The recovery potion had never disappointed Kakashi, let alone an intermediate recovery potion.
Even diluted and weakened, the potion's healing effect on Sara was still considerable. When the queen refused to drink the unidentifiable light green liquid, Kakashi skillfully pinched her chin and poured it down her throat amidst her mild struggles.
"Insolent fellow! What did you make me drink, cough… cough…"
"I have a name, Kakashi Hatake. She's Mei Terumi. Look at your wrist."
"That's a potion for healing wounds. It doesn't taste good."
As someone who had tasted this green liquid several times, Mei Terumi still had lingering fears. Every time she was injured, Kakashi would take this out. Although she still didn't understand how to describe that strange taste, it definitely wasn't delicious.
The queen looked towards her wound. Her wrist, which had been in excruciating pain from the removal of the chains, was healing rapidly. The wounds on her feet were the same.
Sara knew she had misjudged them and lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, I misjudged you. Please forgive me."
"It's alright. You don't need to be so formal. You are the supreme ruler here."
"Now, I'm just an ordinary person."
"We can help you return to your original position."
"Can the two of you defeat so many Sand ninja?"
Sara wasn't optimistic about this. From her disbelieving expression, it was clear the young woman had already resigned herself to her current situation.
"Haven't you thought about reclaiming your position?"
"I have… but what should I do?"
She looked at the silver-haired youth in confusion. Kakashi's words ignited a spark of hope in her.
"Do you really have a way to help me reclaim my country and drive away the Sand ninja?"
"Of course. If they really only have the number of people I sensed, it's not a big problem for me."
"Please!"
She stood up, trying to bow, but sat down on the ground due to her still-unrecovered ankle. Bowing now would be equivalent to kowtowing. Kakashi pressed down on her head, preventing the young woman from performing the courtesy.
This action made Mei Terumi, who was watching from the side, a little jealous, but then she thought it was a normal situation.
"Don't thank us just yet. We're not helping you unconditionally."
"What do you need?"
"The Dragon Vein."
A bitter laugh escaped Sara. The spark of hope that had just ignited was extinguished.
"As expected, you're also after the Dragon Vein. Then, if I don't tell you where the Dragon Vein is, will you treat me the same way the Sand ninja did?"
"Of course not. If you don't tell me, I'll find it myself. But in that case, I won't help you drive away those Sand ninja."
"Nice words, but in the end, don't you still want this country, this oasis, to disappear into the desert!"
Kakashi could understand Sara's reaction. Anyone facing someone with the same objective as before wouldn't feel any goodwill; it would be strange if she trusted him.
He was just saying that. Even if Sara didn't tell them the location of the Dragon Vein, Mei Terumi would definitely ask him to help Sara drive away the Sand ninja, and he himself had the same idea.
So, he prepared to waste some more breath to persuade the queen, which would save a lot of search time.
If he saved a country, could he directly complete that mission to save a thousand people?
A trace of anticipation arose in the youth's heart.
"You seem to have misunderstood something. The chakra within the Dragon Vein constantly circulates and regenerates; there's no such thing as depletion. Unless this entire vast land is dug away, it will recover and replenish itself before long."
"Aren't you trying to take the entire Dragon Vein away?"
"What would I do with the entire Dragon Vein? I only need to take some chakra for my experimental tools and, incidentally, foil the Land of Lightning's Chakra Cannon plan. Speaking of which, if it weren't us but other Kumogakure ninja who came, your fate might have been worse."
"Kakashi is right. Queen of Rouran, if you still don't believe us, then no one can help you."
"The Sand ninja just want to take the entire Dragon Vein and place it within Sunagakure Village to create an oasis."
"Very creative. But by the time they understand how difficult the Dragon Vein is to control, they should understand."
Kakashi opened a can of food, heated it with Lightning Release. The drifting aroma made Sara, who hadn't eaten for a long time, salivate. Food of this quality seemed like a delicacy to her now.
The silver-haired youth scooped up a spoonful, gesturing for Sara, whose hands were inconvenienced, to open her mouth.
The Queen of Rouran really wanted to refuse, but she obediently opened her mouth and was fed the food from the can.
"I'll do it."
Pushing Kakashi aside, Mei Terumi snatched the spoon. She really couldn't stand watching the youth be so intimate with other girls, even if it was a special situation.
"Open your mouth."
Her tone, influenced by Kakashi's earlier actions, was much harsher than the youth's. This bruised the queen's pride, and she reluctantly accepted the feeding.
Fortunately, Mei Terumi had experience taking care of an injured Kakashi. Now, taking care of Sara was also easy for her. After two cans were finished, Sara's hostility disappeared again.
"If I can't trust you, then I really have no one to trust."
The allure of food was so terrifying. In these short ten-plus minutes, no one knew how many mental struggles Sara had gone through. The Dragon Vein was equivalent to the life of the country of Rouran, and also to the lives of the Rouran people. Rouran, having lost the Dragon Vein, would immediately be buried by sandstorms, and the people wouldn't even be able to evacuate.
The entire underground space was quiet except for the conversation of the three and the echoes. These somewhat historical supplies were covered in a thick layer of dust. The large lights above illuminated the entire space like the sun, not appearing dim.
"This fellow, although sometimes very annoying, likes to tease people, and speaks harshly, he's a very good person. I was rescued by him from a place like a cage."
"You… have you experienced something like this before?"
"Unlike you, I was just an ordinary ninja from the beginning. It's just that I was almost killed."
"Sorry…"
When girls talk to each other, if one party has had a similar experience, it can resonate with the other. If one party is more miserable, it can arouse the other's sympathy.
Obviously, in terms of misery, Mei Terumi's background and experiences were more tragic. She successfully gained the sympathy of Queen Sara of Rouran in a short time. Consequently, her gaze towards Kakashi also became much gentler and more agreeable.
"Have you thought it over? Can you tell us the location of the Dragon Vein?"
"Yes."
Agreeing, Sara staggered to her feet, supported by Mei Terumi. The two found three sets of Rouran commoner clothes among the boxes.
"The entrance to the Dragon Vein is above. We have to pass through the royal city. Wearing these can disguise us as ordinary people."
"You two wear them. I'm fine like this."
Turning his head, the silver-haired youth listened to the soft rustling sounds of clothes being taken off and put on behind him, his face expressionless.
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