When Chun Cha returned home, he found that his sister had not yet fallen asleep. She was lying on the sofa in the living room reading a book. She was wearing a thin nightgown and her two fair and tender little feet were dangling there, as if she was right.
Reading the book with gusto.
Hearing the sound at the door, Xia sat up from the sofa.
"Sister, you are back."
"Um."
Chun Cha had a look of deep exhaustion on her face, and she responded feebly.
"Have you eaten? I left some for you in the kitchen." Xia said looking at Chun Cha's appearance.
"okay, I get it."
Chun Cha walked to the sofa and lay down. She sank into the sofa and didn't move again.
Xia immediately closed the book, stood up and walked into the kitchen to bring out the food he had left.
"summer."
Xia was placing the bowl quickly when he suddenly heard the sound of spring tea. He turned around and saw that she was still lying there motionless.
"ah?"
"Did you go out with Yin Lubo today?"
Xia couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, surprised that she would ask herself such a question, and then responded: "No, he didn't come to see me today."
"oh."
I thought there was nothing more to say, but after a while I heard Chun Cha continue to say: "Yin Lubo seems to me to be quite upright, without any scheming."
"Well, that's right." Xia responded in a dull tone, as if he was not interested in the topic.
"Huomen is much calmer. At such a young age, he is thoughtful and calm in situations. Master Rizu often praises him. He should be the best among his peers in the clan."
"Maybe."
"summer."
"..."
"Is there anyone you like?"
"No."
At this time, Chun Cha sat up from the sofa and looked at Xia, who was serving food to her, her eyes flashing slightly.
"You guys are childhood sweethearts, don't you have any feelings for them?"
Xia frowned slightly: "Do childhood sweethearts have to be together? Can't they just be good friends?"
Chun Cha laughed dryly: "...of course."
Xia couldn't help but look at her more and realized that something was wrong with her sister today.
In the past, she would occasionally joke with herself about this, but her current demeanor and tone didn't sound like she was joking.
Haruno did not end the topic at this point, but continued to speak hesitantly: "That one really... I have been in contact with him recently, right?"
Xia finally couldn't help it anymore and said helplessly: "Do you really want to find me a boyfriend? You are single until now, so why don't you find me a brother-in-law first?"
Spring tea fell into silence.
Xia then said again: "Eat quickly, it's still hot."
After she finished cooking, she walked to the sofa and picked up her book.
"Would you like to... try to get along with that person more?"
"don't want."
"I didn't ask you to be with him..."
Xia was suddenly startled.
Chun Cha lowered her head and continued: "It's just... it would be nice to get along with each other more."
Hinata Xia is very smart. Looking at her sister's appearance, she quickly figured out the cause and effect of all this.
Why would my sister say these things to me inexplicably?
Xia's face calmed down: "I understand."
"Xia, you..."
"I know, I will do it."
"...I'm sorry, Xia."
Xia's expression was dull: "You said you don't need to fall in love with him."
"As long as we get closer to him, it will be fine."
…
The day after Hizashi returned to the village, another wounded man was sent back from the front line, and at the same time, another camp in Konoha was defeated by the enemy.
Konoha Hospital.
Looking at Jiraiya on the hospital bed covered with bandages, Sarutobi's face was neither sad nor happy.
"How many people were evacuated?"
"half."
"That's it..." Jiraiya said to himself, his voice a little heavy.
"It was expected. If Minato hadn't arrived, I would have died there."
They were attacked by thousands of Iwa ninjas, led by the Third Tsuchikage Onoki.
With just one encounter, Jiraiya saw a dazzling white light passing through the center of his camp, turning everything in its path into powder.
The number of enemies was more than three times theirs. Jiraiya chose to buy time for his companions, but was helplessly outnumbered. Fortunately, Minato arrived quickly.
Jiraiya asked: "How many people are there on our front line?"
Sarutobi said: "Four thousand... less than."
These words caused a long silence between the two of them. The once largest ninja village in the ninja world has now reached this stage.
Even Jiraiya couldn't help but ask: "Can we still win?"
Sarutobi did not answer this question. Just now, a letter came from the Daimyo, suggesting that if Sarutobi cannot win this battle, he can consider surrendering to Iwagakure. As long as the war can be stopped, the Fire Country is willing to pay more in materials, money and even land.
.
But Sarutobi knew Onoki's temperament, and if he had negotiated peace with Iwagakure just after the battle of Kannabi Bridge, he would have most likely agreed.
But now that Iwakaku sees victory in sight, how could he just give up?
The end of the road...
Jiraiya saw the armor under Hokage Sarutobi's robe and asked, "How is the village now?"
Sarutobi looked out the window: "...it's a little messy."
This chaos can be seen or invisible...
The villagers panicked, and the wealthy people plotted a retreat...
The unbreakable bond established by the first Hokage was finally loosened in the face of life and death.
"I heard that Orochimaru went to Sunagakure to call for reinforcements."
"Konoha will no longer have allies in its current situation."
"……makes sense."
"After I go to the front line, the village will be handed over to you."
"I don't know how to deal with government affairs."
"There is no government affairs, only news of our victory or death."
Jiraiya smiled bitterly and stopped responding.
Sarutobi said calmly: "If you think it's a mess, just recover quickly and then go to the front line to die."
It's the end of the road.
After Sarutobi left, Jiraiya sat on the hospital bed, looking at the scenery outside the window in silence.
The leaves are withering and it is late autumn.
He thought for no reason about the time with Tsunade and Orochimaru before they became famous.
At that time, there were only endless tasks to complete, and there were so many worries and worries like now.
After becoming a Sannin, his status in the village became higher and higher, he came into contact with more and more things, and he understood more and more. The distance between the three of them seemed to be getting farther and farther.
Jiraiya felt that Orochimaru's hidden ambition was too great, and his student was a natural Hokage.
When Sarutobi-sensei told him that he would use this war as a stage for Minato and hide Orochimaru, he agreed.
After the battle at Kannabi Bridge, Minato's reputation reached its peak, and his brilliance overshadowed his former self, making Jiraiya feel that things would develop so smoothly...
Thinking about it now, if Orochimaru had been on the front line at that time, maybe the war would have been won long ago.
With Minato's strength and character, there was no need for the unnecessary actions of himself and Sarutobi-sensei to lead to such a tragedy.
In his heart, Orochimaru must be extremely disappointed with himself and Sarutobi-sensei.