One was still in the style of the Green Snake, but its patterns were deeper, and the snake eye area seemed to be made of special material, faintly glowing with a dim light under illumination.
The other was the mask he had noticed three years ago, a coiling and soaring Azure Dragon!
Its lines were fluid, the dragon head majestic. Although still monochrome, its unique form stood out conspicuously among the array of masks.
'Green Snake… Azure Dragon…'
Sora stroked the cold surface of the Azure Dragon mask, silently reciting in his mind.
He then stored both masks away, also taking an additional monkey mask. He would still wear the Green Snake mask for regular missions, while this monkey mask would be worn during missions related to Kumo-nin.
As for the Azure Dragon mask, the day to wear it would surely come!
...
Two more days passed, and Sora accepted another patrol mission to the eastern region of the Land of Fire.
The procedure remained the same: registration, then departure from the village.
Once outside the village's surveillance range, he immediately changed direction, heading at full speed towards that forest.
Relying on the contract's sensation, he soon found Tenji and the Small White Tiger by a small stream deep in the forest.
After a few days apart, the condition of the two little ones pleasantly surprised Sora.
Tenji seemed to have grown a little taller, already reaching his waist. Its fur appeared even more green and lustrous, the intelligence in its eyes more pronounced, its movements more agile and powerful.
At that moment, it was carefully using a large leaf to give water to the Small White Tiger lying nearby.
The previously dying Small White Tiger, although still thin and small, could now barely stand and walk unsteadily. Its pure white fur had regained some luster, and its breathing had become even and strong.
Seeing Sora appear, it even let out a faint yet affectionate "whimper."
'Recovering even better than expected. It seems the nourishing effect of my blood on them is more significant than imagined.'
Sora crouched down and carefully examined the Small White Tiger's condition. The wounds were basically healed, but its constitution was still weak.
Seeing Sora, Tenji excitedly chattered "ji ji," waving its hands and feet, then proudly pointed at the Small White Tiger and then itself, as if saying, "I've taken good care of it."
"Well done, Tenji." Sora smiled and patted its head.
Looking at the two little ones before him, Sora marveled that his blood could have such an effect. Then he suddenly recalled the "essence blood" mentioned in the cultivation novels he had read before, said to be stored at the tongue tip.
"If ordinary blood is like this, what about this so-called 'essence blood'?"
"Let's try it. I don't know if it's really true."
Sora bit his tongue tip, squeezing out a few drops of blood, and dripped them into the mouths of Tenji and the Small White Tiger.
As soon as this blood emerged, Sora immediately felt a wave of weakness, his vision darkening slightly.
"This tongue tip blood is indeed different, much stronger in effect than ordinary blood. Could it really be the so-called essence blood? It's just that it weakens the person too severely… I mustn't use it casually in the future."
After swallowing the blood, the changes in the two little ones were much more noticeable than before.
The edges of Tenji's six ears took on a faint green-gold luster. Under the soft fur on its forehead, it seemed as if two almost imperceptible small bumps were about to emerge.
The change in the Small White Tiger was different from last time, more direct this time. Deep within its clear blue pupils, a distinct flash of gold passed, and the roots of its pure white fur faintly gained tiny starlight-like specks of gold.
'It is effective, but the cost is too great. It's not feasible in the short term…'
While panting and observing carefully, Sora pondered that this tongue tip blood was probably the so-called essence blood.
It's just that consuming this essence blood was extremely taxing. Even with his constitution far exceeding ordinary people, merely squeezing out a few drops brought on a wave of weakness.
Fortunately, the super recovery power brought by his Azure Dragon Fruit meant he should recover from this loss before long.
Sora shook his head slightly, his gaze falling on the Small White Tiger before him—it was walking unsteadily, still frail in appearance, but affectionately rubbing against his pant leg.
"Should I give this little one a name too?"
Sora stroked his chin. Then, an ancient and revered title, embodying respect for the king of beasts, quietly surfaced in his mind—
It symbolized power, majesty, and the supreme authority to rule over mountains and forests from ancient times.
However, looking again at this little one who still wobbled when standing and whose cries were feeble, Sora couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
"Right now, it's far from that noble title. Fine. When you truly grow up and possess the power and spirit to rend the wind, split the clouds, and roar proudly across the mountains and forests, then I'll bestow that name upon you."
...
Sora's original plan was to find a more hidden and secure place deep in the forest to temporarily settle them, and come out regularly to care for them.
But seeing the increasingly intelligent and lively look in Tenji's eyes, he changed his mind.
Through the summoning contract, he sent over an inquiring thought:
"Would you be willing to return to Konoha with me? It's safer there, but it could also be more dangerous."
Unexpectedly, Tenji shook its little head like a rattle-drum.
Immediately after, a strong and complex surge of thoughts, carrying unwillingness, stubbornness, and a trace of longing, intermittently transmitted to Sora's mind through the contract.
"Home… go back… get stronger… take back…"
The thought was vague, but Sora understood.
Tenji wanted to return to the Land of Peaceful Bliss, to the clan that had once rejected and abandoned it. It wanted to become stronger, to rely on its own power to reclaim the dignity and status that belonged to it!
Looking at this little monkey with determined eyes before him, Sora seemed to see a soul unwilling to yield.
He respected this choice.
"Alright."
Sora nodded, also sending a supportive thought through the contract:
"Do what you wish to do. Summon me when you need help."
Feeling Sora's understanding and support, Tenji excitedly chattered a few times and nodded vigorously.
Sora then looked at the Small White Tiger that had unsteadily walked to his feet and was affectionately rubbing against his pant leg.
The Small White Tiger was extremely dependent on him, but clearly could not survive on its own.
"Take it with you. Take good care of it." Sora said to Tenji.
Tenji looked at the Small White Tiger, patted its own little chest, indicating it was on it.
Sora left all the wound medicine, nutritional fluids, and food he had brought for them, and carefully instructed them.
Finally, he watched as Tenji, with its thin but determined body, strenuously carried the Small White Tiger, which was not much smaller than itself, and walked step by step, heading towards the direction of the Land of Peaceful Bliss.
Sora did not follow, only watching from afar as they disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.
'Returning to the Land of Peaceful Bliss… That's fine. The resources there are richer, more suitable for their growth. With Tenji's current intelligence and potential, plus its indomitable spirit, it might truly carve out a place for itself among the Enma clan.'
'And the Small White Tiger… following Tenji is better than hiding and moving around with me in Konoha.'
Sora felt through the summoning contract that Tenji's position was steadily moving towards that hidden valley. His mind gradually settled.
The purpose of this outing had been achieved.
He did not linger any longer, turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the forest, hurrying to complete his cover patrol mission.
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