12dz Chapter 611 Life is coming soon
Chapter 611 Life is coming soon
He knew he didn't have long to live, and his biggest worry was that child. She glanced at Zhang Hai, her tone a mixture of probing and trust, "You promised him you'd take care of Jingyin, didn't you?"
“Yes, Lady Tsunade.” Zhang Hai’s tone was firm. “I promised him that I would protect his family.” This was not only a promise to the deceased, but also his own respect for this friendship.
Tsunade smiled with relief upon hearing this. "That's good. Shizune is a well-behaved child, she'll be very happy to have a friend like you to take care of her." She didn't say anything more, but Zhang Hai knew that this conversation meant that Tsunade had entrusted Shizune to him, and it also meant that she trusted him.
They traveled in silence, the only sound the whisper of the night wind. When they finally caught sight of the lights of Konoha Village in the distance, the sky was already turning a pale white. Having endured a great battle and a long journey, both were weary, but both felt a sense of relief at the arrival of peace.
The walls of Konoha Village stood out majestically in the morning light, but the gates held an added solemnity. Though there was no boisterous celebration in the village, everyone's face bore the relief of surviving a catastrophe and a longing for peace. They passed through the village gates, returning to their familiar yet somewhat alien home. Zhang Hai knew that Kato Dan's departure was like a wound that would never heal, etched into his heart. But he also understood that he couldn't wallow in grief; he still had responsibilities on his shoulders, and a promise to his friend—to take care of Shizune. He would carry this promise forward on his journey ahead.
The dawn of peace finally broke, and Konoha was enveloped in a tranquil peace born of survival. However, for some, the journey was far from over. After a brief rest, the four—Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and the masked Zhang Hai—embarked on their journey once more. They traversed lands ravaged by war, bypassed the now-defunct Sunagakure territory, and finally returned to Amegakure, the village that had once witnessed their glory and which now remained shrouded in perpetual rain.
In Amegakure, just as its name suggests, a light drizzle continued to fall. The air was thick with the damp, earthy smell, and the low houses appeared blurred and oppressive in the rain. Few pedestrians trudged along the wet streets; only the monotonous, persistent sound of raindrops pattering on the ground could be heard.
Throughout the journey, Jiraiya showed great interest in Zhang Hai. His signature long white hair was somewhat disheveled in the rain, but it did not diminish his playful nature in the slightest. He moved closer to Zhang Hai, curiously examining the mask on his face, trying to strike up a conversation with him from various angles, such as, "Hey kid, aren't you stuffy wearing that thing?" or "By the way, what do you usually do besides training?" and so on.
However, Zhang Hai, wearing a mask, seemed somewhat sullen. He wasn't used to Jiraiya's overly enthusiastic advances and only responded perfunctorily, sometimes simply saying "uh-huh" or "ah," or shaking his head, leaving Jiraiya repeatedly rebuffed, yet he seemed to enjoy it nonetheless.
Tsunade noticed Zhang Hai's discomfort and sighed helplessly. She glared at Jiraiya, interrupting his "harassment" of Zhang Hai. "Alright, Jiraiya, stop bothering Zhang Hai." Tsunade's voice carried a hint of command, then she turned her gaze to Zhang Hai. "Zhang Hai, now that the war is over, I want to test the results of your training. Let's see if you've been slacking off and returned all my medical ninjutsu to me."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise. He spoke in a hoarse voice, his tone tinged with amusement: "Oh? Tsunade, are you trying to steal a student from White Fang?" He looked at Zhang Hai, who was wearing a mask. Although Zhang Hai was masked, with their intelligence capabilities, the three of them had already guessed that the extraordinary young man in front of them was none other than Zhang Hai, a disciple of Hatake Sakumo.
Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Zhang Hai for a moment, a hidden interest flashing in his eyes. He slowly said, "Speaking of which, if it weren't for that accident when we graduated, this kid might be my disciple now." He was referring to the time when Zhang Hai entered school; he had the opportunity to be in his class but was ultimately assigned to White Fang. Orochimaru had always been curious about, and even somewhat regretful about, the talent and potential Zhang Hai had displayed in actual combat.
Tsunade glared at Orochimaru, annoyed, and denied, "Who's trying to steal his student?!" She then explained to Zhang Hai, "At the last meeting, it was you who volunteered to learn medical ninjutsu, not me forcing you!" As she spoke, she turned to look at Zhang Hai, with a hint of "seeking confirmation."
Upon hearing this, under the watchful eyes of Tsunade and the two legendary ninjas, Zhang Hai dared not deny it in the slightest. He nodded frantically and forcefully, his masked movements appearing quite comical, like a woodpecker searching for food, terrified that he might be misunderstood by these seniors.
Tsunade watched his comical appearance, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. She then asked, "Speaking of which, you clearly graduated from the regular ninja class, so why did you suddenly join the Anbu?" This question had troubled her for a long time, after all, the Anbu was not a place that ordinary ninjas could enter.
Zhang Hai answered cautiously, "It's...it's because the Third Hokage saw some of my abilities and thought the Anbu was more suitable for me." He didn't mention his identity as an Uchiha, nor did he mention the potential that was too outstanding in the Hokage's eyes, but just gave a vague reason.
Just then, Orochimaru's eerie golden pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had made a connection to something. He spoke hoarsely, his voice carrying a meaningful probing tone: "Zhang Hai, do you know who led the ANBU squad that infiltrated behind enemy lines and destroyed Iwagakure's most important logistics base during the last battle in Iwagakure?" Although he phrased it as a question, his tone already hinted that he had a guess in mind.
Hearing Orochimaru mention that ANBU squad, Zhang Hai was still somewhat moved, after all, it was the first truly dangerous mission he had led alone. However, after months of battlefield experience, his mindset was no longer what it used to be. He calmly raised his head, and although he was wearing a mask, his composure and confidence radiated through it. He replied in a flat tone, "I am the captain."
These three simple words exploded in Tsunade and Jiraiya's ears like a thunderclap. Both Tsunade and Jiraiya were shocked, their faces filled with disbelief.