The wind in the latter half of the night blew from the direction of the Land of Fire, passing through the gradually undulating hills and scattered forests. By the time it reached the last stretch of desert where the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind met, it was no longer so biting and piercing.
But the chill lingered, a damp, bone-chilling cold, completely different from the dry, knife-like wind of Sunagakure.
When Shira was on night watch, she had to turn her collar up higher, and the white mist in front of her eyes became thicker when she exhaled.
The sky gradually changed from inky black to deep blue, then to pale white, and finally, a sliver of orange-red light timidly peeked out from behind the shadows of the distant, undulating mountains whose outlines were already discernible.
The sun rose slowly, as if it too was afraid of the cold. But when that warm yellow light finally burst forth and shone on this weathered land, the feeling was immediately different.
The wind seemed to have softened, carrying an indescribable scent of grass and damp earth, tickling my cheeks.
In the distance, the previously blurry green became clearer and denser as the sky brightened, spreading from a line into a vast expanse that covered the hills and filled the valleys.
These are real trees, lots and lots of trees, not the scattered, twisted drought-resistant shrubs outside Sunagakure.
As the group set off, everyone subconsciously glanced back at the route they had come from—the dim, empty Gobi Desert, seemingly forever swept by the wind.
Then, turning east, I stepped into that ever-deepening green.
The road became easier to walk on. It was a compacted dirt road, and occasionally you could see deep tire tracks.
The air became filled with a variety of scents: decaying leaves, wildflowers, and a faint, flowing water.
Birdsong came from all directions, chirping and chattering, so noisy it was a little unsettling.
The sunlight was cut into patches of light by the dense foliage, dancing on the ground and dazzling the eyes.
As Shira walked in the group, she felt like a stranger who had suddenly wandered into someone else's garden, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.
The shock of this situation is no less than that of someone living in an underdeveloped rural area suddenly arriving in a well-developed big city.
Shira out over the vast expanse, one could see very far.
But here, the view is always blocked by layers of branches and leaves, and you feel that something may be hiding in the shadows all around.
Shira: Why do I keep feeling like someone's spying on me? ⌓‿⌓
He instinctively became alert, his ears perked up, catching every unusual sound in the woods.
The Asuka, on the other hand, was like a fish in water. He was like a monkey to begin with, and he became even more active in the forest. If his arm hadn't been in a sling, he probably would have already darted to the treetops.
He looked around excitedly, occasionally pointing to a particularly thick tree or a clump of wildflowers he had never seen before, making a big fuss about it.
As usual Sasori poured cold water on the situation. "Shut up, Asuka, can't you act like a ninja? It's just a few trees, aren't the Sunagakure's cacti in bloom more beautiful than these?"
Sada remained silent, but as he walked, his gaze would unconsciously sweep over the thick tree trunks and branches above, probably assessing how his puppet " Vulture " should act if a battle broke out here.
Captain Reppu walked even slower, each step steady, his gaze like a comb, carefully examining both sides of the road.
He didn't stop the Asuka from making noise, but he would stop every now and then to let everyone be quiet and listen for a moment.
He was probably recalibrating his senses, adapting to this new, vibrant, yet potentially perilous environment.
The caravan's side reacted even more directly. Old Man Vulture stopped after walking a short distance, staring blankly at a massive tree, its branches and leaves so thick they could barely cover the sky, with his old, cloudy eyes, accustomed to the wind and sand. He stared for a long time before muttering:
"My goodness, how many years must this tree be growing..." Scarface sniffed hard, his brows furrowing and then relaxing. "Damn, this place smells like a wealthy place. Even the soil is black."
The young man named Kakuzō found everything fascinating, as if he couldn't take it all in.
The numbness and heaviness on the porters' faces seemed to be somewhat softened by the lush greenery and vitality around them. Some of them began to whisper among themselves, their voices tinged with surprise and a hint of barely perceptible envy.
For these people who make a living amidst the yellow sand and stones, this patch of green, so vibrant it seems to yield water, represents an unimaginable abundance and tranquility.
But this tranquility also made them more aware of their status as "outsiders," and they unconsciously slowed their pace.
We walked for most of the day along the dense forest path. As the sun began to set, the trees ahead seemed to thin out, and the path became wider and smoother.
Faint human voices could be heard in the air, not birdsong or insect chirps, but the real, cacophony of many people living together.
"We're almost at the outer perimeter of the warning zone." Reppu stopped and signaled for the entire team to halt.
He straightened his vest, which was covered in dust and stained with dried blood, then looked at his subordinates and said, "Get your spirits up. We'll be in Konoha soon. Remember, we are Sunagakure ninjas, representing the village's reputation. Speak less, observe more."
" Asuka, keep your mouth and hands to yourself. Sada Sasori, put the puppet away; don't show it unless absolutely necessary. Shira..." He looked at Shira, paused, "... stay close to me."
"Yes, Captain!" the group responded in unison, even Asuka straightened his back with a serious expression.
Setting off again, after rounding a long bend, a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before us.
A vast, unimaginably large open space appeared before us, and in the distance, a huge village was embraced by even more towering, continuous green mountains.
The village is filled with buildings arranged in a staggered and orderly manner, and the most eye-catching feature is the several huge stone-carved human faces on the distant mountain wall - Hokage Rock.
Even from a distance, one could feel the prosperity and vitality of that village, a stark contrast to the somber, rock-clad atmosphere of Sunagakure.
Directly in front of them stood the imposing and sturdy main gate of Konohagakure.
Two heavy doors, engraved with the Konoha symbol, stood open, leading to a spacious, flat area.
What's most striking is the large tree near the gate, its leaves forming a canopy that casts a large area of shade.
We've arrived at Konoha.
It's Friday at 7:05 PM now. There have been so many comments and suggestions; I could barely keep up with the replies. Thankfully, I've managed to finish. Thanks for your support!
I will try my best to maintain the quality of the writing and keep the novel updating automatically while I'm at school (●◡●)