As dawn broke, Squad Nine arrived at a bustling and prosperous city, far removed from the chaos of war, creating a stark contrast with the brutal battles between shinobi. After traveling through the night, everyone was exhausted, so they found a higher-end inn and settled in.
Although they were inside the city, it wasn't entirely safe, but it was much safer than being outside. As usual, Ye Zi, who rested very little, took on the role of guardian.
As night descended, the city was illuminated with countless lights, resembling a continuous stream of dragons.
Ye Zi sat atop the eaves, silently observing the bustling city under the night sky. With his excellent eyesight, he could clearly see the joyful faces of the pedestrians below.
This was merely one city in the Land of Fire, yet it thrived so magnificently and rarely encountered the ravages of war. While life in the village of Konoha was better than in other shinobi villages, it still paled in comparison to this place.
Suddenly, Ye Zi's expression shifted slightly. He turned his head to see a beautiful young girl climbing out of the window. Noticing his gaze, the girl, without acknowledging him, cautiously stood on the slanted tiles, spreading her arms to maintain balance as she slowly walked a few steps before stopping.
Seemingly uncertain of her stability, the girl extended her small hand toward Ye Zi, signaling for him to take it.
Ye Zi hesitated for a moment before getting up and walking over to her, grasping her hand to help steady her.
The girl was none other than Moko Kumokawa, the one they had been escorting.
The eaves were steep, and the neatly arranged tiles were dusty. One misstep could lead to a fall, a consequence Moko, with her average physical condition, couldn't afford.
"This isn't a place for you," Ye Zi said, holding her soft hand and looking at Moko's calm expression.
"Only I know whether this place is suitable for me," Moko responded, showing more confidence as she boldly walked toward the edge of the roof. Though Ye Zi's calloused hand didn't feel comfortable, its firm grip acted like a safety rope.
Reluctantly, Ye Zi followed her, ensuring she didn't accidentally fall.
Moko finally sat down at the spot where Ye Zi had been sitting earlier, releasing his hand.
This spot wasn't ideal—it was at the very edge of the roof and the steepest part. While it was possible to sit without slipping, standing up would require extreme caution.
"What are you doing here?" Moko asked, looking up at the star-filled sky.
"Watching the prosperity," Ye Zi replied as he sat down, his movements relaxed. With the help of chakra, he remained steady despite the steep slope. As he spoke, he glanced down at the brightly lit streets below.
Their gazes went in opposite directions—one to the sky, the other to the ground.
"Oh," Moko murmured softly, showing little interest in the so-called prosperity. She quietly gazed at the sparkling stars.
As before, there was silence, and as after, there was stillness. Neither spoke.
The breeze was light and cool, brushing gently against their faces. This moment of quiet rest was precious to both of them, rare in its serenity.
"It's a bit cold," Moko suddenly said, curling up slightly.
Ye Zi heard her, but didn't react at all. He thought to himself, "It's late summer, nearing autumn. You're wearing just a thin layer—of course it's cold."
Seeing no reaction from Ye Zi , Moko's eyes flashed with a subtle hint of annoyance. In her view, even if Ye Zi didn't give her the extra coat provided by the inn, he should at least show some concern. Yet, he acted completely indifferent.
"I'm cold," she said again, turning her head to eye the coat Ye Zi was wearing.
"Then go back to your room," Ye Zi replied nonchalantly after a glance at her.
A vein visibly twitched on Moko's forehead at his words, but after taking a deep breath, she suppressed her frustration. Her face gradually returned to a calm expression, demonstrating remarkable control over her emotions.
She realized that this cold, stone-like man beside her wasn't moved by her appearance. Trying to sway him with beauty seemed unrealistic. However, it wasn't her job to concern herself with that.
"I don't want to go back. Give me your coat," Moko said, looking directly at Ye Zi.
Without a word, Ye Zi nodded and promptly removed his coat, handing it to her.
"…"
Moko took the coat, feeling a bit speechless.
"What kind of person is this?" she lamented internally as she put on the coat. The wind blew gently, and something stirred within her heart.
Above them, the stars sparkled brilliantly. Reaching out, it seemed as though she could grasp the stars in her hands.
Suddenly, Moko stood up, raising her arms as the wind caught the coat, causing it to flutter.
"Hey, do you think people can travel through the sea of stars?" she asked.
"No," Ye Zi replied flatly, standing up as well, looking at her.
Moko smiled, her eyes fixed on the clustered stars in the night sky. "Do you think I can fly?"
"No," Ye Zi repeated.
"Is that so? But I believe people can travel through the sea of stars, just as you say I can't fly, but I know I can."
With those words, Moko leaned forward and ran a few steps, like a bird leaping into the air. But she wasn't a bird, and the coat billowing in the wind wasn't wings. So, with her arms spread and her eyes closed, a faint smile on her lips, she plummeted.
It was a typical, sudden jump.
Anger flashed across Ye Zi's face. While thinking about how troublesome this mission was, he jumped after her. Quickly catching up, he wrapped his arm around her and held her close, landing steadily on the ground.
The scene drew curious glances from pedestrians on the street.
Ignoring the stares, Ye Zi released Moko and coldly said, "If you want to die, I won't stop you, but first, cancel the mission."
Moko slowly opened her eyes, looked at the ground, then at the surrounding crowd, and finally raised her head to gaze at the sky.
"I don't want to die. I just wanted to try flying. Sorry for the trouble. I promise it won't happen again," she said calmly, looking at Ye Zi.
Ye Zi didn't respond. His only concern was ensuring Moko's safety, and he had no interest in dealing with anything else or trying to understand her.
Moko looked at Ye Zi's expressionless face and said, "Flying felt nice, even though it was brief. It made me feel like, for a moment, I was free. I'm going to rest now. Goodnight."
With that, she walked back into the inn they had randomly found in the city. The sign at the entrance read, "Yunhe Inn."
Ye Zi watched her retreating figure, a look of disdain crossing his otherwise impassive face.
His life had been full of hardships. So many times, he had risked his life for even a single scrap of food. In that kind of environment, he had struggled to survive, step by step, all for the sake of changing his unfair circumstances.
He had once thought Moko was an exceptional girl—calm in danger, composed in adversity, with a strong mental fortitude.
But now, he realized he had been wrong.
This girl, who had once surprised him, was just a stubborn person. Her calm in the face of danger and her composure in difficult situations were merely because she didn't care about the things that mattered most. That's why she seemed so unperturbed.
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Currently Chapter 156 - Flashback I (Time to gaze into Ye Zi's mysterious past)