Leaving Mu Qing's little cabin, Sasuke finally realized just how remote his location was. Along the way, there were only tiny villages—none suitable for a proper stop.
He had tried summoning the green snake and the hawk, but unsurprisingly, both attempts failed.
"Even in a backwater like this, they've managed to plant their pawns. Looks like this Spirit Hall isn't small potatoes," Sasuke mused.
"Sasuke-gege, do you really not know about Spirit Hall?" Mu Qing asked, a little surprised as she looked at him.
"Do I have to know?" Sasuke said flatly.
"Every year, Spirit Hall sends people to villages like ours to awaken children's spirits! The folks here are dirt poor—they all dream of becoming Spirit Masters and making it big!" Mu Qing said, eyes shining with hope.
"What's their real agenda, though?" Sasuke asked, his mind already guessing the answer. Spirit Hall sure knew how to cultivate influence and rake in public goodwill.
"No clue. But if you become a Spirit Master, you'll never have to worry about food or money again! Spirit Hall has branches everywhere, and after registering as a Spirit Master, you get a nice stipend too!" Mu Qing said, her eyes practically glowing.
Seeing Mu Qing's face full of longing, Sasuke quickly figured out most of the picture. The kid was already around ten years old and still stuck getting bullied out in the boonies... Clearly not Spirit Master material.
"Spirit Masters, huh…" Sasuke looked up at the sky.This was a world without any history of ninja. A certain blond, hot-blooded idiot flashed through his mind. Sasuke smirked—if that guy were here, he'd probably try to build a new Hidden Leaf Village right on this land.
Sasuke plucked a falling leaf from the air.Where the leaves dance, fire is born.Even Itachi once became the flame burning in the darkness of Konoha.Where does my own ninja way lead now?
"Sasuke-gege, look! There's a big crowd over there!"
Following Mu Qing's finger, Sasuke saw a ramshackle building up ahead. The crooked sign barely spelled out "Shrek Academy."
Sasuke gave Mu Qing a sidelong glance.At her age, she should've been playing and laughing in some cozy academy, not roughing it out here with him.
He led Mu Qing to the end of the line.
"Past thirteen already, huh? What's the point of dragging them here? I said it clear enough—we only take monsters!"An old man waved impatiently at the front desk."Scram, scram! Next!"
The farmer, bringing his kid, wrung his hands awkwardly and asked:"Sir, about the ten gold soul coins for the registration…"
The so-called teacher snickered and called out:"Mubai! Got someone trying to get a refund!"
Out of nowhere, a sharp-looking young man appeared, adjusted his collar, and said:"Simple! Beat me, and I'll give it all back."
After he spoke, three spirit rings rose around him.The farmer took one look and, without another word, grabbed his kid and left.
So this was a Spirit Master?Sasuke activated his Sharingan, watching the flow of spirit power around the young man.It felt strangely familiar—not chakra, but close to natural energy.Yet compared to real natural energy, it was way cruder and weaker.
"Mu Qing, how old are you?" Sasuke asked.
"Thirteen," she replied. She paused, then added nervously,"Sasuke-gege, let's go! You're definitely older than thirteen—I don't wanna be separated from you!"
Sasuke didn't answer. He was simply looking to find a safe place to settle the kid for now.
He walked up to the registration desk, Mu Qing clinging to his sleeve.
The old man didn't even lift his head:"Ten gold soul coins!"
Without a word, Sasuke pulled out a sleek, jet-black weapon from the seal on his wrist and placed it on the desk."This is a tungsten steel Fuma Shuriken. Should be more than enough to cover your ridiculous 'fee'."
The old man accepted the weapon, opened it up, then folded it back carefully.His eyes flicked to the girl gripping Sasuke's sleeve.
"Show me your spirit," he barked at Mu Qing.
Mu Qing hesitated, glancing at Sasuke, then nervously released her spirit.
"Red spider lily, huh?"The old man rolled his eyes."Trash spirit, and a bad-luck one at that! I said it already—we only take monsters! Do you even understand how premium the name 'Shrek' is? No spirit rings and you dare register? What do you think this is, a charity?"
"Monster," huh? Guess that meant genius.Sasuke glanced at the youth lounging under the tree.True geniuses burned brightly wherever they went. Whether or not they joined some academy didn't change a damn thing.
Without a word, Sasuke led Mu Qing away from the crowd.The sun was already sinking.The cold wind bit into the evening air—not that Sasuke cared—but Mu Qing's hands had been trembling for a while now.
It was her first time traveling far from home.Though Sasuke said nothing, she followed silently.Somehow, his quiet, brooding presence made her feel incredibly safe.
Little did she know, as they walked, they'd unknowingly entered a forest.
The plants, the animals—everything here faintly pulsed with spirit power.Interesting, Sasuke thought.
He casually grabbed a particularly flashy man-eating plant and activated his Rinnegan.
"Sealing Technique: Chakra Absorption!"
The plant's spirit power poured into Sasuke like a broken dam.In seconds, it wilted into a sad, dried-up husk.
Feeling the new energy, Sasuke realized it was surprisingly easy to control.Weaker than Naruto's sage mode energy by a long shot, but about on par with Orochimaru's cursed seals.Both were imperfect imitations of sage chakra, after all.
It seemed spirit power and sage chakra were two sides of the same weird, alchemical coin—foreign forces turned into personal strength.
"Help! Somebody, help us!"
Sasuke was still lost in thought when a desperate cry rang out.He scooped up Mu Qing and raced toward the sound.
Up ahead, two girls and a boy were surrounded by four massive green wolves.All three were already wounded.
"This is all your fault! I told you we shouldn't have snuck out!"
"Not helping right now!"
"We're doomed! Boo hoo! My poor grandparents are waiting for me at home!"
The wolves, sensing their prey's despair, growled low and leapt.
"Chidori Senbon."
A torrent of electrified senbon needles rained from above, nailing the wolves to the ground before they could even yelp.
The two girls were frozen in shock.The boy, clutching his wound, looked up—and saw a boy slightly older than himself standing casually on a tree branch.
FWIP!Another figure landed in front of the students, giving each a hearty flick to the forehead.
"Sneaking out this late! What were you thinking?!"The middle-aged man in moon-white robes fumed.
"Teacher Ye, we won't do it again!"
The three students clung to him, bawling like toddlers.
This man was Ye Zhiqiu—Canghui Academy's last-standing teacher.A Spirit King at level 56.Spirit: Black Tortoise.
Ye Zhiqiu looked at the wolves pinned to the ground and called out:"Friend up there, would you mind coming down for a chat?"
Sasuke dropped down without a word.
Ye Zhiqiu cupped his fists in greeting.He had seen it all—Sasuke's speed, precision, and ruthlessness.Not to mention the fact that he one-shotted four two-thousand-year-old soul beasts like it was Tuesday.
"Thank you for saving my students, young brother. I'm Ye Zhiqiu, of Canghui Academy. Level 56 Spirit King. If there's anything I can do to repay you, just say it!"
"Mu Qing, come here."
At Sasuke's call, Mu Qing shyly emerged from a small thicket and stood beside him.
"Since you're a teacher," Sasuke said, "can you take her in?"
Ye Zhiqiu took one look at Mu Qing and slapped his chest."Of course! A small favor, no problem at all! Young brother, come visit Canghui Academy with me!"
"So handsome!"
"Did you see his eyes? They're gorgeous!"
The two girls were already starstruck, totally forgetting they almost became wolf chow ten minutes ago.
"Hey! You three! Get over here!"
"Yes, Teacher!"
"By the way, young brother, what's your name?"
"Uchiha Sasuke."
(End of Chapter)