Mitsuko didn't feel as afraid as she walked through her family's forest for the umpteenth time. She knew what was there now and it didn't bother her anymore. The forest had never been so bright before. As she passed the pit on the way back from the nursery, she heard Hidan desperately calling out for her from the bottom of the chasm. She immediately felt very sorry for him but then she remembered what her father had told her the night before about why Hidan was in the pit.

Hidan had killed her father's sensei, Asuma. That was a good reason to put him in this hole. Shikamaru explained to her that Hidan was immortal. His body could be taken apart and he'd still be alive. Hidan didn't need help out of the hole. After hearing what her father had to say, she decided Hidan needed help out of his old habits, not out the pit. But she didn't know how to do it without her father finding out.

"Mitsuko, is that you?" he called to her as she stood on the path away from the hole.

"Yes, Hidan. I am not allowed to be here right now so make it quick," she said quickly.

"I have no purpose anymore. Akatsuki is done for and I'm stuck in this hole. I want to die," Mitsuko's heart dropped when Hidan told her this. "Please Mitsuko, I need to talk to your father."

"I'll see what I can do," Mitsuko gazed down at her feet. She had never heard anyone say that they wanted to die before, it scared her. "But Hidan, there has to be a purpose. No matter how long you live, a new opportunity comes your way. Surely there is something you would like to accomplish?"

"No, there is nothing left for me in this world."

Mitsuko couldn't stand it. Was he crazy? She had to knock some sense into him. She stood on the edge of the pit, her toes hanging over the edge. She stared down at him, her eyes full of tears as Hidan stared up at her, confused and surprised.

"I uncovered you so that you could have a chance in this world! You could at least show some appreciation! There is a big world out there while you sit in this hole, wishing you were dead! There's more to it than this forest, Hidan," she wiped her eyes with her sleeve and bit her quivering bottom lip, "Then again, I'm one to talk," she chuckled. She had never been outside of Konoha before. The village and this forest was all she knew.

Hidan was hurt. Mitsuko had made a point. There was still the whole world he had yet to travel and there could be something he could do. Plus, he wasn't being very appreciative towards this girl. He valued her for feeling his pains and helping him, yet he laid there, wishing he was dead.

"Just go get your father, please," he said, lowering his gaze from her.

Shikamaru arrived without Mitsuko, as Hidan expected. The man squatted on the edge of the pit and stared down at the head in the depths of the earth.

"Mitsuko begged me to come here and talk to you, so what did you want?" he asked gruffly.

Hidan was surprised that the girl begged her father for him. "At first, I wanted to die. That's when your daughter convinced me that there was more to this life inside this hole. To make it short, I want to get out of here and start a new life."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, "How should I know that you won't kill again?"

"My power is eternal but, I promise that I won't use my power to kill again. I have no reason to anymore."

"I want you to apologize for killing Asuma-sensei and beg for my forgiveness in front of the whole village. If you can do that, I will allow Mitsuko to help you get back on your feet. She seems to have taken a liking to you," Shikamaru smirked.

Hidan was speechless. He thought that Shikamaru would turn him down and leave but he was allowing him a second chance. "I'll do it," he replied, glad that he was given this opportunity. Mitsuko was so right.

"I'll get things set up and I'll send Mitsuko to get you," with that, Shikarmaru leaped up into the trees and disappeared.

"What is there left to like about me?" Hidan asked himself out loud with a calm face.