Moonlight, hot steam, and a single careless moment—sometimes that was all it took for trouble to find its way home.
When the flower clone beside Shizune dissolved into a swirl of petals, she immediately brightened and hurried to open the door.
"You're back, Adrian?"
Adrian's mood was still unsettled from earlier, but he kept it off his face. With a familiar ease, he reached out and tapped her forehead lightly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. You hungry?"
Shizune's eyes softened. A sweet smile spread across her face before she quickly looked away, cheeks warming as she shook her head.
"Come on," Adrian said. "Let's eat."
Even though his clone had been with her the whole time—linked to his senses and able to act almost like the real thing—Shizune had never been this bright or clingy around it. The moment Adrian himself returned, she drifted closer without thinking and followed at his side like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Adrian couldn't help wondering if his real body had some kind of "girl-attracting" trait.
At the table, Shizune ate in small, neat bites, her big eyes quietly studying him.
"Adrian… why are you eating so little today?" she asked, puzzled. "You're usually a bottomless pit."
Adrian paused for half a second, then gave a casual answer. "Probably ate too much at lunch. Not that hungry."
It wasn't the full truth, but it was close enough.
Shizune puffed her cheeks, biting the edge of her chopsticks in mild frustration. "It's those girls' fault. They ate all your food and then tried to feed you their weird stuff."
Adrian sighed, amused despite himself. "Don't say it like that. They're classmates. It's normal to share."
He picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it into Shizune's bowl.
"Here. You eat. Tsunade-sama bullies you enough already—today's braised pork is yours."
Shizune blinked, then smiled so brightly it almost hurt to look at. For all her maturity in daily life, she was still a child at heart.
Adrian found it strangely funny.
Nine years old… and already this determined.
After dinner, they cleaned up and rested for a short while. Then Adrian stepped into the back courtyard's open-air hot spring.
The house they lived in now sat along the hot spring district—a small, private residence tucked away from the main street. Adrian suspected this was where Tsunade had always stayed when she was in the village. It fit her: comfortable, secluded, and convenient.
Strictly speaking, bathing right after eating wasn't ideal. But tonight, Adrian needed the steam to quiet his mind.
As he sank into the warm water, his thoughts drifted—back to the day Tsunade brought him in.
He'd been dangerously close to becoming someone else's "specimen" back then, or worse. If Tsunade and Orochimaru hadn't passed through at the wrong time… he didn't like imagining how that story ended.
In the shinobi world, coincidence could be the difference between life and death.
And tonight, that Sand scout had forced him into motion again—forced him into visibility again.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
Will someone come looking?
He was halfway through that thought when he heard footsteps behind him.
Adrian turned.
Shizune stood near the entrance, wrapped in a towel, hesitating as if she'd walked into the wrong place and couldn't decide whether to run or stay.
Adrian froze for a heartbeat, then quickly grabbed a towel and covered himself properly, brows lifting.
"Shizune…? What are you doing out here?"
Shizune's face went completely red. She clutched her towel tighter, eyes darting away.
"I—I…" She swallowed, forcing herself to speak. "You… you trained a lot today, right? So… I thought… maybe I could help."
Adrian stared at her, then softened his expression.
Shizune had always been shy. Always careful. Always gentle.
Seeing her like this—nervous, but stubbornly trying to be brave—was… unexpected.
Shizune squeezed her eyes shut for half a second, like she was giving herself courage.
"Do you… want me to scrub your back?" she asked in a tiny voice.
Adrian paused.
He could tell she wasn't thinking about anything complicated. She wasn't trying to be bold in some adult way—she was trying to be useful, to be close, to do something she believed mattered.
And in this world, where people grew up too fast and tomorrow was never guaranteed, even a small gesture could feel huge.
Adrian's answer came with a gentle smile.
"…Alright. If you want to."
Shizune's eyes widened, then lit up with quiet joy.
She moved quickly, bringing a small stool and bathing supplies as if she'd prepared all of this in advance. The moment Adrian stepped out of the water, she set everything in place with trembling hands—excited, nervous, and trying very hard not to show it.
Adrian sat down, facing away from her.
A few seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
"Shizune?" he asked, confused.
"Ah—s-sorry!" she squeaked, flustered. "I-I'm starting!"
Warm water trickled over his shoulders. Then small hands—still a little cold—began scrubbing carefully, as if she was terrified of doing it wrong.
At first, Adrian didn't think much of it.
But as the minutes passed, he realized what she was really doing.
She wasn't just washing. She was massaging—pressing and kneading the muscles he'd overworked, guided by the same knowledge she'd picked up watching Tsunade's medical routines.
Even through a towel, her touch was precise enough that Adrian felt tension he hadn't noticed begin to unravel.
His shoulders loosened. His breathing slowed.
He hadn't realized how badly he needed this.
"Adrian…" Shizune's voice was small. "Is it… okay?"
"It's great," Adrian said honestly. "You're really good at this. Thanks."
Shizune made a soft sound—half relief, half happiness—and continued, a little more confident now.
By the time she finished, Adrian rolled his shoulders once and felt something in him settle.
He turned his head slightly and smiled at her.
"Seriously… thank you, Shizune. I feel lighter."
Shizune's face went red again, but this time she didn't look embarrassed—only quietly pleased.
"It's… nothing," she murmured, lowering her head.
Adrian studied her for a moment, then—purely out of practicality—asked the obvious question.
"Do you want me to help you too?"
Shizune snapped her head up so fast Adrian almost laughed. Her eyes were wide with expectation, shining a little too brightly.
Adrian blinked, then sighed.
"…Next time," he said firmly, and tapped her forehead again to soften the refusal.
Shizune's face turned even redder, but she didn't look upset.
Just determined.
Adrian stood, dried off, and headed inside.
Shizune remained behind for a moment, watching him go. Even with a hint of disappointment, she quickly straightened her posture, as if recommitting herself to something.
Adrian didn't fully understand what was going on in her mind.
But he didn't dislike it, either.
After the bath, his mood improved enough that he ate a little more. Later, once Shizune had gone to sleep, Adrian settled near the window—silent, alert.
Then he felt it.
Footsteps. Voices. A familiar scent carried by the night air.
Patrol shinobi… and Inuzuka tracking hounds.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Tch… that damn dog," he muttered under his breath.
He had hidden for three years. At nine years old, with the Flower-Flower Fruit and his current skill level, he could already qualify as tokubetsu jōnin on pure capability alone—
—and tonight, it felt like the shadows he'd been avoiding were finally starting to notice him.
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