"That means it's working," Genma said. "And I can't believe you just tasted that." It wasn't a bad-smelling medicine, but it certainly held more notes of grass and mineral than anything like something you'd want in your mouth. "They make a similar one for mouth burns that has some flavoring in it. I had to use it when I was learning katon."

He worked as quickly as he could, smoothing a thin, greenish layer of balm over the unhealed skin with light, deft strokes. Edges first, easing his way towards the rawer centers of the wounds. The eye socket itself, and the swollen lump where Kuromaru's ear had once been, were the last places he touched.

"You did great. Lot of guys couldn't have sat still for that," he said when he'd finished. "I'll just put the gauze around it now, and we're done." That was as much for Tsume's benefit as Kuromaru's, to let her know it was almost safe to look again. "Is it starting to feel better yet?"