The Valley

Before they set out on the mission, Uchiha Naoto had poisoned Wuming and Qiancao with a drug that would kill them in seven days. Though Qiancao knew no such thing existed in the Naruto World, Shiri was still deeply worried about them.

It didn't feel right to say outright that Naoto was lying, so Qiancao could only comfort her. "It'll probably only take one night. Even counting the two days we spent traveling, there's still plenty of time before we have to get back."

Senju Arashi asked curiously, "If you don't go back, what will the Uchiha Clan do to you?"

Qiancao fell silent, unsure whether he should badmouth the Uchiha. They had never done him any favors, but Uchiha blood ran through his veins. He couldn't just cut ties with them.

To his surprise, Shiri spoke up. "Qiancao and the girl over there were given a newly developed poison by the clan before we set out on this mission."

"If they don't go back for the antidote within seven days, their lives could be in danger."

After hearing Shiri's words, Senju Arashi put on a frightened expression and joked, "Looks like peace with the Uchiha is still a long way off."

Shiri clearly wasn't joking. Her voice earnest, she said, "Lady Senju, I have a bold request. I don't know if you'd be willing to grant it."

Senju Arashi glanced smugly at Qiancao, as if to say, See how famous I am? You didn't even know who I was.

Then she said, "We've been through life and death together. Just tell me what you need, sis."

Qiancao was surprised by how familiar Senju Arashi acted. Shiri, however, already knew what she was like, and said, "My name is Uchiha Hiri. Just call me Shiri."

"I've heard the Senju Clan has a good relationship with the Aburame Clan, and the Aburame are experts in poisons. They must be able to suppress the poison in Qiancao and Wuming."

"Please take them back with you and set them free!" As she spoke, she even tried to struggle to her feet, hoping to make her request with a formal bow.

Unfortunately, she was too weak and nearly fell over. Qiancao managed to catch her.

With her hands tied, Senju Arashi wriggled across the ground like a caterpillar and faced Shiri. "There's no need to be so formal, Shiri."

"If I don't return, the people my clan sent to meet me will surely come into the mountains looking for me."

"I have a communications bug from the Aburame Clan that lets me contact people over long distances. If I'm right, some Aburame friends will come looking for me."

"When they arrive, I'll ask them to examine these two. It'd be best if they can cure them."

Shiri was overjoyed. Her voice trembled as she thanked her. "Thank you. Thank you, Lady Senju..."

Beside them, Qiancao could tell that Shiri was sincerely happy for the two of them. He felt a rush of gratitude, but still asked calmly, "Shiri, what will happen to you if we leave? Why not come with us?"

Shiri gave him a weak smile. "My parents and friends are still in the clan. How could I just abandon them? But you two are different. You're poor children who've lost your parents. The clan shouldn't treat you that way..."

Then she forced herself to perk up and said confidently, "When I get back, I'll say Uchiha Keisuke attacked us by surprise, and that we got separated while I was unconscious."

"Ever since he woke up, he's been acting strangely. Some people in the clan had already started watching him. I just never thought he'd actually dare to attack us."

Senju Arashi couldn't help interrupting. "Speaking of which, that companion of yours was really strange."

Shiri asked, "Lady Arashi, could you describe what was strange about Keisuke?"

So Senju Arashi lay on the ground and vividly described Uchiha Keisuke's terrifying final form—the form he'd taken as Black Zetsu.

When she mentioned that a layer of black film had covered half his body, Qiancao's heart stirred. Doesn't that look just like Black Zetsu, who caused all those conflicts in the ninja world in the Naruto anime?

Resisting the urge to explain everything to the two women, Qiancao decided to keep it to himself for now. He knew no one would believe him if he told them where Black Zetsu came from. It would only make them suspicious and afraid.

Shiri thought hard about Senju Arashi's description, but in the end, she could only apologize. "As far as I know, no one in our clan uses a technique like that. I don't know where Uchiha Keisuke learned it."

Seeing how sincere she looked, Senju Arashi knew Shiri was probably telling the truth. She let the matter go and turned to Qiancao. "Qiancao, come help me roll over. My chest hurts from lying like this!"

Looking at the two mounds squashed beneath Senju Arashi, Qiancao thought, Having those two things pressed against the ground must really hurt.

So he went over and helped her roll onto her back, then propped her against a boulder by the river.

Senju Arashi thanked him, then couldn't resist teasing him. "What I said earlier still stands, you know. If you ever decide you want to do something to me, sis is always willing."

Her teasing turned Qiancao's face red, and his thoughts wandered despite himself.

Seeing him blush, Senju Arashi felt very pleased with herself. Looks like I'm still pretty charming!

Having won back a little ground, Senju Arashi felt much better. She said to Qiancao, "You protected us when we fell into the water, so you must be badly hurt. You should rest for a while."

"We can't see an exit anywhere. Those rogue ninja probably won't find us for now, so it's safest to stay here."

Shiri agreed with Senju Arashi. When travelers got lost in the mountains, the best thing to do was stay put, conserve their strength, and wait for help.

So the two women closed their eyes to rest, hoping to recover as quickly as possible.

Qiancao's entire back was swollen, making it hard for him to meditate. He decided to look around instead, and struggled to gather some dry branches.

He set the firewood between Arashi and Shiri, hoping to light a fire and dry their clothes.

After searching for a long time, he couldn't find a fire striker. He had no choice but to form the Hand Seals for the Great Fireball Technique and barely managed to spit out a little flame.

That tiny flame, no bigger than a fingertip, seemed to drain Qiancao's body completely. Still, though small, it did the trick.

Watching the two women rest with their eyes closed, their expressions gradually relaxing in the firelight, Qiancao felt relieved.

He went to Wuming. She had fallen into a deep sleep, and the wound on her chest had completely disappeared, leaving her pale skin and two alluring curves exposed.

After Senju Arashi had teased him for so long, Qiancao felt a little restless and couldn't help taking a few more looks.

When he came to his senses, he cursed himself for being lecherous. He'd had plenty of chances to look openly, but had pretended to be a gentleman instead.

Now, with Wuming injured and unconscious, he was taking advantage of her.

Once Wuming has recovered, I'll look openly, Qiancao vowed to himself. Unable to resist, he gently touched Wuming's cheek. "Wake up soon."

But after he'd barely touched her twice, Wuming, lying on the ground, slowly opened her eyes.