“Good Deed Progress +10.”
Chizhao had just returned to the camp when she received the progress notification from Little Wang.
“Little Wang, which deed is this referring to?”
“It should be saving the person who fell from a high place.”
Chizhao lay on the ground, pondering, “It didn’t count the Tailed Beast I drew?”
Suddenly, her hand felt empty; one of the Membrane Cards she had been holding vanished into thin air.
The disappearance was so sudden that she hadn’t even had time to think.
Chizhao stared at her empty palm, stunned.
That was something she had obtained through “great hardship” and the tears of countless children!
Just like that, it was gone?
“Chizhao, are you awake?”
Keiko’s voice broke her train of thought.
Chizhao threw off her blanket, pretending to have just woken up, stretched, rubbed her eyes, and sat up: “Good morning, Granny.”
Keiko reached out and wiped Chizhao’s face, a hint of confusion in her expression.
Suddenly, she put both hands under Chizhao’s armpits and lifted her up.
Instantly, sand poured out of her clothes like a waterfall.
Chizhao froze completely. She awkwardly looked at the dust swirling around, forced a strained smile, and began to babble.
“Granny… Granny… I had a nightmare, maybe… I wet the bed a little… Hehe…”
“It’s getting late, we should set off.” The appearance of a Sunagakure Ninja broke the awkward atmosphere.
Keiko sighed, no longer pressing for an explanation, and gently set Chizhao down: “Let’s pack our things first. Konoha Village is still a bit far from here.”
Chizhao nodded, quickly packed her belongings, then glanced back in the direction of Hidden Sand Village. Urged by Keiko, she embarked on the road to Konoha Ninja Village.
Night soon fell. They had already crossed the largest desert, and the surrounding trees gradually became denser, indicating they were not far from Konoha Village.
By the bonfire, Chizhao leaned against Keiko, watching the flickering flames. Gaara’s face appeared in her mind again.
She wondered how he was doing now.
“Chizhao, can you tell me why you jumped off the building in the Village that day?”
Hearing Keiko’s question, Chizhao straightened up and looked at her: “I’m sorry, Granny, I wanted to find Gaara at the time…”
“Even so, you shouldn’t have done something so dangerous. It’s a miracle you weren’t hurt.”
Keiko glanced at the Sunagakure Ninja on a distant tree branch and spoke softly: “Actually, I already understood what the Kazekage meant. I knew this day would come, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.”
Ignoring Chizhao’s surprised expression, Keiko picked up a branch from the ground and poked the bonfire: “Did you sneak back to the Village last night?”
Chizhao’s heart tightened, but she quickly masked her emotions and laughed it off: “Granny, what are you talking about? I don’t understand…”
“You probably don’t know, but before I retired, I was an intelligence officer in the Sunagakure Anbu…”
Keiko’s light tone sent shivers down Chizhao’s spine. She sat there, stunned, listening to Keiko’s next words.
“Although I don’t know how you did it, I won’t delve into it. You’re different from other children, I can feel it…”
“Granny…”
“I just want to say, no matter what you do, always prioritize your own safety. Don’t make this old woman worry…”
Keiko’s tone softened, and her clear eyes reflected Chizhao’s face.
A warmth surged in Chizhao’s heart. She leaned forward, hugged Keiko tightly, and nodded heavily.
“I understand, Granny.”
Chizhao and Keiko chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, they both lay down on their prepared sleeping mats and went to sleep.
Lying on the ground, Chizhao suddenly remembered something. She fumbled in her pocket for a while and pulled out the Membrane Card sealing Ichibi Shukaku. Under the bright moonlight, she carefully examined it.
Shukaku on the Membrane Card looked majestic and imposing. She had expected a Tailed Beast to have a golden border, but to her surprise, upon closer inspection, it was red.
Wait, red?
Indeed, the Membrane Card had not faded, which meant that Shukaku’s Chakra had not completely disappeared. Could it be because Tailed Beasts inherently possess nearly infinite Chakra?
And that Membrane Card only stripped away Chakra to its maximum extent, while the remaining Chakra was still attached to the Membrane Card, which is why the Tailed Beast didn’t lose its vitality?
Chizhao seemed to have discovered a blind spot and continued to ponder.
So, Shukaku, currently sealed within the Membrane Card, must be in a weakened state, maintaining only its basic life force.
She flipped the Membrane Card over and observed it carefully for a while. After finding no other abnormalities, she put it into her pocket and closed her eyes.
Later, she would have to find an opportunity to see if she could release Shukaku… She wondered if she could… talk to it…?
Not long after, Chizhao’s breathing became regular, and she fell into a deep sleep.
After two days of long travel, the surrounding environment had become lush and green.
Chizhao inhaled the scent of the trees, her mood brightening, as all she had seen before was endless yellow sand.
Indeed, this vibrant green was much more pleasing to the eye.
Not far ahead, on two large wooden gates that swung outwards, large red characters were written. That must be Konoha.
“We’re here, Granny!”
Chizhao excitedly ran a few steps forward and quickly saw two gate guards standing at the entrance, plus a familiar figure.
“Master Jiraiya!”
“Yo~ Little rascal! Long time no see.”
Jiraiya looked at the little person excitedly running towards him, crouched down, and vigorously ruffled her head.
“Ow, my hair is messy! Stop ruffling it!” Chizhao complained with a smile.
The Sunagakure Ninja who had accompanied them all the way walked over and said to Keiko and Jiraiya:
“I have safely delivered Lady Keiko to Konoha. I will now return to report the mission.”
Jiraiya stopped what he was doing and looked up: “You’ve worked hard.”
Keiko also bowed slightly to the Sunagakure Ninja and smiled:
“Please thank the Kazekage for me. I have always been well taken care of. Now that we have settled in Konoha, we are people of the Land of Fire. I hope we can contribute to the friendship between our two nations and build a bridge of peace.”
Upon hearing this, the Sunagakure Ninja’s expression subtly changed. He frowned, assented, and then disappeared from the spot.
Everyone present understood Keiko’s unspoken meaning.
Before entering the Village, she had shown her sincerity to Konoha, publicly drawing a line between herself and the Land of Wind, and also with the Kazekage.
This action dispelled most of the Konoha elders’ doubts and ensured the safety of both of them in the Village from now on.
Thinking of this, Chizhao couldn’t help but look at Keiko with admiration.
Jiraiya smiled at Keiko: “Welcome to Konoha Ninja Village.”
