While Naruto and Kaida were having their picnic, Yomi sat on the balcony of her house, her gaze distant as she watched the leaves sway in the gentle breeze.
In front of everyone, she was trying to move on, but it was not easy to do so when there was a burden of not being able to do anything when your friend died for you.
She was so spaced out in her thoughts that she had barely noticed when Karin walked up beside her, hesitating for a moment before taking a seat.
"You've been quiet lately," Karin finally spoke, her voice soft but laced with concern. Since they were both of nearly the same age, they had become acquainted soon after Karin moved next to their house.
Yomi let out a small sigh, tilting her head slightly but keeping her eyes on the horizon. "Just thinking," she murmured.
Karin fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve before mustering the courage to press further. "About Ryota?"
Yomi stiffened at the name. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if bracing herself. "Yeah," she admitted. "It's just… I should have done more. I should have been stronger." Her fists clenched on her lap. "He didn't have to die for me. If I had been even a little bit stronger, maybe—"
"Stop," Karin interrupted, her voice firmer than before. Yomi turned to look at her, slightly surprised. Karin was usually timid, but right now, her red eyes were resolute. "You can't keep blaming yourself like this. He protected you because he cared about you. And if he were here, he wouldn't want to see you like this, drowning in guilt."
Yomi looked toward her for a few seconds before looking back towards the sky once again. "I know," she admitted. "But knowing doesn't change how I feel. I can't stand this… this weakness. I never want to feel this powerless again."
Karin was silent for a moment, her own thoughts swirling. She had seen death up close—had nearly lost the only person she had left in this world. The memory of those days in the Land of Grass still haunted her, the fear of losing her family... her mother. It was a nightmare she never wanted to live through again.
Yomi looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to get stronger. No one else is going to die for me. I won't let it happen."
Karin took a deep breath, the words forming in her mind before she even realized she had decided. "Then let's do it together."
Yomi blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"I don't want to be weak either," Karin said, gripping the fabric over her heart. "I already almost lost my mother once… back in the Land of Grass…" Her hands tightened into fists.
"I don't want to stand there helpless ever again. So let's grow stronger together, strong enough to never depend on anyone to save us, strong enough to save those who we love."
Yomi looked toward her for some time once again, a small smile coming on her face. It wasn't much, but it was the first genuine one she had in a while. "You're stronger than you think, you know."
Karin looked away, embarrassed. "Not strong enough," she muttered.
"Then we'll change that," Yomi said, the smile becoming a little more apparent on her face.
...
(Next day...)
Shisui was commanding his troops to maintain constant watch in the region, even though there was no movement from Kumo and Iwa's side anymore.
But they had already surprised Konoha once, and the elders didn't want to take any more risks, so they asked the ninjas to remain at their posts to maintain the watch. They even sent more reinforcements.
Shisui, who came to know about the attack later, asked for complete details, especially about his family. When he found out about the whole scenario, he wanted to rush back to the village to see his brother, but he didn't get permission for it. He could understand the reason, but that didn't mean his heart could.
It took all his willpower to not ignore the Hokage's order and rush back to the village. Finally, after a week, he was given permission to come back to the village. So as soon as he transferred his command to other elite Jonin, he rushed back to Konoha at full speed.
While he was coming back to the village, Kaida was preparing for a very important operation. All of the things were double-checked.
The chief medical ninja had gone through the procedure multiple times, with Mitsuru taking all of the preparations regarding the operation theatre and all medical equipment in hand.
Finally, the time of the operation arrived.
"You are really not going to let me enjoy my rest, right?" Itachi asked, sitting in the operation room with Kaida.
Fugaku and Mitsuru were waiting outside.
"Well, if you want, I can come up with an excuse to postpone this operation by a few months later," Kaida said, giving Itachi his change of clothes for the operation.
"I can't waste the hard work of my subordinate, so I will graciously allow you to complete the operation today," Itachi said while changing clothes.
"It is not a problem at all, 'MY LORD'. I will just inform uncle that you are not ready for the operation," Kaida said with a smile and was about to make his way toward the door when Itachi grabbed his shoulder.
"There is no need for that. I don't want any rest," Itachi said.
"Aren't you forgetting about adding something in your sentence?" Kaida asked.
"Sorry tch" Itachi said.
"That's more like it," Kaida said, his smile increasing further.
After Itachi changed into a hospital gown, he laid on the bed.
"How are you doing now?" Itachi finally started the conversation, not knowing how he should begin.
"Fine, there is no use crying over the past," Kaida said and then started arranging the medical equipment.
"You are not just going to focus on medical jutsu now, right?" Itachi asked, half joke, half serious.
"Nope, I have made a promise which will not let me do it."
"What promise?"
"There will be only three great ninja villages in the future. Kumo and Iwa will not be in the list anymore," Kaida turned towards Itachi, his eyes resolute and sharp.
For a second, Itachi wanted to think it was a joke. He himself knew what a major village represented in their world, the epitome of power, the hegemony of the world, and Kaida was planning on removing two of them. It had to be a joke, but... he couldn't shake off the feeling that it was not.
"Sigh Since you have saved my life twice already, I already owe you. So if you need my help in the future regarding this promise of yours, don't shy away. I will help my subordinates to the best of my capabilities," Itachi said, joking at the end to remove the heavy atmosphere in the room.
"I hope you will not chicken out in the future," Kaida said.
"Not a chance."
"End of the discussion, boys. It's time to start the operation. Kaida, you will be in charge of the operation as planned, and we will be here to assist you. There is no room for any mistake. Are you ready?" Mitsuru asked, wearing her gloves, followed by two other chief medical ninjas.
"Yes, Sensei," Kaida said.
Itachi was a little tense seeing all this, but he calmed down. Till now, he at least knew Kaida enough that he wouldn't have even proposed this if he was not sure of success, so he left the worry and the operation started in earnest.