Wind Style Ninjutsu

In the time that followed, Hui not only practiced combat techniques with Kimimaro but also dedicated all her remaining time to practicing Wind Style, with Orochimaru personally teaching her the ninjutsu.

From this moment on, Hui realized just how familiar she was with Wind Style ninjutsu; she finally possessed this talent.

Despite his earlier words, Orochimaru still taught her from the simplest Wind Style techniques. She practiced incessantly, as if completing a quota of assignments; as soon as she mastered one, a new Wind Style scroll would appear. As long as she learned quickly, the scrolls kept piling up.

Although her current ninjutsu lacked significant offensive power, Hui vaguely felt that the more she learned, the more her perpetually tense and fearful heart could relax. Only through constant training could she keep her mind from wandering into dark places.

She never wanted to experience that life of constant, trembling fear ever again.

Every night, sleep was a jarring experience. Her mind was always filled with the scenes of the day's training, and she would often wake up in the dead of night. Once awake, her memories would feel fragmented, requiring a long time of contemplation before she could remember where she was.

By now, she couldn't even distinguish what kind of emotions she was feeling—fear, tension, or surprise.

As long as she could see her own progress and become stronger than she was yesterday, the panic in her heart would diminish.

Under Orochimaru, power was everything.

This was a choice with only a path forward and no way back; once chosen, retreat was impossible.

Today was the usual combat training. Looking at the training ground she had become so familiar with, Hui let out a long sigh, pretending she was truly relaxed.

Although this training ground was located in the woods, it had been built with an observation deck and a large open space in the center. Even though it was currently a training ground, Hui always felt it was more of a dueling arena, perfectly suited for watching battles as a pastime.

When she entered, Kimimaro was already waiting for her.

He was calmly gazing at the trees in the distance, his rippleless eyes revealing no emotion, his brow perpetually cold and detached.

Seeing Hui walk in, he turned to look at her and said slowly, "You're late."

Although Kimimaro vaguely suspected that Hui Youling was Lord Orochimaru's next vessel, Lord Orochimaru had never spoken such words to him until now, merely instructing him to guide Hui Youling as if she were a normal student.

Even if he did not know Orochimaru's intentions, he would execute any order from Lord Orochimaru and strive to do it well.

Hearing Kimimaro's reproach, Hui no longer felt the initial fear she once had, replying flatly, "Master Orochimaru asked me to fetch new scrolls, so I was delayed."

Hearing this, Kimimaro withdrew his gaze from Hui and said, "Begin the training."

Hui nodded, let out another long sigh in her heart, and took her stance, preparing for battle.

As she learned more Wind Style ninjutsu, she could use more techniques when sparring with Kimimaro. During combat training, Kimimaro could not instruct her on the application of ninjutsu, so Hui had to rely on her own exploration to learn how to utilize them.

Moreover, her perception was vaguely improving; she could occasionally predict his attacks. Although she still couldn't land a hit on Kimimaro, at least she wouldn't be completely crushed or sent flying after a few exchanges.

However, Hui had never expected to encounter someone like Qingsi.

She couldn't imagine when Orochimaru had found this person, and his medical skills were exceptionally high.

This was truly unexpected for her, because in those fragmented memories, Qingsi had left no trace in the future.

What happened to him in the future, and why he disappeared, were things Hui was curious about but didn't know. However, thinking about these things now seemed meaningless.

Orochimaru would also entrust him with certain experiments; it seemed he was involved in scientific research as well.

It was Orochimaru who introduced her to Qingsi. When they first met, he was conducting a research experiment, wearing a mask and operating the instruments in his hands like a medical monster.

When Orochimaru walked up to him, Qingsi didn't react. Orochimaru called for him to stop, "Qingsi, end today's experiment."

Hui followed Orochimaru a few steps and stood not far from the two, not walking over. To a normal person, that area would naturally evoke fear.

Various instruments were scattered about—not just scalpels, but even chainsaws and sickles. It felt less like an operating table and more like a torture chamber.

However, the only thing that made it less repulsive was how clean it was, even though the scent of blood in the air had yet to dissipate.

Qingsi stopped his scalpel and removed his mask to look at Orochimaru. Only then did Hui see his appearance: cyan hair tied into a ponytail, yet without a hint of femininity, for his brows were rugged and masculine.

His face, which could be considered upright, was covered in a layer of frost. When he saw Orochimaru, a strange light flickered in his eyes. Hui didn't understand it; she only felt that a person with such features appearing here was even stranger than her own existence.

After a moment, he smiled, though his tone remained flat as he said, "Lord Orochimaru, what do you need of me?"

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes watched Qingsi, and he smiled eerily, commanding in his raspy voice, "From now on, you will no longer conduct experiments here."

Hui noticed that when Orochimaru finished this sentence, Qingsi's brow furrowed slightly. His eyes shifted to her, and he said with slight surprise, "Is it because of her?"

Orochimaru laughed, "Exactly. I am entrusting her treatment to you."

Qingsi squinted at Hui. Looking at her childish face, he saw the shadow of Orochimaru, especially in those pitch-black eyes. He was slightly surprised inwardly, but he did not contradict Orochimaru, saying flatly, "Very well."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, turned to look at Hui, and walked over. "Hui, he will be responsible for your treatment from now on."

Hui tilted her head, her gaze passing over Orochimaru to look at Qingsi. Both remained silent, and she saw Qingsi looking back at her. The two stared at each other.

Both pairs of eyes were flat, yet both concealed a cold indifference, their thoughts vastly different.

Hui thought that this was her own dedicated medical support. With treatment, she wouldn't need to spend so much time resting to recover from previous injuries; this was indeed a highly efficient method of cultivation.

As for Qingsi, he wondered: a child so young, yet favored by Orochimaru—did she possess a Kekkei Genkai?

Ever since Qingsi was assigned to treat her, Hui finally stopped worrying about getting injured, and her battles with Kimimaro were no longer timid.

Qingsi usually watched her fight from the sidelines, and slowly, his eyes filled with shock.

It wasn't because of Hui's overwhelming strength, but because she fought as if she had no sense of pain—unrestrained, giving her all.

In the past, his test subjects would panic and scream at the sight of too many wounds, even losing their composure and half their strength; such subjects only ever met a final end of death.

Even when injured, Hui Youling maintained her composure and ability to adapt. Perhaps the person sparring with her found it hard to notice, but as an observer, he saw her expression of suppressed pain many times.

As the battle dragged on, she was indeed struggling due to her injuries; no wonder he had been asked to treat her.

And was this girl truly a girl?

This tenacity surpassed that of far too many boys, much like another of Orochimaru's students.

Kimimaro watched as the wounds on Hui's body multiplied and her exhaustion grew; there was no point in continuing the fight, so he ceased his attacks and said indifferently, "Let's stop here for today. Go get your wounds treated."

Hui wiped the sweat from her forehead and noticed the bloodstains on her hands, only then realizing her brow had been split open. The sting of the wound mixed with sweat was agonizing, but Hui merely frowned slightly, no longer forcing herself to endure.

"Alright," she said.

Kimimaro retracted his bone spurs, tidied himself up, and turned to leave. Qingsi glanced at the two of them, naturally remembering his duty, and walked toward Hui Youling, his hands already covered in green chakra.

Hui's eyes followed Kimimaro as he departed, and she sighed helplessly in her heart. Just what was the extent of Kimimaro's strength? It felt as though she could never catch up to him. Before she could react, she felt a hand cover her forehead, easing the pain that had only just begun to register.

Coming back to her senses, Hui looked at Qingsi, who was now standing beside her, and quickly thanked him, "Many thanks."

Hearing Hui Youling's thanks, Qingsi paused for a moment, though he continued to treat her. He raised the corners of his mouth in a smile and said, "This is the first time I've seen someone as naive as you in this place."

Hui looked up at Qingsi. It was the first time she had heard such an assessment of herself from someone else, so she repeated his words faintly and asked in return, "Naive?"

Qingsi looked into Hui's cold eyes; she was becoming more and more like Orochimaru. He gave a mocking laugh in his heart—how could any disciple of Orochimaru truly be a pushover? He changed the subject and asked, "Why did you come here?"

"To become stronger," Hui said truthfully.

"Is that so?" Qingsi asked back.

However, Hui felt he wasn't really asking her, so she looked at Qingsi in confusion, "And you?"

Qingsi's gaze drifted elsewhere, and after a while, he said, "I suppose I am the same as you."

Hui smiled and said, "Is that so?"

Qingsi gave a helpless smile but said nothing more, continuing to treat the other wounds on Hui's body.