“How about it? Do you agree? I have many disciples, you know. Having me as your master shouldn't be too bad, hahahaha.”
“Jiraiya Sensei! Please accept your disciple’s bow!”
With a 'thud'.
Chizhao knelt on both knees and gave Jiraiya three resounding kowtows with a “bang, bang, bang.” Future matters could be dealt with later. Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, was taking her as a disciple; why save the kowtows for New Year’s?
“Alright, alright, look at how hard you hit your head.”
Jiraiya helped Chizhao up from the ground and said gently, “But you are still young. I can’t teach you those dangerous Ninjutsu yet.”
No way….
Chizhao wailed inwardly. If she had known this, she wouldn't have kowtowed so hard.
“However, I can train your Taijutsu first. If you don’t even have basic self-defense capabilities, forget about using secret techniques; you might be captured before even leaving the house.”
That makes sense.
Chizhao nodded in agreement in her heart.
“Then, this, I will temporarily keep it for you.”
Jiraiya took advantage of Chizhao’s momentary distraction to casually pull out the Membrane Card and carefully tucked it into his clothes.
Chizhao didn't resist, after all, Jiraiya himself had already been turned into a card person by her, and now he was her master; how could she dare to be presumptuous? She felt more like she owed him.
Looking up at the sky, it was already noon. After the morning's commotion, her stomach began to rumble.
“Let’s take a break and eat something first. We’ll set off again in the afternoon.”
“Okay, Sensei!”
Watching the girl organize her backpack in front of him, Jiraiya's mind was filled with many thoughts.
Who sent those three just now? Why did they want to assassinate her? Could she be the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Toad Sage? Would she lead the Ninja World towards light or destruction….
However, he didn't know any of this.
He could only try his best to guide her onto the right path before those hidden in the shadows, otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Lunch ended in a harmonious atmosphere.
One adult, one child, plus a turtle, the group embarked on a desert journey, steadily heading towards the Land of Wind.
Under the scorching sun, their figures left a series of footprints on the desert, which were then hidden by a gust of wind.
In a place they couldn't see, three masked Ninja witnessed all of this. A puff of smoke exploded, and the three instantly vanished without a trace, leaving only rolling sand and dust to scatter in the wind.
As night fell, on the star-studded desert, Jiraiya and Chizhao leaned against a rock, sitting around a bonfire, eating the dango in their hands.
While eating his food, Jiraiya's gaze fell on Little Wang, who had retreated into its shell, and he looked at Chizhao, who was engrossed in eating: “Where did you pick up this turtle?”
“Oh, it seems it fell into the river… and accidentally crawled into my clothes.”
After speaking, she continued to gnaw on the dango in her hand with a hint of guilt.
Jiraiya didn't ask much, just gave a faint “oh,” and then turned his gaze to Chizhao's dusty little face.
She was the youngest disciple he had ever taken, and also the one he worried about the most.
He had never seen anyone who could activate or absorb high-level Ninjutsu with just a card, without forming hand signs or consuming Chakra.
This ability was truly too incredible.
Moreover, her clan was destroyed, she had no companions, and her power was too great for her to realize. If no one guided her correctly, she could easily go astray and become an enemy of the world.
Having made up his mind, Jiraiya put down the dango in his hand and looked at her with a serious tone: “Chizhao, have you thought about revenge?”
“No.”
“Eh?! Why not?”
The atmosphere was all set, and the inspirational speech was ready, but he didn't expect this girl to not play by the rules!
Realizing she had spoken too quickly, Chizhao quickly swallowed her food and found a reasonable excuse: “My parents hoped that I would live well, and live happily.”
She said this for Jiraiya to hear, and of course, for herself as well.
Jiraiya was stunned, then burst into laughter: “Hahahahaha, truly my disciple!” He happily patted Chizhao’s back, perhaps not controlling his strength, almost making her spit out all the dango she had just eaten.
“That hurts! Jiraiya Sensei!”
“Oh, sorry, sorry!”
........
In the dimly lit basement, a man with the right half of his face wrapped in bandages looked down at the three returning Ninja. The oppressive atmosphere around them made it hard to breathe.
Behind him, a young boy with black eyes and a dull expression stood in the darkness, silently watching everything.
“You're saying that Jiraiya escorted the Shiratori Clan's orphan towards Hidden Sand Village? And that child can also absorb and use high-level Ninjutsu?”
Danzo repeated the newly acquired information with a hint of suspicion, his eyes containing an unfathomable light.
“Yes, Lord Danzo.”
The masked Ninja leader bowed his head respectfully, his cold tone devoid of any emotion.
Danzo stroked the bandage on his right cheek, contemplating something.
“Go and monitor them in secret. Be careful not to alert them. Report any new information to me immediately.”
“Yes.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the leader disappeared from his spot.
Danzo adjusted his collar and walked towards the dark corridor, with the young boy silently following beside him.
He narrowed his eyes, and with a slightly hoarse voice, he gave his final command for the day: “Let’s go, it’s time to visit Orochimaru, whom I haven’t seen in many days.”
.........
After two hot and long days of travel, Jiraiya and Chizhao finally arrived at the gates of Sunagakure.
Looking at the two huge rock walls on either side, Chizhao involuntarily opened her mouth wide, letting out gasps of amazement.
She had only seen this gate on computer and phone screens, but seeing it in person now was even more breathtaking.
“Oh, here they come.”
Chizhao looked in Jiraiya’s direction with confusion, only to see a woman in a long robe running towards them.
The next second, Chizhao was embraced in a warm hug.
Relying on her body's memory, she knew that the one embracing her was Aihara Keiko, a grandmother living in Sunagakure.
She was slightly stunned, silently leaning on Keiko's warm shoulder, remembering her grandmother from her previous life who had passed away from illness.
Then, she somewhat awkwardly hugged her back, her eyes gradually becoming moist.
Feeling Keiko's body trembling uncontrollably, the strength in her hands unconsciously tightened a few points.
After a while, Aihara Keiko, with teary eyes, stroked Chizhao's head, her eyes full of tenderness: “It's good that you're safe…”
Then she stood up and looked at Jiraiya, who was standing beside her, bowing respectfully.
“I didn't expect Lord Jiraiya to personally escort her. This kindness, I, Aihara Keiko, will never forget.”
Jiraiya quickly helped Keiko up: “I only did what I should have done, but I couldn't save your daughter, Yui… I am truly sorry.”
“You cannot be blamed. You helped me save Chizhao. The Shiratori Clan is already very grateful.”
Chizhao, standing nearby, tilted her head, listening to their conversation, but felt a strange gaze upon her.
She looked around, but besides sand and dust, there was nothing unusual.
Was it just her imagination?
“Then let’s go into the Village first. There’s food prepared at home, you can rest a bit.” Keiko suggested with a smile.
However, just then, two Sand Ninja with white cloths on their heads suddenly appeared before them, blocking Jiraiya’s path: “Lord Jiraiya, the Kazekage invites you to his office.”
“I also have something to discuss with him. It seems dinner will have to wait for a bit.”
Jiraiya said to Aihara Keiko with a hint of apology.
“Lord Jiraiya is welcome at my humble abode anytime he wishes.” Keiko warmly invited.
Turning her gaze back to Keiko in front of her, Chizhao felt a complex emotion welling up in her heart.
Jiraiya naturally noticed Chizhao’s troubled expression. He rubbed her little head firmly:
“Sensei has something to take care of. You must listen to Keiko, okay?”
“I know…” Chizhao nodded obediently.
After Jiraiya and the others left, Chizhao, holding Keiko’s hand, finally stepped through the Village gate.