Chapter 24: Saving a Ninja
"Amegakure is deeply mired in war, and countless people like us, whose lives have been destroyed by war, are living in dire straits."
"The reason I learned Medical Ninjutsu with Tsunade-sensei is to save more lives."
"With great power comes great responsibility."
"I cannot enjoy my current stable life with a clear conscience."
"I want to save people."
Haruki lowered his head, tears dripping onto the table.
"Even if you don't agree, I will go."
"I'm sorry."
Jiraiya looked at his bowed head, at his continuously falling tears, and said helplessly, "Haruki, no need to apologize, there's no need to apologize."
As Haruki's teacher, he was proud to have a student like Haruki.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Who would have thought that Haruki, an eight-year-old child, could say such words?
[Ding!]
[System detected Jiraiya's affection value +1000.]
[Ding!]
[Your companion Cursed Spirit Rika's rank has increased to 47%.]
"Jiraiya-sensei …"
Haruki looked up, touched, his eyes blurred with tears.
Jiraiya smiled at him encouragingly.
Konan said softly, "But it's very dangerous."
Tears welled up in her eyes, she wanted to keep Haruki. She did not want Haruki to get hurt. The terror of those ninjas had left a deep shadow in her heart.
"I'm not afraid of danger, I will be careful." Haruki promised Konan.
Konan did not know what to say to make Haruki stay. This was Haruki's own choice. If she insisted on stopping Haruki, Haruki would definitely be sad. But letting him go like this, she worried about Haruki's safety.
Konan's brows furrowed like caterpillars, deeply conflicted.
"I will work hard and train." Nagato, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
Jiraiya and Yahiko were stunned. Haruki also looked at Nagato.
Nagato raised his head, his Rinnegan, revealed from beneath his red hair, was full of seriousness, and he said word by word, "When my strength catches up to Haruki, I will change Amegakure with Haruki."
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato's affection value +1000.]
Jiraiya was stunned when the usually reserved Nagato suddenly said something like this.
The next second, Yahiko, beside Jiraiya, slammed the table and stood up with great passion.
Yahiko wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and shouted loudly, "Nagato is right!"
He looked at Haruki, as if making a vow. "I will also work hard in training. We will find you then. Let's achieve our dreams together."
[Ding!]
[System detected Yahiko's affection value +1000.]
[A total of 2000 affection points have been collected, and your companion Cursed Spirit Rika's rank has increased to 49%.]
Jiraiya looked at the genuine emotions in the children's eyes and could not help but smile.
Hearing the system's broadcast, Haruki beamed with joy. He nodded to Yahiko and the other two, promising, "I'll wait for you."
After lunch, Jiraiya, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood at the door of the wooden house to bid farewell to Haruki. Haruki, carrying his backpack, waved at them.
Jiraiya and the others watched Haruki's figure walk away.
Haruki climbed the hillside. By this time, the small wooden house by the sea had become only the size of a fist in his vision. He walked towards the center of Amegakure without looking back.
The wooden house by the sea was nearly twenty kilometers from the center of Amegakure. There was no one in sight on the road.
Thanks to the physical training during this period, the twenty kilometers were not difficult for him.
Haruki stopped and took a breath.
Ahead was a lush forest. As long as he passed through this forest, he would be able to reach the center of Amegakure.
When he reached the central town, the first thing he wanted to do was to sharpen his sword.
Jiraiya was a good person. When he left, he even put money in his bag.
Stepping into the forest, Haruki raised his guard. Amegakure was in turmoil, and any place could suddenly turn into a battlefield. The forest in front of him was the best place for ninja battles.
The dense trees supported huge canopies, blocking the already dim daylight, and Haruki's vision instantly became dim.
He carefully stepped on the damp humus. A faint smell of rust permeated the air.
The thick tree trunks around were covered with traces left by various ninjutsu and ninja tools.
The deeper he went into the forest, the taller the trees became, with gnarled veins exposed on the surface, and roots deeply embedded in the black soil.
Haruki leaned against an ancient tree beside him, climbed onto a raised root, and as soon as his foot landed, his body immediately plummeted uncontrollably.
Something was pulling him down?
Haruki's heart almost flew out. He immediately stabilized himself, struggling and looking down at the same time. A hand covered in mud and blood tightly gripped his ankle.
No matter how Haruki kicked, the owner of this hand refused to let go.
Not sensing danger, after his heartbeat calmed, Haruki carefully squatted down towards the person on the ground.
Black mist swirled around his ring. As long as the person on the ground made any rash move, Rika could instantly tear them to shreds.
Haruki brushed away a thick layer of fallen leaves. A cold light was reflected in his eyes. It was the light reflected from a forehead protector.
During his time in the wooden house, Jiraiya not only taught them taijutsu and ninjutsu but also explained knowledge about the Ninja World.
From the pattern on the forehead protector, the ninja in front of him was a ninja from Amegakure.
"Save…"
"Save…"
"Me…"
His pale, cracked lips moved, emitting a faint breath.
Haruki's gaze moved downwards, seeing a huge penetrating wound on the ninja's chest.
Haruki: "…"
Even Tsunade would not be able to heal such a severe injury. But Tsunade not being able to heal it did not mean he could not.
As long as the ninja in front of him still had a breath left, his Reverse Cursed Technique could heal him.
Green light emanated from Haruki's hand. The ninja's wound was enveloped in green light.
Due to excessive blood loss, he could not even open his eyes. Sending out a distress signal had exhausted all his strength.
An intense pain, like a needle, forcefully pierced his brain. His numb and hazy consciousness suddenly cleared. The sharp pain slowly receded like a tide.
Suzaku forced his eyelids open, his vision blurry. He blinked, feeling strength return to his body.
Who saved him?
His pupils slowly moved, his vision gradually became clear, and the tender face of a child beside him entered his sight.
"You're awake?" Haruki looked at the ninja who had opened his eyes.
Suzaku supported himself with his hands on the ground and sat up. He placed his hand on his chest, feeling smooth skin, and his pupils constricted to pinpricks.
Where was his wound?
Suzaku's gaze was firmly fixed on Haruki.
(End of Chapter)
100 PS = 1 BONUS CHAPTER