svetikya Chapter 142 Kusagakure, Uzumaki Emi
Chapter 142 Kusagakure, Uzumaki Emi
Chapter 133 Kusagakure, Uzumaki Emi
Xingyuan Qianshuo appeared in the forest northwest of Konoha, and disappeared again as soon as he appeared.
After a series of teleportations, he arrived at the location where his two shadow clones had stayed the previous night.
The terrain here is relatively high, and the village of Kusagakure is about two kilometers away.
In Konoha, such a location would certainly be patrolled and guarded by ninjas, but the defenses of Kusagakure are clearly much lax.
Xingyuan Qianshuo crouched down, his fingers lightly touching the ground, quietly sensing the movement within the village.
Although Kusagakure is a small ninja village, it covers a considerable area. With his current perception range of about four kilometers, he can only cover a part of the village.
He didn't sense the presence of a large barrier—which was within his expectations. Setting up a sensory barrier was not something a small ninja village could easily do.
The wall wasn't very high, but there was a watchtower every so often, with guard teams on duty.
With his strength, it wouldn't be difficult for him to scale the wall and break in, but he wasn't here to "challenge" the place today; he just wanted to find that Whirlpool Clan member and take her away.
Xingyuan Qianshuo focused his attention on sensing the situation at the gate, but unfortunately he couldn't determine whether there were any sensory ninjas on duty.
After a moment's thought, he chose the safest approach.
He transformed himself into an ordinary civilian and walked to the road leading to the gate of Kusagakure. Soon, a wagon carrying grain slowly drove up.
Xingyuan Qianshuo did not use the Instantaneous Movement Technique. He simply walked towards the old farmer as if he were an ordinary person, brushing past him with a weary expression and casually leaving a Flying Thunder God Mark on the carriage.
The carriage moved slowly, but Xingyuan Qianshuo was not in a hurry and waited quietly.
Fifteen minutes later, after being checked, the carriage entered Kusagakure.
Five minutes later, Xingyuan Qianshuo used his Transparent Escape technique, making his entire body transparent. He sensed the slowly moving marks inside the carriage and then teleported there.
No one was alerted.
He remained invisible, walked to a secluded corner, and reappeared as an ordinary grass ninja.
Xingyuan Qianshuo surveyed the architecture of Kusagakure. Among the few tall buildings, there happened to be the Kusagakure Hospital, with a prominent sign hanging above it.
A sign with the character "医" (medical).
Without hesitation, he walked straight to the hospital.
We traveled and observed along the way.
The ninjas and villagers of Kusagakure mostly have blank expressions and rarely smile. Even when they do, it's usually a commoner showing a fawning and obsequious expression to a ninja.
The Grass Village is not weak among the small ninja villages in the ninja world. To be precise, the three small ninja villages located between the Earth and Fire Kingdoms are all formidable.
Although the Grass Ninja Village can only survive by oscillating between major powers, their ancestors once had ambitions.
Historically, the Grass Village attempted to control the world using the "Box of Paradise," but after failing, it split into the pro-war faction "Grass Fruit" and the anti-war faction "Grass Flower."
However, the "grass fruit" always had the upper hand.
They steal, rob, and cheat, collecting various secret techniques and special bloodlines and physiques. Apart from not daring to provoke major foreign countries, they are almost fearless.
The Kusashika Village Hospital is tall and magnificent, with a brand-new appearance, clearly built in recent years.
Xingyuan Qianshuo walked in calmly, without needing to search deliberately. Following the flow of people, he soon arrived at the location of the Vortex Clan member.
It's not even nine o'clock in the morning yet.
A long queue of about twenty people had formed outside a medical room.
However, only seven of them had bandages wrapped around their necks, four of them seemed to be in pain, and the rest were just sweating, which seemed to be just a significant depletion of chakra.
Xingyuan Qianshuo used the system to scan the seven people wrapped in bandages. Only three of them were truly injured; the other four were faking it.
Of the entire group, only six people actually had a medical condition.
At this moment, two boys, around thirteen or fourteen years old, ran up, panting, and joined the queue.
"Is it really okay to bite that woman's body whenever we want?" a burly ninja asked in a low voice.
"Of course, we used up our chakra during our morning training, so that's not against the rules," another person explained.
"Hehehe————" The burly ninja just chuckled lewdly.
Snapped!
His companion slapped him on the shoulder and whispered, "Don't forget to give the nurse on duty money, 20 taels, did you bring it?"
"Yes, yes, I brought it." The muscular genin nodded hurriedly.
Although they spoke softly, those around them could hear them clearly. Most of the people in the group wore knowing, sly smiles.
Xingyuan Qianshuo Shun's team looked toward the door of the consultation room—a short, plump female nurse in her forties was standing there.
Each ninja who approached her would secretly slip 20 ryo into her hand, either in paper money or coins.
The middle-aged nurse touched it and took it without even looking at it, stuffing it into her waist bag.
"What is this? Biting someone to heal is one thing, but lining up to commit indecent acts—that's really despicable. What do they take medical ninjas for?"
""
Xingyuan Qianshuo suppressed the resentment in his heart.
Such despicable acts are merely a small part of the chaos and evil in Kusagakure.
The Grass Village itself is a microcosm of the entire ninja world, where power reigns supreme and the strong prey on the weak.
The Grass Village, living in the shadow of a powerful nation, believes in this belief more thoroughly and expresses it more openly.
This applies not only externally but also internally.
Even if this Uzumaki clan member is useful to them, he is still the lowest in the eyes of many Kusagakure ninjas and someone they can bully.
—Xiang's mother thus became a tool for hospital staff to generate revenue.
Xingyuan Qianshuo, transformed into a Grass Ninja, skipped the queue and walked straight to the door of the medical room, glancing inside.
Behind a simple curtain, a wisp of red hair could be vaguely seen.
The wind blew outside the window, lifting the corner of the curtain to reveal the face of a young girl with a numb expression, enduring pain.
It also revealed a disgusting scene behind the curtain: a middle-aged male ninja was burying his head and biting her thigh.
Xingyuan Qianshuo was initially hesitant to recruit this member of the Vortex Clan, after all, under the "butterfly effect," Xiang might no longer be born.
But at this moment, he no longer hesitated.
If one witnesses such a plight and does not offer assistance, where is the so-called "benevolence"?
In the one or two seconds it took for the curtain to be lifted, Xingyuan Qianshuo had already used the system to investigate:
Name: Uzumaki Emi
[Condition: Numerous bite marks on limbs, with minor subcutaneous meridian damage]
He hesitated for a moment, then did not immediately rescue the person and leave.
He didn't know if there were any other Uzumaki clan members in Kusagakure, nor did he know her specific situation.
After a moment's thought, Xingyuan Qianshuo did not linger and turned to leave after confirming his target.
Now that we have found her and noted her chakra characteristics, there is no need to rush.
The middle-aged nurse at the door glanced at him in surprise, amazed that a man could remain unmoved by such "temptation".
She assumed the person was trying to cut in line. Although it would upset those waiting in line, she figured she could easily arrange it by paying extra.
Xingyuan Qianshuo left the hospital and found a corner nearby to wait quietly.
He formed hand seals to create two shadow clones, which transformed and explored the village. He also left behind several hidden Flying Thunder God seals for future use.
Until noon.
Only then did Xingyuan Qianshuo see the weak and exhausted Xuanzi Huimei slowly walk out of the hospital entrance.
When someone walks past her, she always subconsciously raises her hand to cover the teeth marks on her neck.
At seventeen, she was not yet completely numb, and the shame in her heart tormented her from time to time.
She was only six years old when the village of Whirlpool was destroyed.
Her mother escaped with her and wandered the ninja world for many years. Her mother gave her all the food she had painstakingly obtained, but she herself eventually died of hunger and weakness.
Soon after, ninjas from the Grass Village discovered her and brought her here.
Using her medical skills to "help" the village was the condition for her to stay here.
Her sense of shame led her to insist that she only allow her limbs to be bitten, but some ninjas would not listen to her advice.
Although she now has food and shelter, the shame of being bitten still haunts her.
When she was alone, she often had thoughts of suicide.
But her mother's dying words made it impossible for her to simply "leave": "Hye-mi, live on, you must live on no matter what."
"As long as you live, there is hope."
Her mother's faint words were etched into Huimei's heart like a brand.
Suicide became a form of "selfishness" for her.
She was no longer living for herself, but for her mother.
The image of her mother kneeling and begging for food, enduring hunger to save "leftovers" for her, constantly comes to mind.
She wanted to live, to see with her own eyes the "hope" her mother had spoken of.
This hope did not belong to her, but to her mother.
A mother needs this hope more than she does.
But where exactly does hope lie?
Xingyuan Qianshuo calmly watched Xuanwu Huimei walk out of the hospital: tired, weak, and unsteady on her feet, like a seriously ill person.
Men passing by her would occasionally smirk lewdly; women mostly wore expressions of contempt and disdain, and some even spat at her.
Xingyuan Qianshuo did not step forward, but quietly followed, heading towards the edge of the village.
In a secluded corner stood a rough, round stone house.
Upon seeing the house, Huimei's previously unsteady steps quickened almost instinctively.
The stone house was so simple it was almost empty, yet it was her own private world.
The crude space is like a thin shell, separating her from everything outside.
Only here, in this corner that can not yet be called "home," does she feel like a person, rather than a tool to be used.
Xingyuan Qianshuo looked at the stone house in front of him, and then looked around at the sparse buildings and few people.
Without further hesitation, he reverted to his original appearance and instantly appeared before Huimei.
Hui Mei paused, instinctively bowing her head.
"Uzumaki Emi, you don't belong here. Come with me," Hoshigen Chisaku said bluntly.
"Yes, sir," Huimei answered almost instinctively.
Although she was hungry and weak at the moment, and all she wanted was to go home, have some hot soup, and rest for a while on a wooden chair, she still subconsciously agreed when she heard Xingyuan Qianshuo's words.
"Sir, who are you—?"
Hui Mei suddenly realized that she hadn't used the surname "Uzumaki" for many years. Kusagakure forbade her to mention it again.
She looked up at Xingyuan Qianshuo in front of her, but her sluggish brain could not recall anything about him.
"My name is Hoshinohara Chisaku, and I've come to take you away." Hoshinohara Chisaku's tone was calm. "Are there any other Uzumaki clan members in Kusagakure?"
"M-Master—I'm all alone." Huimei's voice trembled. "You must leave now, they won't let me go—"
"," Xingyuan Qianshuo looked at her tired face, and the teeth marks on her neck and arms that were hard to hide.
Huimei noticed his gaze and hurriedly covered her face.
"Let me treat you," Xingyuan Qianshuo said gently.
Before Huimei could respond, five green chakra lines had already connected to her body.
Vibrant chakra surged into her body, like a warm current overflowing, nourishing her frail form. Every cell greedily absorbed it, and her body gradually warmed and became fuller.
She felt an unprecedented vitality, never imagining that her body could feel so relaxed and full.
She raised her hand to touch her arm—the teeth marks had disappeared.
She touched her neck again, and the bite mark that had made her feel ashamed was gone.
Hui Mei stared blankly at the young man she had never met before, her eyes welling up with tears, her voice trembling: "Thank you, sir."
Xingyuan Qianshuo nodded slightly: "Go back and pack your important belongings, we'll leave immediately."
"Yes, yes, sir!"
Hui Mei bowed deeply to Xingyuan Qianshuo and ran home.
Xingyuan Qianshuo watched her light and quick retreating figure and shook his head slightly.
It was both unexpected and reasonable that the Grass Ninja Village did not send anyone to monitor Uzumaki Emi.
He didn't intend to have to injure a group of ninja in order to save people.
He walked to the side and leaned against a tree, then opened the system to check:
[You have healed Uzumaki Megumi's bite marks and minor meridian damage, and have received the following rewards: Kagura's Mind's Eye (Proficient), Uzumaki Physique Fragment *1, Yang Power +3%, Chakra +400]
"This trip was worthwhile."
Xingyuan Qianshuo had a thought and took the reward.
Kagura's Mind's Eye is considered one of the strongest sensory techniques in the ninja world. After closing her eyes and activating her Mind's Eye, she can sense unusual movements within a radius of tens of kilometers using her chakra. She can also track targets based on chakra characteristics, conceal her own chakra, and detect others' lies.
The Uzumaki physique not only possesses immense chakra and strong vitality, but also excels in Yin Release. Kagura's Mind's Eye is a manifestation of their Yin Release power, but not all Uzumaki clan members can master it.
Xingyuan Qianshuo does not yet possess the Vortex Physique, but his mental power has changed after extracting the reward.
He formed a hand seal with one hand, closed his eyes, and sensed—
He had complete control over the flow of chakra within a radius of sixteen or seventeen kilometers, and the entire Kusagakure village was laid out before him.
"Nineteen Jonin-level chakra, three of whom are at the elite Jonin level," Hoshino Senju thought to himself. "This is only the number of people remaining in the village. If those who have gone out are included, the number might double."
He then sensed his Flying Thunder God mark and was pleasantly surprised to find that the maximum sensing distance had increased from the original 120 kilometers to about 200 kilometers.
The Flying Thunder God Technique's perception differs from ordinary chakra perception, relying on the resonance and connection of Yin Release power.
For him, Kagura's Mind's Eye was a sensory-oriented Yin Release technique that, to some extent, altered his mental essence.
When he opened his eyes, a look of satisfaction flashed across them.
"Should I upgrade Kagura's Mind's Eye to perfection?" He pondered for a moment, "Never mind, I'll wait until I develop the Vortex Physique before deciding."
Looking at the inventory, there are already two golden vortex physique fragments, only one more is needed for evolution, which is exciting.
He then opened the "Organization" section, which was still blank, with no information about Uzumaki Emi.
"It seems we still need to formally recruit."
With that thought in mind, he shut down the system.
In less than a minute, Huimei had packed her important belongings, wrapped them in an old cloth to make a bundle, slung it over her shoulder, and ran back excitedly.
"My lord." She bowed her head in greeting.
Xingyuan Qianshuo noticed the dents in the bowls and chopsticks in her bundle, but said nothing, saying that they might be her only important possessions.
"Let's go," he said calmly.
He placed his right hand on Huimei's shoulder, and the two of them vanished instantly.
After two flashes, they appeared in a forest somewhere in the Land of Fire.
"My lord, where am I??" Hui Mei looked around blankly, clearly no longer in Kusagakure.
"Space-time ninjutsu. This is the Land of Fire, and we are far from Kusagakure," explained Hoshigen Chisaku.
"ah----"
Huimei's expression changed from bewilderment to surprise, and then to excitement.
She opened her eyes wide, her gaze shining as she looked at the person before her, her heart churning with indescribable emotions.
She had expected to face a fierce battle and escape, but the adult was so powerful that he quickly led her away from that nightmarish place.
Looking at the seventeen or eighteen-year-old red-haired girl in front of him, her joyful expression made Xingyuan Qianshuo smile.
She was about the same age as Kushina, with delicate features and short, red hair that just covered her ears. The ends of her hair were rough and uneven, as if she had trimmed it herself with kunai.
"Let me formally introduce myself. I am Xingyuan Qianshuo, and I invite you to join the 'Star' organization that I have established," he said solemnly.
"Yes, sir!"
Huimei nodded without hesitation.
She could sense the warmth within the adult's chakra. As he healed her, she understood: this adult was the "hope" her mother had spoken of.
Xingyuan Qianshuo nodded, thinking to himself, "Young people who have experienced hardship are indeed easy to recruit."
He opened the "Organization" section of the system, and Hui Mei's information was already listed, but her belief level was displayed as 0%.
After a moment's thought, Hoshino Senju turned to Emi and explained, "The 'Star' organization aims to pursue peace in the ninja world and end wars."
Huimei nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite. These words were distant and unfamiliar to her.
Seeing this, Xingyuan Qianshuo changed his approach: "The 'Star' organization exists to save more people like you who are suffering, so that everyone can live a peaceful life."
This time, Huimei understood and nodded repeatedly.
Then she asked softly, "Sir, is there anything I can do to help?"
"You are a member of the Uzumaki clan. I will teach you medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques. You will become powerful."
As Xingyuan Qianshuo spoke, he glanced at the system's belief loyalty: 52%.
Without a reference point, he wasn't sure if the number was high or low, but it was already far higher than the requirements of the side quest, so he stopped thinking about it.
"My lord, I will definitely work hard in my cultivation!" Huimei said solemnly.
"No need for such formalities. In the organization, we are equal partners. Just call me Qian Shuo."
"Yes, Lord Senshuo."
Xingyuan Qianshuo smiled and stopped correcting him.
He used Kagura's Mind's Eye to sense that Tamagawa City was about eight kilometers away.
Tamagawa City is the fourth largest city in the Land of Fire and the most important town on the northwestern border. Previously, Konoha's frontline defense against Iwagakure's invasion was, in a sense, protecting this city.
Xingyuan Qianshuo needs to go to Cat Castle, but it's not advisable to go empty-handed. Since Huimei will be staying there temporarily, it's best to buy some clothes and daily necessities.
"Let's go, I'll take you to a nearby city to buy some things."
"Okay, okay," Huimei quickly replied.
The two then set off.
Xingyuan Qianshuo was in front, and Huimei was a step behind, following closely.