12dz Chapter 853 Recuperation
Chapter 853 Recuperation
After a period of recuperation using precious medicinal herbs at any cost, coupled with the meticulous treatment from Slug and Zhang Hai, the once near-death genius girl has now basically recovered. Aside from still being unable to engage in high-intensity combat, her daily life is now completely unaffected.
You could even say the recovery was a bit "overdone".
"I won't drink it! It's so bitter!"
Mei Terumi frowned, turning her head to the side, her long reddish-brown hair tracing a graceful arc in the air. "I'm all better now, why do I need to drink this stuff? I want to go out! I want to sunbathe! I want to go shopping!"
“Although your body is better now, your meridians still need to be nourished,” Zhang Hai coaxed patiently. “Be good, finish this bowl, and I’ll take you to eat dumplings tomorrow.”
"Tch, more dumplings. I'm so tired of them." Mei Terumi turned her head, her big, watery eyes slyly staring at Zhang Hai. "Rather than dumplings, I want to go somewhere else right now."
"where?"
"your home."
Zhang Hai's hand trembled slightly, and the medicine in the bowl almost spilled.
"Ahem... What's so interesting about my house? It's a mess, like a doghouse." Zhang Hai's eyes darted around as he tried to brush it off. "Besides, my house is quite far from here, so it's inconvenient."
"Liar!" Mei Terumi jumped off the bed, walked barefoot to Zhang Hai, put her hands behind her back, leaned forward, and her delicate face was almost touching Zhang Hai's nose. "I've already asked around. Your house is in the center of the village, not far from here at all. And... you've been acting all mysterious these past few days, often using the clone technique to deal with some people."
She narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of danger: "Zhang Hai, you wouldn't be hiding someone in your house, would you? Like... another woman?"
An alarm bell rang in Zhang Hai's mind.
This woman's intuition is terrifying!
In fact, he had been living in constant fear during this time. Although the war had temporarily ended, Kurenai, his childhood friend and tacit girlfriend, would often visit him at home. In order to prevent the two women from seeing each other and triggering a world war, Zhang Hai had been using shadow clones at home to deal with Kurenai, while his real body hid in the laboratory to take care of Mei Terumi.
Walking a tightrope between two women is more tiring than facing ten members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
"How could that be! You're overthinking it!" Zhang Hai chuckled dryly, trying to remain calm. "I'm the aloof god of Konoha. My house is full of ninja tools and scrolls. Where would I get a woman? I'm just worried that if you go out and get discovered by the Anbu, I won't be able to protect you then."
"Really?" Mei Terumi looked him over suspiciously, clearly not believing his story. "Then why don't you dare take me with you? You could just transform, or you could make me a mask, wouldn't that be enough? You're so nervous, there's definitely something fishy going on!"
She suddenly pointed a finger and poked Zhang Hai's chest: "Let me tell you, if you dare to keep a mistress behind my back, I'll... I'll blow up this whole lab!"
Looking at the little devil in front of him who had become increasingly difficult to deal with after regaining her vitality, Zhang Hai felt like he had a splitting headache.
The outside world is undergoing a cataclysmic transformation. The Rinnegan has awakened, the Akatsuki has been destroyed, and a sweeping upheaval is unfolding in the Land of Rain. Meanwhile, the future mastermind behind it all is feeling unprecedentedly passive and helpless as he struggles to manage an impending catastrophe.
"Sigh... this is probably karma," Zhang Hai sighed silently to himself.
The lights in the laboratory seemed to soften a bit.
Facing Mei Mei's eyes, which were filled with inquiry and unease, Zhang Hai sighed helplessly and put away his usual cynical attitude.
Do you really think I'm just giving you the runaround?
Zhang Hai walked up to Mei Terumi, placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked at her with unprecedented seriousness. “Mei Terumi, you are a Kekkei Genkai ninja from Kirigakure, the apple of that old man Genji’s eye. I am an Anbu from Konoha, a sharp blade directly under the Hokage. Our identities are an insurmountable chasm.”
“If I take you home, and it’s discovered, not only will I be disgraced, but you will also immediately become a prisoner of the highest rank in Konoha.”
Mei Terumi bit her lip, the light in her eyes dimming slightly: "Then... what if that day really comes? If I'm really discovered and captured by your Konoha ninjas, what will you do? Will you sacrifice me to protect yourself?"
This has always been a knot in her heart. In this cruel ninja world, love often seems fragile and vulnerable in the face of positions and interests.
Zhang Hai didn't answer immediately, but instead looked at her intently, then reached out and gently stroked her cheek, his voice low and firm:
"If that day ever comes, I will take off this damned ANBU mask and lead you out of here."
"Even if it means becoming an enemy of the entire Hidden Leaf Village, even if it means becoming a rogue ninja wanted by the entire ninja world, I will never allow anyone to harm you in the slightest."
There was no hesitation in his eyes, only a reassuring persistence: "In my heart, neither the village nor the Hokage can compare to a single hair on your head."
Mei Terumi was stunned. She looked at the man in front of her, and tears welled up uncontrollably.
"You stupid……"
She suddenly threw herself into Zhang Hai's arms, hugging his waist tightly, burying her face in his chest, her voice choked with sobs but filled with happiness, "Who told you to become a traitor... As long as I hear those words, I'd be willing to die..."
Zhang Hai gently hugged her back, a bitter smile playing on his lips. This girl, she's always so easily moved.
In the laboratory, the two stood embraced, enjoying a rare moment of peace and warmth amidst the chaos of the world. Zhang Hai lowered his head and gently kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes, which earned him an even more passionate response from the girl.
……
On the border of the Land of Rain, a bitter wind and rain raged.
"Huh...huh..."
A figure darted through the rain, looking disheveled. It was Hanzo the Salamander, who had just escaped from the battlefield.
This "demigod" was no longer the imposing figure he once was. His mask was covered in cold sweat, and his heart was pounding as if it might leap out of his throat at any moment.
"That's terrifying... What kind of monster is that...?"
Recalling that scene, Hanzo still felt a chill run down his spine. That translucent purple soul dragon ignored all defenses; any ninja it touched didn't even have time to scream before their souls were instantly extracted, leaving only empty shells.
"That kind of attack is impossible to defend against! Ninjutsu is ineffective, taijutsu is ineffective, even the substitution jutsu is useless! If you get touched, you die!"
Hanzo's hands trembled. He had faced countless powerful enemies in his life, but even the legendary Sannin had never made him feel so powerless.
"The Rinnegan... that is truly the power of a god... mortals simply cannot contend with it!"