The sound of wings gently spreading ahead rang out, and the bird flapped its wings, leaping from the branch, as if carrying her wish to fly towards a wider sky.
She watched the bird fly away, pulling her thoughts back.
Since she had already decided, she couldn't hesitate any longer.
The stool scraped briefly and harshly on the floor, and she resolutely stood up, walking with firm steps towards a corner of the podium.
It was recess now, and the playground was filled with the joyful laughter of her classmates.
She looked around, and when she was sure no one was paying attention to her, she took out the duty roster and quietly changed tomorrow's duty student to Uchiha Sasuke.
This way, she could buy time for others to move.
Chizhao couldn't help but feel an indescribable heartache for Sasuke's future.
But she quickly suppressed this emotion.
At least one day in the future, he would still be able to reunite with his family.
.......
As night fell, Chizhao, with things on her mind, finished washing up early and lay in bed.
Every detail of the cabin plan replayed repeatedly in her mind.
She couldn't help but recall Itachi and Shisui's conversation; his serious expression and words still left her with lingering fear.
"Recently, I also discovered a mysterious masked man in the Village."
Itachi's words were like a heavy hammer, making Chizhao's heart suddenly tighten.
She took over the conversation without hesitation, a hint of urgency in her tone:
"That person is very dangerous."
The definitive conclusion made both of them present freeze. Shisui turned his head and asked:
"Did you see something about the future again?"
Chizhao realized her gaffe, quickly returned to normal, covering it up with an innocent demeanor:
"Yes... yes, I seemed to have vaguely dreamed about it before... Wang-san should know more."
Throwing the topic to Wang-san, Chizhao began to simultaneously interpret in her consciousness.
"Yes, that masked man is a member of the Akatsuki Organization..."
Wang-san paused, and the voice in her consciousness abruptly stopped. It looked at Chizhao in confusion, wondering what she was thinking.
It's better not to reveal too much information, otherwise, it will be difficult to manage later.
"In short, it's best not to approach that person."
Itachi pondered for a moment, deep light reflecting in his dark eyes:
"No, that person has been lingering around the Village. I suspect he will be detrimental to Konoha."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
The observant Shisui seemed to have already guessed his thoughts.
"Join the Akatsuki Organization and monitor their actions."
Recalling this, Chizhao couldn't help but smile bitterly; she knew she couldn't change Itachi's decision.
She turned onto her side, and the image of Obito wearing a mask appeared in her mind, a strange worry welling up in her heart.
If she were to unexpectedly meet him in the future.
She wondered if her 'mouth jutsu' would have any effect on him.
She only hoped that everything would be within her control.
Looking at the sleeping Wang-san by her pillow, amidst complex thoughts, she finally fell into a deep sleep unknowingly.
.........
A faint light appeared on the eastern horizon, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves with a hint of coolness.
The diligent Keiko looked at the dining table, laden with a rich breakfast, but empty. She anxiously glanced at the clock on the wall.
Finally, unable to suppress the small flame in her heart, she dashed upstairs, knocking rapidly on the door.
"Chizhao? Are you awake? You're going to be late!"
"Chizhao?"
Seeing no response from behind the door, the flame in her heart instantly extinguished, and worry gradually rose.
She twisted open the door, only to see the girl lying in bed, her face flushed and looking exceptionally weak.
"Chizhao! What's wrong? Are you sick?"
Keiko placed the back of her hand on her forehead, and the scorching touch made her hand recoil.
She anxiously prepared to pull back the quilt to pick up Chizhao and seek a doctor, but to her surprise, Chizhao held her hands down.
She heard Chizhao's weak voice:
"Grandma, I'm fine, I just caught a bit of a cold. I'll be fine after a little rest."
"How can that be! You're burning up like this."
But no matter how Keiko tried to pull her hands away, she was still held tightly by the seemingly weak Chizhao.
"I don't want to see a doctor. I'll be fine if I take some fever reducers..."
After saying that, she coughed twice, looking utterly listless.
If it weren't for being sick, her rosy little face would have added a lot of cuteness to her.
Keiko had no choice but to compromise. She carefully tucked her into bed and gently instructed her:
"Then you rest well first. I'll get you some medicine and bring up something to eat."
Chizhao nodded, her usually bright eyes now devoid of their usual sparkle.
After Keiko left, Chizhao pricked up her ears, hearing the footsteps going downstairs gradually disappear.
She swiftly threw off the quilt and took off all the layers of thick clothes she was wearing.
"It's so hot, I almost really died of heat!"
Wang-san, buried under the cotton clothes, struggled to climb out.
"I didn't expect you to be quite an actress."
"Is it possible that I'm not acting?"
After putting away her clothes, she heard movement upstairs, so she quickly pulled back the quilt and lay back down on the bed.
Having prepared her emotions, she once again looked sickly and weak.
Keiko, her eyes full of concern, brought up the medicine and food, and then checked her forehead again.
Feeling that the scorching heat on her hand had significantly decreased, her worried expression finally eased.
Keiko gently tucked Chizhao's damp hair behind her ears.
"The medicine and food are here. Remember to eat it all. I'll call the school to ask for leave now. You rest well."
Finally achieving her goal, Chizhao nodded weakly.
She thought for a moment and then added in a weak voice:
"Grandma, I want to sleep well. I'll come downstairs myself when I'm hungry. You don't have to worry about me for now."
Keiko, her face full of tenderness, didn't think much of it. She placed a fever patch on her forehead, nodded in agreement, and then left the room.
Finally having bluffed her way through, Chizhao kicked off the quilt, flipped over, and jumped out of bed, looking completely different from her earlier weak self.
She gently and apologetically peeled off the fever patch, carefully placing it on the table.
She quickly changed into her training clothes; everything was ready.
Accidentally glancing at Wang-san, who was secretly eating breakfast, she quickly snatched a sandwich, stuffed it into her mouth, took a bite, and said somewhat incoherently:
"Wang-san, I'm leaving this to you. If anything happens, help me handle it first!"
"Understood, understood."
Wang-san nodded perfunctorily, burying herself in the breakfast on the table.
Chizhao took out the last Membrane Card from her bag and did a mental count.
Including the other 4 used to anchor teleportation locations, she now had a total of 5 blank Membrane Cards.
It seemed she would need to find opportunities to accumulate more Membrane Cards in the future, otherwise, they would be in short supply.
Moreover, there was a risk of other Membrane Cards disappearing.
Bringing her attention back to the present, Chizhao threw the Membrane Card onto the wall.
A rectangular shape emitting a faint glow slowly expanded. She tightened the bandage on her wrist, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.