In the lush forest, fresh air gently wafted, and sunlight struggled to penetrate the layers of green leaves, casting dappled shadows that wove dreamlike patterns on the emerald carpet.
A small deer, with a graceful posture and slow steps, its delicate fur shimmering with a soft, warm luster in the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
However, upon closer inspection, it was not difficult to spot a shocking wound on the deer's front leg, slowly oozing fresh red blood.
Pain forced it to constantly shift its standing position, its clear, bright eyes filled with vigilance and unease, looking around at its surroundings.
Not far from the deer, three figures cautiously held branches, attempting to conceal themselves as they slowly approached the deer.
"Hey, Konohamaru, if you get any closer, you'll scare it away again."
Moegi tugged at Konohamaru's scarf, nervously looking at the deer, which had already turned its gaze towards them.
"But if its wound isn't bandaged soon, it will get worse, won't it?"
Konohamaru furrowed his brows, his heart filled with conflict, yet he involuntarily took a few steps forward.
"Konohamaru, be careful...."
Ise Udon, still with snot hanging from his nose, adjusted his glasses and looked at his back with concern.
Just as the tense atmosphere was about to reach its peak, a clear and pleasant voice suddenly broke the silence:
"What are you doing here?"
"Ah!!!!"
The three children cried out in surprise, the sudden sound not only startled them but also instantly alerted the deer.
It pricked up its ears and limped away quickly, disappearing into the dense forest in an instant.
Konohamaru angrily shouted at the person:
"Who are you? Why did you suddenly appear? You scared the deer away again!"
But when he saw who it was, his expression instantly froze on his face.
Moegi was the first to react, pointing at the person in front of them and happily exclaiming:
"Ah! It's Big Sister Chizhao, who we had yakiniku with yesterday!"
Ise Udon also stood up, dumbly echoing:
"It really is her."
Chizhao asked with a hint of embarrassment:
"Uh... did I appear at the wrong time?"
The four sat around a large tree stump, Konohamaru still looking sulky, his arms crossed, unwilling to acknowledge Chizhao.
Chizhao, not understanding why, leaned closer to him and asked curiously:
"What did I do to upset you? Why are you so angry?"
Konohamaru gave her an annoyed glance and ordered Moegi:
"Moegi, you tell her!"
Chizhao's eye twitched slightly.
This little brat.
"Okay!"
Moegi energetically jumped in front of Chizhao, explaining to her with her adorable big eyes:
"Actually, we came to the forest for an adventure and accidentally found an injured deer. We wanted to approach it to treat it, but it was too wary and ran away."
"So, I accidentally scared the deer away again just now?" Chizhao suddenly realized.
"Exactly! It's all your fault for suddenly appearing!"
Konohamaru jumped off the stump, and with a missing tooth, he angrily accused her in a loud voice.
Chizhao quickly put her hands together and apologized:
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't know...."
"Because of you, we didn't get a chance to treat the deer. What if its injuries get worse?"
Konohamaru loudly interrupted her, his tone full of dissatisfied and accusation.
"That's why I said I'm sorry...." Chizhao's voice held a hint of helplessness.
"What if that little deer gets eaten by other wild beasts! It's still so small!"
"I know...." Chizhao's voice was low and carried a hint of suppressed emotion.
"If that little deer really dies, won't your conscience be troubled?"
"I've already apologized! What more do you want?! You stinky brat!!"
Finally unable to bear Konohamaru's aggressive behavior, Chizhao punched him on the head, her clenched fist and angry expression completely different from her gentle image yesterday.
【Bad Deed Progress +1】
Konohamaru's eyes welled up with tears from the punch, and he cried out indignantly at her:
"You actually dared to hit me! I am Konohamaru, the Third Hokage's grandson!"
Chizhao sneered, then gave Konohamaru another sideways glance, a chilling glint subtly emanating from her emerald eyes:
"So what if you're the Third Hokage's grandson? Buried in the ground, no one will find you anyway."
"Eek?!"
This sentence, like a devil's whisper, made Konohamaru tremble all over. Despite the warm weather, he broke out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, Moegi appeared just in time, pulled Konohamaru up from the ground, and gently comforted him:
"It's okay, Konohamaru, Big Sister Chizhao has already apologized, so let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go find the deer."
Standing up from the ground, Konohamaru patted the dust off his backside and looked towards the depths of the forest:
"You're right, if it's injured, it shouldn't have run far."
Then, in a leader-like posture again, with one hand on his hip and the other pointing forward, he gave orders to the two beside him:
"Moegi! Ise Udon! Let's continue searching for the deer!"
"Yes!" the two answered in unison.
"Wait a minute, you guys!"
Konohamaru excitedly prepared to run off, but a force suddenly tugged at his scarf, causing him to fall backward onto the ground unexpectedly.
"What are you doing?"
Standing up from the stump, she couldn't help but feel worried about their aimless wandering in the forest.
"Because I scared the deer away, let me go with you."
Moegi jumped out, a joyful smile spreading across her adorable face:
"Really? Big Sister Chizhao is coming too?"
Konohamaru, still holding a grudge about her hitting his head earlier, turned his head and pouted:
"Hmph, the three of us are enough, we don't need anyone else's help."
"Oh?"
Chizhao's face suddenly darkened, and the background became eerie and shadowy. She put on a terrifying expression and looked at the three children with a low voice:
"But I heard there's a terrifying demon beast in the forest with fangs, four eyes, and six legs. It deliberately makes children get lost in this forest, then catches them and eats them all, bite by bite, leaving not even a speck of bone!"
The three 'Lucky Charms' huddled together, trembling under Chizhao's terrifying description.
Watching the three of them shaking in fear, Chizhao subtly smirked.
They're already scared by this? I haven't even used my full power yet.
Eventually, under Chizhao's "threats," Konohamaru "reluctantly" agreed to let her join the search for the deer.
The four cautiously tracked the winding blood trail on the ground, and soon after, they found the deer lying on the ground, unable to move.
"Ah! We found it!"
Konohamaru excitedly blurted out, about to rush forward, but Chizhao quickly grabbed him and swiftly crouched behind a dense bush.
"Wait, Konohamaru," Chizhao whispered, her voice tinged with gravity.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Chizhao pointed to the rustling bushes behind the deer. Konohamaru looked closely and covered his mouth, too scared to make a sound.
A large tiger was silently lurking there, its sharp gaze fixed on the injured deer.
The tiger's body was taut like a bowstring, every muscle seemingly containing an imminent burst of power, and thick drool slowly dripped from its sharp fangs, looking particularly gruesome.
A frightened Moegi placed her hands on her chest. She stared at the helpless deer, her heart filled with worry:
"The deer is in danger.... What should we do...."