World of the Living, Karakura Town, Dark Night Residence.
Slowly opening his eyes, it was just a simple movement, but a heartbreaking pain came to his mind. The feeling was like a knife cutting, the pain was deep in his soul.
Gritting his teeth and groaning, his already pale face became distorted, but Shadow was still stubborn and refused to make any sound.
"Shadow!"
"Shadow!"
The familiar voices spoke in unison, carrying the same anxiety and concern.
"Lan······Ran'Tao!"
Panting heavily, Shadow struggled to sit up and looked up at the woman standing by the bed; "Why are you... why are you here!"
"I brought her!" Eroding Wolf replied; "You were injured too badly!"
"Injury!" Shadow clenched his fist and smiled weakly, "It seems so! I almost thought I was going to die!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Idiot!"
Pointing at Shadow's forehead, Ran'Tao shouted angrily, "I told you! Aren't you very strong? Why do you always hurt yourself all the time? We've only been apart for a few days! You look like this again when we meet again. If I come later, you will be too late. If you want to die, why don't you just wipe your neck with the knife..."
"I don't want to die!" Shadow curled his lips.
"Ah!"
Ran'Tao was stunned for a moment, and the words she had not spoken were suppressed. She still clearly remembered the man who thought death would be relief, the lifeless and indifferent man...
A lot has really changed!
Is it really because of her? It seems that I will never be as good as you! But forget it, didn't I already know the result?
Right! Yoruichi Shihōin······
"Ah! Actually, I can't help it! There are too many headaches!"
Said quite helplessly, Shadow rubbed his nose, looked at Ran'Tao, and grinned; "Ran'Tao······"
"What... what are you doing!" Ran'Tao turned away unnaturally.
"Thank you very much!" Shadow smiled softly; "It's not that I want to thank you for saving my life, but that I want to thank you for being by my side every time..."
"Dark...Shadow!" Red instantly climbed onto Ran'Tao's fair face.
"Ahhh! No, I mean, that..."
"It doesn't matter, it's not like I don't understand!"
Seeing Shadow who suddenly reacted and hurriedly explaining, Ran'Tao suddenly laughed; "If you say you don't mind, you would definitely be lying, but Shadow..."
"What!"
"You have to be good!" Ran'Tao took a long breath and chuckled.
"Of course, this is my destination!"
Thinking of Yoruichi Shihōin, a touch of tenderness flashed in Shadow's dark eyes.
"Ran'Tao, you have to be good too!"
Patting the back of his head, Shadow stood up and walked to Ran'Tao; "Let's make a deal!"
"Ah!" Ran'Tao was stunned for a while.
"I used to have a group of friends, and they were all big idiots. It was clear that everyone had their own past that they didn't want to mention, and they all had scars that couldn't be erased, but they still tolerated my willfulness. At that time, I never worried about my back, because I knew that they would always be there!"
"We are partners, we can tolerate each other, and we can trust each other with confidence..."
"Ran'Tao, my back is also given to you! Then, let me exist in front of you! As long as you are willing, I will always stand there, whether it is difficult or dangerous, no matter what, leave it all to me, and I will block everything for you!"
"So, it's settled!"
The corners of his mouth raised, Shadow stretched out his hand.
Just... partners? Forget it, that's all.
Ran'Tao was stunned, and then put his hand up. I have already decided on this kind of thing, Shadow, as long as you believe in me, I will always be by your side...
"Stupid... so stupid!" Eroding Wolf kept twitching the corners of his mouth, muttering in a low voice, "What the hell is this!"
"Ah! Little Wolf, where are you talking about!!!"
As soon as his ears moved, Shadow turned around and asked. Even though he was so dry that he couldn't sense anything, his ears still worked as well as ever!
"No, it's nothing, haha!!!" Eroding Wolf smiled dryly.
"Tch! By the way, where is the spirit body! It should be successful!"
Pouting his lips, Shadow turned around and asked, it's really unaccustomed to suddenly have no mental power!
"It was successful, it was successful, but..."
His face condensed, Eroding Wolf waved one hand, and the spirit body wrapped by Shade appeared out of thin air in the room.
"Without your mental suppression, the Reishi that make up the body gradually collapsed. Although I isolated it with Shade, it only slowed it down a little, and the collapse continued!"
"Hey!" Shadow sighed helplessly; "This is also expected, but I didn't expect that condensing the body would overdraw my mental power, so all the original plans were nullified. I have no choice but to advance. As long as Kaien can regain consciousness, he can absorb and control Reishi on his own to maintain his own operation!"
"Having said that, but..." Eroding Wolf frowned; "If the success rate of reuniting the body is one in ten, then the chance of recovering consciousness is probably only one percent, or even less. Is it really possible? Just to reshape the spirit body, you have already overdrawn your mental power and your body has been damaged..."
"Really, it's really not like you to be so verbose! Little Wolf!"
Shadow interrupted in vain; "I know you are worried about my body, but I am not as fragile as you think. If I can't do it, then why bother talking about it!"
"Hmph!" Eroding Wolf was stunned, and then turned away; "When did you become so hot-blooded? Have you been infected by Naruto!"
"Hot-blooded, don't be ridiculous!" Shadow walked towards the wrapped spirit body and said with a faint smile; "I just don't want to give up on my companions. Other than that, things in the world have nothing to do with me!"
"Ah! Yes!"
"Passionate things only exist in the novels and comics Lady Yoruichi reads!"
Shadow grinned, revealing some sharp teeth; "Me! Just be your own protagonist, Little Wolf, hurry up!"
"Now! Why don't you take a rest?"
"They say I'm not that fragile anymore. Besides, as long as I can mobilize Reiatsu!" Shadow curled his lips and said, "That's it. I'll use Reiatsu to stimulate him to regain consciousness, and Little Wolf you will be responsible for setting up the barrier!"
"Ah!!!" Eroding Wolf's face twitched; "Are you serious, don't think about it anymore! If you use Reiatsu to directly suppress it, it will also cause Reishi to collapse faster! It's better if it succeeds, but if it fails..."
"Stop being verbose! There is no other way! This is the only way to do this in this situation, Little Wolf. Of course I am afraid of failure, but I can't hesitate just because of fear of failure. If you don't want to fail, just succeed!"
Speaking calmly, Shadow nodded to Ran'Tao, directly picked up the spirit body and walked out. Eroding Wolf sighed and followed immediately.
The figures of the two people quickly disappeared into the night.