Sarutobi Ryo carefully read the Steel Release Scroll. Even though he already knew a similar technique, he still found valuable insights within it.
"This scroll is precious in itself," he thought. " I can't learn Gari's exact Steel Release, but I can keep it for others to study."
He imagined finding skilled ninja who could learn Steel Release and become powerful defenders.
"Young Master Ryo..."
Suddenly, a worried voice came from outside.
Sarutobi Ryo looked up and saw the Umino couple rushing in.
They were carrying someone covered in blood.
Sarutobi Ryo immediately recognized the distinctive hair: "Huh?! Guren? What happened?!"
The Umino couple quickly brought Guren inside. Nonou was called to help treat her injuries.
"The injuries are very bad..." Nonou frowned, examining the poorly applied bandages. It was clear that the wounds had been left untreated for days. She couldn't believe how the young girl had managed to survive.
Sarutobi Ryo's eyes narrowed as he looked at Guren. What could have caused these wounds?
He saw signs of explosions and cuts from sharp weapons. The style of attack suggested puppet masters from the Land of Wind. However, if that were the case, the weapons should have been poisoned. Yet, there was no indication of poison in her wounds.
"These wounds are difficult to heal," Nonou said, her frown deepening after a while. "A strange chakra is interfering with the healing process."
"Strange chakra?" Yamanaka Hui moved closer and placed her hand on Guren's body, focusing her senses.
She quickly confirmed Nonou's assessment.
As a precaution, Yamanaka Hui placed her hand on Guren's forehead.
Even unconscious, Guren seemed to be experiencing a nightmare.
Yamanaka Hui concentrated and carefully entered Guren's mind.
A moment later, the blonde girl with a ponytail opened her eyes and spoke a single word.
"Roran..."
Roran?
Sarutobi Ryo glanced at Guren, noticing a faint, almost invisible purple glow around her wounds.
Roran was a small city-state bordering the Land of Wind, located between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind. It was essentially a single city.
"It's the Dragon Vein power..." Sarutobi Ryo instantly thought of Mukade, the villain from the future who had been trapped in the Roran ruins by Team Konoha.
Mukade had activated a technique, consuming the sealing jutsu placed by Minato Namikaze, and gaining control over the Dragon Vein power beneath Roran.
"The Dragon Vein... that country has it?" Nonou asked, already familiar with the location.
She quickly pointed out Roran on a map.
Sarutobi Ryo hesitated for a moment, then decided to go to Roran immediately.
"Lord..."
Guren suddenly woke up.
She gasped for air, her eyes locking onto Sarutobi Ryo.
"Be... careful..."
She spoke before losing consciousness again.
The unfinished words left Sarutobi Ryo feeling uneasy.
Yamanaka Hui shook her head, indicating that trying to extract more memories right now would take too long and risk harming Guren.
"Then we'll wait a bit." Sarutobi Ryo decided to wait until Guren could speak more.
----
Later that night, Nonou's continuous medical ninjutsu managed to stabilize Guren's condition. She was finally out of immediate danger and able to speak.
As Guren told her story, Sarutobi Ryo began to understand what had happened.
After Pakura's attack, Guren had been traveling the ninja world, improving her skills, just as Sarutobi Ryo had instructed.
She had also met Ringo Ameyuri, and the two had worked together as bounty hunters.
The training had been going well, but then she had accepted a job from the underground black market that originated in Roran.
She thought it was a simple task: transporting a large shipment of supplies.
During wartime, this kind of smuggling could be very profitable.
Guren thought she could use her skills to complete the mission and negotiate a good price.
So, she went to Roran, intending to speak with Queen Sara.
But she accidentally discovered a conspiracy: the entire population of Roran had been replaced with puppets.
The real queen was dead.
Queen Sara, the queen's daughter, was unaware of the truth.
And Mukade was behind it all.
"As soon as he saw me, he wanted to kill me..." Guren said, deeply confused.
Lying in bed, she looked at her lord. Sarutobi Ryo also shook his head, not understanding the reason.
However, Sarutobi Ryo had a possible explanation.
Mukade was from the future.
This meant that there was a future conflict between him and Mukade.
Mukade also knew that Guren was his subordinate.
So he wanted to alter the past and eliminate Guren.
That must be it.
"During my escape, I awakened a special kekkei genkai..."
Guren slowly raised her hand, her palm opening. Pink crystals formed and appeared.
"Crystal Release." Sarutobi Ryo's eyes widened. He recognized the kekkei genkai he had long awaited.
At that moment, a system message appeared.
[Will of Fire System]
[New Weapon of the Will of Fire: Guren]
[Side Quest Objective: Infuse Guren with the Will of Fire]
[Side Quest Reward: Crystal Release]
The clear quest prompt indicated that obtaining the Crystal Release would be very straightforward.
It was now late at night.
Nonou, exhausted from the day, had already left.
The candle in the room flickered, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere.
Sarutobi Ryo stood guard by the bed, Guren lying on it.
The feeling of being protected made her cheeks flush. Was it the feeling of family? Or... something more, hidden deep within her heart?
Sarutobi Ryo stared at the weak girl.
The bandages emphasized her youthful figure.
He could see that she would grow into a stunning beauty.
Under Sarutobi Ryo's gaze, Guren's eyes fluttered, and she looked away.
Then, with a wave of his hand, Sarutobi Ryo extinguished the candle.
The sudden darkness made Guren's heart race.
She heard his hot breath in her ear. "Guren, your injuries... need proper treatment..."
Rustling sounds filled the room.
Sarutobi Ryo's unique medical ninjutsu tool expanded in the darkness.
Guren's breathing quickened.
Because of her injuries, she could barely move.
But she was both anticipating and dreading what might happen.
The next moment.
The medical ninjutsu tool touched her body.
Sizzle~!
Guren: "Ugh~!"
She felt a crushing weight, as if Mount Tai were pressing down on her.
The unusual medical treatment, both painful and strangely comforting, caused Guren to cry out before fainting...
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 119 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
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]