It's normal to get a kaleidoscope as a first deposit of six yuan, right?

Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the mission and receiving the following rewards: Immortal Technique: Ming Shen Sect Spirit Communication Privilege, Puppet Technique Proficiency lv.5, Initial Version of Impure World Reincarnation Technique, Title: Guardian of Fire Consciousness.

Chapter 227, Returning to Shisui

It was almost evening, and the hydrangea sitting on the tree stump was still watching a comic about a knight fighting a dragon to rescue a princess, along with Zhixue's shadow clone.

click!

Inside the tree hollow, a crack appeared in the space behind the shadow clone, and Zhi Xue walked out carrying a jar.

"You're finally back, my true self."

"Senior Xu Tong is back?"

Zhi Xue nodded as she looked at the unharmed hydrangea in front of her.

"Not bad, you weren't injured in this chaos. But as for Konoha, we don't need to go back for now. Go and take this to Pain." Zhi Xue took out a dark brown jar from behind her, and Zi Yang Hua looked at the jar with a puzzled expression and hugged it to her chest.

"Senior Xu Tong, what is this thing?"

"Well... consider this a reward from our mission. Remember not to lose it on the way. As for me, I still have some things to take care of in Konoha," Zhi Xue said, waving her hand with one hand on her hip.

"Oh, okay, Senior Xutong!" Ziyanghua put the jar into the spatial scroll, and then, encouraged by Zhixue, prepared to embark on the journey back to Yuyin early the next morning.

After giving Ziyanghua her instructions, Zhixue took a bath using the Water Transformation Technique. Then she began to plan other things after returning to Konoha, such as how to explain to her older brother that she had disappeared for six years.

Sitting in the wooden house, Zhixue began searching for some useful items in her storage room.

During her year at the academy, she received quite a few miscellaneous rewards from the system, which she can probably still find useful now.

Black and white Lolita dress: This is a very attractive dress, suitable for children between 140-150cm tall. (Charm +2, Passive effect: Can evoke a protective instinct in humans, with a small chance of triggering the opposite effect.)

Brown Bear: A unique plush toy hanging around the neck, it looks incredibly cute. (Charm +1)

Wind chime ornament: The bells hanging on the hem of the skirt produce a pleasant, clear sound when the wearer moves vigorously. (Passive: The sound subtly calms others.)

Zhi Xue put on the clothes in the wooden house, then hung the teddy bear in the pocket on her chest, and also tied two wind chimes to the hem of her skirt.

"Oh right, I also need to put this on..." Zhi Xue took out a pair of pure white safety shorts from the system space and then pulled them up along her delicate and smooth little legs.

After snapping her fingers, Zhi Xue flicked a water mirror in front of her, then took out a comb and gradually styled her loose hair into two pigtails.

"Mission accomplished... Is this alright?" Zhi Xue put her hands behind her back and looked at herself in the water mirror, dressed in black and looking as elegant and well-behaved as a princess.

After tidying up her appearance, Zhixue searched through the system shop for some useful items to give to her older brother.

Ding! Host, do you want to buy a gift? Some of the recently listed items have just gone on sale. Would you like to consider buying some?

Hearing about the price reduction, Zhixue's eyes lit up.

"Is there such a good thing?"

Zhi Xue had never seen prices drop in the system shop before. Was this some kind of system-wide Singles' Day? There was actually a price reduction.

Zhi Xue followed the system's advice and entered the system store to check it out. However, her face darkened when she saw the string of zeros and the names and photos of the products for sale.

Are you serious about making this as a gift?

Chakra Cannon: The Hidden Cloud Village is researching its initial ultimate weapon. It possesses immense power, but the cannon itself is extremely heavy. However, it can be moved using the Light-Heavy Rock Technique. Price: 9998 million yen per unit.

Ratatosk Airship: Possesses multiple capabilities including optical stealth, anti-navigation, magic beam cannons, and body recovery pods, while also providing adequate living space for multiple passengers. Price: 8.8 million taels.

When she saw 8.8 million taels, Zhi Xue's small eyes were filled with great confusion. This was the first time in so many years that she had seen an item sold in the system shop in the hundreds of millions. Wasn't it supposed to be no more than nine figures?

Eye Technique: Eight Thousand Spears: A Mangekyou Sharingan eye technique that allows the user to extract chakra from another's body and control their mind by imprinting a mark. Furthermore, the technique can be activated regardless of distance as long as the mark is present. Price: 24.8 billion ryo.

Stop Snow: ...

Why do my pockets suddenly feel a little empty?

After wandering around the system shop several times that night, Zhixue finally chose a wind-attribute Kusanagi sword worth 2100 million taels as a gift for Zhishui.

Hmm... Actually, compared to other gifts, the Sharingan sold by the system is not bad, but Zhixue feels that giving eyeballs as a gift is a bit strange.

On the night Zhixue finished choosing her gift, she used her first level of ability to pass through Konoha's barrier and secretly sneaked back to her own window.

“This window… is a bit high. Has it been renovated…” Zhi Xue lifted the hem of her skirt and put her short legs over the window of her bedroom, then looked at her little feet that couldn’t touch the ground and said.

squeak~

The bedroom door was pushed open, and Zhi Shui's expression darkened as she looked at Zhi Xue, who was somewhat dazed and stuck in the window.

Six years later, she still knows to come back to see him...

After seeing Zhishui's dark smile, Zhixue also sensed a different aura than before.

Wait, something's not right... Um, she dressed up especially sweetly and cutely tonight, so I hope Nii-san won't punish me.

"Wait, ouch! Be gentle, I, I know I was wrong..."

One minute later, Zhixue, feeling her cheeks being repeatedly kneaded by Zhishui, sat down next to Zhishui with a somewhat aggrieved expression.

"If you knew you were wrong, you wouldn't have disappeared for six years without a trace," Zhishui said, poking Zhixue's forehead hard.

"Hehe, I came back to see you, Nisan. Don't be angry. I brought you a gift this time. Look... Jiang Jiang!" Zhi Xue rubbed her slightly red cheeks and then took out a long, rectangular gift box from behind her back.

The Kusanagi Sword, with its wind attribute, is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and practical among the five swords. Combined with Nii-san's Body Flicker Technique and Fire Release, its strength would probably not be much weaker than its original three-tomoe form.

"Gifts aren't important, but you have to tell me what you've been doing for the past six years. If you don't come home for a long time, I'll be very worried." Zhi Shui placed the gift on the table and then gently patted Zhi Xue's head as she spoke softly.

Six years have passed, and although Zhixue is even more beautiful than before, she hasn't grown at all...

Chapter 229, Konoha Meeting

"As for what I've experienced these past few years... emmm, it's hard to say." Zhi Xue scratched her head and looked at Zhi Shui with some distress.

Time travel is too dangerous, and even if I explained it clearly, I would probably still get a scolding. After all, if I fell into some unknown timeline, I might not be able to come back.

“What’s so hard to say? Let me hear about Zhixue’s growth over the past six years. I saw you save Konoha again today, so you must have honed yourself quite a bit over these six years, right?” Shisui said, ruffling Zhixue’s hair.

Stop Snow: ...

She actually got there through cheat codes, but she can't say that. Even if she did, no one would believe her. It's too unbelievable. It's best to just treat it as it is before.

"Ahem, if we're talking about honing my skills... well, you could say that. But Nii-san, do you still have any of my childhood belongings at home?" Zhi Xue said somewhat reluctantly, recalling her time at the academy and her past.

Hearing what Zhixue asked, Zhishui smiled.

Is it because he's been away from home for too long and finally misses home? But he does seem to have some memories of things from Zhixue's childhood.

“Alright, I’ll go look for it for you, but you have to promise me one thing before that.” Zhi Shui looked at Zhi Xue seriously and said.

"Huh? What's up?" Zhi Xue scratched her head and asked, looking at Zhi Shui's very serious expression.

"Of course, there can't be any more disappearances," Zhishui said, his face darkening as he tugged at Zhixue's cheek.

He's really having so much fun out there that he's completely forgotten about his older brother...

"Ahhh, stop pulling! It'll break! I... I promise you!"

Zhishui removed her hand from Zhixue's delicate face, then breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You promised me, you can't go back on your word."

"Don't worry, Nii-san, you're so gentle, I definitely won't bear to leave you!" Zhi Xue rubbed her cheeks, gave Zhi Shui a thumbs up, and then blinked her big eyes as she spoke.

Shisui nodded in satisfaction at the guarantee from Shisui, then walked towards the storage room. Shisui placed a black rod created by Yin-Yang Release under her bed for long-distance teleportation and positioning.

From now on, she won't need to use the window anymore unless she goes through the front door when she appears at home. She's a genius. (Tactical hands on hips)

In the storage room, after moving out several more boxes, Zhishui also took out two cardboard boxes that were sealed with tape.

I remember these things were clothes that Zhixue wore or stories she read when she was little, and also things she used for practice when she got older, such as wooden swords, test papers, and gift boxes.

After wiping the dust off the items, Shisui carried the two boxes towards the bedroom...

In the Konoha meeting room…

Hiruzen Sarutobi convened a high-level meeting regarding Orochimaru's attack on Konoha. Among those present were two elderly clan leaders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked from outside to the central conference table, then nodded to the Anbu members beside him, covering the area with an invisible, transparent barrier.

"Sarutobi, you came here to discuss Orochimaru, right?"

"Yes, you guessed right. That bastard caused Konoha quite a bit of trouble, but fortunately someone came to our aid, otherwise our losses might have been much greater." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his pipe, and the wisps of smoke emanating from the room made the atmosphere of the meeting rather strange.

Someone offered to help, but strangely, the person who helped was covered in a layer of green light, making it impossible to see their face. Moreover, Hiruzen Sarutobi was shocked by the strength that was almost enough to crush Orochimaru.

After a few years of relative peace in Konoha, some strange things have started to happen again.

"Lord Hokage, I think this matter is strange, but it is also a good thing. The Kage of Sunagakure was killed by Orochimaru. With their current strength, they probably won't make any big moves for a long time to come."

Listening to Hiashi Hyuga's analysis, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement.

It's not incomprehensible that Rasa was killed by Orochimaru for dancing with wolves, and the setback suffered by Sunagakure would also benefit Konoha to some extent.

“Although we haven’t suffered many losses, we still need to be vigilant, Sarutobi. That green figure is far too powerful.” Mitokado Homura raised his hand and said to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

They were all from that era, so they naturally knew how strong the First and Second Hokage were. Even if the Impure World Reincarnation technique only brought out less than 20% of their power, they were still no ordinary people who could easily defeat them. Their strength was probably on par with, or even better than, that of Hanzo the Salamander.

"Yes, that's true. However, I heard the term 'Dragon Land Cave' on the battlefield, so I speculate that it might be related to the conflict between the Immortal Lands. If it's an internal conflict, it's easier to handle."

Hiruzen Sarutobi could still vaguely recall the surprised tone Orochimaru had in his voice on the battlefield, but when Ryuchi Cave was mentioned, he thought of Uchiha Shisui's sister, the little brat who had disappeared for many years.

Hiruzen Sarutobi still remembered the time when Kakashi and she were almost killed by Orochimaru's puppet snakes during a mission. At that time, Shiki Uchiha reported that she had accidentally signed a contract with the Ryuchi Cave Sage by using the Reverse Summoning Jutsu.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi connected the dots with the current situation, he had a bad feeling, but it was all too unbelievable.

Uchiha Shiyuki's performance at the Ninja Academy was remarkable, and her performance in the Anbu was not particularly outstanding. Even after so many years, it's impossible for her to be this strong.

Thinking about Ryuchi Cave, Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously looked towards Fugaku's position, hoping he would say something, since he was also aware of Uchiha Shiyuki's Ryuchi Cave contract.

"Clan Chief Fugaku, after listening for so long, what are your specific thoughts?"

Uchiha Fugaku:......

Looking at the kind-faced old man in front of him, Fugaku felt a little ashamed.

If he had any ideas, he would have said them already. Why would he need to ask?

Chapter 230, Planning the Route

As night fell, in Zhishui's home, Zhixue was still rummaging through the things in the cabinet. There were many of Xiao Zhixue's belongings inside. Looking at these familiar things, a feeling that she didn't know whether to call it regret or nostalgia rose in Zhixue's heart.

"Let's keep these things safe for now. Maybe we can take them out and remember her later..." Zhi Xue sealed some storybooks, training tools, and clothes together with tape, then stood up and looked at the gift box on the chair behind her.