Mitsuko approached the crowded plaza, carrying Hidan's head in her arms. He did not like it one bit and had grumbled to himself during the whole trip from the forest to the village. Having to be carried by a girl, pressed against her chest; it was humiliating for Hidan.
He stared out at the crowd and could feel the grudges against him. A lot of people wore angry faces while some cried and others showed no emotion at all. It made Hidan irritated. If only he had his body and his scythe.
Shikamaru stepped forward from his place by the Hokage. Surprisingly, he wasn't smoking a cigarette at the time. Probably out of respect in the presence of the Hokage. He didn't make eye contact with Hidan, instead, he was gazing at his daughter, as if asking her if she was making the right decision. He came up beside her and turned to meet the crowd. "This is Hidan, the man who killed my sensei, Asuma Sarutobi. My daughter found him where I buried him and she wished to help him. All he asks for is your forgiveness and my forgiveness," her father announced to the crowd.
"I am sorry for killing Asuma Sarutobi," Hidan followed Shikamaru in the speech. He did not feel the least bit sincere about it but tried to make it sound convincing. He wanted out of that hell hole.
The crowd was silent for the longest time until the Hokage nodded and raised his hand, signaling for everyone to depart. As the crowd dispersed and the Hokage left, Shikamaru lit a cigarette and took a long drag. He seemed distressed and it made Mitsuko worry.
"Well, dad?" she chimed as she held on to the severed head in her hands.
"Hidan will have to earn my forgiveness. There will still be hatred towards him with some of the villagers. He can stay with us, if he likes, and you can fix him up. He's not my problem," he told her before he began to walk away.
Mitsuko looked down at Hidan's silver, slicked back hair with a sad look in her face. "Well, Hidan? How about you?" she asked him.
He gazed out at the village landscape, wondering what he was going to do. The wind blew past them, juggling leaves about. One could feel it in the air that autumn was coming. It would get cold soon in that pit. "I guess I will lean on you for awhile, if you allow me to. At least until I can get sewn back together and on my way," he replied, staring blankly.
"Alright," she said complaisantly before carrying him home. Deep inside, she was excited about taking care of Hidan. It was like bringing home an injured pet. A bodiless, foul-mouthed head for a pet.