During his time at the front, Saiki had lived a life of high-stakes excitement and pleasure.
But he had no idea that while he was having his fun, the reports of his "death" had reached the village, causing someone to lose their appetite and spend their nights in tears.
Nono'u Yakushi was a member of Root, but her conscience was still intact.
That was why she had tried to defect and founded the Konoha Orphanage in the first place.
The world was a cruel place that rarely rewarded the kind-hearted; the news of Saiki's disappearance and presumed death had been a devastating blow to her.
Nono'u loved all the children of the orphanage, but Saiki was special.
Saiki was her man.
The news was unconfirmed, which gave her a sliver of hope, but the reality was closing in.
Like a wolf smelling meat, Danzo had already begun to circle the orphanage, intending to exploit her grief to force more children into Root.
It was a problem she had to solve, or the children would suffer.
After his argument with Tsunade, Saiki didn't go back to the compound.
He found himself standing outside the gates of the orphanage.
Looking at the familiar buildings, Saiki felt a rush of complex, unspeakable emotions.
This was his sanctuary—the place he and Nono'u protected together.
Now, he was back, carrying a heavy burden of exhaustion and confusion.
He walked toward the main gate but stopped before entering.
Peering through the gap in the gate, he saw the children playing happily in the courtyard.
Nono'u was standing to the side, watching them with a look of pure, maternal warmth.
The sight sent a wave of comfort through Saiki's chest.
Since arriving in this world, this was undeniably his first real home—the harbor where he could finally drop anchor.
However, the memory of Tsunade's rejection made his heart feel heavy again.
Just then, Nono'u seemed to sense something at the gate.
She turned and looked, locking eyes with the dazed Saiki.
"Saiki?" Nono'u gasped. A second later, a look of overwhelming joy flooded her face. "You're back!"
Saiki didn't wait any longer. He pushed the gate open and stepped inside.
"It's Saiki-niisan! Saiki-niisan is home! YEAH!!"
A swarm of toddlers and kids instantly surrounded him.
Saiki waited patiently until the other staff members brought out the snacks and fruit he'd brought, leading the children away.
Finally, he was alone with Nono'u.
She had been living in a state of agonizing terror since his disappearance.
But seeing him standing there, alive and well, the weight vanished.
For her, as long as Saiki was safe, the rest of the world could burn.
Looking at the woman standing there with that gentle, radiant smile, Saiki's foul mood evaporated.
A massive grin spread across his face.
"Sister Director, it's been too long. I'm home!"
Nono'u smiled back, her eyes shining. "Welcome home, Saiki."
Inside her office—which also served as her bedroom—the two sat on the edge of her bed, simply staring at each other in silence.
Saiki didn't know what to say. He just wanted to look at her gentle face and soak in the peace and warmth of her presence.
Nono'u, meanwhile, was carefully inspecting his features.
Their night together had been an accident, but this young man had left an indelible mark on her soul.
When she thought he was dead, she felt as if the sky had collapsed; it had taken every ounce of her willpower to remain composed in front of the Root messenger.
She reached out and stroked Saiki's cheek, her voice thick with worry.
"You look thinner."
Saiki caught her hand, pressing it against his face. He looked into her eyes and joked, "Really? I feel like I got fat."
Nono'u let out a soft, fond laugh at his teasing.
"Well, maybe not fat. But you've grown. You look more like a man now. I suppose that's why you look leaner."
"Is that so? Does that mean I'm even more handsome now?" Saiki continued to play.
He had no idea that Danzo had used his "death" to threaten her.
He was just trying to make her happy, falling back into their comfortable routine.
This time, Nono'u played along. "Oh, definitely. Much more handsome. I'm sure the girls find you even more irresistible now."
She added a hint of playful teasing to the last sentence, making Saiki feel a bit flustered.
"Uh... Sister Director, you know how it is..."
He trailed off, shutting his mouth in embarrassment.
He wasn't shameless enough to claim he "only loved her" or that he didn't like other girls.
Thinking of his relationships with Tsunade and Tsume, the words "I only love you" were a lie he couldn't tell.
And regarding girls like Shizune or Kurenai... while he wasn't into "little girls," he knew that once they grew up, he probably wouldn't be able to resist them if they were the ones who initiated.
Nono'u didn't need to read his mind to see his awkwardness. She giggled softly.
"Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore."
Saiki felt a bit humiliated by the teasing, but because it was Nono'u, he couldn't stay annoyed.
Looking at her kind, smiling face, Saiki still couldn't say "I only love you," so he just reached out and pulled her into a hug.
Nono'u stiffened for a second but quickly relaxed, her hands moving to gently stroke his back.
With Tsume, Saiki was a rogue. With Tsunade, he was frustrated.
But with Nono'u, Saiki was finally at peace.
Holding her, inhaling her scent and feeling the soft warmth of her body, Saiki felt an incredible sense of relaxation and security.
Nono'u sensed the shift in his emotions. She patted his back one last time and whispered, "Alright, Saiki. Let's talk properly."
Saiki reluctantly released her, though he kept a firm grip on her hand.
They sat side-by-side, their eyes meeting again.
"Saiki, what is the situation at the front? And why did you return so suddenly?" Nono'u asked.
"Well, it went like this..."
Faced with Nono'u, Saiki told the truth—omitting only his "extracurricular" activities with Tsume.
When he described the intensity of the combat, Nono'u's grip on his hand tightened in a reflexive panic.
After he finished his story, Nono'u fell silent for a long time.
Finally, she looked at him with eyes full of concern.
"Saiki... you were too impulsive. Doing that... it makes you a target. It's dangerous."
Regarding his hatred for Hiruzen and the village elders, Nono'u shared Tsunade's fear: one man, no matter how strong, cannot fight an entire village.
Saiki had always been a "low-key" person who hated trouble.
The fact that he was now wearing his defiance on his sleeve proved how much power he truly had.
He was done with the "fake" games; they were just more trouble than they were worth.
But seeing Nono'u's worry, Saiki softened.
"Don't worry, Sister Director. I won't let anything happen to me. I promise."