As previously agreed, for the next couple of days, Mitsuki had been accompanying and watching over the two siblings, as Itachi tasked himself with the surveillance of the shrine as well as figuring out the perpetrator of the theft. One day, the two siblings decided to visit the village despite of the risk to trade some ingredients in order to fulfil Itachi's order faster. With Mitsuki by their side, they were confident that no one would dare to lay a hand on them. Upon entering the village area, one of the merchant called out to Mitsuki,

"Ara, isn't it the young lady from before? Where have you been staying?" said a merchant. Immediately, Mitsuki recognised the merchant as the granma who helped her identify some of her haul during her first day visit.

"Ah, thanks again for your help the other day!" said Mitsuki as she bowed towards the granma, expressing her gratitude. Upon bowing, the granma catch a glimpse of the two siblings and froze. Not just her, countless of other merchant started whispering as well. Witnessing this, Mitsuki tilted her head in confusion. Seeing the young lady's questioning look, the granma quickly pulled Mitsuki hand closer and whispered in her ear.

"Young lady, I don't think you should associate yourself with them," the grandma whispered.

"Huh? Why? They are good kids!" said Mitsuki, frowning. Hearing her seemingly innocent response, the grandma shook her heads.

"They are selling illegal drugs. Seeing the looks in your eyes, you are not a user right? Or you too, intend to purchase it from them?" the grandma said, as if reprimanding Mitsuki for her ignorance.

"User? Illegal drugs?" Mitsuki frowned as she heard the grandma's accusation.

"AH! Dad, that's the girl who bullied us yesterday!" Suddenly a shout came from another stall at the end of the road. Recognising the voice, Mitsuki quickly moved closer to Kina and Reishi, hiding their figure behind her.

"Bullied you? More like the two of you ganked up on a boy smaller than you," Mitsuki shouted back. Hearing the girl's anger as well as the calm yet intense look in her eyes, the two bullies shrunk and hid behind their father, prompting more merchant to whisper around.

"Good timing then, I assume you are their father? You should reprimand them for grouping up and throwing rocks towards smaller kids, that was a dangerous game they were playing at," Mitsuki continued. However, no response was given over Mitsuki's statement. Braving himself, the taller boy shouted,

"Th.. they are of shinobi clan, they are shinobi, not weak kids! Besides, everyone in the village hate them, right guys?"

Hearing the boy's word, Mitsuki frowned in annoyance as she sent her energy towards her seed pouch and grew out one of her vines.

"Hoo, are you still saying that? Seems like I haven't taught you enough.." Mitsuki said with obvious poison in her voice, causing the father of the two kids to swiftly hide the boys behind his back. Seeing the father's act of protection, Mitsuki hesitated with complicated feelings in her heart. As horrible as the boys are, they were still their parents' beloved, and whoever planted those idea inside the kids' head, however wrong their methods are, might have their reasons as well. Without knowing why, it was impossible to convince them otherwise. Knowing this, Mitsuki was unable to continue with her attacks. Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice of an elder interrupted the intense silence.

"Young lady over there, it's better for you not to get involved in the village's matter. I don't know who you are, but an outsider like you have no right to judge us," the voice said as it approached closer, each step's followed by the clicking of a walking cane. Hearing the voice getting closer, Mitsuki moved her attention towards the source of the voice. In front of her gaze, an old man stood and walked as the villagers opened the path for him. It seemed that whoever he was, he had quite an influence within the village.

"Is that so?" Mitsuki retorted, "In what situation could blaming unrelated kids and hurting them based on an unproved accusation could be tolerated?"

"Do you truly believe them to be innocent? Even if our assumptions about their parents are wrong, it was fact that lately Saigenzai has been circulating around this village," said the village elder, turning the question back to Mitsuki.

"Saigenzai?" Mitsuki frowned as she looked around her upon the villagers, and the siblings. Hearing the name, the older brother frowned. Noticing the change in his expression, Mitsuki took note to ask further about the issue later on.

"See, you don't even know that. Don't assume that you know everything there is about our villager's moral," said the elder as Mitsuki revealed her apparent lack of information. Annoyed by the mockery in the elder's word, Mitsuki retorted.

"Whatever that is, and whether they are from shinobi clan or not, aren't they still humans? Just because they are shinobi, does it mean they deserve that kind of treatment by the two of them?" Mitsuki protested as she pointed towards the bullies.

"That's enough, Mitsuki-san," said Reishi with sadness in his voice. Hearing the boy's plea, Mitsuki turned her head to meet Reishi's empty gaze as he continued, "It's ok, let's go back."

Hearing the sadness in Reishi's voice, as well as criticism and the indifference of the elder, villagers, and the bullies' father, Mitsuki could only narrow her eyes in frustration as she followed Reishi and Kina back towards the village's outskirt. Just for one last measure, with anger in her eyes, Mitsuki turned and signalled the two bullies with her finger and her head that she will be keeping her watch on them, scaring the two bullies who hid behind their father immediately.

"Haaah," Mitsuki sighed loudly with frustration in her voice as Kina slept upon her lap. "What the hell was that? How can even the adults be so unreasonable?"

Hearing Mitsuki's complaint, Reishi let out a bitter laugh as he continued to pick on some herbs from the mountain's garden.

"Well, it can't be helped. It's not easy to change the deep rooted believe of a collective," said Reishi as a sad smile decorated his face. Witnessing his expression of defeat, Mitsuki frowned sadly.

"Hey," she called unto Reishi, "What's with that Saigenzai thingy? Is it related to Itachi-kun's medication?"

Hearing Mitsuki's question, Reishi laughed awkwardly, unsure on how to proceed. After a minute consideration, he answered, "Hmm, it's a bit different." Hearing Reishi's hesitation, Mitsuki tilted her head, prompting Reishi to continue with his explanation.

"Saigenzai, the Hypnotic Illusionary Medicine, is a type of drug that produces genjutsu and can function independently from the user's skill." Reishi explained briefly, unsure if his explanation would mean anything to Mitsuki.

"And?" Mitsuki enquired further, as she couldn't form a connection yet between the villager's hatred with the aforementioned drug.

After a moment of hesitation, Reishi continued, "Some people treat it as narcotics, and if used improperly it would be deadly. That's why it was considered illegal."

Mitsuki understood the concept of narcotics, as she herself had manipulated a form of it to deal with the hunter-nin back in the port village. It was said that such substance had been used by ordinary people and shinobi alike to cope with harsh reality and trauma, and because of it, they could be quite addictive. After further understanding during her medical study, she understood how dangerous they could be.

"Then, what's the connection of the drug with you guys, and Itachi-kun's medicine?" Mitsuki continued her question, wondering if it was somehow related to Itachi's decision in avoiding any interaction with the villagers, even if Mitsuki would understand why he would do so even without that as a reason after her recent interaction with the villagers.

"The thing is, our Kodon clan could produce a special kind of Saigenzai, as a recipe that has been passed directly within our bloodline. It's called Kotaro." Reishi answered.

Deducing from his answer, Mitsuki finally understood why Itachi had to go to such length to procure his medicine. However, "Why would Itachi-kun need something like that?" Mitsuki asked.

Hearing the confusion within Mitsuki's voice, Reishi explained with a sad smile. "Kotaro, when properly combined with other medicine, can produce countless forms of medicine with high effectiveness level."

"I see," said Mitsuki, as she recalled the knowledge that had been imparted within her by both Hazuki as well as the book regarding medicine that she had been reading. "A substance can be both poison, or medicine, depending on how they are used," she muttered to Reishi's acknowledgement. Silently, she wondered if the recently attempted theft that Itachi stopped was related to Kotaro as well. Shoving the thoughts aside, Mitsuki decided to ask one more question that had been bothering her.

"Then, can you tell me more about Itachi's medicament?" said Mitsuki. Seeing the hesitation in Reishi's face upon her question, she added, "Please, I would like to help him however I can too."

Hearing the resolve within Mitsuki's word, as well as the fear and the concern reflected in her eyes, Reishi gave in to her request.

"So, let me get this clear.." said Mitsuki, her face pale from the anxiety in her heart.

"Even with his current medicament, his condition is uncurable?" MItsuki's voice quivered as she stated her understanding upon Reishi's explanation.

"Yes, all we could do was just to slow down the process itself," Reishi clarified apologetically.

"And the medicine's side effect was the cause of the pain in his lungs, and also contaminated his blood?" said Mitsuki as her voice reduced itself to a pained whisper, tears of frustration and sadness started to brim in her eyes. Upon her statement, Reishi nodded, avoiding Mitsuki's gaze.

Mitsuki felt like puking. Her heart beat faster as her breath hastened. Covering her mouth, she tried her best to control back her breathing, as a searing pain ripped her heart.

"That.. That dumbass…" said Mitsuki as she held back her tears, "Why? Why would he go that far? Why would he.. go to such extent… and suffer?" slowly, Mitsuki's word turned into a soft, muffled, held back sob. As Reishi stared at her emphatetically, Mitsuki gathered her resolve.

"Hey, tell me about the medicine more, I'll see if there's anything I can do to help," said Mitsuki as she wiped her tears of her eyes, replacing it with the fire of determination.

Itachi sat atop the Hypericum shrine, surveilling in silence with his presence hidden. Suddenly, a voice called out to him.

"Itachi..kun.." said a familiar voice breathlessly. "Help…" she said with pain in her voice. Hearing the faint call, Itachi quickly jumped towards the source of the voice in haste, worried.

There he found Mitsuki breathing raggedly, as she carried Kina's body on her back up the slope leading to the shrine. Seeing Itachi's figure entering her field of view, Mitsuki muttered once more.

"Help me.. I can't.. anymore…" she said as her feet and body trembled under the weight of the boy. Upon confirming the situation, Itachi breathed a sigh of relieve.

"Sorry, Mitsuki-san, to make you help me with this," Reishi smiled guiltily as Itachi took Kina's body off Mitsuki's back. On his back was a basket full of herbs.

"It's.. ok.. hufft.." said Mitsuki, her leg had now gave in, causing her to grovel on the ground. "But I need.. rest… wait…"

Looking at Mitsuki's sorry state, Itachi smiled with a mix of pity, guilt, and amusement.

"It seems that you need to work on your muscle strength and endurance," said Itachi teasingly.

"Huft.. shut up… hhhh.." Mitsuki answered with shame and regret upon her lack of physical training. Despite her ability to replenish her stamina easily, her muscle strength was not something that she could boost with her own power, and because of that, she felt as if the muscle on her whole body was screaming in pain.

Chuckling, Itachi straightened his body as he repositioned Kina in his cradle, meanwhile waiting for Mitsuki to recover from her exhaustion.

Omake:

Itachi laid Kina's sleeping figure back on his futon as Mitsuki stared upon his back with a complicated expression on her face. As Itachi exited the main shrine, Mitsuki followed quietly behind him, to his confusion. Somehow, he recalled the moment of their conversation after their trip to Hazuki's clothing shop. Hence, when Mitsuki stopped on her track midway to the back shrine, he wasn't surprised.

"I heard about everything from Reishi," said Mitsuki, dropping the bomb.

"I see," said Itachi with a painful smile as he stopped without turning his back to face Mitsuki. Suddenly, he felt light taps from Mitsuki's fist on his back, repeatedly.

"You dummy.. why do you have to.." said Mitsuki, stuttering. To her words, Itachi couldn't respond.

"I'm glad.. that I'm not an ordinary human.." suddenly, Mitsuki said, changing the topic. Confused with her sudden shift of topic, Itachi turned back slightly to take a look at Mitsuki's expression.

"That way, things that humans cannot cure.. I might be able to do something about it," Mitsuki said as she gazed up to meet Itachi's eye with a pained smile on her face. Seeing her smile, Itachi knew that it was not a declaration, but merely a hopeful wish from within her heart. Moved by the sincerity within the round, dark blue eye, Itachi gave the girl a light pat on the head before turning his back once more and walking away.

Author's note:

Angstangstangstangst Heheheheheehe

Oh yea BTW for those wondering, about the Howling Wolf Village, and Kotaro and Saigenzai, it's actually a canon (if you count the light novels) from Naruto Jinraiden: Okami no Naku Hi (Day of the Howling Wolf). If anyone is interested, quick summary is in here:

wiki/Naruto_Jinraiden:_The_Day_the_Wolf_Howled

Even without reading the LN directly tho, I'll try my best to convey the relevant information! This event is obviously way before the LN since the LN took place when Sasuke go there after Itachi's passing in the canon :3