69novels Chapter 152 I was just a kind-hearted ninja passing by, Queen of Loulan
Chapter 152 I was just a kind-hearted ninja passing by, Queen of Loulan
Chapter 152 I was just a kind-hearted ninja passing by, Queen of Loulan
Loulan, the land of wind.
This is a name that has been almost forgotten in the corners of history.
But in Makoto Karatachi's memory, this once glorious country harbored a power capable of overturning the entire ninja world.
Dragon veins.
The immense chakra flowing through the earth, the source of natural power, is the manifestation of the earth's infinite power!
"Let's find the Loulan ruins first."
Gouju Cheng took a deep breath and stepped into the border town.
Although it's called a small town, it's more like a rudimentary supply point. There are rows of low mud-brick houses, a deep well, a small camel market, a few grocery stores selling dry food and water, and a simple inn for travelers to rest.
There were few pedestrians, mostly Sunagakure ninjas, passing caravans, and some wandering ninjas or mercenaries who didn't look very respectable.
The appearance of Goujucheng did not attract much attention.
In this kind of place, people of all kinds come and go every day; one more or one less makes no difference.
He found a grocery store that looked a little cleaner and went inside.
"Boss, some water and dry food, please."
He placed a few silver coins on the counter in a calm voice.
The grocery store owner was a thin, middle-aged man with rough, dark skin eroded by wind and sand, but his small eyes revealed the shrewdness of a businessman.
"Okay, how much do you want, sir?"
He deftly took out several water pouches and a packet of dry biscuits, while his eyes quickly swept over Gouju Cheng.
"Are the guests heading into the desert?"
"Going into the desert this season is not safe; there are roaming bandits everywhere."
"If we're unlucky, it's fine if we run into a Sunagakure patrol, but if we run into nagakure ninja, or those mercenaries who take advantage of our misfortune—"
He shook his head, giving him a knowing look.
Gouju Cheng, without batting an eye, accepted the dry rations and water, and casually asked, "I'm just a wild game collector. I've heard there are some special minerals and medicinal herbs in Loulan, and I'd like to try my luck there. Do you know how to get to Loulan, boss?"
"Loulan?"
The owner paused slightly, then frowned: "Why would a customer want to go to such a awful place?"
"Loulan has long been abandoned. After being destroyed a few years ago, only ruins remain. Even Sunagakure is too lazy to send people to guard it."
What kind of wild game can I get there?
Gouju Cheng's heart skipped a beat. "Boss, could you explain in more detail?"
The boss scratched his head, not thinking much of it, since the matter of Loulan wasn't exactly a secret in the Land of Wind.
"I don't know the specifics, but something happened in Loulan a few years ago. Anyway, the whole country was wiped out overnight. Everyone was dead, and only ruins remained."
"Later, Sunagakure sent people to investigate, but they didn't find anything, and the matter was dropped. Now, occasionally some fearless adventurers or wandering ninjas go there hoping to find any valuable antiques, but they usually come back empty-handed."
"That place is very eerie. Locals don't want to go near it. Only some Loulan descendants remain in the vicinity."
After listening, Gouju Cheng nodded thoughtfully.
A country destroyed overnight —
This aligns with the original storyline where An Lushan used the dragon vein to create a puppet army, which was eventually sealed away by Minato Namikaze and his son.
"Boss, do you know when that happened?"
"Well—"
The boss scratched his head and thought for a moment: "It was about four or five years ago. It's an exaggeration to say that Loulan was a small country, but it was quite prosperous. Who would have thought it would be gone overnight?"
"It is said that Loulan offended some powerful ninja, which led to the kingdom's destruction overnight!"
It was common for powerful ninjas to destroy small countries.
For example, Sasori of the Red Sand once used the Red Secret Technique Hundred Machine Manipulation to destroy a small country.
Four or five years ago.
Gouju Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
According to the original story, Naruto and his friends traveled to the past and met a young Minato, during the period when Minato was active, which was also on the eve of the Third Shinobi World War.
If the fall of Loulan occurred at that point in time, then it certainly makes sense.
"Thank you, boss."
Gouju Cheng took out a few more silver coins and placed them on the counter: "Give me another map of the Land of Wind, the more detailed the better."
"Okay!"
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled out a yellowed sheepskin map from under the counter. The map, with its rough lines, depicted the terrain of the Land of Wind, as well as the locations of some major towns and oases.
"Guest, this is the best map I have here."
"From here, head northwest for about two days. You'll pass through a salt flat, then a stone forest, and beyond that, a vast desert. The Loulan ruins are on the edge of that desert, near a dried-up riverbed."
"However, I must warn you, that area is not safe right now. Too many thieves lurk there. As a merchant, you'd better take a detour."
"Thanks for reminding me."
Gouju Cheng glanced at it; although it was rough, the key geographical nodes were still quite clear.
He nodded, put away the map, then picked up his dry rations and water bag and left the grocery store.
Without lingering in the town, after replenishing their supplies, they headed directly northwest.
The outer perimeter of the Loulan ruins.
Under the blazing sun, yellow sand filled the sky.
Makoto Kujira stood atop a severely weathered rock pillar, gazing into the distance at the faintly visible ruins.
It was a large complex of buildings built against the mountain, but now only ruins remain, eroded by wind and sand to the point that their original appearance is almost unrecognizable.
The towering stone tower has collapsed more than halfway, and the remaining tower casts long shadows in the sunlight.
The once magnificent palace is now nothing but piles of rubble and barely discernible foundations. The streets are buried under yellow sand, and only the occasional exposed stone steps on both sides can barely reveal the original route.
The entire site was deathly silent, with only the wind howling through the ruins, emitting a wailing sound like the cries of ghosts.
"This is Loulan—"
Gouju Cheng took a light breath, jumped down from the rock pillar, and walked deeper into the ruins.
He walked slowly, carefully observing the surrounding terrain and building ruins as he went.
According to the original text, the seal of the dragon vein should be located in the core area of Loulan, that is, under the tallest stone tower.
But when he actually stepped into the ruins, he found that it was not easy to find.
The building collapsed too badly, and after so many years of weathering, many iconic features have long been buried or weathered away.
"We have to search slowly —"
Gouju Cheng took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and began to patiently search through the ruins.
But several hours passed and he still hadn't found anything.
Suddenly, Gouju Cheng frowned, his figure flashing behind a huge rock in an instant. He concealed his aura and looked warily into the depths of the stone forest.
There was some noise.
And it wasn't just one person.
A moment later, several figures slowly emerged from the shadows.
There were three people wearing tattered robes and hoods; judging from their build, they were two men and one woman.
They walked slowly, as if searching for something, occasionally stopping to rummage on the ground, then getting up in disappointment and continuing onward.
"Damn it, another fruitless day."
A young man's voice was filled with frustration.
"Stop complaining." Another older male voice rang out. "It's good enough that we found some water and food. At least we didn't run into those damned ninja today."
"But how much longer can we hold out like this?" The young man's voice was filled with despair. "The food supplies in the warehouse are almost gone, and the underground water veins are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Her Majesty the Queen—"
"Shut up!"
The older man interrupted him sharply: "That's how it is during wartime. Don't talk about these things outside. Go back first; it's not safe here."
The woman who had been silent nodded, and the three of them quickened their pace, heading deeper into the ruins.
Makoto Goji peeked out from behind the rock, watching the three figures disappear into the distance, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
Loulan survivors?
Without hesitation, Gouju Cheng followed like a ghost.
The three people were not walking fast, clearly just ordinary people, or rather, just ordinary Loulan survivors.
Their steps were somewhat unsteady, and they looked exhausted. Gouju Cheng trailed far behind, holding his breath and following easily.
The three walked through ruins and around several collapsed stone walls, finally stopping in front of a very hidden crack in the rock wall.
The crack was extremely narrow, and from the outside, it looked like an ordinary fissure formed by the weathering of rocks, and was not particularly noticeable.
However, Makoto Koji noticed that before the three entered, the older man looked around warily to make sure no one was following him before squeezing in sideways.
"Quite cautious."
Gouju Cheng's lips curled into a smile.
The crevice was indeed very narrow, but it was no problem for Makoto Karatachi. He didn't even need to activate his chakra; he easily passed through it.
After walking about ten meters, the view suddenly opened up ahead.
Inside is a natural cave with tiny cracks in the ceiling letting in a little sunlight, preventing the cave from being completely dark.
The cave is quite spacious, about the size of two basketball courts. There are traces of artificial carving on the surrounding rock walls, and some simple living supplies are piled up in the corners, as well as some simple beds made of stones.
There were thirty or forty people sitting or lying down, including the elderly and children, all of whom looked emaciated and malnourished.
After the two men and one woman entered the cave, they were immediately surrounded by several children.
"Father, have you found anything to eat?"
"I'm so hungry—I'm so hungry—"
The children's voices were innocent, yet they conveyed a heartbreaking longing.
The young man shook his head bitterly, squatted down, and patted a child's head.
"I'm sorry, I didn't find anything today."
The children's eyes dimmed instantly, but they didn't cry or make a fuss. They just silently retreated and shrank back into the corner.
This scene caused Makoto Koji, who was hiding in the shadows, to frown slightly.
That shouldn't be the case.
Loulan has only been destroyed for a few years. If these Loulan survivors were legitimate descendants, they would never be in such a miserable state.
"Where is Her Majesty the Queen?"
The older man looked around and asked.
"It's in the stone chamber inside."
A frail old man pointed to a fork in the road deep inside the cave. The man nodded and walked toward that fork alone.
Gouju Cheng's heart stirred, and he quietly followed.
After the fork in the road, there is a narrow passage leading to a more secluded stone chamber.
The stone chamber was small, about ten square meters. A young girl was sitting at a table in the center of the chamber, holding a stack of papers in her hand, seemingly calculating something. At the front of the table was a chakra blade, no different in style from ordinary chakra blades, and bearing the Konoha insignia.
"Your Highness Sara."
The man called out softly, his tone respectful.
The girl turned around.
It was a delicate face, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with soft features and fair skin, which stood out in a place like the Land of Wind.
But her eyes held a weariness and determination beyond her years.
"Uncle Kase, what's the matter?"
Kase lowered his head, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"Lady Sarah, today's search—still yielded nothing. The underground water veins are becoming increasingly difficult to find; the water we've been digging up lately has a sandy taste."
"If this continues—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
At this rate, they won't be able to hold out for long.
Sarah fell silent.
Back when Loulan still existed, they used the vast chakra flowing deep within the earth to not only make Loulan far more prosperous than the surrounding small countries, but also to enable Loulan's artisans to create countless exquisite puppets and mechanisms, allowing Loulan to protect itself in the chaotic world.
However, since the fall of Loulan, the situation of these Loulan survivors has deteriorated rapidly.
At first, things were alright; they still had some of the foundation of Loulan. But with the outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War and the continuous spread of the war, their situation worsened.
Ninja, thief.
Displaced and with nowhere to go, they eventually returned to the ruins of Loulan to eke out a living.
But their resources are dwindling; they have to support dozens of people, and their underground water veins are almost depleted.
They tried to leave the area and go to villages and towns outside to exchange for supplies, but the outside world was ravaged by war and full of wandering ninjas and bandits. Of those who went out several times, less than half returned.
All that's left is to cower here and wait —
What are we waiting for?
Sarah didn't know.
Perhaps they are waiting for a miracle, or perhaps they are waiting for death.
"Uncle Kase," Sarah's voice was soft but weary, "how long can our supplies last?"
Kase remained silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty.
"Use it sparingly, it should last at most half a month."
Half a month —
In other words, if they cannot find supplies within half a month, they will have to leave.
But the question is, where can they go if they leave here?
Sunagakure would never accept them. Konoha, on the other hand, has a special relationship with its queen, but Konoha is currently thousands of miles away and preoccupied with its own problems. How could it possibly help them?
"Your Highness Sarah, can we... can we hold on?"
Looking at the silent Sarah, Casa's voice trembled slightly.
Sarah looked up at the middle-aged man who had toiled for his people for half his life, and seeing the weariness and despair in his eyes, an indescribable sorrow welled up in her heart.
"able!"
"As long as I live, as long as there is one person of Loulan alive, Loulan will not perish. We will definitely find a way, we will definitely—"
Sarah's voice stopped abruptly.
Because she suddenly realized that there was someone behind Casse who had appeared out of nowhere.
Gouju Cheng leaned against the door of the stone chamber, a harmless smile on his face. When he saw Sara looking at him, he even greeted her with a smile.
Good evening, everyone.
"Who goes there!"
Casse whirled around, blocking Sara's path, and drew a worn-out kunai from his waist, watching the uninvited guest warily.
Sarah also took a few steps back, looking nervous.
This person who suddenly appeared was dressed in unfamiliar clothes, and his temperament was completely different from those rogue ninjas. He exuded an inexplicable sense of oppression.
She grew up in Loulan and had seen many powerful people, but none of them could make her feel a chill just by looking at them.
This person is very strong!
And to be able to sneak in here so quietly, doesn't that mean—
Sarah's heart sank.
"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous."
Gouju Cheng waved his hand, his smile still warm, as if he were meeting an old friend casually.
"I was just a passerby who saw lights here, so I came in to take a look. I never expected there to be so many people hiding here. It was quite a surprise."
"Just passing by?"
Kase gripped the kunai in his hand even tighter: "The crevice in the rocks outside is so well hidden, how could you, a mere passerby, have found it? Who are you, and what are you doing here!"
His voice was quite loud, and a commotion had already broken out inside the cave, indicating that someone had noticed something amiss and was rushing over.
Gouju Cheng didn't care at all, his gaze passing over Casse and landing on Sara.
"Are you the Queen of Loulan?"
Sarah paused for a moment, then took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
"I am Sarah, the current Queen of Loulan. This—guest, what brings you into our dwelling in the dead of night?"
"If you're after money, we, the remnants of Loulan, are now destitute and have nothing to offer you."
Gouju Cheng smiled.
"Your Highness Sara, do you think that with my strength, if I really wanted to harm you, I would need to waste my breath talking to you?"
"I just want to make a deal with you, and incidentally, I'll give you a chance to live."
"trade?"
Sarah was stunned. She couldn't think of anything Loulan could trade with this guy at this stage, since they were barely able to afford food!
"We are penniless, we really have nothing—"
"etc."
Sarah seemed to have thought of something, her words suddenly paused, and her eyes were fixed on Makoto Koji in front of her.
"You're trying to take over the dragon vein?!"
"Princess Sara is indeed clever."
Gouju Cheng did not deny it, and nodded frankly: "That's right, my target is the dragon vein."
"No!"
"The dragon vein is a taboo in Loulan; no one may touch it!"
Sarah blurted out the words almost the instant he finished speaking, her tone more resolute than ever before. Kase also gripped the kunai in his hand tightly, watching Kariji Makoto warily, ready to fight to the death at any moment.
"Taboo?"
Gouju Cheng laughed: "Loulan is gone, and you survivors can't even afford to eat. What taboos are you still keeping?"
"Your Highness Sarah, I know what the Dragon Vein is, and I know how powerful it is. I also know how difficult your lives are right now."
"To be honest, it's pretty outrageous. The Konoha ninjas back then seemed to be helping you get rid of the Centipede with righteous indignation, but they didn't clean up the mess afterward, leaving you, the people of a fallen nation, to wander and have nowhere to go."
"Speaking of which, Konoha should be the culprit that destroyed Loulan and turned you into this state."
Sarah's face turned pale instantly.
Goji Makoto's words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing the wound in her heart that she least wanted to touch.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Kassa roared, pointing the kunai at Makoto Karatachi, but his trembling hand betrayed his inner turmoil.
"The ninjas of Konoha—they helped us eliminate the Centipede and save Loulan! Without them, Loulan would have long ago—long ago—"
His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.
Gouju Cheng ignored Casse, his gaze fixed on Sarah's face. He chuckled lightly, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm.
"Did they save Loulan?"
"You call this salvation?"
He raised his hand, pointing outside the cave, towards the broken walls and ruins.
"Those ruins outside, those streets buried by sandstorms, those Loulan people who will never wake up again—is this what you call 'salvation'?"
"Shut up!"
Sarah finally spoke, her voice sharp, filled with anger and pain.
"You know nothing! Back then, Centipede controlled the Dragon Vein and created countless puppet soldiers, wanting to rule the entire Loulan. We were powerless to resist. If it weren't for the timely intervention of the Konoha adults—"
'
"You showed up in time, and then what?"
Makoto Karatachi interrupted her, asking in return, "The Centipede is dead, the Dragon Vein is sealed, and the Konoha ninjas have retired successfully, returning to the village to receive their honors. And what about you?"
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the tattered supplies, over the emaciated old people and children, and finally settling on Sarah's face.
"That's all you have left."
"This is how Konoha was saved?" Saving half, leaving the other half; you were saved, but left to live a life worse than death?
Sarah's body trembled slightly, her lips moved, but she couldn't say anything.
Kase's face turned ashen, and the kunai in his hand had fallen limply at some point.
Yes, the ninjas of Konoha did save them.
But what happens after the rescue?
They were simply forgotten.
No one cared about their lives anymore, and no one cared how they survived in the war-torn Land of Wind.
In those years, they wandered, they fled, they watched their loved ones die one by one, and finally had no choice but to return to this ruin, barely surviving.
Is this—the life of being saved?
"What—what exactly are you trying to say?"
Sarah's voice was hoarse, and her eyes were slightly red, but she tried hard not to let the tears fall.
Gouju Makoto looked at her, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
This young girl truly possesses a resilience beyond her years.
"What I'm trying to say is that you don't need to rigidly adhere to those so-called taboos."
His voice softened, no longer so sharp.
"The power of the dragon vein is indeed dangerous, but sealing it won't solve the problem; it will only leave it for the future. Just like now, you're guarding the sealed dragon vein, yet you're living like a bunch of gophers."
"And I—"
Gouju Cheng paused for a moment: "I can give you a choice."
"choose?"
Sarah frowned slightly.
"right."
Gouju Cheng nodded, his tone becoming serious.
"I need the power of the dragon vein, Your Highness Sara. Take me to the location of the dragon vein seal and break the seal."
"In exchange—"
"I can provide you with enough supplies so that you won't have to worry about food and water for at least several years. Medicine, food, water—whatever you lack, I will give you."
"Of course, I can also take you away from here to a safe place. A place without war, without bandits, without thieves, a place where you can truly live happily and carefree."
Sarah stared wide-eyed at Gouju Cheng in disbelief.
Kase, who was behind her, was also stunned, and the hostility on his face was instantly replaced by shock.
"What—what did you say?"
"I said, I'll take you away from here to live in a safe place."
Gouju Cheng repeated it, his tone flat, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
"If you stay here, even if you don't starve or die of thirst, you'll eventually be discovered by passing ninja or Sunagakure patrols. At that point, your fate won't be much better than it is now."
"I can give you a fresh start."
Sarah fell silent.
Kase remained silent.
The entire stone chamber fell into a deathly silence.
After a long silence, Sarah finally spoke with difficulty, her voice hoarse and dry.
"Who...who are you?!"
"I was just a kind-hearted ninja passing by."
Gouju Cheng said with a smile.
However, this was not the time for jokes. He took out a scroll from his pocket and casually tossed it to Sarah.
Sarah instinctively caught it, opened it, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
The scroll contains a detailed record of the negotiations, including compensation, the leasing of Wind Valley as land, and the two parties involved in the negotiations were—
Kirigakure and Konoha!
"This is the compensation agreement signed between Konoha and Kirigakure?!"
Sara knew exactly what this was; she had even heard about the negotiations between Kirigakure and Konoha!
And this person in front of me was actually holding a negotiation document, and looking like this—
"You, you're the clone ninja, Makoto Karatachi?!"
Even the Loulan people, who live deep in the desert of the Land of Wind, have heard of the name Gouju Cheng.
He replicated his bloodline limit, killed the Hokage's son, turned Konoha upside down, and even single-handedly defeated Konoha's top Kirigakure shinobi!
This name was accompanied by a series of incredible achievements and rumors, which made his reputation in the ninja world rise like a comet, spreading throughout the five great nations in just a few months.
"Looks like I have quite a reputation."
Gouju Cheng smiled slightly, but did not deny it.
Sarah took a deep breath, trying to recover from the shock.
Looking at Makoto Karatachi's young and handsome face, she found it hard to connect the person with the gentle smile in front of her with the legendary, ruthless, and fearsome Killer God of the Mist Village.
"You...you really want to take us away from here?"
"I told you, as long as you take me to the place where the dragon vein is sealed and break the seal, I will give you a fresh start."
""
Gouju Cheng spoke calmly and in a composed tone.
"Of course, if you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. You can stay here and wait for death to come at any time."
"or----"
"Choose to trust me this once."