Having completed her first Anbu mission with some scares but ultimately no major incidents, Chizhao was granted a few days of much-needed leisure.
Grandma Huizi, seeing her granddaughter return safely after nearly a week away, noticed that her usually rosy complexion was now surprisingly pale.
Heartbroken, she immediately prepared a lavish feast for Chizhao, ensuring she got a good, nourishing meal.
Chizhao ate with teary eyes, deeply moved by the warmth and happiness of home; life with Grandma Huizi truly was wonderful.
She really wanted to confide in Keiko about the cruelty and indifference of war she had witnessed during her mission.
However, due to Anbu's strict secrecy, all details of the mission had to remain buried deep within her heart.
But during her chat with Grandma Huizi, she learned that many of her classmates had come looking for her while she was away on her mission.
Naruto, of course, would come almost every time he had a moment to ask Grandma Huizi if Chizhao had returned, and Grandma Huizi would always warmly invite him to stay for a meal, which kept the house from feeling too lonely.
From Naruto's spirited recounting, Grandma Huizi learned that he had passed Kakashi-sensei's test, and he had initially thought he would be able to show off his skills on more challenging missions.
Instead, he found himself doing D-rank missions like finding cats and dogs, which even made him impatient, and he complained endlessly to Grandma Huizi at the dinner table.
He even said things like Chizhao was already out on important missions, while he was stuck, worried she would leave him behind and ignore him.
Hearing this, Chizhao let out a chuckle.
"Naruto is still the same, always worrying about these unrealistic problems."
Then there was Sasuke; he would "pass by" every few days. Sometimes, Naruto would also be there, and the two would inevitably engage in another verbal sparring match.
With Chizhao absent, Grandma Huizi had to act as a temporary mediator, smilingly inviting both of them to stay for a meal, attempting to ease the tension between the bickering duo.
At first, Sasuke refused, but seeing that thick-skinned Naruto staying at Chizhao's house, a hint of unwillingness also arose in his heart.
So, he also voluntarily stayed, bickering with Naruto while enjoying Grandma Huizi's delicious cooking.
The quiet house, without Chizhao, suddenly became lively.
Listening to Grandma Huizi's recounting, Chizhao could already imagine the noisy scene when the two were together.
"Hahaha, those two really can argue anywhere."
"Oh, and there was also a boy with tied-up hair who came looking for you..."
Hearing it was a boy with tied-up hair, Shikamaru's listless appearance naturally popped into Chizhao's mind.
How strange, that someone so averse to trouble would go out of his way to find her.
"Was it Shikamaru? Why did he come looking for me?"
Grandma Huizi pinched her chin, trying hard to recall: "That child only came once, and asked me to give you a message."
"What was it?"
"He said your coins are almost rusting... something like that."
Upon hearing this, Chizhao couldn't help but let out a helpless cold sweat.
Well, that was certainly something Shikamaru would say, but where would she find the time to play shogi with him now?
Just then, Chizhao's gaze was drawn to two blooming potted flowers on the windowsill.
She hadn't seen these potted plants before.
Did Grandma Huizi buy them recently?
Noticing Chizhao's gaze, Grandma Huizi finally remembered about the potted plants:
"Oh, right, those two pots of flowers were sent by Sakura and Ino. They both wanted to invite you to pick flowers in the flower fields, but unfortunately, you weren't home, so they cultivated what they thought were the most beautiful flowers and gave them to you."
Gazing at the vibrant flowers blooming by the window, Chizhao suddenly felt as if she had been healed, as if she were softly enveloped by clouds, and her soul found great comfort.
"Chizhao truly has a wonderful group of friends."
Accompanied by Grandma Huizi's gentle voice, Chizhao walked to the window and caressed the delicate petals of the flowers, revealing an incredibly happy smile in the sunlight.
"Yes, they are all my most precious friends."
After lunch, Chizhao took a comfortable bath, changed into clean casual clothes, and decided to go see her friends whom she hadn't seen for several days.
But considering they might also be out on missions, to avoid a wasted trip.
She first went to the Ninja Mission Center to check the list of Ninjas currently on missions. To her surprise, almost all of her friends were out on assignments.
At a glance, most were D-rank missions. Where did the Village get so many tasks like finding kittens and puppies, or digging for carrots and wild vegetables?
She left the Mission Center feeling a bit disappointed, bought an ice pop from a shop, and leisurely ate it as she walked towards the back mountain.
She decided to go check on her small wooden house; she wondered if the fish fry in the river had grown. Catching a few to make some dishes would be nice too.
This time, Chizhao chose to take the closest back mountain path down, which also offered a panoramic view of Konoha Village's beautiful scenery. After all, she had been in the cave for too long and wanted to breathe some fresh air.
Her ice pop was long finished. She stood on the mountainside, immersed in the cool breeze, the expansive view filling her with delight.
She couldn't help but stretch comfortably, enjoying the beautiful scenery as she walked towards the mountaintop.
Just then, a passionate shout, carried by the breeze, reached her ears. Chizhao listened closely and found the lines somewhat familiar.
"Lee! This is youth! Burn, youth!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!"
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the training ground.
Two Ninjas, one large and one small, both clad in green jumpsuits, were still tirelessly doing one-handed push-ups.
Despite sweating profusely, their enthusiasm and vigor seemed undiminished.
Tenten, drenched in sweat, watched the two energetic figures before her and let out a long sigh:
"I say, Neji, are those two really not tired at all?"
After the high-intensity training, Hyuga Neji's stamina was also significantly depleted.
He stood with his arms crossed, his deep gaze fixed on the two persistent figures, his voice calm.
"Perhaps passion can make one oblivious."
As the two conversed, a figure appeared without warning in the shade of a tree not far ahead.
Having sensed no Chakra presence, yet someone had approached so closely, Hyuga Neji's vigilance instantly peaked. He activated his Byakugan, locking onto that direction.
"It seems there's someone there," Hyuga Neji's voice was low and calm, drawing Tenten's attention.
She followed Neji's gaze and indeed spotted an unfamiliar girl quietly observing them.
Tenten, puzzled, blurted out:
"Oh, really? Could it be someone lost?"
But then, she noticed the rare look of astonishment and gravity on Hyuga Neji's face, which made her even more curious.
"What's wrong with that person, Neji?"
Hyuga Neji didn't answer directly, but kept his Byakugan fixed on the person, his voice low:
"Tenten, have you ever seen someone without Chakra?"
"Eh? Isn't Lee..."
"It's different. Lee possesses Chakra; he just can't use it skillfully. But the person in front of me, I can't see any Chakra within her body, or rather, she has none at all."
Hearing this, Tenten also frowned: "How can that be? Everyone has Chakra. What's her situation then...?"
Hyuga Neji, switching off his Byakugan mode, glanced at the oblivious, passionate duo, and decided to go investigate himself.
Meanwhile, Chizhao, standing not far away, felt a surge of pleasant surprise when she saw the familiar green jumpsuits.
She actually ran into Guy's team here!
This was the strongest taijutsu team! If she could get along with them, perhaps it would even help her own taijutsu?
"What are you doing here, lurking around?"
A sudden voice came from the side. Chizhao turned around, and Hyuga Neji's distinctive Byakugan and calm expression met her eyes, making her freeze instantly.
"Neji!"
Chizhao subconsciously called out the name, then realized her slip of the tongue and quickly pressed her lips together, taking a step back.
"You know me?"
Facing Hyuga Neji's wary Byakugan, Chizhao could only start brainstorming for an excuse.
She felt like she was turning into a lie-making machine.
"Uh... well, I've seen a few of you at the Mission Center. Because Teacher Guy's attire is so unique, I couldn't help but look at the mission roster and remembered your names..."
Hyuga Neji caught the loophole in her words and took a step closer to her:
"The Mission Center is a place only Ninjas can go, let alone check the Ninja roster inside."
Neji's expression turned serious, and he took another step closer to her.
"You might fool others, but you can't fool my Byakugan. Without Chakra, how could you be a Ninja? What is your purpose in approaching us?"