War Orphan Girl

No matter what they do, living beings always find it difficult to break free from their physiological constraints. Even their behavior and thoughts are subject to the limitations imposed by the body, much like dopamine and endorphins, one of which governs physical pleasure and the other maintains inner peace.

The cultivation of the Serpent Transformation Technique did not cause him too much trouble. He had Shiro's body for Kato Osamu to use. Although he found it difficult to psychologically identify himself as a snake, he eventually succeeded in the cultivation. However, the biggest problem was that he could never use the snake body to sense Natural Energy.

"That's already quite good, Kato -Kato..."

Ichikishimahime gently removed a small, translucent, dark blue snake from her neck. It was about the same size as Shiro, but unlike ordinary snakes, its translucent, calcite-like body was filled with a blue shimmering light—as if it were slowly flowing beneath its surface.

"To have mastered the Serpent Transformation Technique to such an extent in just over a year, I must say, your understanding of the art is unparalleled..."

"Not enough..."

"How exactly can one perceive Natural Energy...?"

A shimmering light flashed across the surface of the small blue snake, gradually returning to calm, as if it had completely subsided. Its pair of lake-blue, vertical Snake Eyes silently watched Ichikishimahime, and seeing her deep in thought, it remained silent for a long time without making any other movements.

"There's no special method. The Natural Energy in the world is too scarce right now. If we could easily sense the Natural Energy, then there wouldn't be only the three of us who successfully transformed in Ryūchi Cave..."

"So, do we need a place with abundant Natural Energy?"

"Not only that, Natural Energy is extremely violent yet extremely peaceful..."

"Kato, perhaps you should try to relax and calm your mind as much as possible..."

Nature will embrace everything...

Kato Osamu listened quietly to Ichikishimahime's story. Over the past year, his progress in the Serpent Transformation Technique and other spells had been rapid, but he still couldn't sense Natural Energy. He could distinguish the characteristics and differences of this power by observing the Natural Energy released by the other three goddesses, but he couldn't sense this power that existed in the world on his own.

Natural Energy encompasses everything, and Kato Osamu experienced this through the three goddesses—each of them had a different understanding of Natural Energy, and aside from the idea that one could perceive Natural Energy by achieving inner peace, there was almost no other reference value.

"Perhaps you need to go out for a walk..."

"Although I don't quite understand what you're thinking, I can roughly sense that you're constantly finding it difficult to calm down..."

"Perhaps, only when you can truly let go of something can you obtain something you want..."

Ichikishimahime gently stroked Kato Osamu's snake head. Over the past year, she and Kato Osamu had become somewhat familiar with each other and their relationship had grown slightly closer. Although snakes are cold-blooded animals, after transforming into human form, they couldn't help but possess some human emotions.

Kato Osamu detached himself from Ichikishimahime, his Serpent Transformation Technique reversing, and slowly returned to human form. He frowned slightly, pondering the key to the matter.

Ichikishimahime slowly rose from the tatami mat, approached Kato Osamu, and gently placed her hand on his forehead.

"When these wrinkles stop appearing, perhaps then we'll be able to sense the Natural Energy..."

"I guess so..."

Ichikishimahime

During his seclusion in Ryūchi Cave, Kato Osamu did not contact Kusagakure again, and even some special and important matters were all entrusted to Zabuza and Nonō.

After another year or so of development, Kusagakure seems to have changed more and more...

"Is Kabuto still in the lab...?"

"I wonder if they've eaten the food I sent over..."

Nonō Karin, while Rin was calculating something nearby. Upon hearing this, she smiled gently and nodded.

"Kabuto has been getting busier and busier lately. It seems like some experiments have entered a crucial stage, and she's practically working day and night in the lab..."

Although Rin doesn't know Nonō knows Rin. She was once Oo-kun's teammate and later died in Kirigakure. Even though she is now just a child, Nonō can easily recognize her.

However, Rin's reappearance made Nonō understand a little about what Kato Osamu had been busy with all day, and also roughly understood the importance of this laboratory to Kato Osamu.

"Rin is just a child, yet you spend all your time helping with the Kusagakure's accounts. At Rin's age, she should be playing with other children more..."

Rin was startled by Nonō's words. It was precisely because Nonō seemed to be treating her less like a child that she felt comfortable here and gradually moved from the attic in the jungle to this place.

"Nonō, I love this job. I'm so happy to be able to contribute to the village!"

It was truly difficult for Rin. Ever since Kato Osamu left Kusagakure, she had to act as a six-year-old child almost all the time, and a war orphan who was very grateful to Kusagakure for rescuing her.

"Lin is really sensible..."

Nonō smiled gently, but Rin didn't see the mischievousness and strange amusement hidden in her eyes. Watching Rin's flawed performance in front of her, a master of disguise and intelligence in the Shinobi World, was one of Nonō's few daily pleasures.

Rin had never heard of Nonō, who had always stayed in Root. She only knew that Nono was someone Kato Osamu trusted. She had gradually come to regard this woman, who showed no Chakra fluctuations at all, as an ordinary person.

As for her relationship with her mysterious former teammate, although she often gossiped about it in her mind, she never asked anything about it—that wouldn't be befit a six-year-old child.

"The Grass Shinobi School has started school too..."

"Once we're done with this busy period, let Rin go to the Ninja Academy..."

"Lin will definitely make many new friends there..."

"I..."

Lin suddenly felt a chill run down her spine and scratched her head. By her actual age, she was already old enough to get married and have children, and now she was being asked to attend Ninja Academy ... but she didn't have a good reason to refuse...

"Nonō... I... I'm going to school. Who's going to do these accounts...?"

"Lin, you don't need to worry about that..."

"Come in..."

The courtyard gate was suddenly opened, and led by two Grass Shinobi, a girl with gray-blue hair, about ten years old, appeared in Rin's sight. She slowly walked towards them, and although there was a hint of timidity in her eyes, she still couldn't help but raise her head to look at Nonō and Rin.

"The little girl that Lord Zabuza rescued outside, like you, lost her parents in the war..."

"I've been wandering the Shinobi World for over a year..."

"However, she's far more powerful than ordinary people; like Haku, she's also a Kekkei Genkai ninja..."

Nonō smiled and explained a few words to Rin. The two Grass Shinobi completed their mission, looked at Nonō with respect, and then quietly left. Nonō took the girl's hand and gently patted her head.

"Child, don't be afraid. Once we reach Kusagakure, this will be your home..."

Everyone probably has their own innate talents, Nonō's love for children makes her incredibly approachable to them.

The girl felt the warmth in her hands. Since her parents passed away, she had been wandering the Shinobi World in confusion and pain, and she had been feeling lost and uneasy on her way to Kusagakure. In this warm feeling, her emotions gradually dissipated. No matter how strong she was, she was still just a child who had just over ten years old.

Her heart gradually calmed down. Although she still felt a bit unfamiliar with Nonō, she seemed to have developed a great liking for her. She gently raised her eyes to look at Nonō's face, and then lowered her head again.

"Um..."

The girl pursed her lips slightly and nodded gently. Although she didn't say much, a hint of brilliance seemed to appear in her lowered eyes.

"Can you tell me your name, sister?"

"Guren..., my name is Guren..."