Tsukinoko had arrived at Kakashi's house with Sunifa, but realized that he was simply staying at the military duty station. Without embarrassment, she began banging on his door at full speed.

  - Oh, I told you he's sick," Sunifa panics. Stop it!

  - Yes, yes, that's it," she says.

  She continued to hammer on the door until it slowly creaked open. The room was plunged into darkness and Kakashi could be seen in the doorway, looking incredibly annoyed but above all tired. She squinted, looking him up and down, puzzled. He said nothing, but glanced at Sunifa at his feet, who squeaked an apology for spilling the beans.

  He slams the door in their faces. Tsukinoko pouts for a second.

  - I told you so," Sunifa sighs as she sits down.

  - Maybe you were right...

  - I wanted to sleep on the couch tonight," he grumbles. Not outside.

  - Oh... I'll put you up," she chuckles.

  She carried him to put him on her head and they both left. Tsukinoko felt bad but little guilty, because of Kakashi's false apologies at times, which had made her lose her credibility. She then returned home, having come up with an idea so that he could train her as soon as possible.

  Sunifa immediately explores her apartment, sniffing every nook and cranny as she goes into the kitchen. She fidgets with her tea caddy, then suddenly realizes that he hadn't left her stranded in the field the other day, but had had to leave in a hurry.

  She finishes preparing an herbal tea to help her get back on her feet, and Sunifa comes back to rummage through her plastic boxes full of junk.

  - What are you going to do with all this?

  - Your master may be clumsy, but I know he puts a lot of effort into putting up with me. Let's just say I return the favor," she smiles. Hop to it.

  She gathered up all her remedies and returned to Kakashi's house with her arms full, Sunifa still on her head.

  She arrives and knocks more gently on the door this time. He opens it but immediately sighs when he sees her. As he closes the door, she blocks it with her foot and hastens to reassure him.

  - Wait, wait, wait! I'm not here to annoy you," she smiles. I've got enough to get you back on your feet and- ouch!

  She abruptly withdrew her foot as he forced, just before he slammed the door again, but she insisted.

  - All right, I got you drunk, but it's not my fault!" she shouts from behind the door. You're always coming up with lame excuses and eventually I stop believing you. "I've got things to do, I got lost, I was working, a caravan crossed the road, the stars are falling from the sky, etc.", you can only blame yourself, she giggles after imitating him. Nah seriously... she continues after a pause, it's not soup that's going to cure you, let me help you Boss. It was Jījī who sent you, I had no idea, you left me in the lurch last time I was expecting everyone but you! I promise I'll keep busy with Nezumi, but let me in first, and-

  The door opens again, but this time wide, and he mutters in annoyance.

  - Don't talk.

  - Let me help you, you look like a ghost," she worries, pouting.

  He returns home, finally leaving the door open. She understands that he finally accepts and enters softly.

  - Well done," whispers Sunifa.

  He hopped onto the sofa as she moved into the main room, which served as both bedroom and living room. The whole studio was plunged into darkness and she closed the door, looking around for him. When she hears him coughing, she guesses he's stretched out in bed again, and opens the curtains, then the window wide behind.

  Kakashi glared at her, looking blinded, and she ordered him with her hands on her hips in an authoritarian tone to go and wash up. He stared at her for a long time, but she didn't waver and they locked eyes, until he coughed again and dropped his arms.

  Meanwhile, she takes the opportunity to air out the apartment and heat up some water in the kitchen. She takes out her steam diffuser, ointments and medicinal herbs. She prepares several portions for each day, which she leaves in jars on the worktop. She fills her teapot and then the diffuser, which she places on her desk, with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil.

  Kakashi emerged a few minutes later while she was rereading her reflexology sheets, and she gasped as he coughed behind her.

  - Ugh! Don't cough on me, I don't need your germs. Just sit down.

  - Close the window," he mumbles, wrapping himself in a blanket.

  - Nah, you gotta air it out. Sit down! she orders.

  She pushed him into the chair beside her and threw a bath towel over his head. She uses all her remedies at the same time, and discreetly giggles at his docility, surprised, but thinking it must be good for him, as he hadn't coughed in a while. She finishes, then enjoys hugging him from behind as he had done to calm her down a few days ago, unable to hold back, enchanted, and leans over to whisper her advice in his ear.

  - That's how you look after your loved ones," she concludes.

  She hesitates for a second after speaking too quickly as he remains unmoved. She was about to leave, but offered him a wager, gambling without losing sight of her personal goals. If Kakashi recovered faster than the doctor had agreed thanks to Tsukinoko's care, he would then go and train with her in return. But she heard him sigh and didn't insist any further.

  Returning home to collect her swords, Tsukinoko then returns to the village entrance, but Mikio and Takeshi inform her that Nezumi had left after her.

  She hesitated to go and get it from him, but felt bad letting him down. A few minutes later, Tsukinoko arrived at the gates of the Karumin district, but froze as she watched the clan members with the symbol on their backs.

  Planted in the middle of the passageway, gripped by anguish, she didn't dare enter the precinct. She was about to turn back when a voice called out behind her.

  Tsukinoko was blocking the road to a family. The mother, a woman with dark hair and eyes, was holding a little boy who must have been barely six years old, accompanied by a man with pronounced facial features. Tsukinoko pushed off, but the mother raised an eyebrow at his frightened expression.

  - Everything all right, Miss?

  - Uh y-yes! Sorry," she smiled, pulling herself together.

  - You seem to be looking for something, perhaps we can help you? You're not from around here, are you?

  - No, I... I was actually looking for Nezumi, you know- sorry, do you know where he lives?

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The woman looked surprised and was about to reply, but the man exclaimed curtly.

  - Why are you looking for it? Could you please introduce yourself?

  - Oh yes, sorry...

  She felt bad about her lack of manners with them and respectfully announced herself with a little curtsy.

  - I came to pick him up because we were going to train together today.

  - Tsukinoko? exclaims the man. I'm Masaru Karumin, head of the Karumin clan and father of Nezumi, and these are my wife Mito and my youngest son, Kensuke.

  - Kensuke?! she shouts. Nezumi told me all about you! You're so cute," she laughs.

  He pouted and hid behind his mother, taken aback. Tsukinoko focused insistently on him to keep from dripping with panic in front of the clan leader, confused.

  - Nezumi must be at home," resumed his mother. He came back from a mission yesterday. Please come with us.

  Tsukinoko straightens up and nods shyly, following them wordlessly home. Intimidated by Masaru, who asks her several questions about Nezumi's actions at the Colony, she answers formally.

  In front of their home, Nezumi, an apron around his neck, was sweeping the entrance. Tsukinoko chuckled under her breath, amused to see him like this, while Kensuke ran towards him.

  - There's a strange girl here to see you," he mumbles, tugging at his apron.

  Nezumi looks up and is astonished to see Tsukinoko with her parents. The family enters to let them talk, but Tsukinoko remains frozen in place, looking anxiously at the people around her, for she had always avoided this neighborhood and its inhabitants ever since she knew about it.

  - Nezumi, go and heat up some tea for your superior, and don't leave her outside," orders her mother from the doorway.

  Nezumi puts down his broom and invites Tsukinoko in, and she hesitantly follows. He seats her at the kitchen table, where her father is already reading his newspaper, and and Kensuke are in the corner playing with a teddy bear.

  Tsukinoko doesn't say a word and curiously observes her little family life, realizing that since hers, this was the first time she'd really seen a family again.

  She twiddled her thumbs while waiting for Nezumi and her mother to prepare tea and side dishes, but she felt increasingly unhappy as she thought about her own family. She imagines them in their place and grits her teeth to keep her unease from showing.

  Nezumi brings tea and assorted cookies, and her father puts down his newspaper, but they both turn back to Tsukinoko. Jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed, she's tense from head to toe. Her mother, too, turns at the silence and runs over to her, crouches down and hands her a handkerchief.

  - Are you feeling well?" she whispers worriedly.

  Tsukinoko immediately recovers and panics as she sees them all staring at her. She sees her handkerchief outstretched and touches her cheeks to realize that she's been crying her eyes out without realizing it.

  - Yes! Sorry!" she exclaims. Je... Je... Pardon.

  Tsukinoko quickly wipes her cheeks and flees their gaze.

  - Are you feeling better? Here.

  She pours him a cup of hot tea and Tsukinoko doesn't know what to say. She glanced at Nezumi, hoping he'd get her out of there, but he was also staring blankly at his cup.

  - Sorry..." she said softly. Thank you for your hospitality, you have a wonderful family," she smiled at Masaru and Mito. I'm sorry for my behavior.

  - Is everything going well at the Colony?" asks Masaru immediately, puzzled.

  - Yes, I think so," she chuckles embarrassed. I've been laid off for two months.

  - It's true," he recalls. Know that the clan is grateful for your gesture, you have our full gratitude in this matter. Your act of kindness towards Subaku's commander reminds me of the way Hanamaru was founded, as told in the creation legend, when the Karumin and Senju clans finally proclaimed an armistice. Perhaps your gesture will allow Subaku to calm down and renew the peace treaty with Hanamaru," he smiled proudly.

  - Huh?" she wonders.

  - Our ancestor, Karumin Jinmuya, had opposed Senju Hashirama to sacrificing himself for his brother and his clan," he explains, "but he finally restrained him when he saw his devotion, and they concluded an armistice. And between them they-

  - Father," exclaimed Nezumi abruptly.

  Tsukinoko remains shocked after he mentions her father, and tries to contain herself. Masaru doesn't react to follow up on Nezumi. She keeps her head down, touched and upset to learn that her clan supported her, without daring to think that she had a place among them, and that she was following in her father's footsteps. Kensuke approached curiously with his stuffed toy and asked his mother why their guest was crying.

  - Because I'm sad," Tsukinoko replies softly, smiling warmly at him. But it makes me happy to see that you have an incredible family, Kensuke.

  He grimaces, perplexed by her contradictions and she laughs her head off before finally explaining.

  - Please forgive me. I lost my family in the G?me attack, and until today I'd forgotten what it was like. Thank you," she exclaims respectfully.

  They all look at her humbly and Masaru says with dignity.

  - Tsukinoko, I want you to know that this is your home. The Chief's latest disciple has honored us by being our guest, and you work with Nezumi in the Special Forces. We understand your grief and apologize for your loved ones.

  Mikoto returns to the kitchen and Masaru to his diary, and she chats briefly with Nezumi, asking what she's missed at the Colony since her layoff to take her mind off things.

  She stands up after finishing her tea and immediately exclaims, remotivated after calming down.

  - Go Nezumi! Kakashi the old man is really sick, so we're going to train together. Remember how you wanted me to be your master?" she smiled mischievously.

  - Really?" Masaru wonders.

  - Er... To help her at the Colony," she exclaimed, remembering what he'd said.

  - It's a good initiative. You're very lucky, Nezumi, to be trained by one of Haruo Sato's students, so make sure you're up to the challenge.

  - Yes, Father.

  Tsukinoko thinks she sees Nezumi rolling her eyes briefly and holds back the giggles. But as they put on their shoes, little Kensuke joins them, begging his big brother to take him with them.

  Tsukinoko managed to convince Nezumi, and the three of them set off for the clan training area. With Nezumi's help, Tsukinoko improved her perception, and they both helped Kensuke with the shuriken throw.

  The day passed and Mito came to bring them snacks for lunch. Tsukinoko put away her swords as the sun set and the cold became more insistent.

  - I'm going home. Shall we continue tomorrow, Nezumi?

  - If you like," he smiled. Let's go home, Kensuke.

  Kensuke steps forward, happier than ever after spending the day with his brother. Nezumi turns to Tsukinoko and thanks her with a nod.

  - It's normal," she smiles. When I lost my loved ones, I realized how important every moment spent with them was. Today, the whole of Hanamaru is my family, and I'll protect them no matter what! That's why it's so important to me that everyone can have fun with their loved ones. Take care of Kensuke, Nezumi, he's still young and innocent," she sighs sadly.

  She stopped abruptly and made big eyes before going too far. Speaking without thinking, she was about to tell him her secret, upset after her day with the clan. Nezumi says nothing and looks at her, but she pulls herself together.

  - When... I started training with my dad. Anyway, see you!

  - Wait! Wait! Wait! I... I... I apologize for my dad earlier, he wasn't thinking.

  He looks at her, seeming to search for his words, then finally drops to one knee in front of her.

  - Thank you for your help. You saved Hanamaru from another war. You have the makings of a leader, like... your master.

  - Nezumi..." she murmured in surprise.

  She relieved him at once, embarrassed by his praise once again. She was only doing her duty as a soldier.

  She fled through the forest while Nezumi stood there for a second, then joined her brother. Tsukinoko smiled serenely at the sight of the two of them, telling herself that her clan wasn't so hateful after all.

  They trained together for a few days until the weather forecast called for snow the following day. In the shower that evening, Tsukinoko thought back to her training sessions with Nezumi and suddenly realized that he'd never used his Negin. Bad vibes slowly invaded her. She turned off the water, changed into her pyjamas, then went to admire the thin layer of snow forming on her terrace before going to bed

  Tsukinoko was awakened by someone knocking on her bedroom window. With a sleepy glance, she recognized Kakashi's crouching silhouette, but immediately pretended not to have seen him, as she wasn't supposed to be working. He insists, however, and she stands up on her bed to open the window, but a gust of rain invades her room and she slams it shut. She beckons him out onto the terrace and wraps herself in a plaid, grumbling at the icy awakening.

  He apologizes for the early hour of his unexpected visit. He gives her back her alternative medicine equipment, but as Tsukinoko leaves he calls out hesitantly.

  - So... Weren't we supposed to go training together, if I recovered with your help?

  - Huh...? Ah yes yes!" she recalls, readjusting the blanket like a cape. You haven't forgotten Boss," she chuckles.

  - So?" he asks, hands in his pockets. I've been thinking about a new training program instead of a technique.

  - Training? Now?" she grimaces.

  - That gives us the whole day, so I'll let Kimaru know while you get ready. I've included it in the training, so we'll have to see how it goes together and-

  - But... she's surprised. It's stormy out!

  - It's not a problem.

  - What do you mean, not a problem? Do you want to get sick again?

  - It's not-

  - You think you're superhuman, don't you? Go and make mudmen to train with them if you like, but I'll stay warm. Besides, I'm going out tonight and I don't want to be tired.

  - You're going out to have fun in this weather, but not to train?" he says haughtily.

  - I'm getting out of the house, but I'm not staying out! I'm going to the restaurant with Hina," she smiles proudly.

  - Ah," he said indifferently. I think she told me about it.

  - Really? We can go tomorrow if the weather calms down. Come for nine o'clock. Have you decided to get a move on, you little mocchi?

  He leaves with a sigh and she immediately goes back to bed