Although the battle between Naoki Senju and Orochimaru had ended, the cleanup afterward was far from over.
Many of the snakes Orochimaru had summoned in the training ground had already escaped, and quite a few were venomous. Naoki Senju also met four members of the Sound Five for the first time. The poor Sound Four had been dragged out of bed in the dead of night, only to be tasked with catching snakes...
At the other end of the training ground was the Sound Ninja Village. Well, it wasn't called the Sound Ninja Village yet, but rather Orochimaru's secret experimental base. Naturally, they couldn't let these venomous snakes roam free. There were plenty of "test subjects" in the experimental base, all of them very precious.
Naoki Senju also had to deal with the "sea of trees" created by Deep Forest Emergence. These trees, stimulated by Wood Release, had already departed from their original forms of life. Not only were they incredibly tough, but they were also highly aggressive, attacking any living thing that entered their range. Only Naoki Senju could deal with them.
Fortunately, dealing with these trees wasn't difficult. After recovering a little chakra, he finished the job with ease-Naoki Senju controlled most of the trees and buried them thirty meters underground. As for whether they would grow back someday... that was none of his business. In any case, he guaranteed that nothing would go wrong while he was here!
By the time the cleanup was finished, dawn was beginning to break. Aside from the thoroughly "renovated" training ground, there was no sign that a major battle had taken place.
"Guren, take Naoki-kun back to rest. Stay by his side for the time being."
Orochimaru's tone was calm, but it allowed no room for argument. Guren nodded respectfully in acknowledgment.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
But when she raised her head, she saw Naoki Senju making faces at her. The memory of how he had schemed against and teased her earlier came flooding back, and Guren immediately glared at him in embarrassment and annoyance.
Having witnessed all of this, Tsunade gave Naoki Senju a look that roughly meant: And you said there was nothing between you and this girl. You'd better think of an explanation before we get back!
Under attack from two sets of eyes, Naoki Senju could only look casually at the nearby "scenery," if there was any.
Fortunately, Orochimaru rescued Naoki Senju from his predicament. His narrow, golden snake eyes seemed to hold the wisdom to see through people's hearts.
"Tsunade, we haven't seen each other in years. Why not come sit down at my base? Besides, I need your help with the research on cell division."
At the mention of cell division research, Tsunade instantly perked up. Apart from gambling, this was what concerned her most. It determined whether she could retain her youth forever, so of course she took it especially seriously.
After giving Naoki Senju a warning glare, Tsunade nodded slightly and said:
"As it happens, I have a few ideas myself. Shizune, go back and fetch those scrolls."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
After leaving a ninja behind to show the way, Orochimaru went to the experimental base with Tsunade, leaving only Naoki Senju and Guren at the training ground.
Naoki Senju beckoned to Guren and said with a grin:
"I carried you before, so now you'll have to carry me, Big Sis Guren."
Guren's delicate, beautiful face stiffened. It would have been fine if Naoki Senju hadn't mentioned it, but now he had reminded her of being "spanked" again. After rolling her eyes at him, Guren still bent down and helped him up.
"Hey, hey, is that any way to treat an injured person? You should at least carry me on your back."
"You have the nerve to say that? How did you treat me back then?"
Guren's almond-shaped eyes widened in a glare, as though this were the first time she had ever met someone so shameless.
With Guren's reminder, Naoki Senju finally recalled how he had treated her back then. It seemed, perhaps, that he really had been rather awful...
"Ah, perhaps Orochimaru's orders don't amount to much after all."
Guren froze. She had been so busy being angry with Naoki Senju that she had indeed neglected Lord Orochimaru's orders.
"I don't have any strength at all. If only someone could carry me..."
How shameless!
Guren was about to hoist Naoki Senju onto her back when inspiration struck, and she thought of a good idea.
Watching Guren slowly lower him to the ground, Naoki Senju nearly lost control and stood up on his own.
"Hey, hey, are you planning to leave me here? Orochimaru-have you forgotten Lord Orochimaru's orders?"
"Of course I haven't. But carrying you back like this would be too slow. I have a better way."
A sense of foreboding arose. Guren actually began forming hand seals.
"Crystal Release: Crystal Falling Dragon Technique."
A crimson dragon's head lifted Naoki Senju and Guren. Having missed his chance, Naoki Senju was filled with regret, while Guren stood spiritedly atop the dragon's head, savoring the satisfaction of having finally gotten her revenge.
The crystal dragon was incredibly fast and looked dazzling. If chakra consumption wasn't a concern, traveling by crystal dragon really was flashy. Unfortunately, by the time they returned to the Wood Release courtyard, Guren was utterly exhausted.
Equally weak, the two set aside their grievances and supported each other back into the room. Although Tsunade had healed Naoki Senju's injuries, his depleted chakra and the exhaustion from the battle couldn't be dispelled. After returning to his room, he fell into a deep sleep before he even had time to examine the Wood Release scroll.
Looking at Naoki Senju, who had fallen into a deep sleep from exhaustion, Guren couldn't help thinking, He's much easier on the eyes asleep than awake.
As she looked at Naoki Senju, who had gone to sleep fully dressed, Guren noticed that his clothes were filthy, with several large holes torn in them by the intense battle.
"These are... the marks left by his battle with Lord Orochimaru?"
In Guren's heart, Lord Orochimaru was undoubtedly a godlike existence, yet Naoki Senju had actually fought him last night. She had even heard that Naoki Senju had ultimately won.
Although she didn't quite believe it, the shock this gave Guren was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
"But sleeping like this must be uncomfortable..."
Biting her red lip lightly with her pearly teeth, Guren made up her mind. She carefully removed Naoki Senju's clothes, then brought over hot water and a towel to wipe away the dust on his body.
At the same time, she kept reassuring herself, This is just Lord Orochimaru's order. This is just Lord Orochimaru's order...
But when she touched certain sensitive areas, Guren seemed to truly become a "red lotus," and even the camellia at her waist took on an alluring pink blush.
When Naoki woke again, the orange glow of sunset shone into the room. Naoki Senju stretched and was about to examine the Wood Release scroll when he discovered that he had been changed into another clean set of clothes. His dirty clothes had been tossed somewhere he couldn't see.
"Wait, the Wood Release scroll was still in my clothes."
Naoki Senju turned his head, only to discover the Wood Release scroll lying in plain sight beside his pillow. His expression instantly grew strange.
Tsunade and Shizune hadn't returned, and he couldn't possibly have been sleepwalking. The only person who could have helped him change his clothes seemed to be Guren...