Chapter 121: The So-Called Sacrifice

The critical wind stirred a killing intent in Danzo. Before acting, he needed to know the reason, whether it was the truth or a lie didn't matter. He just needed an explanation.

The two stared at each other silently in the heavy rain, the sudden emergence of memories playing a role at this moment.

"They once gave me three pieces of bread when I was about to starve to death."

Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly. Considering the place of origin for Ye Zi, and reflecting on his discovery by Orochimaru from a village in the Rain Country, it was a plausible yet unverified reason.

Emotions were burdensome...

Neither the Root members nor the Konoha ANBU needed them.

Danzo knew Ye Zi's character well enough; he was the kind to seal himself off with a thick layer of ice.

Gratitude?

It was possible, but unlikely.

Danzo nodded, no longer pursuing the matter.

"Return to the village."

On the surface, he wasn't pursuing the matter, but the killing intent he had developed would not fade.

His figure disappeared into the rain.

Ye Zi silently followed.

Back when he was about to defect from Konoha, it was Danzo who had stopped him and forced him to join Root. After joining, Ye Zi found that the environment of Root was exactly what he had wanted.

Methods to gain power, scrolls with astonishing storage capacity, and rigorous, demanding training... everything he needed.

Over the years, his rapid growth in power was inseparable from Root. He had become a mission machine, executing tasks endlessly. From initially facing death multiple times to now being adept, he had truly walked a path marked by death.

He was well aware of how Danzo had positioned him and how Root had controlled him all along.

The wind that helped Nagato from Akatsuki had stirred Danzo's killing intent, as it was information Danzo had no control over. However, Ye Zi still had many trump cards unknown to Danzo.

Danzo thought he could control Ye Zi, but little did he know, Ye Zi's growth had surpassed his expectations.

If it were to happen again, if Ye Zi were to stand before Konoha's gates, Danzo would no longer be able to hold him back.

This was change! Without leverage, Ye Zi would never have been so composed.

The mission had failed and only two people returned.

Hiruzen knew but took no action. Among the returnees, Ye Zi was a notable presence.

He didn't know the purpose of Danzo's mission, why dozens had gone out and only two returned. He would never know, because that was Danzo.

Back at Root, Ye Zi headed straight to Nanako's research room. As expected, he did not find Nanako there. The research room remained unchanged except for the missing documents, and even a speck of dust was absent.

Ye Zi had never paid close attention to the research room before and thus did not notice any differences.

Every time he visited the research room, Nanako was there, as if it were her home, but this time she was missing. Ye Zi felt a slight sense of loss or perhaps discomfort.

Some people are intentionally obtuse, while others are unintentionally so.

What was the reason that the young girl in her prime chose to remain in darkness, coiled up in a small research room day after day?

Was it because of that first encounter, that fleeting glance, that Nanako devoted herself so?

Perhaps, at that moment, Nanako had kept him in her heart, as if for a lifetime.

The girl who was always seen in the research room was now gone, and he didn't know how to inquire about her whereabouts.

Looking for Danzo? Obviously unrealistic.

Were there other ways? He didn't know Nanako's address, her social circle, or where she might be.

So, with the problem emerging, more problems arose.

It turned out he knew so little about this girl.

Ye Zi silently looked at the empty research room. After a moment, he turned and left.

If the dust had not been meticulously wiped away, Ye Zi might have noticed something unusual. Now, he had no idea that Nanako was imprisoned by Danzo and that the research materials for him were with Orochimaru.

He simply thought Nanako was just taking a break and planned to come back tomorrow, so he intended to go rest.

As dusk approached, the orange light cast a layer of orange on the street and on the passing people.

As always, he was met with unmistakable disdainful glances.

Ye Zi ignored these looks, facing the twilight, and looked up at the weakening sunset, suddenly stopping. His shadow stretched far behind him.

A pair of lively children, a boy and a girl, were playfully jumping on his shadow, seemingly twins, their faces beaming with smiles.

The children were soon pulled away by a panicked young woman who admonished them not to approach the "monster."

Ye Zi heard the conversation but remained unchanged in his demeanor, focusing on the twilight and contemplating the relationship between effort and reward.

Selfless sacrifice seemed like a dream, too fantastical to shake his values developed from childhood.

Yet, the girl named Nanako had indeed made a selfless sacrifice for him. He also thought of Kushina, who had beautiful red hair, Orochimaru, who liked eggs, and Yoru, who preferred death over being a burden to his team...

Because the girl in the research room was inexplicably absent, his thoughts were drawn to things he usually wouldn't think about.

Across the street, Kushina silently watched Ye Zi's back, her red hair glowing under the setting sun with a unique beauty.

The twins, the twins' mother, and their brief conversation were all heard. She couldn't help but think back to the frantic boy in a perilous situation, whose image had remained vivid over the years.

Clearly, Ye Zi had saved everyone, so why did people speak so ill of him?

Clearly, Ye Zi could have escaped alone at that time, without having to fight by consuming human flesh, but he stayed for everyone.

Kushina watched Ye Zi's increasingly gray hair, feeling a pang in her heart. Despite her efforts to get closer to him, she was always coldly rebuffed, feeling like she was getting further away.

Perhaps noticing the compassionate gaze among the many eyes, Ye Zi suddenly turned around. Facing the twilight, his sharp and handsome face fell into shadow.

He saw the girl.

Seeing Ye Zi look over, Kushina quickly wiped away the sadness on her face, replacing it with a broad smile, and hurried toward Ye Zi in the twilight. As she took her first step, she instinctively waited for Ye Zi to turn away in silence.

Step by step, she ran faster and faster, her distance shrinking in the face of Ye Zi's unwavering gaze.

Eventually, she reached Ye Zi, and had to look up slightly to meet his gaze.

It had been a long time since she had been so close to him.

"You're back," Kushina said with a smile, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of nervousness.

Ye Zi glanced at the nervousness in her eyes, feeling a mix of emotions. Since he decided to distance himself from Kushina, he had intentionally reduced their interactions, often pretending not to see her and leaving quickly.

"Yeah," Ye Zi replied.

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Then, let me treat you to a meal." The nervousness in Kushina's eyes became very apparent.

Ye Zi hesitated, and the girl's hands unconsciously clenched.

Although Ye Zi did not see Kushina's clenched hands, he sensed it vaguely. Then, he raised his head and withdrew his gaze from Kushina.

At that moment, Kushina's expression darkened, as if she could already see Ye Zi's answer.

"Alright."

But to her surprise, Ye Zi agreed.

"Huh?" Kushina looked stunned, appearing quite cute.

"Let's go to the Yakiniku Q," Ye Zi said, nodding toward a direction.

Yakiniku Q... it was the barbecue restaurant they used to visit often.

"Okay."

Kushina smiled slightly.

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