Shi Xiu was filled with excitement and anticipation after gaining his new ability.
He no longer felt like wandering around, so he strode off and hurried home.
As for why he didn't use the Flying Thunder God, using it on a bustling street would probably cause quite a stir.
When Shi Xiu finally made it home after hurrying all the way back, he saw Obito and Rin sitting in the gazebo in the courtyard, chatting with bright smiles, like a couple deeply in love.
Just then, Obito happened to catch sight of Shi Xiu rushing back.
Obito jumped in surprise and hurried to his feet, his face full of reverence. "Lord Shi Xiu!"
Seeing this, Rin hurriedly stood up too. Her cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head slightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's. "Lord Shi Xiu!"
Looking at the two young people standing awkwardly before him, Shi Xiu couldn't help smiling.
Shi Xiu couldn't resist teasing them. With a playful glint in his voice, he looked straight at Obito and joked, "Haha, you're awake, Obito? Did I come back at the worst possible time and interrupt you two lovebirds?"
At those words, Obito's face turned bright red, like a ripe apple.
Waving his hands frantically, Obito stammered, "Lord Shi Xiu, you've got it all wrong! Rin and I... We were just having a normal chat, nothing like what you're thinking!"
But despite Obito's desperate denials, his flustered, red-faced look gave away his true feelings.
As for Rin, her whole face was already burning hot.
Rin wanted to crawl into a hole. Like a startled ostrich, she buried her head against her chest and didn't dare look Shi Xiu in the eye.
After all, Obito was already sixteen or seventeen, in the prime of his youth.
Normally, a boy his age should have been at least somewhat more composed when it came to matters of the heart.
But Shi Xiu hadn't expected Obito to still get so embarrassed and flustered, just like he had as a child. It was enough to make anyone laugh.
Shi Xiu walked over and gently patted Obito's shoulder, speaking in a sincere, fatherly tone. "Obito, do your best! I'll find a way to bring Rin back to life for real. And when you two get married, don't forget to invite me for wedding candy!"
Obito was instantly overwhelmed by an indescribable rush of excitement.
But when Obito turned and met Rin's eyes, his throat seemed to close up. He opened his mouth, but couldn't bring himself to say the words that had been right on the tip of his tongue.
At the same time, when Rin heard Shi Xiu say he would bring her back to life for real, she was just as overwhelmed with excitement.
But when Shi Xiu went on to talk about her marrying Obito... Rin felt her cheeks grow hot and her heart start to race. Before she knew it, she was imagining the scene in her mind.
There she was in a pure white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers and standing beside the handsome Obito, receiving everyone's blessings before entering the hall of marriage together and having a child born of their love...
At the thought, Rin felt mortified, her face turning bright red with embarrassment.
All Rin could do was hurriedly say, "I'm leaving," then cover her burning cheeks with both hands and run off like a startled fawn.
Obito stared blankly at Rin's retreating figure until she disappeared from view, his heart a jumble of emotions.
Several times, he tried to follow her, but his feet felt rooted to the ground.
After a fierce internal struggle, Obito finally let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly.
Shi Xiu quietly watched everything unfold. He patted Obito's shoulder, then turned and headed for his room.
After all, if he could already share his lifespan with others, then gaining some kind of miraculous power to bring the dead back to life someday didn't seem entirely impossible!
As Shi Xiu pondered this, he slowly pushed open the door to his room. He was utterly exhausted and just wanted to get some proper rest.
But the moment Shi Xiu stepped inside, he froze.
Nara Luling was lying quietly on his bed, clutching the pillow he usually slept on. Her long, fair legs were even wrapped tightly around the poor pillow.
Looking at Nara Luling's bizarre sleeping position, Shi Xiu felt a vein pop in his forehead and was at a loss for words.
It had to be admitted that Nara Luling was a peerless beauty, stunning enough to topple a kingdom.
Although some unpleasant things had happened at the Hokage Building that day, Shi Xiu knew it wasn't all her fault.
After all, as a member of the Anbu, her most basic duty was to obey Lord Hokage's orders without question.
Shi Xiu went over to wake Nara Luling, but as soon as he approached, she sleepily opened her eyes.
Seeing that Nara Luling was awake, Shi Xiu said, "You're awake? Then get up!"
Suddenly, Nara Luling threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Clinging to him, she murmured, "Am I dreaming about Lord Shi Xiu again? This Lord Shi Xiu feels so real. Lord Shi Xiu, I'm sorry... I had no choice that day."
"Damn!" Shi Xiu hadn't expected Nara Luling to do that and was startled.
So this girl thought she was dreaming, Shi Xiu realized.
Shi Xiu was just about to push her away when he noticed that her arm was still in a cast. In the end, he could only say helplessly, "What's gotten into you? Let go!"
But Nara Luling refused to back down. Instead, she buried her face against Shi Xiu's stomach and rubbed against him, mumbling, "I'm not letting go! Not unless Lord Shi Xiu forgives me!"
She looked just like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.
The sight made Shi Xiu wonder if the girl was doing it on purpose.
Nara Luling kept rubbing against him, and Shi Xiu was so annoyed he wanted to smack some sense into her, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Shi Xiu sighed helplessly. "All right, all right, I forgive you! Now let go!"
"Hehe, I wish the real Lord Shi Xiu were as easygoing as you are in my dream..."
Nara Luling said with a smile, but made no move to let go.
Shi Xiu couldn't figure out what had gotten into Nara Luling. Surely she hadn't fallen for him too?
Shi Xiu tried to recall every detail of his interactions with Nara Luling. He admitted that he'd had a bit of a thing for her at first, but he didn't think he'd shown it.
Shi Xiu couldn't worry about whether the situation was awkward anymore. If he let this girl keep going, things really would get out of hand.
So Shi Xiu raised his hand and rapped Nara Luling on the head. "Open your eyes and take a good look! Am I the Lord Shi Xiu in your dream or not?"
"Ow!" Nara Luling was still lost in bliss when she suddenly felt a sharp pain on top of her head.
She released Shi Xiu's waist and clutched her head. Hearing the displeasure in Shi Xiu's voice, she thought, Oh no, oh no! I'm in trouble now!