Chapter 253 : Refugee!!

At the border of the Land of Fire, a long "grey line" was already in motion.

Upon closer inspection, this "grey line" revealed itself to be a procession of weary and sluggish refugees.

Silently, they trudged along the road, seeking sanctuary wherever it may be found.

There was no chatter amongst them; any sporadic conversation quickly died down into silence.

Their arduous journey had forced them to eke out every ounce of strength, treasuring each morsel of sustenance due to scarce provisions.

In solemn procession, tens of thousands marched, their faces devoid of joy, shrouded in a pall of desolation. Even the children walked silently, clutching their parents' hands.

Wordlessly, they pressed forward, resembling eerie ghosts, only occasionally lifting their gaze towards the horizon, hope flickering in their eyes as testament to their resilience.

Among them was Ishizaki Shota, clutching a string tied to two others he'd encountered on the road—Tokuda Gin and Mikami Haruwa.

Their chance meeting had occurred amidst the chaos of escape, brought together by their shared youth, aged only twelve or thirteen. In a skirmish over water, they had united to seize a large kettle, forging an unspoken bond.

To stay united amidst the throng, they fashioned a slender rope, tethering each wrist to maintain proximity.

As Ishizaki Shota gazed at the distant azure sky, a glimmer of hope illuminated his eyes. "We're almost there, Konoha is within reach... Once we reach Konoha, we'll survive... We'll have a place to call home..."

"No matter what, even if it means servitude, as long as they provide us with food and shelter... Even if it's as slaves..."

Beside him, Tokuda Gin echoed his sentiments, his gaze fixed upon the distant heavens, his words trailing slowly from his lips.

In the hearts of countless refugees, the sentiment echoed—a sentiment shared by Ishizaki Shota and Mikami Haruka.

"Shota, I can't go on... I... *sobs*... I've hit my limit..."

After a period of silence, Mikami Haruka collapsed to the ground, her gaze piercing, filled with despair.

Ishizaki Shota and Tokuda Kan stood nearby, feeling helpless. They had witnessed too many similar scenes on their journey.

Once you fall, it's nearly impossible to rise again.

And now, still several days away from Konoha, two children stood before a powerless Mikami Haruka. They couldn't bear her weight.

Tokuda Gin quickly stooped down to lift Mikami Haruka. The days and nights spent together had forged a bond between them.

"Haruka, please, get up! Don't succumb to despair now, we've reached the Land of Fire!"

"Haruka, stay awake! We're almost there. We've come so far; we can't give up now!"

Shota Ishizaki watched with a heavy heart. As the eldest, he bore the burden of maturity. But even he couldn't hide his sorrow. He knew Mikami Haruka lacked the physical strength to endure more days of travel.

Moreover, even if they managed to carry Haruka to Konoha, they would face a long process of screening and waiting...

Haruka couldn't endure it!

Shota glanced at Mikami Haruka, who leaned heavily on Tokuda Gin. He hesitated, trying to voice the thought that weighed on him: "Let's go, let's leave Haruka behind..."

But the words remained stuck in his throat. Over the past few days, they had become like family. How could he suggest abandoning them now?

The others nearby observed the scene in silence, silently passing by, leaving the trio to grapple with their dilemma.

They've encountered too many similar situations on their journey, knowing that if the fallen child doesn't surrender, both of them might be dragged down.

Just like the countless parents behind them, carrying their children with weary expressions...

Suddenly, there was a stir in the team ahead, breaking the silence with noise.

The commotion swiftly spread, reaching Ishizaki Shota and the others.

"Turn left up ahead, I heard the Uzumaki clan is offering refuge too. It's less than half a day's journey," someone said.

"Really? They're willing to take in refugees?"

"Yes, it's true. Someone just passed by and confirmed it. It'll only take half a day to get there," another voice chimed in.

"But if it's a hoax, we'll waste a day going back and forth..."

Just as suspicion lingered, a figure emerged in the distance, fiery red hair flowing as they rode a tall horse, holding a peculiar trumpet-shaped iron sheet.

His voice carried, "Head forward and turn left, the Red Republic is accepting refugees near the Land of Fire's border. We have hot porridge, hot water, and can provide medical aid."

After a few more shouts and brief answers, the red-haired rider turned back and rode off.

The message quickly spread to those behind, stirring up another commotion...

Soon, all the refugees were aware.

"It's the Land of Whirlpools..."

"No... it's called the Red Republic... that's wonderful... they're taking in refugees ahead..."

"Yes, I've seen their leaflets... and tasted their delicious porridge..."

"It's only half a day away... Hang in there... Konoha's too far... I can't keep going... I can make it to the Red Republic..."

"Yeah, Konoha's too far... Let's head to the Red Republic, it's just half a day's journey..."

*****

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