Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

Outside the open prison door lay freedom. Kimimaro shifted his gaze from the doorway to Ye Zi.

His thoughts were simple: Ye Zi had opened the cell for him, so he wanted to follow Ye Zi.

Ye Zi paused briefly at Kimimaro's request before answering, "Alright."

Compared to the other children at the base, Kimimaro was younger and might not be particularly useful. Nonetheless, Ye Zi agreed.

After giving his answer, Ye Zi walked out of the cell, heading toward the exit.

Kimimaro watched Ye Zi's retreating figure with a faint smile. Barefoot, he trotted to catch up, letting the unfiltered sunlight pour into his eyes.

Back in the Kaguya clan's village, Sasori had just finished gathering all the human puppet materials when he noticed Ye Zi approaching, followed by a young boy.

Blood soaked most of the area, and bodies lay scattered around, making the place look like a scene from hell.

Ye Zi stepped over the blood and corpses, stopping in front of Sasori. Behind him, Kimimaro stood calmly, seemingly unaffected by the horrific scene around him.

Although Ye Zi didn't look directly at Kimimaro, he kept an eye on his reaction and, seeing no excessive response to the sight of his clansmen's bodies, lost interest.

"You're bringing him along?" Sasori glanced at Kimimaro, noting his features and recognizing him as a member of the Taketori clan.

"Yes," Ye Zi replied with a nod.

Sasori said nothing further, simply finishing his preparations before stating, "I need to find a sufficiently hidden place to turn these bodies into human puppets."

"Here, in the Land of Water?" Ye Zi asked.

Sasori nodded. "Let's find a place around here."

"Let's go," Ye Zi said, heading out of the village without hesitation.

Kimimaro glanced briefly at the surroundings, then followed.

The three of them left the Kaguya clan's settlement.

Not long after, the sky grew overcast, and the wind turned colder.

As the weather shifted, the three walked on in silence.

Given Kimimaro's stamina and pace, both Ye Zi and Sasori traveled on foot, taking a forested path through the mountains.

Sasori was anxious to move faster, but he refrained from saying so, matching Ye Zi's pace instead.

As they continued, the first snowflake fell gently to the ground, followed by more, as snow began to fall steadily.

Walking on, Ye Zi extended his hand to catch a snowflake, which quickly melted from the warmth of his palm.

"It's snowing."

Snow continued to fall around them.

It seemed to be Kimimaro's first time seeing snow; he ran ahead, face tilted up with a look of excitement.

Arms outstretched, he caught snowflakes in his hands and watched as they melted into water.

"Looks like it'll get heavier," Sasori remarked, glancing at the sky, where dark clouds gathered thickly.

Ye Zi nodded in agreement.

As Sasori predicted, the snowfall intensified, and soon a white blanket covered the ground.

Dressed only in a thin, worn garment, Kimimaro's initial excitement at the snow was soon dampened by the cold. He shrank into himself, walking quietly beside Ye Zi.

Ye Zi tore a strip from his cloak and handed it to Kimimaro. Kimimaro took the scrap of fabric with a silent smile and wrapped it around himself.

The snow continued to fall, growing heavier by the minute.

To find a secluded location, a cave would be ideal, but so far, they had only encountered forests.

Even with Ye Zi's fabric, Kimimaro, still barefoot, endured the painful chill without a word of complaint.

Ahead on the path, cheerful laughter rang out as a young child ran toward them, holding an oversized snowflake.

Sasori became alert at the sound, while Ye Zi remained calm.

The child, with delicate features, looked like a little girl.

Following behind were two adults, a man and a woman, who seemed to be a married couple, with the man carrying a bamboo basket.

"Haku, don't run too fast; you might fall," the woman warned with a smile before noticing Ye Zi, Sasori, and Kimimaro, her expression turning wary.

"Haku, come back," the man called.

"Huh?" Haku turned to look at his father and promptly slipped, dropping the large snowflake, which shattered at Kimimaro's feet.

Ye Zi and Sasori stopped, while Kimimaro bent down to pick up the broken snowflake and handed it to Haku, who had stood up and brushed himself off.

Haku smiled and said, "Thank you," but didn't take the broken snowflake. Instead, he held out his hand and conjured a new, perfectly formed snowflake, handing it to Kimimaro.

"A kekkei genkai, is it?" Ye Zi and Sasori exchanged a calm glance.

Kimimaro hesitated, glancing at Ye Zi as if seeking his approval.

Ye Zi nodded slightly.

Kimimaro smiled, taking Haku's snowflake and quietly said, "Thank you. It's beautiful."

"It is, isn't it?"

Haku beamed and ran back to his parents.

Unlike Haku's innocent demeanor, his parents watched Ye Zi and Sasori with wariness.

"Mom, Dad, that boy said my snowflake was beautiful!" Haku said proudly, pointing at Kimimaro.

The man patted Haku's head and smiled, "Haku is very talented."

The woman smiled warmly as she took Haku's hand to keep him from running off again.

Kimimaro carefully cradled the delicate snowflake, giving Haku a gentle smile in return.

"Let's go, Kimimaro."

Ignoring the couple's cautious glances, Ye Zi walked forward, passing them by.

Sasori walked alongside him.

Kimimaro followed, and after walking a short distance, he turned and waved at Haku.

"Bye-bye!"

Haku pulled free of his mother's hand, took a few steps, and waved back at Kimimaro.

After Ye Zi and his group left, Haku's parents finally relaxed.

"Let's go, Haku."

They called to Haku, who was still watching Kimimaro's retreating figure.

"Alright!"

Haku cheerfully skipped after his parents.

Meeting this family was just a minor detour, and Ye Zi's group continued searching for a cave.

"Lord Ye Zi."

Kimimaro suddenly ran ahead and carefully placed the snowflake on the snow-covered ground, then looked up at Ye Zi.

Ye Zi paused, asking, "What is it?"

Without saying a word, Kimimaro extended his hands, concentrating intently.

Before their eyes, pale white bones emerged from Kimimaro's hands, gradually taking shape.

Both Ye Zi and Sasori watched in surprise.

The bones slowly transformed into the shape of a flower, and Kimimaro's forehead glistened with sweat as he struggled. Finally, a bone flower took form.

Kimimaro held up the finished bone flower with a smile, offering it to Ye Zi.

Ye Zi accepted the somewhat rough flower, smiling as he noted Kimimaro's skillful control.

"Kimimaro, it's a beautiful flower." Ye Zi admired the bone flower, impressed.

"Thank you!"

Kimimaro's face lit up with a radiant smile, nodding vigorously.

Check out the patreon and get 55 chapters in advance -> SaintXI

Currently on Chapter 395 - Three-Way Standoff

It seems at least Haku will have a happy ending, it's well-deserved.