Sasuke walked forward, raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Coming, coming--"
An old but energetic voice came from inside the door.
The sound of footsteps came from far and near, the wooden door creaked open, and a white-haired old man wearing a brown T-shirt and glasses poked his head out.
Tazuna.
He squinted his eyes and stayed on Sasuke's face for a moment, frowning slightly as if he was trying to remember something. Then, his cloudy eyes suddenly opened wide.
"You... are you Sasuke?"
Sasuke nodded, his tone calm.
"Well, long time no see, Tazuna."
Tazuna was stunned for a moment, then grinned, the wrinkles on his face squeezed into a chrysanthemum.
"Oh, it's really you! Come in, come in!"
He stepped aside and greeted warmly.
Sasuke stepped into the yard, Ning Xue and Suigetsu followed behind him.
The yard is not big, there are some wood and tools piled in the corner, and there is a faint smell of sawdust in the air.
Tazuna led the three of them through the yard and into the living room.
"Sit, sit, sit, sit wherever you want."
He pointed to a few old-style sofas and cushions, then sat down at the main seat, picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup of tea for each of the three of them.
Sasuke sat down close to Tazuna, while Ning Xue chose a position against the wall and sat cross-legged on the mat.
Suigetsu was more casual. He slumped down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and almost hummed out of comfort.
Tazuna's eyes swept around Ning Xue and Suigetsu, and finally landed on Sasuke.
"These two are..."
"Companion."
Sasuke Answer briefly.
Tazuna nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Sasuke and Tazuna started talking.
The content is nothing more than topics like how the past years have been and the changes since the bridge was built.
Sasuke rarely cherished words like gold. Although he still didn't say much, at least he answered every sentence.
Ning Xue sat against the wall, took out the book <The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi> from his arms again, opened the page with the bookmark, and lowered his head to read.
Suigetsu collapsed on the sofa, picking at his fingers out of boredom, and then looked at Sasuke and Tazuna. Feeling that he couldn't speak, he turned his attention to Ning Xue beside him.
"Hey, little brother."
Suigetsu came closer, lowered his voice, and his eyes fell on the book.
"What's so interesting about this book? You've been reading it for a long time."
Ning Xue didn't even raise his head, turned to the next page, and spoke in a calm tone.
"An old book that mainly tells the story of a ninja's growth."
"Oh?"
Suigetsu raised his eyebrows, showing some interest.
"What's the point of that? I read a lot of books like this when I was a kid, like Ninja Heroes, Will of Water, etc. They're all cliche."
Ning Xue ignored his complaints and continued to turn the pages of the book.
Suigetsu Seeing that he ignored him, he became more energetic and moved closer.
"Then why do you like it so much? There must be a reason, right?"
Ning Xue's hand turning the page paused slightly, and he was silent for a moment, and then he spoke, his voice still calm, but with a hint of seriousness.
"Because the sense of immersion is very strong. And I really like a sentence in it."
"What words?"
"Those who endure perseverance that ordinary people cannot endure will eventually create the path of being strong."
Suigetsu was stunned for a moment.
He put away his playful smile, savored the words carefully, then said "tsk" and leaned back on the sofa.
"Sounds like some motivational chicken soup. But..."
He tilted his head, looked at Ning Xue's profile, and said seriously.
"If you really take this sentence seriously, then you are quite a scary person."
Ning Xue did not answer because he really knew such a person.
On the other side of the living room, the conversation between Tazuna and Sasuke is coming to an end.
"That person named Daikokuten Zen lives just outside the south of the city."
Tazuna stood up and pushed up his glasses.
"I'll take you there."
"No need."
Sasuke shook his head.
"Just tell me the location."
Tazuna was not reluctant and explained the route in detail, then took out an old map from the drawer and drew a circle on it.
"It's right here. That big knife should be in his hand."
Sasuke took the map and nodded.
"Thank you."
He stood up and looked at Ning Xue.
Ning Xue understood and closed the book, but did not get up.
Suigetsu now Sasuke stood up, jumped up from the sofa excitedly, and said happily.
"Finally going to get a knife? Let's go, let's go!"
Sasuke did not take steps immediately, but looked at Ning Xue who did not get up.
"Aren't you going?"
Ning Xue shook his head.
"No, I'll wait for you on the bridge."
Sasuke didn't ask any more questions, just nodded.
"See you later."
After saying that, he took Suigetsu out of the yard and walked towards the south of the city in the direction pointed by Tazuna.
The figures of the two people quickly disappeared from the end of the field of vision.
Tazuna stood at the door, watching them go away, then turned around and looked at Ning Xue, who was still standing in the living room.
"This guest, would you like a cup of tea?"
He pointed to the unfinished pot of tea on the table and spoke in a kind tone.
Ning Xue shook his head and nodded politely.
"No need, sir."
He paused, raised his black eyes covered by contact lenses, and looked at Tazuna.
"Excuse me, is there a place to deliver letters here?"
The application time is approaching.
The letter addressed to Land of Demons has been sent.
As for the content of the letter? It was nothing more than the recent rescue of two villages, the destruction of an aerial fortress, and the killing of Orochimaru, which were outrageous and helpless things.
At this moment, he was standing at the end of the bridge, watching two figures slowly walking towards him under the sunset.
One was cheering with a sword on his back, while the other was silent.
"Let's go, let's go to the next base."