An unfamiliar ceiling.
If someone suddenly said, "You're awake, the surgery was a success," it wouldn't feel out of place at all.
[Is it Orochimaru...? It's a stroke of luck I didn't see his face. His presence here also means the Kaguya Clan is about to be wiped out. I wonder if he's joined the Akatsuki Organization yet.]
If he had seen her face, with Orochimaru's current personality, he would probably want to take Amane into his laboratory, just like he did with Kimimaro.
Amane had just gained hope of escaping Danzo's control; she didn't want to be captured by Orochimaru at this time.
Checking her physical condition, Amane felt no different than if she had just woken up normally. However, in the instant before she fainted, the moment her heart suddenly stopped, she had still captured that sensation before her consciousness vanished.
It really wasn't a pleasant experience. Amane now had a deep understanding of why the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu was called a forbidden jutsu.
"Awake?"
A familiar voice came from her side—it was that irritable Little Apple.
"The Medical Ninja said you had cardiac arrest due to excessive fatigue. But you seem to have good luck; it was only for a moment. Otherwise, you would have been the first person I've seen work themselves to death."
Amane couldn't help but smile, intending to brush it off. She couldn't exactly say it was actually an accident, so she could only accept this explanation.
"What are you laughing at? Lady Terumi is very angry. She told me to tell you that you aren't allowed to practice for at least a week!"
As she said this, Ameyuri also seemed a bit angry. It was unclear whether the target of this anger was Amane or Mei Terumī, who had given the order.
Thinking of this, Amane couldn't help but reveal a sincere smile and said, "Sorry for making you worry."
Ameyuri, who wanted to say something more, paused and then flopped down onto the chair behind her.
Only then did Amane notice that there were peeled and slightly discolored apples by her bedside. And on the spot where Ameyuri would have been leaning forward from that position, there was a patch of saliva stain.
It seemed she had been unconscious for quite a while, and Ameyuri apparently hadn't left the whole time.
"Can I ask? Why do you care so much about me?"
From the first day she met Ameyuri, the other girl seemed to have been targeting her.
Initially, Amane thought her behavior caused Ameyuri instinctive disgust, but later—especially after these two months—she felt that thought was incomplete.
"You should have some kind of answer in your heart, right? That's exactly why I don't like this about you."
Ameyuri rudely took a piece of apple and ate it as she spoke.
"..."
An answer?
Setting aside the psychology and such things she learned from Root, Amane herself actually felt a certain degree of resonance with Ameyuri.
A bit of envy; she lived so honestly and freely.
To put it in common terms, she was straightforward. There was no discord between her inner desires and her body; she was the same inside and out.
"I hope you can always live like this, it's just that I can't do it right now."
In this life, Amane had the ability and potential, but the destiny that followed made it so that, at least for now, she couldn't do what she wanted.
After hearing these words, Ameyuri swallowed the apple in one gulp, then suddenly lunged forward to lock eyes with Amane's pupils.
"As I thought, we are really alike on the inside."
After saying this, Ameyuri revealed a shark-toothed grin and continued, "Then how about you tell me a little bit? Why is it that you want to do it but can't right now? Even though your heart holds feelings like fire, you're suppressing them so hard."
Having said this, Ameyuri silently watched as Amane showed a tiny flicker of being moved, only for it to vanish without a trace. She couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed there was no chance this time either.
Before their first conversation, Ameyuri had noticed this unfamiliar peer, and then she could no longer look away.
People who live true to their feelings can always keenly scent the aura of their own kind.
Despite appearing to be her complete opposite on the surface, Amane was definitely also someone true to her emotions, honest and simple about what she thought and felt in her heart.
Yet her way of doing things was to frequently suppress these impulses, though she would occasionally release that suppression as if to relieve herself.
For example, back then, she was clearly fishing for information from Chōjūrō, but because of Chōjūrō's sudden behavior, her inner playfulness was piqued, and she turned to teasing him instead.
At that moment, Ameyuri knew she hadn't misjudged Amane. That was why she stood up, also feeling playful, wanting to establish a sense of resonance with Amane.
But she hadn't expected that Ameyuri's actions would make Amane wary, directly breaking that resonance and pulling the conversation back to the original topic.
Ameyuri was very angry at that time, which directly led to her not giving Amane any good looks afterward.
"Is that so? Well, I hope you can tell me one day. So, speaking of which, what were you practicing that made you almost die of sudden exhaustion? Hurry up and show me your new move!"
Amane suddenly felt speechless, and a trace of annoyance welled up in her heart for no reason.
She finally had an atmosphere where she could slightly relieve her psychological pressure, and then she just went and destroyed the chance in an instant!
"Hmph, what else could it be? It's just Lightning Nature Transformation."
"Hey, hey, hey, you should know that lying in front of me is a pointless endeavor. Hurry, tell me, what are you researching? Is it Lightning Release?"
Although Ameyuri didn't lean in as close as before, she practically crawled onto Amane's bed, looking like she wouldn't give up until Amane spoke.
"You think I'm capable of developing a new Ninjutsu now? You really think highly of me."
Amane pushed Ameyuri away, then pulled the blanket over her head, adopting an attitude of not wanting to hear her speak and wanting her to leave quickly.
That felt good! She finally avenged that grudge from the forest two months ago!
Compared to Amane's sudden annoyance, Ameyuri instantly felt a sense of gratification.
"I said I might not see through others' lies, but I can definitely distinguish yours. Remember to show me your new move after you're discharged~"
Saying this, Ameyuri walked to the door of the room, then stopped and continued:
"By the way, the apples were peeled by Ye. Remember to finish them."
Bang. The door closed, leaving Amane alone in the room.
[What a troublesome girl. If I don't show her a new move then, she'll definitely pester me to death.]
Getting up from the bed, Amane felt a headache just thinking about it.
She did indeed have a new move she could demonstrate, but the way this had started really made Amane uncomfortable. It would be better if she used this new move directly on Ameyuri herself.
"Maybe I can invite her to spar, and then... I'll carefully control the power~"
As a specialist in Sealing Jutsu, Amane felt she had some confidence in the area of control.
In any case, after more than two months, Amane ostensibly had guidance from a famous master. Even if she really beat Ameyuri, it would only prove that her talent was superior.
Eating the apple, Amane made up her mind... "You said a lot of words filled with emotion, Uzumaki Tian Yin. Hahaha..."
Located diagonally above the room's window, a small snake silently watched the entire interaction between Amane and Ameyuri before slowly crawling away.
He chose not to make contact with Amane at this time. It wasn't the right moment yet; anyway, the Hohzuki Mangetsu in his hands could still live for a while.
If Uzumaki Tian Yin really had a rebellious heart as Orochimaru speculated and had already put it into action, then wanting to make Uzumaki Tian Yin follow him willingly would definitely not be something that could be achieved with just a few words. At least not in this current setting.
At the same moment, inside a somewhat dilapidated house in the Hidden Mist Village, Orochimaru placed Hohzuki Mangetsu's "corpse" in front of Suigetsu Hozuki.
"Will you come with me? Suigetsu Hozuki."
Having just recovered some emotion from his brother's death and the certain truths Orochimaru had spoken, Suigetsu Hozuki couldn't help but hesitate.
He stared blankly at the man in front of him and slowly said:
"Why?"
"If your brother had all seven ninja swords in his hands at that time, perhaps he wouldn't have died. If you come with me, I can give you power. And as Mangetsu's younger brother, don't you want to inherit everything of your brother's?"
Though young, Suigetsu Hozuki was also hailed as a genius with a blade. Known in the Hidden Mist Village as the prodigy who was the "Reincarnation of the Demon," his combat methods were cruel; he would surely sever the opponent's limbs before beheading them.
[Everyone has a desire deep in their heart. As long as they are alive in this world and have the motivation to move forward, there are no exceptions.]
Looking at Suigetsu Hozuki reaching out his hand toward him, Orochimaru thought this, with a profound smile hanging on his face.