"Whatever."
After leaving these two words, Ning Xue turned around and walked deeper into the corridor without looking back.
Naruto and Yu Liu looked at each other, said softly "Let's go", and took the lead to follow them.
Yu Liu bit his lip and took steps.
She walked at the end, holding tightly the scalpel given to her by teacher Shinnō in her sleeves, and the handle was soaked with sweat from her palm.
If the teacher is really not dead... it means the teacher is really a bad person.
If what that man said was false... he really killed the teacher!
In her eyes, a murderous intention flashed that even she herself was unaware of.
Ning Xue was walking at the front and felt the flash of murderous intent behind him, but he did not look back.
Because he knows and doesn't care.
A tomboy who has not yet grown up and a scalpel cannot threaten him.
And if it was as he suspected, then this tomboy was just a tool immersed in lies.
The three of them walked along the corridor towards the depths of the ruins, passed through the blasted wall, walked around the unconscious Sky Ninja, and went all the way up.
The top floor of the ruins, the central control room.
Shinnō was sitting on a high-backed stone chair, tapping the armrest with his fingers, making a monotonous and rhythmic sound.
He opened his eyes and looked at the three figures gradually becoming clearer at the end of his line of sight, with a sneer gradually rising from the corner of his mouth.
"Tap, tap, tap, tap..."
The dense footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, getting closer and closer and becoming clearer.
Finally, three figures appeared at the door of the control room.
The first one to step in was Ning Xue.
His pace was still steady, and he looked at the person sitting in front of him. His expression under the mask was very calm, even with a hint of anticipation.
Followed closely by Naruto.
When he saw the figure sitting on the high-backed chair, his steps suddenly stopped.
The blue eyes widened instantly.
"Uncle Shinnō...!"
There was shock in his voice, and a trace of solemnity that he didn't even notice.
Really not dead.
That also means that what that guy said is true...
Yu Liu, who finally walked in, froze in place the moment she saw that familiar face.
"Teacher..."
Her voice was trembling.
His eyes instantly turned red, and tears almost burst out of his eyes.
She subconsciously wanted to rush forward and rush into that warm embrace, just like she had done countless times before.
But the moment she took the first step, a hand reached out from behind and grabbed her collar.
"Don't go there."
Naruto's voice was deep, and he looked completely different from before.
"Naruto! What are you doing!"
Yu Liu was dragged back and struggled, with a cry in his voice.
"Calm down, Yu Liu! Have you forgotten what that person said?"
Naruto gave a rare scolding and looked at the other party solemnly.
Yu Liu, who was scolded, gradually regained his rationality after hearing these words.
But Shinnō is her teacher, and Ning Xue is just a stranger.
She is more willing to believe the teacher than to believe Ning Xue's one-sided words.
"Teacher..."
At this moment, Shinnō spoke.
"Yu Liu, how can you stay with the murderer of the teacher?"
His voice was still gentle, with a kind smile, as if he was just asking a student who made a mistake.
Yu Liu's heart trembled suddenly and he subconsciously took half a step back.
"Teacher..."
Her lips trembled and she wanted to say something, but Naruto beat her to it.
"Why are you still alive!"
Naruto's voice was questioning, and his blue eyes were staring at Shinnō.
"I saw you being penetrated by Ice Cone with my own eyes, and saw your body being blown to pieces!
You... what the hell are you!"
Shinnō heard this and just smiled gently.
"Haha... don't be so excited, Naruto."
He slowly stood up from the stone chair, put his hands behind his back, and walked slowly forward.
"Of course I am alive because of my medical skills."
"Medical skills?"
Naruto is confused.
"How is it possible in that situation..."
"Body Activation Technique."
Shinnō interrupted him with an understatement, as if he was just talking about a trivial matter.
"As long as the heart and brain are not destroyed at the same time, I can repair the body in a very short time.
As for the blown flesh and blood..."
He looked down at his intact body and smiled.
"It's just some deception. They are all things I have prepared long ago."
Hearing this, Naruto's pupils shrank and he reacted.
"You... you planned it from the beginning?"
Shinnō did not answer, but turned his attention to Ning Xue.
"But this guy is very keen.
I originally wanted to escape by feigning death, and at the same time let the darkness in Yu Liu's body completely explode.
However, seeing the two of them following you, you should be the one to reveal your guess."
He tilted his head, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"But it doesn't matter.
The plan has progressed to this point, and whether you come or not, the outcome will not change."
"What the hell are you talking about!"
Naruto clenched his fists.
Shinnō turned around, walked to the console, raised his hand and gently touched the densely packed runes.
"This ruins... no, it should be called Ancor Vantian."
His voice suddenly became solemn, with an almost pious tone.
"On the surface, it's just a sleeping ancient ruin.
But actually..."
He turned back and looked at Naruto, with a twisted and pious arc at the corner of his mouth.
"It is the ultimate weapon that Land of Sky's ninjas have spent decades using to destroy Five Great Nations."
Naruto was stunned.
Yu Liu was also stunned.
Of course, Ning Xue was also stunned.
"Destroy Five Great Nations?"
Did you drink too much fake wine? (This is someone's complaint)
Naruto's voice was full of disbelief.
"Are you crazy? Just because of this thing?"
"Crazy?"
Shinnō laughed lightly and shook his head.
"Young man, you underestimate this ruins too much.
The power of Ancor Vantian is far more powerful than you imagine.
As long as Zero-Tails's power is fully activated, it can unleash a devastating attack powerful enough to wipe Five Great Nations off the map."
He paused and his eyes became deep.
"And I have been waiting for this day for fourteen years."
"Fourteen years..." Naruto murmured and repeated.
"That's right. Fourteen years ago, I was a wandering doctor, traveling around the world, treating illnesses and saving people.
But that's all just superficial."
Shinnō's voice deepened.
"As long as war exists, there will always be sick people.
As long as Five Great Nations exists, war will never disappear.
The negative energy generated by war is Zero-Tails's food, and it can also be eradicated from the source."
"You... you're crazy..."
Naruto gritted his teeth, his voice filled with anger.
"I'm not crazy."
Shinnō's tone is still calm.
"I just want to destroy Five Great Nations."
"In order to achieve this goal, I sneaked into various countries to find the power that can drive Ancor Vantian.
Finally, thirteen years ago, I found the magic scroll of Zero-Tails at Konoha."
He raised his head and glanced at the three of them.
"That is my pursuit. From that day on, I am no longer a doctor, but... the reviver of Land of Sky."
Naruto's fists clenched loudly.
"So... you have been taking advantage of Yu Liu from the beginning? Your care and tenderness are all fake?!"
Shinnō was silent for a moment, then sighed lightly and shook his head.
"Exploiting... is such an ugly word."
He looked at Yu Liu, the kindness in his eyes was still there, but it made Yu Liu feel a chill to his bones.
"It was me who saved her and gave her the meaning to live.
In exchange, she becomes Zero-Tails's vessel... that's fair, isn't it?"
Yu Liu's body trembled violently.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.
Teacher... is really a bad person.
What that person said... is true.
She remembered Shinnō's gentle smile when he taught her medical skills in those years, the warmth of his palm when he patted her head gently, and the pride in his eyes when he said, "Yu Liu is my most proud disciple."
Those... are all fake?
"Teacher..." Her voice was hoarse and tears fell silently.
"Teacher, is this fake?
Tell me... the good things you do to me... are all true..."
Shinnō looked at her and was silent for a moment.
Then, he laughed.
That smile was still kind, but it made Yu Liu feel a strange feeling that he had never felt before.
"Yu Liu ah..."
His voice was very soft, with a hint of compassion.
"You are just... a tool to carry Zero-Tails."
"Boom"
A bolt of lightning struck her heart, causing her to freeze.
"Am I... just... the tool that carries Zero-Tails...?"
Yu Liu repeated in a low voice. At that moment, she felt that the whole world had collapsed.
Her legs weakened and she almost collapsed to the ground, but was supported by Naruto.
"Yu Liu!" Naruto shouted anxiously.
But Yu Liu didn't respond at all.
"Don't listen to his nonsense! You are not a tool!..."
Naruto kept talking and comforting her, but at this moment Yu Liu was already immersed in her inner fantasy and unwilling to face the fact that the teacher regarded herself as a tool.