They Love Me.

"That red hair...!" Ino somehow felt at ease as she muttered this. Shikamaru... Choji... Ino... Kotetsu... Izumo... Aoba... Raido — everyone had their mouths agape, their eyes widening as they marvelled at the newcomer on the scene. The redhead entrant glanced at the people atop the roof, his beautiful blue eyes flickering... much more intensely as he stared at the blonde holding onto a near-lifeless Asuma in her arms.

"Huh...?! Who are you...?! Fuckin' brat-" That was all Hidan could utter... before a red streak rushed by and beheaded him in a flash. His head tumbled down from his neck to the ground. Time seemed to stand still for everyone as they finally realised what had happened a heartbeat earlier... faces of disbelief covering their faces. Kakuzu suddenly flickered elsewhere... but not without a sword piercing him in his left abdomen.

"Aajdbbitchaoifoiguafuckaueviuhuih!!" Hidan's head talked... but as he had his head turned over... nobody really understood him. His words were just a mess of grunts. "Tch... mumbling imbecile!" Kakuzu growled as he showed up next to the redhead, who was obviously Miyuki. The redhead flashed Kakuzu a cold glare, stomping on Hidan's head... hearing some grunts from the Jashinist somewhere between.

"Who are you...?!" Kakuzu questioned as he pulled the sword from his abdomen. His tone was threatening... but also tinged with dread. 'Who is he...?! I didn't even see him as he decapitated Hidan! Hell, I was only able to react to him at the last possible moment... and yet I still got stabbed by this sword!' With his sole focus on the redhead, Kakuzu thought.

"...It shouldn't matter to you who I am, Kakuzu of the Hidden Waterfall... of Akatsuki." Miyuki answered, evoking a startled look from Kakuzu. The redhead then extended his arm in front of him. Kakuzu, seeing this, hurriedly raised his guard... uncertain. The sword in Kakuzu's grip now had a blue glow about it... and instantly, it shot out towards Miyuki, as he now clutched it. "Huh...?!" Kakuzu muttered... before seeing the redhead vanish from his spot. His instincts screamed at him, sirens went off in his head to block... from the... 'Front-!?'

...He hastily went to raise his arms in front of him, bracing himself... but it was too late. Before he could even lift his hands, a fist landed on his chest. Kakuzu got blown hundreds of metres following a massive shockwave... then was struck again! He then crashed into the ground, leaving a small crater and a cloud of dust in his wake. Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, and the rest of the Konoha-nins were stunned as they watched this... devastation. They all were thinking the same thing at the same time.

'Those Akatsuki bastards had been holding back their true strength... Miyuki... he's something else... he even decapitated that Hidan with ease...!' This revelation made them feel both relieved and complicated on the inside... the latter solely in the blonde girl's case. Then, all of a sudden, a gust of wind blew past everyone, blowing away the cloud of dust... Kakuzu... had been nowhere to be found!

Nonetheless, the redhead was completely aware of his presence. He ultimately let him have it — he knew where he could find that zombie. He then looked around the rooftop at the others... who'd been gaping at him as if he was the Buddha. But then, as his gaze met that of the same blonde girl, she looked away from him, and he frowned, letting out a sigh.

...

I went up on the roof, glancing at people I hadn't seen in nearly two years. I was not addressed... It didn't bother me in the least. That was for a reason, and I was aware of it. Asuma. In front of me lay his nearly lifeless body. I was late... again. I couldn't save Hiruzen-jichan... and now I can't save Asuma-neesan... his son. He was just like an older brother to me... dammit... why am I always too late...?!

...Soon, black clouds gathered over us, signaling the arrival of a rainstorm. I raised my eyes to the sky, and soon the rain began pouring. Is Asuma-neesan's death... causing the heavens to mourn...? No. They must be crying with laughter at my sheer incompetence... I am pathetic... if only I'd arrived earlier after Sukuna informed me of the situation. I turned to glance at Ino, she was already shedding tears of her own. I cursed myself... I'd hoped to uphold the smiles of my people... more so of hers.

"...There's nothing more I can do..." Asuma muttered. "...Now I think I finally realise... why the Third did... what he did..." Yeah... Asuma-neesan was always at odds with Hiruzen-jichan... their ideals disagreeing no matter what. Ino was doing everything she could to heal him. She knew it wouldn't work... yet she continued trying. "I... always took too long. I'd like to say a few last words... to Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru..." "Sensei, you shouldn't talk anymore!"

Shikamaru then raised his voice. "Choji! Ino, you too! These are Asuma-sensei's last words... listen carefully." His seriousness was evident. "Ino..." Asuma spoke softly, his head turning towards her. "Yes..." "You're strong-willed, but dependable... both Choji and Shikamaru... they're clumsy... so please take care of them..." As Asuma said this, more tears streamed down Ino's face... I couldn't stand seeing them. "Yes..." Asuma then slowly lifted his head to look at me.

"...Miyuki...? You've changed a lot... grown so much. Its good that you've arrived... I had some things to say to you. Please... look after Ino... while she looks after... Choji and Shikamaru. Do that for me, will you...?" ...My eyes welled up with tears, too. I knelt down in front of him. "Asuma... Asuma-neesan... I'm sorry...! If only I could've-" "Oi... don't blame yourself... this wasn't your fault... younger brother."

"Why...? Calling me that is pointless... I failed at being one." Only if there was another way to heal him... better than that of the Mystical Palm Technique...! My eyes immediately widened — there was a way! Asuma-neesan can be saved! Reverse Cursed Technique! A cursed technique that could even bring the dead back to life! Even if I can't use it... he can! "Sukuna!" I rose to my feet and hurriedly started looking around... praying to see that man show up as he always does!

Everyone appeared... confused... as they looked at me. While they had no idea who I'd called or was looking for... Ino did. I overheard her whisper, "That man..." "Sukuna...!" I was suddenly aware of his presence. "Sukuna! You're here... you're finally here, I'm sure of it! Sukuna, I need your help...! I...! I need your help, you asshole!" That man's voice was heard by... possibly by everyone else present. "Callin' for help, but cursing me at the very same time... I'm not sure... if I even want to help you right now."

...Dammit! "Look... I'm sorry, Sukuna... I'm sorry... alright?! Now please... please help Asuma-neesan! You can... right?!" Ino, Choji, Shikamaru... everybody wore shocked looks on their faces as they heard this. Shikamaru rose to his feet and held me by my shoulders. "Please tell me you're right...! Tell me you're telling the truth... Miyuki! Tell me... tell me that you'll be able to save Asuma-neesan! Don't coax me with false hope...!" I nodded, staring him in the eyes. "...You can heal him... right?!"

"...Please...! Heal him! I can't afford to lose any more people than I already have, Sukuna!" His voice returned. "...Oh? After all... why the fuck should I? I assume I have a "contract" with you... and you alone. Why should it bother me if someone somewhere... even if its one you care about... dies?" ...My eyes widened. Shikamaru's hands fell from my shoulders as he stepped away from me... slowly. It is... Sukuna... who we're dealing with. "But... why...?" I murmured... but got no response.

...The rain had started to pour even harder. Having a really good laugh at my mise... heaven...? But I'm not easily swayed. My hand was suddenly bathed in a blue glow. "...A devil's bargain." I sighed, hoping... hoping I wouldn't die. I don't want to die... I really don't... at least not without her. I then turned to look at Ino, who had been gazing at me the whole time... only dropping her gaze when mine met with hers. You'd care for me only if I died, huh...? "You know... Sukuna..." I got a grunt in return.

"You are absolutely... heartless." This time, a hearty chuckle. "Why thank you-" I cut him off. "I'll be honest with you... I never understood you, Sukuna... I never did. But. But I guess I can share... this "heartless" part with you... at the very least." I heard a curious grunt in answer... everyone was staring at me... puzzled. Ino. She was the only one paying attention to me... watching as my hand inched closer to my chest. I then... stabbed my chest... with my hand... without much wait.

"N-No! M-Miyuki!" Ino screamed, rushing towards me... but I stopped her. "Stop... Ino... I'm trying... to make... a deal..." Goddammit... its hard... to make out words with my head being this... dizzy. I then pulled my hand... out of my chest... bringing... my heart with it. Only... sheer willpower... kept me going. I tuned out... everyone's cries... of dread... surprise... unbelief. I finally heard Sukuna. A gasp. A bloodied... smirk... then crept on my face. "If you... Sukuna... were that heartless... you wouldn't have told me anything..."

...Another gasp. "Now... will... will you heal Asuma-neesan... given... given that we've now become... "heartless bros"...?" And then, just when I feared I was about to die... I beheld Sukuna... with an amused grin on his face... and I eventually passed out. The last thing I heard... was people crying out my name.

...

They love me.