Jiraiya reacted with lightning speed, drawing a Kunai and skillfully deflecting the attack.
The next second, Chizhao felt her throat tighten, her body bound by an unseen force, lifting her completely off the ground.
“Chizhao!” Jiraiya leaped forward, delivering a powerful kick to the masked Ninja.
The masked Ninja couldn't dodge in time and took the full force of the kick, releasing his grip on Chizhao's neck.
“Chizhao, are you alright?” Jiraiya asked with concern.
Looking at Jiraiya, who stood in front of her in a combat stance, Chizhao coughed and managed to respond, “I’m fine, cough cough…”
Jiraiya vigilantly watched the three Ninja in white masks on the tree, a sense of doubt rising within him.
Why had the Shiratori Clan's enemies pursued them so quickly? And weren't they supposed to have been wiped out? And these masks...
Suddenly, one of the Ninja, standing in the upper left, leaped down first, long blade in hand, heading straight for Jiraiya.
Jiraiya grabbed Chizhao from behind him and, with a Body Flicker Technique, placed her safely on a tree trunk.
“Stay here, and if there’s danger, shout, understood?”
As he spoke, he casually handed her a Kunai for self-defense, then used another Body Flicker Technique to charge at the three Ninja, engaging them in fierce combat.
Clinging to the tree trunk and watching the intense battle below, Chizhao couldn't help but marvel; this was truly experiencing the world of Ninja, how thrilling!
“Go, Jiraiya!!”
Hearing Chizhao loudly cheering him on from the tree behind him, Jiraiya's lips curved slightly: “I won’t lose, that’s for sure.”
His gaze, sharp as a torch, fixed on the three individuals before him, his tone full of inquiry: “Tell me, who exactly are you people?”
The three Ninja exchanged glances, then quickly formed hand signs. Wind Release, Fire Release, Water Release—three Ninjutsu intertwined, forming an unstoppable force, hurtling towards Jiraiya in unison.
“Boom!”
The enormous impact kicked up sand and rocks, and the resulting tremors caused the large tree to shake violently, scaring Chizhao into clinging to it like a koala. Little Wang, who had been watching the show from her embrace, also fearfully retreated into his shell.
Chizhao’s heart clenched tightly, her gaze anxiously searching the battlefield for Jiraiya’s figure.
Just as the three Ninja thought they had succeeded, a powerful voice boomed from behind the rolling dust: “Fire Release: Flame Bullet!”
“Now!” Little Wang suddenly shouted this, startling Chizhao.
“Throw out the Membrane Card!”
Pulling a transparent Membrane Card from her embrace, Chizhao forcefully threw it out just as the Ninjutsu was released.
The Membrane Card instantly glowed, and the Flame Bullet, as if attracted, all poured into the Membrane Card.
“Wh-…”
Jiraiya watched all of this in astonishment, as did the three Ninja, who were utterly dumbfounded.
Soon after, the flames vanished, and the Flame Bullet was entirely absorbed into the Membrane Card, which emitted a golden glow. The Membrane Card spun a few times in the air before flying back into Chizhao’s hand.
Chizhao leaned out, but lost her balance and fell from the height.
The sudden pain didn't come. Chizhao only felt herself being steadily caught by a pair of large hands. Looking up, she met Jiraiya's probing gaze.
“What exactly is going on?”
“Um… um… Jiraiya, listen to my explanation… I’m not a bad person!”
【Bad Deed Progress +2】
Little Wang's voice echoed in her mind, and a question mark slowly appeared above Chizhao's head.
What’s happening…
Turning her head, the three Ninja who had been standing there were already gone.
So, her actions had saved the bad guys who wanted to kill them?
Oh My God!!
Jiraiya gently set Chizhao down, his hands clasped together, his brows furrowed as he scrutinized her.
He had originally intended to capture those three for questioning, but this girl in front of him seemed to be the one who truly needed interrogation. The sudden assassination, the unbelievable Ninjutsu…
“What did you just do? Is it some special Ninjutsu? I’ve never seen it…”
Feeling Jiraiya’s pressure, Chizhao understood that if she didn’t explain something, Jiraiya might just take her back to feed the toads.
Looking at the Membrane Card in her hand, it had the words “Fire Release: Flame Bullet” written on it, the image majestic and fiery, with golden edges that made it look even more rare.
“Actually… this… this is a secret technique given to me by an Immortal…”
No choice, then! She’d just make up a touching story! Character designs were all self-given!
“Secret technique?”
At these two words, Jiraiya’s eyes lit up. He sat cross-legged on the ground, listening intently to her next words: “What kind of secret technique?”
Chizhao put on a pitiful act, sobbing while her CPU raced.
“I am a cripple who cannot use Chakra, unable to learn Ninjutsu to protect my family. I watched helplessly as my family was harmed by our enemies, and my heart was in great pain. But just the day before yesterday, I dreamed of an Immortal who bestowed upon me a treasure, saying that when I encountered danger, I could absorb other people’s Ninjutsu for my own use…”
After speaking, she secretly glanced at Jiraiya’s contemplative expression. Seeing no abnormality, she continued to sob: “Waaah, waaah, I miss my mommy and daddy so much…”
“I understand… but please stop crying for now…”
Chizhao, with tear-filled eyes, looked at Jiraiya. He slowly placed his hand on her head and said earnestly.
“What has already happened cannot be undone, but the road ahead is still long. At least the hope of the Shiratori Clan still remains, isn’t that right?”
Chizhao’s heart felt as if it had been struck, ripples spreading through it.
Although she didn't have much emotional connection to this so-called background, deep within her soul, it seemed to truly awaken the spirit and mission belonging to the Shiratori Clan.
This story was actually quite close to the truth, but she deliberately omitted some details and also concealed that Jiraiya was now sealed inside the Membrane Card, feeling a pang of guilt.
“Do you remember what this Immortal looked like?” Jiraiya asked with interest.
The River God’s annoying expression flashed in her mind, and she clenched her fists: “I don’t remember.”
No, she’d remember him even if he turned to ashes.
After learning so much, Jiraiya stood up, looking at the tiny Chizhao with a relaxed expression, and extended his palm: “May I see the Ninja Tool in your hand?”
Ninja Tool?
It seemed they generally referred to objects with special abilities as Ninja Tools.
Realizing this, Chizhao, like a good child, handed the Membrane Card to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya held the Membrane Card, stroking his chin as he observed it carefully, and couldn't help but grin, praising, “As expected of my Ninjutsu, it’s so cool!”
As expected of Jiraiya, his focus was indeed different.
“Then how do you use it?”
Chizhao took back the Membrane Card, the previous scene flashing in her mind.
She wouldn't actually have to do such an embarrassing routine in front of others, would she?
【Just throw it out!】
“Ah…?”
Little Wang's voice came from her mind, and Chizhao had a 【Are you sure?】 expression.
【Boss told me that.】
Chizhao froze, her anger skyrocketing, veins bulging on her forehead. That damned River God! Playing games with me, huh! Fine, fine, you just wait for me!
Angrily, she threw the Membrane Card out. Instantly, the Membrane Card stopped in mid-air, erupting in fierce flames that shot forward, directly incinerating a small patch of forest into scorched earth.
Holy crap, that’s awesome!
“As expected of my technique, ah ha ha ha.”
Jiraiya laughed proudly beside her, then suddenly remembered something. He squatted down, mysteriously bringing Chizhao’s head close to his own.
“Chizhao, listen carefully. Until you can stand on your own, never expose this ability of yours to others. If it’s absolutely necessary, you must never reveal your face. If you promise, I will take you as my disciple and teach you Ninjutsu!”
What?!
Jiraiya wants to take me as his disciple?!
“What?!”