ÆKenki and ÆKatsuki had arrived home safely. They were swaying as they approached the east's entrance gate. Katsuki continued to grasp his blade in his right hand. His body was covered in blood, and he appeared to be unconscious but still walking. 
Kenki behind him was struggling to move forward. He, like Katsuki, was unconscious yet nevertheless managed to walk. A few soldiers noticed them but couldn't recognize them because of the blood on their faces. 
Their upper body kimono was ripped to shreds, and their mask was missing. ÆKenki's sword blade was broken. One of the troops instantly recognized them and sent a stretcher with a few men to treat them. ÆKenki and ÆKatsuki both collapse to the ground, motionless and now entirely comatose, as soon as they sense them.
They were both in critical condition and could die if not treated quickly. The sun was shining brightly, and birds were chirping in the dark forest to the east. The pleasant breeze caused the tree's leaves to dance.
Shimodo Rou, on the other side, was worriedly sitting in a large room in front of a squared table with the other heads. In the distance, there was an elderly man peering out a window. Shimodo Rou was sweating and couldn't stop thinking about the civilians. He felt nervous, just like the other trembling heads.
"Shimodo Rou... The soldiers know we are here. One of them is coming right now to deliver a message," the old man said in a dark voice as he looked down at the ground, seeing two soldiers walking into his house. They were on the second floor and the four of them could hear footsteps immediately nearing the door.
"Good... I thought they'd have trouble. Tsk, I have no idea what's going on outside. We're the only ones safe here... Not the people, I know the barrier could protect them all but for how long?" Shimodo Rou wondered as two troops rushed in through the door. 
"Heads! Message from the front gate! ÆKenki and ÆKatsuki have returned! However, they are in bad condition. They have spent the past hours in an emergency room stitching their wounds and trying to stop the bleeding in all of their bodies. The healing sorcerers said it's a miracle that they are still alive," the soldier explained the message. Shimodo Rou breathed a sense of relief as he nodded. The two heads on his side sigh in relief as they cease trembling. Shimodo Rou cleared his throat and nodded properly.
The old man at the window smiled and nodded at a Shimodo Rou. He raised his head and looked at the ceiling as they felt a sudden peace around them that made them feel comfortable. 
"Thank you for that kind of information. We will be returning to the capital in some time. Please, keep us delivering the message so that we know what's the status of this village. Once again, I'm grateful and thankful for both of your services!" Shimodo Rou said as he stood and bowed to the soldier who delivered the message to him. The two soldiers were taken aback and unable to respond, but the old man looked at them, nodded, and grinned. 
"You're welcome, Sir! But it's nothing compared to what you're doing! We're really honored! Thank you!" the two soldiers said in unison as they bowed and exited the room. As they walked away, they both felt their heads light, at rest, and comfortable. 
"It appears that this is the Day of Relief, Shimodo Rou. Who would've expected it, but I suspect the other Nations are under attack, which scares me," the old man stated worriedly, turning back to stare out the window once more. 
"I know... But we only have one choice, and that's to protect this village and keep what's happening intact. It's the only way," Shimodo Rou replied, sitting back uncomfortably in his chair and looking down at the squared table.
"I don't have much else to do. Nevertheless, Shimodo Rou, I think we should get going. I can't let you three move at dawn while the other nations are under attack. Let's go," the old man stated in a dark voice as he turned around and approached the door. The three heads stood and followed him from behind with serious faces.
They left the old man's house. They headed back to the capital while being escorted by unknown guard swordsmen. There were countless of them even in the shadows of the streets. There were no civilians in their way because it was cleared by the swordsmans patrolling. 
The old man was leading the way and the three known heads of the east were behind him, following him from behind. The old man was serious and was staring at the ground as he walked. At the side of the heads, there were two swordsmen walking with them guarding them.
After a few minutes of walking. They were at their destination in a matter of minutes. Shimodo Rou arrived in the capital and noticed a few of massive cracks in the edifice, but it was still standing.
Shimodo Rou sighed in relief but suddenly he remembered the two Shadow guard Swordsmen that died. He turned to his left to see eight swordsmen standing in a line surrounding someone. He sees blood on the ground as his eyebrows are lowered. He became sad as the two heads behind him remembered. The old man sighed in frustration as he cleared his throat and sat down on the stairs exhausted. 
Shimodo Rou sighed as he came to a halt. He turned to his right to see the stairs. He walks up towards it as he sees the old man blocking his way, sweating. Shimodo Rou stepped to his left to walk past him as he sighed again and lowered his head. He entered the capital building followed by the two heads of the east. The old man nodded twice as he kept thinking of random things.
"This world has nothing but pain and suffering to offer, but it's also what gives life meaning and value. I can't believe I'm living in an era where a nation is completely annihilated. Destroyed, to dust, everyone's dead, and yet they're fighting for it. It's necessary, but every enemy has hidden cards up their sleeves. I wonder if the Shira and Hashira will be able to accomplish such a feat," the old man thought. He takes a step forward and exhales deeply.
He put his left hand in front of him and suddenly a portal opened in front of him. He walked in and vanished along with the portal. He left no traces from behind and the swordsmans that were mourning their fallen comrades ignored him.
At the Hospital of the East Nation. ÆKenki and ÆKatsuki were both lying on top of a comfy bed. They were completely unconscious and heavily wounded. There was a bunch of cloth covering their wounds and there was a healing sorcerer at their side watching them. They were both breathing but the two unknown healing sorcerers felt unease.
They were both speechless about how they are still alive. They both felt cold inside the room, but the room's temperature was balanced. There were a few nurses outside the room on standby with a few swordsmen guarding their room.
A few minutes have passed. While fully unconscious, Katsuki began wiggling his fingers, and the healing sorcerer observed the movement that caused him to stand from his chair and stare at him.
"He's gaining consciousness already?! What the hell?! This guy is a monster!" The healing sorcerer exclaimed, who was assigned to ÆKatsuki's side. He was surprised as he started healing him even more with his staff.
After a couple of hours. ÆKenki and ÆKatsuki sat up on their chairs completely exhausted. They were half-conscious. They were wiggling and the nurses and sorcerers were looking at them both worried. They were not supposed to be conscious, but they were.
"How long are we asleep?" ÆKatsuki asked as he cleared his throat and stood. He walked towards the window slowly and felt as if his arms and legs were healed. He sighed as he reached the window. 
"At least six hours. We've been healing you both. It took six sorcerers each for you both to heal all of your wounds and damage skins that almost killed both of you." A healing sorcerer replied as she glanced at them. 
"Any news from the north?" ÆKenki inquired, as everyone in the room turned to face him. They all lowered their heads as Katsuki's ears waited for an answer.
"We haven't gotten any, even from Fukeshin Gakure and Kiroshuku Hakure and the same as the other Shira and Hashira that were teleported there. We are worried that they might've got killed," the healing sorcerer answered as ÆKenki and ÆKatsuki turned around to look at him in the eyes. That made both of their eyes widen as they realized something bad had happened in the north.
They were both frightened as they looked for their swords around the room. They couldn't find it as they looked at the sorcerers and nurses hopelessly. ÆKenki stands as she showed an angry face. 
"Where are our swords?! We're leaving as soon as we can!"