not rush to approach them. He looked at Nono and asked quietly.
"These children?"
Nono's gaze dimmed slightly. Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of the bowl.
"I know how terrible war is."
"Especially on the battlefield. There are too many children with no home to return to. They don't even have a chance to run."
She raised her head, her gaze firm and gentle.
"I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. So...
I followed Tsunade-sama here. At least I can save whoever I can save."
Chiya was silent for a moment. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had fallen near her ear back behind it.
"You're always like this."
He shook his head with a smile.
"Already worn out yourself, yet you're still thinking of others."
Nono pressed her lips into a smile, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.
"But if even I don't look after them, who else can they rely on?"
Chiya quietly looked at her.
He knew her personality. Once she had decided on something, she would never give it up easily.
"At least don't push yourself too hard."
He said softly.
"Know your limits."
"If you collapse, what will those children do?"
Nono was startled for a moment, then nodded gently.
"Mm. I'll be careful."
Chiya reached out and pulled her into his arms. Nono leaned against his shoulder, and the tension she had been carrying seemed to finally ease a little.
The two of them stayed like that quietly for a while, and the noise all around seemed to fade away.
A moment later, Chiya let go of her. His gaze swept over the few children.
"Did you find all of these on the battlefield?"
Nono nodded, a trace of pity rising in her eyes.
"Some of them lost their parents in the fighting. Some were abandoned. The youngest is only two years old and can't even remember his own name."
Chiya's gaze moved across the children one by one. He seemed not to have found the child he was looking for.
Without letting it show, he withdrew his gaze and asked.
"Only these five?"
Nono shook her head.
"Some others have been sent to temporary shelters in the rear. But most of the children... didn't survive long enough to be rescued."
Her voice trembled faintly. Her fingers unconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes.
Chiya held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You have already done very well."
Nono took a deep breath and managed a smile.
"I know... It's just that sometimes I still wonder. If I had been a little faster, maybe I could have saved one more."
Chiya said nothing more. He simply stayed quietly beside her.
He knew that comfort right now was far less useful than silent company.
After a while, Nono's emotions settled a little. She looked at Chiya, question in her eyes.
"What about you? Why did you suddenly come to the Southwest Battlefield? Have things on your end been resolved?"
Chiya nodded slightly.
"The situation has been stabilized for now. I have some things to take care of, and at the same time... I came to see you."
Nono blinked.
"Really just 'at the same time'?"
Chiya raised an eyebrow and reached over to pinch the tip of her nose.
"What else?"
Nono let out a soft laugh, then seemed to remember something and lowered her voice.
"Right, does Tsunade-sama know you came?"
Chiya said calmly.
"She knows. I just came from her."
Nono's cheeks flushed slightly. The truth was that when Chiya came close to her earlier, she had already caught the familiar scent on him that reminded her of Tsunade-sama.
Nono did not mind any of this.
All she knew was that Chiya held a place for her in his heart.
That he was here beside her right now was enough.
"Then... she didn't say anything?"
Chiya looked at her with an amused expression.
"What do you think she would say?"
Nono shot him a glare, but couldn't hold back a laugh.
The mood between the two of them lightened considerably. Even the children nearby seemed to be affected, no longer so tense, sneaking glances at them.
Chiya's gaze swept over those few children again. He thought for a moment, then decided to ask directly.
"Nono, can you tell me their names?"
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