Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand Chapter 127 - 22: The Escaped Han (3)

The desert night sky was breathtakingly beautiful. The Milky Way above seed like rcury scattered across black velvet, shimring and magnificent. The heat waves that had been rising during the day gradually dissipated, giving way to the cold.

"Achoo!"

Han couldn't help but sneeze, desperately rubbing his shoulders to warm himself.

The old monk, unhurried, pulled out a pouch and took out so tumbleweed he'd collected during the day. Using a fire starter, he lit it and built a small campfire.

At first, Han tried to act tough, but his stubbornness couldn't withstand the cold. Eventually, he moved closer to the fire to warm himself.

Tumbleweed burned quickly, though it produced a lot of smoke. Fortunately, there was a gentle east wind, and both the old monk and Han were sitting upwind, avoiding the smoke. After a while, Han felt his whole body warming up and asked, "Old monk, didn't you say you could read the stars? The stars are out now—tell which direction we can take to get out of here."

Fenfuku didn't hesitate. He raised his head and pointed to the Big Dipper in the sky.

"See that cluster of stars? It looks like a ladle."

"I see it."

"The ladle's handle, if extended upward five tis its length, leads to a bright star. Do you see it? That's the North Star."

"You an Tianxuan and Tianshu, right?"

Han squinted, carefully searching the sky.

"Exactly. I didn't expect you to know so much," Fenfuku praised.

"Of course! I've studied the Seven Stars Sealing thod... Wait, why am I telling you this? Anyway, the North Star—what next?"

Han seed a bit proud. Fenfuku continued, "The North Star points north, so this direction is west."

Fenfuku pointed in a direction.

"If you follow this direction, you'll return to the village."

"Back to the village? Why would I go back there? I want to return to Iwagakure!"

Han exclaid passionately.

"But we don't have enough water to survive crossing the desert. Returning is the only option."

"No! I won't go back! I'm not a piece of rchandise! I'm not!"

Han scread hysterically at Fenfuku, his emotions growing increasingly intense. Slowly, he began to manipulate the seal within himself.

With a loud bang, he transford into the massive Five-Tails, Kokuō, raising its four hooves and sprinting northward. In an instant, it disappeared from sight.

Fenfuku couldn't stay calm. He shouted toward the north, "Don't go that way! There's quicksand pits in that direction!"

But Kokuō was too fast to hear him.

"Ah, there's no other choice. Old friend, lend a hand, will you? After all, he's just a troubled child."

Fenfuku spoke helplessly.

The Shukaku within him responded, "Hmph! Among the tailed beasts, it's the most impulsive. Always running around like a maniac. I won't chase it—it's exhausting!"

"Ah, you can guide him slowly in the future. After all, you're his elder brother."

In truth, the tailed beasts were split simultaneously, so there was no real hierarchy among them. Fenfuku's words were clearly an attempt to flatter Shukaku.

"Elder brother?"

Shukaku perked up.

"Of course! You can count, can't you? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Since the Sage of Six Paths ranked you first, you must have been created first. Naturally, you're the elder brother!"

Fenfuku continued to coax him.

Shukaku was delighted by this.

"You're absolutely right! As the elder brother, I can't just stand by and watch my younger sibling in danger. Fine, let's go save my impulsive little brother."

With that, Fenfuku suddenly transford into Shukaku and strode off in the direction of Kokuō.

Kokuō ran at an incredible speed, crossing countless sand dunes. Yet the desert remained endless, seemingly stretching on forever. Even tailed beasts had their limits, and eventually, Kokuō's chakra depleted. Its pace slowed, transitioning from a run to a walk, and finally reverted back to Han.

Han looked helplessly at the pitch-black desert, feeling utterly exhausted. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground and passed out.

When Han began to regain consciousness, he was horrified to find that his body, from the neck down, was buried deep in sand and still sinking.

Quicksand!

Han struggled desperately, but the more he moved, the faster he sank.

He tried to shout, but the sand quickly covered his mouth, leaving him to breathe through his nose.

Han dared not move anymore, noticing that his descent slowed slightly. Yet he continued to sink. Before long, even his nose was subrged, and he could no longer breathe.

Soone save !

Mom! Master! Old monk! Where are you?

Just as Han was about to suffocate, he faintly heard an arrogant voice.

"Well, well, you ran quite far! Made chase you all this way. And now you've fallen into a quicksand pit, haven't you? Ah, foolish little brother, it's up to big brother to save you..."

One drop, two drops, three drops, a stream, one drop, two drops...

In his daze, Han felt his lips moistening. A cool sensation reached his throat, soothing the dryness and bringing imnse comfort.

When he finally woke up, he saw the old monk vigorously squeezing water from a pouch into his mouth.

Seeing Han awake, the old monk was visibly relieved.

"Amitabha, you're finally awake."

"Th-thank you..."

Han managed to utter two words, realizing the old monk must have saved him.

The old monk looked pleased but quickly showed a hint of lancholy.

"I have bad news for you. We might both die here."

"What?!"

Han was shocked.

"You ran too far, deep into the desert. Our water is gone. With our strength, we can't make it out, no matter which direction we take."

Han froze. A seven- or eight-year-old impulsive child, he had never imagined he would one day face death.

He knew the old monk never lied. (Flattery and lying are two different things.)

Truly confronting death brought deep fear to his heart. For a mont, he didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, he saw the old monk pull out a kunai, startling Han.

Is the old monk going to eat ?

The old monk held the kunai in his mouth and slit his own vein. Blood imdiately flowed down his arm. The monk carefully caught the blood in the pouch, ensuring not a single drop was wasted.

Han watched, dumbfounded.

Soon, the pouch was half full, holding around 500 milliliters. The old monk's lips were pale as he weakly sealed the pouch and handed it to Han, who took it blankly.

With a ripping sound, the old monk tore a strip from his clothing and bandaged his wound.

"Old monk, what are you..."

"My ti is short. Don't speak—listen to ."

The old monk was visibly weak, and Han nodded.

"When I found you, I sent a signal to the garrison. It's been twenty-nine days now. By tomorrow at the latest, they'll co looking for us. Take this pouch and head in this direction."

The old monk pointed to a direction. He then tore a long strip from his robe and shakily tied it around Han's waist.

"Take a few steps and check the cloth behind you. If it's crooked, adjust your course. Walk in this direction for three days, and you should encounter them. Ration this blood carefully, and shake the pouch occasionally to prevent it from clotting."

Han couldn't hold back anymore.

"Old monk, what about you?"

Fenfuku gave a weak smile.

"That depends on fate. If Buddha shows rcy, you might bring the garrison back to find . If not..."

"No, old monk, I won't let you die!"

"Foolish child, no one escapes death. If I can save your life before I pass, it'll be a great rit."

"Then I'll stay here and wait for the garrison with you!"

Han protested stubbornly.

"The sooner you leave, the greater my chances of survival. If you stay, we'll both die here, and my half-pouch of blood will be wasted. If I pass away, please inform Lord Jinghang or Lord Rasa to find a new Jinchūriki for Shukaku."

Hearing this, Han scrambled to his feet, clutching the pouch.

"Old monk, hang in there. I'll bring help soon. Don't die—I still need you... to teach scriptures!"

"Haha, alright."

Fenfuku smiled faintly, clasped his hands in prayer, and said no more.

Han summoned all his strength and sprinted in the direction the old monk had pointed.

"Old monk, is it really worth risking so much blood and even your life for such a reckless kid?"

Shukaku asked, puzzled.

"Haha, the Buddha once sacrificed himself to feed a tiger and achieved enlightennt. I'm rely imitating him. Saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. Amitabha."

"Hmph! You want to die, but I don't want to change landlords! Another kid to train for over a decade—forget it! Fine, fine, I'll lend you a hand."

With that, a trendous surge of chakra filled Fenfuku's body.

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