Chapter 646 Respectively

The New Year's celebration has just passed, but the city, full of industrial and green atmosphere, still has some aftertaste of the New Year's celebration.

The tops of the tower-like skyscrapers began to fall with fine snow, and pedestrians walking on the road, wearing thicker warm clothes, started their night life.

Occasionally, children can be seen running past in front of them, and there are also young teenagers and girls who stop in the square of the commercial street, as if waiting for someone, holding an umbrella, looking forward to a certain direction.

Although I have lived in this city for two years, I don't have the feeling of beauty comes from distance at all. After all, no matter how novel things are, after getting used to them, they feel that they are no more than this level. This is what Sakura feels right now.

Although many things here are very convenient, it was very uncomfortable at first.

In general, convenience has the benefits of convenience, but it is also a very fulfilling thing to be able to do it yourself instead of relying on advanced tools to complete it.

After all, as a ninja, she should not have too much enjoyment, and it is not advisable to degenerate in comfort. This is the education she has received since she was a child.

This way of thinking has been engraved in her bones. Even if she changes places, this way of thinking cannot be changed even if she wants to.

"Sakura, you really don't like shopping very much. It's a rare holiday. At this time, it's time to pamper yourself physically and mentally."

Hanami Haruka, who came out with Sakura to walk in the night commercial street, said.

"Well, the main reason is that there is nothing I want to buy. After all, the cosmetics I bought back last time have not been used up, so it feels too wasteful to just replace them with new ones."

Sakura, who was only carrying a shopping bag in her hand, pinched her cheek with her fingers, and smiled at Hanami Haruka beside her.

He has long cherry-colored hair, and the overall clothing is mainly simple. On both sides of the tight shorts, there is always a ninja tool bag necessary for a ninja, which is prepared for combat ninja tools such as kunai and shuriken anytime, anywhere. In the other ninja bag, there are auxiliary ninja tools, such as retractable medical kits, flares and flash bombs.

Even in holiday time, it is fully armed.

Not only Sakura, but also Hanami Haruka as a companion.

Ninjas may encounter battles anytime, anywhere. Even in the base camp of your own camp, you must not give up your weapons.

However, compared to Sakura's flat figure, her figure, for a sixteen-year-old girl, should be said to be slightly beyond the passing line.

Therefore, when Sakura accidentally glanced at her chest, she would cast an envious look.

"I always feel that you, Sakura, will be very housekeeping in the future. Even though you get so many bonuses every year, you still save so much."

Hanami Haruka joked.

She and Sakura are both medical ninjas, and they still work in the same department. In addition, there is not much difference in age. As time goes by, it is natural to become friends.

And she is very aware of Sakura's strengths in the medical field, so it is not an exaggeration to call her a natural talent. That smart brain, seriousness and devotion to learning, can quickly put theoretical things into practice, can be called a 'genius'.

Therefore, the extra bonuses received every year are not a small amount for ninjas at this stage.

"This... well, maybe."

Sakura responded vaguely, looking at the flashing neon lights around her, the Chinese New Year atmosphere was completely different from that of Konoha Village.

Although in this place, I made friends again and gradually got used to the life here, but every time at this time, I still can't help but feel a little lonely.

The faces of Naruto, Ino, and others often popped up suddenly from the depths of her memory these days, which made her feel an unspeakable sense of depression, and her heart would tingle from time to time, making her miss her past companions even more.

Although she knew that such an idea was not advisable, it might be an emotion that even she couldn't control, and it was even more difficult to contain the sense of longing that erupted during a special time period.

"well"

Sighs die in the frozen air.

Sakura walked endlessly on the flat road of the commercial street, and heard the sound of pedestrians passing by and the siren of the bus from time to time.

Although there are people everywhere, the sense of belonging is really troublesome.

Maybe it will take some time before she can really integrate into this place.

"Ah, that's..."

Hana Haruka's exclamation suddenly came from her ear, as if she had discovered something terrible, which made Sakura wake up instantly, and followed Hanami Haruka's surprised gaze to look forward.

In front of it is a huge circular flower pond square.

Couples in twos and threes sat there for a tryst, communicating in a low voice.

However, among the many couples, there appeared a guy who didn't fit in with this atmospherethe other guy had long white hair with a little bit of pale gold, and was wrapped in a slightly plain black lady's coat, covering his whole body tightly without revealing a single gap.

Sitting on the edge of the flower pond, looking at the passing pedestrians, like a lively hamster, with a little curiosity and confusion. For a while, it was like a homeless child, full of pitiful atmosphere.

"Is that the young lady who got lost after coming out?"

Sakura felt that the other party looked familiar.

Although the lady's coat on her body is not expensive in terms of material.

But the girl's exposed skin is not rough at all, especially the fingers, which are more delicate and smooth... Those are slender hands that can only be maintained without doing any rough work.

Sitting by the flower pond, the confusion and curiosity revealed inadvertently seem to coincide with the setting of the young lady who is ignorant of the world.

"Acquaintance?"

Sakura continued to ask.

"That's His Royal Highness Zi Yuan."

Hanami Haruka took a deep breath.

Her face fluctuated slightly, as if she had encountered something unexpected.

After all, there is absolutely no such link in her detailed shopping.

"His Royal Highness Ziyuan?"

Sakura was slightly taken aback.

The word "His Royal Highness" cannot be used to address people casually.

"The maiden who is the main line, generally speaking, lives in the "divine domain" different from ours, and will not easily come to the "mortal world"!"

Hanami Haruka said with a wry smile.

Despite the industrial development of the ghost country, whether it is the main cities or the villages and towns built next to the main cities, they have gradually begun to have an industrial foundation.

Ninjas, science, gradually formed the mainstream culture.

But from the most primitive place, the kingdom of ghosts is a theocracy where the 'witch' is supreme.

It's just that the mainline'witches' don't easily set foot in the world, and only show up on important festivals to keep in touch with the'human world'.

"If you say so, it is indeed..."

Sakura was also taken aback, and suddenly remembered who the 'homeless' girl in front of her was.

She already knew all about the situation in the Ghost Kingdom.

The country of ghosts was originally a country established on the basis of 'theocracy', although like the great masters of various countries, it is a hereditary system. But the hereditary system of witches and the hereditary system of great masters are completely different in nature.

Although in ancient times, the names of various countries were also exaggerated as "gods", they were the agents of gods in the "world"...but compared with the real "gods" like "witches", they are still somewhat different.

Miko can practice special chakra, suppress all kinds of monsters wandering in the ninja world, and quell disasters. They are not ordinary people who don't know how to use chakra.

"However, why is she in such a place?"

Sakura asked.

As the monarch of a country, it doesn't matter if there are no guards by his side, but he came from the 'God's Realm' to the 'mortal world' during the non-holiday period... This is a big problem no matter how you look at it?

"Probably sneaked out."

Hanami Haruka sighed.

"Sneak away?"

"Yes, I heard that this kind of thing happens several times every year."

Sighing, Hanami Haruka walked towards the flower pond.

Sakura followed suit.

"Ah you are"

Seeing someone approaching her, Ziyuan couldn't help but raise her head, squinting her eyes to look at him.

"I'm Wu Zhi's friend, we met before, Your Highness Zi Yuan."

Hanami Haruka said respectfully.

"Kirie? Ah, I remembered, four years ago, the branch priestess who used monsters to fight in the Chunin exam."

Ziyuan suddenly realized.

Hibiki Mist Branch, is a battle priestess from the branch of the Oni Land.

Able to control multiple monsters, in terms of talent, she is also an outstanding shrine maiden in the offshoot.

Hana Haruka nodded, and then asked, "Why is Your Highness here alone? Did you get separated from your followers?"

In fact, he knew that Ziyuan ran out secretly by himself, but in order to take care of the other party's emotions, he kept his attitude and rhetoric a bit reserved.

"No, I ran out alone, and the witches on the mountain were all bewitched by my witchcraft!"

As if doing such a rebellious act is very remarkable, Ziyuan's stamina is not a fruitful fruit for her peers at all, and Sakura, who keeps quiet at the side, can't help feeling sympathetic.

"Please don't mess around like this, Your Highness."

Hanami Haruka smiled wryly again.

Knowing it will be like this is not something to be proud of.

"In this case, this is a rare opportunity."

Zi Yuan stood up from the edge of the flower pond.

"Rare opportunity?"

"Yes, it is a rare opportunity to serve me. Tonight, the two of you will be my servants."

The attitude of course made Sakura, who was still feeling "sympathetic" towards Shion, immediately frowned in displeasure.

Although the other party has a noble status, his rhetoric is extremely unpleasant.

"Okay, Your Highness, I am willing to serve you."

Hana Haruka is used to this, knowing Ziyuan's willful and arrogant temperament, so there is no surprise.

When contacting, they have already made preparations in this regard.

"So, what about you? Broad forehead?"

"Width-"

Before Sakura could say anything, Hanami Haruka quickly blocked her with her palm, bent down compulsively, and bowed.

"She is also very happy, Your Highness."

Hanami Haruka spoke instead of Sakura.

"As expected of a ninja trained by my father, um, I feel extremely honored to be able to serve by my side."

Shion straightened her body, and was very satisfied with the obedient attitude of the two, which was completely different from the group of chattering shrine maidens at the shrine.

Sakura squeezed out a 'well' character on her forehead.

Honestly speaking, she really wanted to lightly touch the opponent's head.

"Patience a little bit, Sakura. Think of it as playing house with a wayward child."

Hanami Haruka saw that Sakura was showing signs of getting angry, so she leaned over and said softly.

"You wayward child... Uh, I didn't expect you to be quite poisonous."

Sakura's evaluation of Haruka Hanami cannot be denied.

It is indeed a wayward child.

Hana Haruka smiled, but didn't speak.

"Hey, what are you two talking about?"

Seeing Hanami Haruka and Sakura whispering, Ziyuan asked loudly.

"We are discussing where to take His Highness to play next."

Huajian Haruka lied without blushing, as if the person who said "wayward child" before was not herself.

"Don't bother, I'm hungry now, go there and buy me something to eat."

Zi Yuan pointed at the dessert shop across the street, showing that she wanted to eat it.

Hana Haruka immediately understood, knowing that Zi Yuan sneaked out, and it must be because she forgot to bring money with her, so she sat here helplessly and waited.

Leaving a look at Sakura, Hanami Haruka walked towards the dessert shop on the opposite street, and went there to buy popular desserts for Shion.

"It's so slow, shouldn't it be sneaking away."

After waiting for about a minute, Zi Yuan began to kick the stones on the side of the road bored, as if dissatisfied that Hana Jian Haruka hadn't come back for so long.

"I'll be right back."

Sakura responded perfunctorily.

Although the other party is a girl of the same age as himself, this willful personality is almost as difficult to get along with as the children in the D-level missions that Konoha did in the past.

I remembered the painful memories of taking care of bear children.

"Then, girl with a wide forehead, go and buy me a drink. I need to heat it up. I'm thirsty."

Shion licked her lips and gave orders to Sakura.

"Sorry, I have to leave one person to watch you."

Sakura's disguised rejection.

And a woman with a wide forehead... Sakura really felt her hands itching.

"Are you rebelling against my orders? I'm thirsty now!"

Zi Yuan stared over.

Sakura was a little speechless, thinking that the other party might roll around on the street and act like a baby in the next moment.

Illusion.

"Buy me something to drink! Otherwise, I will tell you the future when you die!"

Shion used this sentence to scare Sakura.

As a witch, she can see the scene of death.

Sakura is also aware of such rumors.

And it is said to be 100% effective, and there have been no mistakes so far.

Even Sakura couldn't help feeling tense.

Even if she is a wayward child, this guy is still a wayward child with a terrible weapon in his hand. You must not look at her with the eyes of ordinary people.

Just as Sakura was at a loss, Hanami Haruka walked out of the dessert shop, came over with a bag of desserts, and brought a hot drink along with her. Then Ziyuan withdrew her fierce gaze from looking at Sakura, and accepted Hanami Haruka's free gift with peace of mind.

"Sure enough, you are still obedient, unlike this rude, unfeminine woman with a wide forehead."

That's what Shion said.

Hana Haruka smiled awkwardly, completely unaware of what happened between the two of them.

Sakura stared at Ziyuan with fire-breathing eyes, this person is really quite outspoken.

"I'm sorry, Sakura, Your Highness, she was just a little willful, but there was no malice."

Hanami Haruka came over and continued to hold Sakura steady.

"I know."

Sakura took a deep breath and calmed down.

She could naturally sense that there was no malice in Ziyuan, it was just that she lacked the common sense to get along with ordinary people, which made her appear arrogant and rude.

As the other party, she must have grown up in a state of luxury and prosperity, surrounded by countless servants to take care of her, and the other party's "adopted father" is also the leader of the army of the ghost kingdom... Even in name, she is also the most honorable person in the ghost kingdom.

Even, Sakura couldn't even feel the basic kindness from her.

It's like a heterogeneity of 'nothingness' and 'emptiness'.

Is this the Miko? Sakura looked at Shion, who was happily drinking hot drinks and tasting desserts, and felt an indescribably weird feeling.

It seems that the girl in front of her, although wearing a human skin, really lacks a human breath.

In her eyes, I am afraid that she is just a mass of 'air' that can be seen everywhere.

"Patience a little longer, I have sent a message just now, people from the shrine will come soon."

Hanami Haruka continued to speak softly.

It is not good for anyone to get too involved with this 'His Royal Highness'.

Because of being seen by the eyes of this "His Royal Highness", my future "death" has been determined.

And no matter who it is, as long as the heavy topic of death is discussed, it is impossible to stay by the other party's side without changing face.

And, to be honest, Shion, who has seen the "tragedy" of countless deaths, can still maintain such a willful and arrogant child side, in Hanami Haruka's view, it is the real horror.

I don't want to have anything to do with such a person.

"I have really caused you trouble tonight. Her Highness Ziyuan will return all the expenses tonight."

The old priestess said to Hanami Haruka and Sakura in a slightly apologetic tone.

At the same time, I feel a headache for my own high priestess.

Fortunately, he did not leave Ziyuan City, otherwise, it would be a trouble to find it.

"It's nothing, we spent a pleasant evening with His Highness."

Hanami Haruka responded with a smile, as if she was really honored.

Sakura was very surprised. She didn't expect that the girl next to her, who could be regarded as a friend, had the ability to tell nonsense without changing her expression.

Ziyuan over there snorted softly. Surrounded by many witches, there was obviously no way to escape.

However, she had known for a long time that her whereabouts would be leaked, so she was not surprised by such a scene.

Just thinking about how to escape from the guards of these witches next time.

"Then, goodbye."

The old priestess greeted the priestess guarding Shion, and led her back to the shrine along the long way.

Watching Shion's leaving figure, Sakura suddenly said with emotion: "It seems that it is not easy to be a shrine maiden."

It can be seen that Ziyuan doesn't particularly like being looked after.

"Even if you like the 'human world' more, as the main line of the priestess, you can't stay for a long time... Those accompanying priestesses have actually dealt with it leniently, and haven't completely put an end to this kind of sneaking behavior. However, this is something that the priestesses should manage, and it has nothing to do with us ninjas."

Hanami Haruka said so.

"But I remember that in the military, there are also witches joining."

Sakura thought for a while and said.

"They belong to the heterogeneous category of 'entering the world' practice. This kind of priestess will not decline in strength because of being contaminated with the breath of the mortal world. On the contrary, they are the main line of priestesses, an essential armed group used to govern the 'world'."

Hanami Haruka explained.

"Are there any characteristics?"

"The characteristic is that they will form a contract with monsters. The more they are contaminated with 'distractions', the stronger they will become."

Thinking of this, Xu Shi recalled something, and Hanami Haruka's fair face became rosy.

I don't know if it's an illusion, but Sakura always felt that Hanami Haruka's legs began to tremble uneasily.

In the family restaurant, by the window.

The three of them sat down around a dining table. Asuka took off the monocle on his eyes and said to the two of them, "Speaking of which, it seems that the three of us haven't eaten together for a long time. Today is a rare opportunity, so let me, the elder brother, treat you."

"No way, after all, we all have our own things to do, and this is the only time we can come out and get together."

Cai, who was sitting opposite, nodded slightly, looking at the menu and ordering.

"So, Cai, how is life on the frontier? Although there are letters coming in all the time, I still want to hear it myself."

Asuka asked with interest.

Already eighteen or nineteen years old, he can be said to be a complete adult.

The voice is thicker and the appearance is more masculine, giving people a calm and reliable adult feeling.

"That..." Cai thought about it for a while, and said with a sigh of relief: "It is not a wonderful experience. Although there will be some conflicts with the Yanyin ninja on the eastern border from time to time, bloodshed is still very rare. Most of the time is the same as before. In the name of the team leader, I lead the team to patrol everywhere and spend it peacefully."

Cai is not a fanatic who is keen on war. This kind of daily life with a little challenge in peace is what he prefers.

If you are too peaceful, you will feel bored, but if you keep fighting, you will also feel bored.

In the past two years, his team has been staying at the eastern border, and only returned to the ghost country during festivals or Chinese New Year.

And this is also the most common state on the eastern border.

"Other than that, I'm just learning and practicing."

At the end, Cai added this sentence again.

It is impossible to spend all the time on patrol, Cai will use his spare time to study and practice, to improve himself as much as possible.

"What about this year's goal?"

"Pass the Jnin test in April this year, preferably the one that passes once!"

Cai was decisive and responded to Asuka with a firm attitude.

"Cai, you are really full of momentum."

Startled by Cai's momentum, Asuka said in a daze.

Immediately afterwards, he looked at Kazuhime who was playing with her hair on the other side. Compared with two years ago, she had a beauty between maturity and immaturity.

Based on his face alone, he is definitely the type to attract bees and butterflies, but the aura that is so stern that it seems to be breathing out cold air, has the words "don't let strangers in" written on his face. A strange man who tried to strike up a conversation with her would definitely be frozen to death.

Let Asuka have the illusion of meeting her mother Liuli.

"Ichihime, how are you doing outside?"

"What else can I do? I am often ordered around by the old man. Thanks to him, I now have to run tens of thousands of miles every year. It's rare for me to relax now. I don't know what will happen this year."

Yiji let go of her hair, raised her brows with a slight displeasure in her tone.

"I deeply sympathize with what happened to you Yiji. Sometimes, Dad really likes to order people to do things."

Asuka wiped off the sweat that didn't exist on his face, and nodded deeply.

Recalling that I was often ordered by my father Shiraishi, I worked overtime for countless days and nights. During that time, I was so busy that the sky was dark, and my mind was full of the word "work".

"I'm thinking about whether to go to his study for a few days and steal the goji berries he put there, as well as those copies of "Massiveness in Heaven."

Ichihime used a flat tone and said extremely terrifying words.

Judging from her overly serious attitude, she really intends to do this.

"Those things are all precious belongings of Dad, so they can't be easily discovered by others."

Asuka didn't stop it, but thought that the success rate of doing so would not be too high.

"No, when the time comes, just look with my white eyes and I'll know where it is."

Cai interrupted.

Asuka and Kazuki exchanged glances, picked up the cup in their hands, and Cai also lifted the cup.

The cups touched in the air, making a crisp sound.

"So, cheers to our next victory!"

(end of this chapter)