The Long Road of Cultivation

Naruto returned home, not expecting Eiyuling to be back yet. After waiting around in boredom for a long time, he heard the door open and rushed over in excitement, startling her so much that the items in her hands swayed. "Naruto?"

"Eiyuling, you're finally back! Do you know what? I beat Rock Lee today!" Naruto was so excited he jumped up, looking at Eiyuling with a face full of expectation for praise.

"Mm, Naruto is amazing!" Eiyuling paused, looking at Naruto with a light smile, looking very much like a mother watching her child. Naruto rolled his eyes in feigned annoyance and shifted his gaze to the things Eiyuling had brought back.

"Didn't we not have much money left? Why did you go and buy so much!" Naruto looked at Eiyuling in astonishment.

Eiyuling raised an eyebrow at him. "Let's go inside first." As she spoke, she pulled Naruto into the house, placed the various snacks on the table, and chuckled to herself as she watched Naruto's greedy expression.

Seeing that everything was ready, Naruto dove right in and started devouring the food. "Naruto, I still have something to tell you. Don't you dare say I'm neglecting you again!" Eiyuling sighed helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Naruto's brow furrowed instantly, his face full of displeasure as he stared at Eiyuling as if trying to see right through her.

Eiyuling, conversely, felt like a child who had done something wrong, and she shrugged indifferently.

Eiyuling set down her chopsticks and said solemnly, "I am leaving the village tomorrow. As for how long I'll be gone, I don't know. Don't get angry yet; my teacher came to find me to take me away for training. There are more opportunities for practical experience outside, and I..."

"Then go!" Naruto suddenly interrupted Eiyuling, his tone firm and devoid of his usual resentment. Eiyuling was taken aback, staring at the suddenly considerate and mature Naruto, caught completely off guard.

"I know our training methods are different. Mine aren't suitable for you, and yours aren't suitable for me, so I don't intend to stop you from becoming stronger."

"But I'm really grateful for your company these past few months. Although I'll miss it, I know you have things you want to do. I'm slow, but you never complained about anything, and also, also!"

Naruto paused and scratched his head, looking a bit shy. He looked at Eiyuling again, flashing that incredibly warm smile, his silly expression infectious enough to affect even Eiyuling.

"Eiyuling has always, always cared about me, not looking at me like others do. By being my friend, I'm no longer so lonely and helpless. I'm really, really happy!!"

Hearing what Naruto said, Eiyuling felt an inexplicable mix of sadness and warmth. It was a blend of sorrow and joy; she felt heartache for Naruto but was also deeply moved by him. So, Naruto, why are you always so sunny?

I also feel very lucky to have met you. You know, the people of Konoha, and Gaara whom I haven't met yet—I am grateful for all of you, to be able to meet you here...

Eiyuling waited at the main gate for a while without seeing Orochimaru, but when she turned her head, she saw him watching her with a half-smile.

"Are you all prepared?" Orochimaru asked in his signature raspy voice.

Eiyuling was not surprised at all; to leave the village, one must be accompanied by a Jonin teacher.

"Yes," Eiyuling replied calmly.

"Heh, then let's go." Orochimaru gave a faint, eerie smile. Eiyuling's gaze turned cold, and she followed him.

Eiyuling embarked on the path of Orochimaru's twisted training.

After following Orochimaru for so long, she had expected to return to his base, but to her surprise, they arrived at the Sound Ninja Village. Eiyuling had vaguely guessed this, so he still didn't fully trust her, did he?

As for the training method, Eiyuling could only describe it as simple and brutal. There were no extra steps; it was just sparring. Having learned nothing yet, Uzumaki Eiyuling only had the strength to be soundly beaten.

Orochimaru gave her time to practice the Three Body Technique, and she spent every day painstakingly honing these abilities. He also taught her techniques for throwing kunai, but he taught her no other ninjutsu; everything else was up to her.

Every day felt like an exam; every day was a battle.

Eiyuling discovered that Orochimaru increased the force of his strikes day by day. As long as she didn't show the slightest bit of progress, it wasn't just a matter of superficial wounds.

Even if she was beaten to the ground, the next strike would land right on schedule. Eiyuling's body was covered in more and more injuries—bruises from impacts and abrasions from friction.

Like a discarded doll, she was sent flying by ninjutsu, slamming heavily into the ground, kicked away, and sliding across the floor. She tried desperately to defend herself, but it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

But it hurt so much. Her previous life had been like living in a greenhouse. She saw herself bleeding profusely, pain radiating from every limb, the scent of her own blood filling the air around her.

She was terrified and even thought about running away, but the next second, a giant snake three people tall would appear before her, flicking its tongue and watching her with a predatory gaze.

Zhan mocked her endlessly in her heart, "Run. You can train in the village, you can still become strong. This place is too terrifying; you will die."

Be afraid, be terrified. As long as you are surrounded by these emotions, you can be eliminated. Uzumaki Eiyuling, just hand your body over to me. A coward only needs to run away.

Eiyuling stared blankly at the giant snake in front of her. Her face grew wet as silent tears seemed to fall. All the events of the past rushed into her mind, eventually turning into endless guilt.

She kept questioning herself in her heart, trying to understand why she was alive and what the meaning of living was.

This is what you owe others; this is your own doing. Aren't you trying to atone? Have you forgotten that time you fell into the water? Have you forgotten that feeling of weakness and loneliness?

If she weren't so weak, she could have taught those who bullied Naruto a lesson, she could have gone to Sunagakure, she could have changed many things. Her living only has meaning if she is strong.

When she returned, Orochimaru didn't care at all. Eiyuling looked at the man standing there, her eyes filled only with determination. Becoming Orochimaru's student was the only way to grow quickly, and she had not come by this opportunity easily.

If she returned to the village, she would only be an ordinary ninja, perhaps not even able to participate in the Chunin Exams. Without strength, she would still need Naruto to save her, and even Gaara wouldn't care about her existence.

She was just a grain of sand in the sea of people, admiring everyone else who kept getting stronger. Standing in the crowd, no one would notice her. Suffering, regretting, unable to change anything—she could only watch from the sidelines, becoming a background character.

This was not the meaning of her life; this was not the value of her existence.

Eiyuling bowed deeply to Orochimaru and apologized solemnly, "I'm sorry. I won't run away again."

Orochimaru narrowed his snake-like eyes as he watched her, smiling faintly without a word, though his mind was filled with growing calculations.

Uzumaki Eiyuling, you truly are full of promise.

But from then on, Orochimaru showed absolutely no mercy, sparing only Eiyuling's life.

There were many things Eiyuling couldn't remember; she would be beaten until she lost all consciousness, even forgetting where she was. This filled Eiyuling's heart with fear—the feeling that she was like a clown being watched by an audience.

Orochimaru only kept her because he found her interesting; perhaps one day when he lost interest, she would be crushed to death in an instant.

This fear also drove Eiyuling to practice even more diligently. Eiyuling became more reckless; she wanted to become stronger, even if it meant sustaining heavy injuries.

Eiyuling thought this might change something, but she was still beaten black and blue by Orochimaru. Without the slightest progress, she would be fiercely struck away before she could even reach him.

Here, there was no one to pity her, nor would anyone come to her aid.

Even though she felt her kunai were more precise, more unexpected, and her movement techniques more fluid, everything still felt like a toddler's play—like an infant in the eyes of Orochimaru!

Yet, she was so unwilling to accept this. Why was she like this? What could she actually do right now? There was still one person she wanted to see, and people she wanted to protect.

Her eyes filled with resentment as she looked at Orochimaru, that person standing high above her. Just like always, she could only lie powerlessly on the ground, looking up at him.

Hui struggled to crawl to her feet. Blood from her forehead trickled down, streaking across her dirty face and turning increasingly thick and dark.

"Ah!!" Hui gripped her shuriken and charged forward once more, her hands moving rapidly through hand seals.

If only she could land a single hit, if only she could prove that her efforts were not in vain...