In Naruto as Zhongli-Chapter 60: INAZ - 59

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"Onii... san..." Sasuke stammered.

"Sasuke, be good. Today is Sasuke's birthday. These big brothers, big sisters, and uncles are all here to celebrate Sasuke's birthday... Uh..." Just as Itachi finished speaking, he suddenly felt himself being stared at by killing intent. Turning his head, he saw Shinji looking at him with a 'kindly' expression.

"Itachi, you said... who's the uncle?" Shinji looked smilingly at Itachi. Although it was summer, Itachi still felt a chill.

"Sasuke, this is Brother Shinji..."

At the birthday party, everyone toasted and chatted. Of course, there was no alcohol served, mostly juice, drinks, and tea. Sasuke also became somewhat familiar with the atmosphere, beginning to overcome his fear and peeking out from Itachi's arms to look at things. Not only that, the large stack of fried eggs on the table instantly caught Sasuke's interest.

Under the grieving eyes of his older brother Itachi, Sasuke ignored the perfect fried egg specifically made for him, instead wanting to grab those so-called 'imperfect' eggs. This was basically not allowed by Itachi. However, Sasuke insisted, and Itachi could only helplessly pick up a piece of the 'imperfect' fried egg with chopsticks and place it in his bowl. Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but chuckle.

After dinner, Shinji took out the gift he had prepared.

"Mikoto, this is the gift our All-Purpose Shop prepared for Sasuke. Please accept it," Shinji handed the gift he prepared to Mikoto.

"How can I accept this, Boss Shinji," Mikoto Uchiha seemed to want to decline. But Shinji didn't give her the chance, because he directly handed the gift to Sasuke instead. And Sasuke very alertly reached out his chubby little hand and took the small box. Moreover, Sasuke had already started tearing off the small packaging strips on it. Soon, the gift box was opened.

"Sasuke already opened it. Mikoto, just accept it," Shinji said with a slight smile. This gift was something Shinji decided on after careful selection. Once the gift box was opened, a small ring appeared before everyone.

"A ring?" Mikoto Uchiha was somewhat懵逼 (měng bī - stunned/confused). What? Why give a ring? Could it be? Hmm??

"This ring has special effects. It's for Sasuke's self-defense," Shinji pointed at the ring in Sasuke's hand.

"But isn't this ring too big?" Itachi asked somewhat puzzledly.

"Actually, it can automatically adjust its size. For example..." Before Shinji finished speaking, Sasuke had already put his finger into the ring. Instantly, the size of the ring suddenly shrank slightly, then firmly fixed itself onto Sasuke's index finger.

"This is?"

"This is the Paralysis Ring. It can enhance the training speed of Lightning Release chakra, and can also release lightning to paralyze others," Shinji explained. Of course, there was another most important function: each normal attack had a 20% chance of causing paralysis. This was truly rare.

"Such a precious gift?" Hearing this, Mikoto Uchiha hesitated again. This was truly too precious, making Mikoto Uchiha hesitate whether she shouldn't accept it?

"Accept it, Mikoto. It's already automatically bound to Sasuke. Now, besides him, no one can use this Paralysis Ring," Shinji directly cut off Mikoto Uchiha's thoughts.

"Is that so..." Only then did Mikoto Uchiha accept the gift. At the same time, she secretly thought that when Karin and Deidara had their birthdays in the future, she definitely needed to return a big gift.

With Shinji's statement, Izumi also took out the gift she prepared. It was a large teddy bear. It was clear Sasuke was very interested.

"By the way, Mikoto, I'll be going out for a while. Can I entrust Karin and Deidara to your care?" Shinji suddenly spoke, surprising Karin and Deidara beside him somewhat.

"Where is Lord Shinji going? I want to go too!" Karin was the first to stand up, expressing her desire to go out with Shinji. Deidara, although silent, still looked at Shinji's face, determination in his eyes.

"Karin, Deidara, I'm just going out to visit some friends this time. I'll be back in just two weeks. So..." Shinji began to explain. He really needed to go on this trip himself.

"But Lord Shinji..." Karin got anxious, reaching out and grabbing Shinji's hand.

"Karin, Deidara, you two stay here with me for these two weeks. Boss Shinji might have some things he needs to handle himself?" Mikoto Uchiha immediately stepped in to mediate. Although she didn't know the cause and effect, it was clear. Shinji didn't want to take Karin and Deidara along. Perhaps there were some other dangers involved?

"But..."

"Be good, Karin. I'll bring you back a gift," Shinji smiled slightly, patting Karin and Deidara's hair with one hand each.

"Then... Lord Shinji must take care of himself, sleep well, and eat well..." Karin started nagging Shinji like a housekeeper woman.

"Karin really is like a housekeeper," Mikoto Uchiha teased from the side. Hearing Mikoto Uchiha's words, Karin's entire face turned red, lowering her head, daring not to look at Shinji.

"I will protect Karin," Deidara didn't say anything else, but looked firmly into Shinji's eyes and stated resolutely.

"Then I'm relieved. Deidara, Karin, during these weeks I'm away, you must cooperate well. If there's anything you can't solve, ask your Aunt Mikoto. If something unexpected really happens, you can return to the All-Purpose Shop. There's a button under the table, just press it," Shinji seriously told them some precautions.

"I understand, Lord Shinji," Karin looked straight at Shinji, a trace of determination flashing in her eyes.

"Alright, alright. Don't make it seem like a life-and-death parting. I'm just going out to find a friend," Shinji suddenly felt the atmosphere was a bit much, feeling somewhat speechless for a moment.

"Boss Shinji, when are you leaving?" Mikoto Uchiha suddenly asked.

"Probably tomorrow. I'll leave early in the morning," Shinji thought for a moment and said.

"I understand. Our Uchiha clan will protect Karin and Deidara well," Mikoto Uchiha said seriously. The Uchiha clan had changed so much now; she saw it with her own eyes. And the source of the change was the always calm Shinji before her! Therefore, for such small matters, Mikoto Uchiha wouldn't refuse Shinji.

"Then thank you, Mikoto. By the way, perhaps this trip might take me past the front lines. If I see Fugaku then, I'll help you pass on a message, hahaha."

"Lord Shinji, why are you going to the front lines!?"

"Ahahaha, misspoke, misspoke. Not going to the front lines."

"Hmph!... Uh... Lord Shinji, you must return safely. Karin will wait for you at home."

"I will."

After attending Sasuke's birthday party, Shinji planned to leave quietly early the next morning. However, just as he reached the first floor of the All-Purpose Shop, at this moment. Karin, wearing pajamas printed with Pikachu, was dozing off on the tea chair Shinji always sat on.

"Shinji... Lord~" The sound of Shinji coming downstairs woke Karin up. Seeing Shinji come down, Karin's first reaction was to immediately get up and come beside Shinji.

"Why didn't you go back to your room to sleep?" Shinji patted Karin's red hair. Looking at the still somewhat sleepy little Karin before him, a smile couldn't help but appear at the corners of Shinji's mouth.

"I wanted to see Lord Shinji off," Karin wiped her eyes. Was it tears from just waking up or something else?

"I'm only going out for two weeks, Karin. Go back to sleep. Lack of sleep is a girl's natural enemy," Shinji coaxed Karin.

"Then I want Lord Shinji to carry me back," Karin pouted.

"Alright, alright," Shinji sighed helplessly, then picked Karin up by the waist and carried her into her room. Putting her down, covering her with the quilt.

"Sleep well, Karin," Shinji smiled slightly, then intended to get up and leave. Just then, Shinji's hand was suddenly held by a small hand. Turning his head, Karin looked pitifully at him.

"Then I'll wait at home for Lord Shinji to come back~"

"Okay."

...

...

After bidding farewell to Karin, Shinji opened the door of the All-Purpose Shop alone, then embarked on his journey alone. Using the same method as before, Shinji directly left the village. Then, he headed directly north. North of the Land of Fire were several small countries. And the war with Kumogakure was currently taking place within the territory of the Land of Hot Water. Kumogakure directly passed through the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Water to reach the border with the Land of Fire. This place was where Kumogakure and Konoha village fought.

Although Shinji was also heading north, his actual destination wasn't the Land of Hot Water. But next to the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rice Paddies!

Traveling all the way. Shinji didn't deliberately rush, but walked and stopped. Until two days later, Shinji finally arrived in the Land of Rice Paddies from Konoha. Along the way, Shinji didn't hide himself, even encountering several bandits on the road, but they were all dealt with by Shinji.

Finally, the Land of Rice Paddies arrived. The Land of Rice Paddies was a small country bordering Konoha. There was no ninja village within the country. The entire country was most famous for farming, hence the name Land of Rice Paddies.

Upon entering the border of the Land of Rice Paddies, looking around, one could basically see fields everywhere. Within the fields, some farmers were diligently working. Although most farmers looked physically strong, there was clearly a sense of malnutrition about them.

Due to the Land of Rice Paddies having no ninja village, it was often exploited by other countries. Layer upon layer of levies and taxes added up, meaning the money actually reaching the farmers' hands wasn't much. Moreover, when they saw Shinji, they mostly showed numbness, and no one came over to question Shinji's identity.

Shinji took out a map and followed the direction on the map. The Land of Rice Paddies wasn't large, about the same size as the neighboring Land of Waterfalls. Shinji didn't rush either, just walking step by step towards the destination.

Half a day later, Shinji finally arrived at the location on the map. It was a small mountain village. What was different about this small mountain village was. Security was stricter than other places, and the guards carried iron weapons.

"Looks like... I've arrived. Why isn't Lord Orochimaru coming out yet?" Shinji sensed the surroundings and instantly discovered something different.

"Fufufu, Boss Shinji, long time no see," Amidst eerie laughter, on a small tree nearby, a small white snake emitted Orochimaru's voice. Then, the small white snake seemed to signal Shinji, then moved forward with snake-like steps. The guards at the entrance of the small mountain village stepped aside upon seeing the small snake, clearing a small path for Shinji to pass.

"Lord Orochimaru, didn't expect your place here to be running quite well?" Shinji looked at everything in the small mountain village. Rather than a small mountain village, it looked more like a miniature Konoha village. Although many things were newly established, the style of the streets and houses still bore the shadow of Konoha village.

"..." However, the small white snake didn't answer Shinji, but flicked its tongue and quickly ran forward.

"Looks like this is just a temporary voice," Shinji watched the white snake accelerate, and also quickened his pace forward. Not towards the location of the small mountain village, but directly to the edge of the small mountain village. At this moment, the white snake leaped directly onto a mountain wall, its entire snake body embedding itself directly into a groove on the mountain wall.

Click clack. A sound echoed. The mountain wall just now opened, revealing a pitch-black passage before Shinji. Then, dim lights appeared one by one in the passage, feeling somewhat damp.

"Lord Orochimaru really likes this kind of environment," Shinji shook his head helplessly, then lifted his foot and walked inside. Following the lights, Shinji arrived in a small room.

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