kingnovel Chapter 834 Still refusing to admit it.
Chapter 834 Still refusing to admit it.
Although he said that, Zhang Hai had to admit that even in that bloody and mangled state, the girl still possessed an amazing beauty.
"Hmph, getting the benefit and still acting innocent..." Mei Terumi muttered, but her tone was noticeably more relaxed. The embarrassment of being seen naked miraculously dissipated under Zhang Hai's frank and even slightly professional attitude.
"Okay, let's get down to business."
Zhang Hai took out the jade box from his pocket and shook it. "The red pill I gave you earlier, although its pain-relieving effect is amazing, is still made from the highly poisonous safflower. Taking too much of that stuff can really be fatal; it can only be used as an emergency measure. The journey ahead might be a bit bumpy, so to prevent you from dying of pain on the way, you must go to sleep right now."
"Sleep?" Mei Terumi blinked her big eyes. "Where to?"
“Let’s get out of this hellhole.” Zhang Hai glanced outside the cave. “This is still a border war zone. Although Might Guy crippled the Seven Ninja, who knows if Kirigakure has any other tricks up its sleeve? We need to find a safer place with better medical facilities for you to recover.”
"Then... will you take me with you?" Mei Terumi nervously gripped Zhang Hai's clothes, her knuckles turning white from the force.
"Nonsense. Do you think I'd leave you here to feed the wolves?" Zhang Hai rolled his eyes at her, then softened his tone, "Go to sleep. Once you're sound asleep, I'll take you away."
“But I can’t sleep…” Mei Terumi looked at him pitifully, then suddenly reached out her uninjured right hand and gently tugged at his sleeve. “Could you… hold me while I sleep? Just like before… I feel so safe in your arms.”
Seeing her pleading look, as if she would burst into tears if he didn't agree, Zhang Hai sighed helplessly.
"I really owe you."
He carefully shifted his position, trying to avoid her wounds, and gently pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head on his lap.
"Go to sleep."
Zhang Hai gently placed his palm on her forehead, stroking it rhythmically like soothing a child. The warm touch from his palm, accompanied by the steady beating of his heart, created an unbreakable safe haven for Terumi Mei.
"Um……"
Mei Terumi snuggled against his thigh contentedly, a happy smile on her lips. Surrounded by that ultimate sense of security, and with the lingering sedative effect of the medication, her breathing became even and long within minutes, and she drifted off to sleep.
After confirming that she had entered a deep sleep, the gentleness on Zhang Hai's face gradually faded, replaced by deep solemnity and contemplation.
He looked at the sleeping girl in his arms, his brows furrowed.
"The injuries are more serious than expected."
Although he survived for the time being, he suffered dozens of fractures throughout his body, as well as damage to his internal organs. If he were to rely solely on ordinary medical treatments and herbal remedies, the recovery period would be at least several years, and he would most likely be left with a lifelong disability, or even end his ninja career.
"To completely cure her and prevent any future problems, we must use the top-tier medical resources that only the Great Ninja Village has."
Zhang Hai turned his gaze toward the direction of Konoha Village outside the cave.
"Tsunade's laboratory."
There, they have the most advanced medical equipment in the entire ninja world, countless rare medicinal herbs, and even special agents that can promote cell regeneration. If they could bring Mei Terumi there for treatment, even with such severe injuries, they were confident they could help her recover within a month.
"but……"
Zhang Hai rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist just caused such a commotion at the border, even killing Might Guy. Konoha is currently on high alert. The Barrier Team will activate its full-power sensory barrier, and the Anbu will patrol every inch of the land like mad dogs.
In this situation, infiltrating the core area of Konoha with a severely injured female ninja from an enemy country whose chakra fluctuations are completely unfamiliar, and even entering Tsunade's heavily guarded laboratory, is a task of hellish difficulty.
If discovered, it would be a grave crime of treason.
“But if we don’t go there…” Zhang Hai looked down at Mei Terumi’s face, which would occasionally furrow its brow slightly in pain even in its sleep.
If she doesn't go, this girl's life might be ruined.
If a once brilliant and talented girl with two bloodline limits becomes a bedridden cripple, that would be more cruel than killing her.
"Tsk, this is a real problem."
A resolute glint flashed in Zhang Hai's eyes.
"It seems we have no choice but to take a risky approach."
He gently picked up the sleeping Mei Terumi, and in a flash, disappeared into the cave, leaving only the campfire still burning quietly, illuminating the back of the figure who had made a crazy decision.
The night wind howled, as if playing a lament for this chaotic world.
Zhang Hai rode on the back of the black eagle, holding the sleeping Mei Terumi tightly in his arms. Even with chakra protecting him, the air currents at high altitude still caused a dull ache in his chest.
"Cough cough..."
The suppressed coughs sounded particularly clear in the night. Zhang Hai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth; his face was as pale as paper.
"That kick from Might Guy... was deadly."
Recalling that red figure, Zhang Hai still feels lingering fear. If that "eternal genin" had unleashed that space-time-distorting "Night Guy" instead of "Evening Elephant," even with his Mangekyou Sharingan and Susanoo, he would probably have already turned to dust along with Mei Terumi.
"However, thanks to this shock, my status as an 'injured soldier' was confirmed, which made it easier to explain when I returned to the village."
But the primary challenge now is how to sneak this "wounded soldier from an enemy country" into Konoha, and even into Tsunade's laboratory, without anyone noticing.
Now that Konoha is under martial law due to the attack by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the Barrier Team will extend its sensory tentacles to every fly that flies in.
“To sneak in, unless…” A glint of light flashed in Zhang Hai’s eyes, “unless someone stirs up trouble ahead and draws everyone’s attention away.”
He closed his eyes and formed a mudra with his hands.
"The art of spiritual transformation!"
A transparent soul floated out of his body and instantly spread outwards, searching for the possible "source of chaos".
Not long after, Zhang Hai suddenly opened his eyes, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Just as expected. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are nothing more than cannon fodder used to draw fire; the real killing move is hidden here."
In his perception, a large and extremely secretive chakra reaction group was rushing towards Konoha Village like ghosts along a small path that even the old hunters of Konoha might not know.
"There are about two hundred men, all elites. And their marching route and speed... it seems that the commander of Kirigakure this time is a master."
A calculating glint flashed in Zhang Hai's eyes.