After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 223

Chapter 223: Three Parties Converge at Takigakure Village

"Hey, Dark Circles, where are you going?"

"........."

"Dark Circles, do you want to eat something?"

"Dark Circles, why aren't you talking? You still haven't even told me your name."

Kosei observed Gaara with genuine puzzlement, noting how he'd remained silent since awakening from his unconscious state.

Behind the two, Zabuza and Haku displayed entirely contrasting expressions.

Zabuza wore a bewildered look—his mind caught between questions: Who am I? Why am I here? His memories felt fractured, unreliable.

While Haku maintained a constant, serene smile, observing Kosei with those uniquely gentle eyes that came naturally to him. Standard dutiful companion demeanor, watching over those he cared for.

Their previous rescue attempt had achieved nothing but exposed their location and tracking methods. Since they'd already been discovered, the group simply decided traveling together made practical sense.

Gaara said nothing, yet somehow possessed an accurate directional sense as if guided by an invisible purpose.

Kosei, meanwhile, chattered incessantly during the entire journey, never once managing to coax more than silence from Gaara.

Were it not for those few words at their first meeting, Kosei might have assumed he was completely mute.

Because Kosei herself didn't know where to find her father, she simply followed alongside Gaara with blind faith in his direction.

Perhaps sensing Kosei's innocent intentions, or moved by her selfless intervention when she'd saved him, Gaara accepted her presence without resistance.

Though not actively accepting her kindness, he didn't refuse the girl's companionship either.

Consequently, the two behind them were likewise categorized as "friendly units" worthy of travel.

The four moved intermittently northward from Grass Country, progressing steadily through changing terrain.

Primarily because Kosei needed frequent stops for meals.

She hungered frequently, it seemed—the modest wild game caught outdoors perpetually proving insufficient for her appetite.

Both Zabuza and Haku had learned this truth thoroughly during their time together.

Back in the Land of Vegetables, Kosei's single meal had consumed their two-day quantity, leaving them genuinely curious where all that food ultimately went inside such a small frame.

When Kosei paused to eat, remarkably, Gaara didn't leave alone for once.

He seemed to have tacitly accepted this little girl's "companion" status without formal acknowledgment.

Walking along a worn mountain path, Gaara suddenly raised his head, glancing toward another direction with sudden focus, then directly altered his trajectory heading that way without explanation.

"Hey! Dark Circles, where are you going?" Kosei called out, her voice carrying across the landscape.

Speaking thus, Kosei similarly followed without hesitation.

"That way."

Gaara lowered his head, glancing at Kosei briefly, finally speaking after days of silence.

"Ooh! You spoke!"

Compared to what he'd actually said, the little girl seemed decidedly more excited about his speaking response itself.

Like she'd achieved victory in some competition between them.

Children are like this, Gaara thought, watching this small powerhouse moving about excitedly, occasionally explaining something animated to the two behind her. He sensed that hollow emptiness within him was gradually being filled by her presence.

He remembered nothing of his past.

The only sensation remaining was endless vacancy and void.

Not confusion from amnesia—something deeper, more fundamental. Rather, it felt more like he'd always been this way, incomplete and alone.

Except for fine sand grains, all other things in Gaara's vision seemed monochromatic silence, stripped of meaning.

Until this noisy little sprite appeared and changed everything.

She'd saved him. This fact Gaara understood clearly despite his fractured memory.

Though his consciousness had been fuzzy and uncertain back then, he still retained memory of what occurred.

What kind of family raises such a sun-like child? Her parents must love her dearly.

Noticing these thoughts surfacing, Gaara felt a sense of bewilderment.

Why produce such thinking? Why do I care?

Shaking his head to clear the confusion, that mysterious guiding sensation reappeared, pulling him forward.

Though Gaara himself remained uncertain what he pursued, heading in that direction somehow represented his mission, his purpose.

Watching Gaara resume walking with quiet determination, Kosei neglected to speak with Zabuza and his company, her short legs scurrying after him to keep pace.

Behind, Haku softly questioned her with concern.

"Little Kosei, weren't you searching for your dad? Following him is fine?"

Hearing this, Kosei didn't turn her head, keeping her eyes forward.

"Champions of justice can't abandon those in need. Dark Circles currently looks like this—I can't let him travel alone."

Hearing this simple, honest logic, Haku glanced at Zabuza.

"Zabuza similarly understood this calm, gentle companion beside him, sighing resignedly at their changing circumstances.

"Let's follow," he said quietly

Despite having decided to live peacefully away from violence, fate seemed unwilling to let them spend their existence that way undisturbed.

On the path toward Takigakure Village:

Hidan wore the Akatsuki's black-and-red cloud robe, walking side by side with the member whose head remained wrapped in a pitcher plant.

"By the way, Takigakure seems to possess something called Hero's Water," Hidan mentioned Takigakure's specialty with casual interest, whether seeking a conversation topic or probing for something specific.

Hero's Water wasn't classified as secret intelligence. Takigakure deliberately showcased it as their village's strength, using it to intimidate neighboring minor nations into submission.

In truth, possessing Hero's Water and a Seven-Tails Jinchūriki gave Takigakure considerable power—enough to intimidate the surrounding minor nations.  

However, compared to the Five Great Nations' ninja villages, Takigakure's power paled considerably.  

"Ah, that legendary substance you consume for a tenfold chakra enhancement, yes?" Zetsu's distinctly black-and-white face displayed a smile, seeming interested as well.

Yet truthfully, both harbored ulterior motives. Their true interests lay elsewhere.

For Hidan, collecting five shinobi with Kekkei Genkai and completing his immortality ritual remained the ultimate objective. The Hero's Water held no value once his ritual was complete.

Zetsu, more precisely Black Zetsu, understood the true nature of Hero's Water. Supposedly produced from an ancient tree within their village, it was merely a branch from the Divine Tree that Mother had planted, altered by this world's natural energy. It bore little relation to the authentic Divine Tree.

After exchanging several remarks about Takigakure's Hero's Water, both prudently ended their questioning.

This Zetsu fellow's mouth is remarkably tight, Hidan thought internally. His lateral probing and careful questions had extracted nothing of value.

Finally, his expression recovered its characteristic calmness and focus.

"Don't forget the conditions we agreed on. I assist in capturing the Jinchūriki; you assist in capturing shinobi with Kekkei Genkai."

Speaking thus, Hidan's eyes locked onto Zetsu's intensely, searching for any sign of wavering commitment.

"Of course. Your target is an Explosion Release ninja, correct? Speaking of which, he's currently in the Land of Earth."

He referenced members of Iwa's explosion squad—another blood-inheritance ninja with explosive techniques similar to Deidara's, known as "Gari."

"If we move quickly, we can complete the mission and capture him afterward as well. "

Black Zetsu's face bore a smile, but internally, he had already written Hidan off as disposable.  

Without value once the tailed beasts are captured, this one becomes just another tool.  

Currently, three distinct parties are advancing toward the same destination:

The Great Hero and his companions traveled steadily toward Takigakure, their mission clear.

The Akatsuki pair moved with calculated purpose, driven by hidden agendas.

And the "Where's Daddy?" group followed behind, guided by mysterious instinct and innocent determination.

All three parties converged unknowingly upon Takigakure Village, where fate awaited their collision.