"Gulp, gulp, gulp....."
Yamato watched the revived girl chugging water, unable to imagine what had happened while he was away that she hadn't gotten a single drop to drink.
He turned to look at the other three, rubbed his temples, and sighed inwardly.
Alas, it seemed he had been negligent. He should have realized earlier that these three children didn't possess the skills to care for others.
It was a good thing he returned early, otherwise Chizhao might have ended up in the emergency room again.
"How are you feeling, Chizhao?"
Chizhao finally stopped drinking, let out a long sigh of relief, and looked at Yamato with tearful gratitude:
"I'm alive again, thank you, Captain....."
Yamato relaxed with a smile and gently replied, "That's good. The doctor said you can be discharged as soon as you recover. Do you want to rest a bit more now?"
Upon hearing the news of being discharged, Chizhao's eyes immediately lit up. She shook her head and said firmly:
"No need, Captain, I feel much better now!"
To add credibility, Chizhao even hopped off the bed and moved her limbs, looking perfectly fine.
"Alright then, let one person stay with you for now, and the rest of you come with me to handle the discharge procedures. You still need to learn these basic life skills."
Yamato suddenly felt like he wasn't just a Captain, but had also taken on the role of a parent. The four children in front of him each had their own worries.
Regarding missions, he needed to pay attention to the inexperienced Chizhao, and in terms of daily life, he needed to pay attention to the three boys who also lacked common sense.
But then he thought, Kakashi-senpai was also leading three students, and he was leading four at once, so that counted as being more impressive than him, right?
Thinking of this, a strange fighting spirit surged within Yamato's heart:
Hmm! I will strive to be a good Captain!
"Then I'll stay."
Sai's voice rang out at the right time. He sat by the hospital bed, a cold smile on his pale face:
"Because my painting isn't finished yet, and I want to complete it."
Yamato nodded. After confirming that Chizhao was fine, he left the ward with Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka.
The ward immediately became quiet, with only the "shush" sound of Sai's pen rubbing against the paper.
Chizhao suddenly became curious about what he was painting at that moment.
So she sat up and leaned her head forward to look.
On the sketchbook was a boy who resembled him, set against a rather dim background. His posture showed him taking steps and walking. Based on this single image, Chizhao wasn't sure of its meaning.
"What are you drawing?"
Hearing the girl's question, Sai looked up, mimicking Yamato, with a slight smile in his eyes:
"I don't know either. The brush just moved on its own, so I wanted to try drawing it."
"Can I see?" Chizhao asked tentatively.
Sai hesitated for a moment, then slowly handed over the sketchbook.
Having asked on a whim, Chizhao hadn't expected Sai to so generously hand her the sketchbook.
"Thank you....."
She carefully took the sketchbook and placed it on the quilt. The first thing that caught her eye was the black-haired boy on the cover.
Chizhao knew without a doubt that this was Sai's self-portrait.
Turning to the first page inside, against a dark background, only a boy squatted on the ground, surrounded by shadowy figures that seemed to entangle him like demonic claws. The suffocating feeling emanating from the image made her uncomfortable, and she quickly turned to the second page.
The background of the second page was also dark, but the boy had already stood up and was wearing Ninja attire. He didn't seem happy.
The third page was the one Chizhao had just seen him drawing, and she couldn't help but ponder.
Sai's painting was also different from what she remembered. Would the back still depict his brother?
Thinking this, she curiously flipped the sketchbook over. There was still a small figure on the cover, but upon closer inspection, this figure was not his brother, because this figure had long hair.
This.... could this be...
Me?
However, Sai, sitting beside her, merely observed her expression silently.
He wanted to know her reaction; he wanted to try and understand her actions.
So even if she saw it, whether she was angry or happy, it would be a novel discovery for him.
Chizhao just nervously swallowed, finally turning to the first page.
Unlike the darkness just now, the background of this page was bright white.
The small figure stood in the center of the image, with a relaxed and natural smile on his face, giving a harmonious and comfortable feeling.
The second page was still bright, and the small figure was also dressed as a Ninja, looking like he had a novice's innocence.
When she turned to the third page, the image was blank.
Chizhao looked at Sai, who had been watching her, still wanting more, and asked, "What's on this page?"
Taking the sketchbook back from the girl's hand, Sai's hand caressed the paper, as white as his skin, and he said indifferently:
"I haven't thought about it yet."
He then stuffed the sketchbook into his backpack and stood up, preparing to leave.
Looking at his lonely back, Chizhao tentatively called out his name:
"Sai."
Sai's back paused. He looked at the empty ward, and his black eyes looked at the girl sitting on the hospital bed with confusion, his voice calm:
"There doesn't seem to be anyone named Sai here."
"Then can I call you that?"
"Why? I should have a codename."
"......."
Chizhao, choked, didn't know how to explain.
After all, she didn't know if she was a special existence who could name him.
After Sai left the ward, the room fell into silence again.
【Bad Deed Progress +10】
【Bad Deed Progress Overflow.....】
【Bad Deed Progress +10】
......
【Bad Deed Progress +0】
Little Wang's prompts rang out continuously in her mind, and the light points in front of her gradually condensed, slowly forming four blank tempered glass screen protectors that gently fell before her eyes.
Hmm? Why is it only showing progress now?
【Prompts generally only begin when you are in a conscious state.】
Little Wang's voice answered her internal question.
So that's it, that's why it's been delayed until now?
Looking at the four brand new tempered glass screen protectors in her hand, Chizhao recalled her blurry memories before she fainted.
At that time, she was acting purely on a strong will.
She could vaguely feel the blade cutting through the air, the real sensation as it passed through the bodies of those Ninjas, and the sight of that Grass Ninja dying before her eyes.
Suddenly, a wave of uncomfortable nausea surged through her heart.
After a while, she took her right hand away from her mouth, only to see her trembling palm, her breathing becoming rapid and erratic.
She had killed someone.....
This thought struck her heart like a heavy hammer, making it difficult for her to bear.
Even though in this world, taking and losing lives was considered commonplace.
But her soul was not a native of this world.
This sense of alienation from a foreign land made her feel an unprecedented discomfort and resistance to these cruel realities.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart, allowing her breathing to gradually become steady and deep.
But what could she do?
She had to adapt to all of this to survive better.
Otherwise, the one whose life was taken would be herself, or someone important to her.
Just then, a light footsteps from outside the door interrupted her thoughts.
After placing the tempered glass screen protectors under her pillow, she saw Yamato walk in, saying with a smile:
"Congratulations on your successful discharge, Chizhao!"