Return Journey

"Remove it!" Ling Yue gave the system the command in her mind without the slightest hesitation.

[50 points consumed. Removing tracking mark... Removal complete.]

An almost imperceptible wave of energy swept over her body, as though something exceedingly tiny had been peeled away and dissipated.

Ling Yue let out a breath of relief, but a layer of cold sweat broke out across her back.

Root... just as relentless as expected!

This kind of tracking method was practically impossible to guard against! If she did not have the system, she would not even know how she died.

It seemed that even returning to the Hidden Leaf Village would not necessarily mean safety. That old schemer Danzo had definitely noticed her as an "anomaly."

Strength! She had to increase her strength as quickly as possible!

She closed her eyes again and carefully took stock of what she had gained in the Land of Waves.

[Dimensional Points: 1100] (1150 remaining previously, 50 spent removing the mark)

[Skills]: Thunder Breathing (Mastered), Zetsu (Proficient), Paper Arts (Mastered), Flash Step (Fragment/Mastered), Basic Swordsmanship Mastery (Mastered), Super Recovery Physique → Resilient Body (Passive), Lightning Release: False Darkness (Not Mastered), Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fire God of Thunder (Not Mastered/Comprehension 1%)

[Items]: Soldier Pills (Small) x3, Hemostatic Bandages x2, Chakra Test Paper x1, Kunai (Fine) x5

Her points were fairly considerable, but the pile of "Not Mastered" entries in her skill list gave her a headache just looking at them.

False Darkness consumed too much, while Fire Thunder God was something she did not even dare touch again.

Her top priority was to raise the proficiency of the skills she already had, especially the combined application of Flash Step and Thunder Breathing.

Then... she needed to find some practical offensive or control skills with low consumption.

A little over a thousand points was enough for one ten-pull, but she hesitated.

Her luck with the last ten-pull had been pretty good, but what if she got nothing this time?

It would be better to save the points for emergencies or wait for the shop to refresh with something worthwhile.

Right, the Chakra Test Paper!

Remembering it, she immediately took it out of the system inventory.

It was an ordinary-looking sheet of white paper.

Taking a deep breath, she followed the method from her memories and injected a faint thread of chakra into it.

The center of the test paper suddenly became damp and wrinkled, while its edges turned dry and cracked. There was even... a faint spark of electricity that flashed past?

Water, Earth, and Lightning? Three attributes?

Ling Yue was a little surprised. She actually possessed three of the mainstream attributes?

Although her Lightning attribute seemed extremely weak, it was definitely there.

That was an unexpected delight.

The Lightning attribute could strengthen Thunder Breathing and False Darkness. Perhaps she could learn some Water Release in the future, and Earth Release... maybe some defensive techniques?

Her path seemed to have broadened a little.

Just as she was pondering this, the small boat docked along the coast of the Land of Fire.

Stepping onto familiar soil, everyone relaxed slightly.

The atmosphere remained somewhat heavy on the road back to the village.

The shadow of the Land of Waves mission, especially Root's sudden appearance, weighed like a boulder on everyone's heart.

Kakashi's expression remained grave, as though he were considering something.

"Kakashi-sensei," Ling Yue could not help moving closer and asking in a low voice, "Will Root... cause us trouble again in the future?"

Kakashi glanced at her. His gaze was complicated, and after a few seconds of silence, he said, "Most likely not openly. But... be more careful yourselves. When we return, do not mention what happened today to anyone, including the Hokage."

"Why?" Ling Yue feigned surprise.

"...Sometimes, not knowing is safer." Kakashi did not say more, but his tone was full of warning.

Ling Yue understood perfectly. The Third Hokage and Danzo did not get along, and Kakashi did not want to drag her into the higher-ups' power struggle. But she had already been targeted, sensei!

She nodded and did not ask further.

A few days later, the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village finally appeared before them.

The familiar bustle and lively atmosphere filled the group, who had endured trials of life and death, with a sense of warmth and relief.

"We're finally back!" Naruto threw his arms wide and shouted, "I'm going to Ichiraku Ramen! I'm eating ten bowls!"

"Idiot, do you even have money?" Sasuke shot back out of habit, though his gaze softened somewhat as well.

Sakura smiled too.

They first went to the Hokage Building to report the mission.

The villagers and shinobi they encountered along the way all cast curious looks at their group of wounded soldiers.

Inside the mission report room.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, listened to Kakashi's brief report.

He left out the part about Root, only saying that they had encountered a powerful rogue ninja and completed the mission with difficulty, and that the crisis in the Land of Waves had been resolved. Looking at the injuries on the four children, especially Ling Yue, who still appeared very weak, he sighed.

"You've worked hard, Team 7. This mission exceeded expectations. Its rating will be raised to B-rank, and the reward will increase accordingly."

"B-rank?!" Naruto immediately became excited. "That's great!"

Kakashi was not particularly surprised and simply nodded.

"All right, you're all injured. Go back and get some proper rest first." The Third Hokage smiled kindly. "Kakashi, stay behind."

After bowing, Ling Yue and the other two left the Hokage Building.

"Hey, hey! Let's go eat ramen to celebrate! My treat!" Naruto hooked one arm around Sasuke's neck, only to have it ruthlessly shaken off, then reached with his other hand to pull Ling Yue along.

Ling Yue hurriedly dodged. "No, my wounds haven't healed properly yet. I can't handle you tossing me around. I need to go back and lie down first."

Her whole body hurt right now. All she wanted was to hurry home and study the system and her little stash of cash... No, study how to become stronger.

"All right..." Naruto looked a little disappointed, but quickly perked up again. "Then I'll treat you when you're better! It's a deal!"

Sasuke glanced at Ling Yue, said a faint "Get some rest," then stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked off on his own.

Sakura looked at Sasuke's retreating back, then at Ling Yue. "Then I'll go with Naruto. Yue, will you be all right going back alone?"

"I'll be fine, thanks." Ling Yue smiled and headed toward her shabby little apartment.

Returning to the cold, empty room, Ling Yue locked the door behind her and collapsed straight onto the bed.

At least she was safe for the moment.

She summoned the system interface and stared at the 1100 points, considering how to spend them.

Buy Soldier Pills and bandages? She had enough for now. Draws? Her hands itched a little, but she was afraid of sinking the whole haul...

Just as she was wavering, an almost imperceptible black shadow seemed to flash past outside the window.

Ling Yue instantly sprang up from the bed, rushed to the window, and looked outside vigilantly.

The street outside was bustling as usual. Everything appeared normal, as though what she had seen was merely an illusion.

Was it someone from Root? Or something else?

She carefully sensed her surroundings, but discovered nothing.

[No obvious threats or tracking marks detected.]

Could it really have been an illusion? Was she simply too tense?

Ling Yue relaxed slightly, but the string in her heart only tightened further.

The Hidden Leaf Village was probably not an absolutely safe place either.

Taking a deep breath, she fixed her gaze on the system interface once more.

She could not hesitate any longer. She had to improve her ability to protect herself as soon as possible!

"System, spend 100 points on one single draw!"

She would test the waters first!

A roulette wheel appeared, its pointer spinning rapidly.

[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained: [Basic Trap-Making] Knowledge Scroll.]

Ling Yue: "..."

Fine, it was not completely useless, but... that was it?

She gritted her teeth.

"One more single draw!"

[Congratulations, Host! Better luck next time.]

Ling Yue's face darkened. I knew it!

No, she could not keep forcing it.

She decided to stop drawing for now and honestly practice the skills she already possessed instead. She would save the points for emergencies.

She took out the Basic Trap-Making Knowledge Scroll and chose to use it.

A great deal of knowledge about simple mechanisms, trigger devices, and poison application methods—poison required her own supply—flooded into her mind.

Better than nothing, she supposed.

After resting for a while, she endured the soreness in her body and began attempting some basic chakra refinement and Thunder Breathing training.

She had to recover her condition as quickly as possible!

Night quietly fell.

Ling Yue finished training and was about to casually make something to eat when she suddenly heard a soft knock at the door.

Who could it be this late?

She cautiously walked behind the door without opening it immediately.

"Who is it?"

There was a brief silence outside before a familiar, slightly awkward voice came through.

"...It's me, Sasuke."