Zhang Chulan knew full well what Hikaru was capable of.
So he quickly raised his hands in surrender and explained:
"N-no! I wouldn't dare lie to you! It's all true, I swear!"
Then, as if remembering something crucial, his expression grew more frantic:
"Oh right! Right—Baobao-jie started acting weird after looking at two pictures.
It's like something's trying to take over her body!"
"Then Old Celestial Master showed up and tried to kill her on sight.
I was terrified, but Baobao-jie reacted fast and escaped."
"Before flying into the sky, she told me to call you—said she had something important to say.
Something only you could help with!"
Zhang Chulan rattled off the whole story, hoping Hikaru would jump in and help.
Hikaru gave a small nod, and like a shooting star, his figure vanished—
reappearing beside Feng Baobao in an instant.
The moment she saw him, a faint smile bloomed on Baobao's pale face—
like the first light of dawn breaking through heavy clouds.
"Hikaru, you came," she said softly, as if greeting an old friend.
"I have something to tell you."
Hikaru stood quietly at her side,
saying nothing—
his gaze alone offering silent support.
Baobao didn't seem to mind his silence.
She continued on her own:
"I remember everything now.
I really was an artificial being… and I wasn't complete.
But now, I'm whole.
And that means… I'm going to die."
She paused—
gathering herself.
"Still, I'm happy.
All these years, there've been so many people who cared for me.
Xu Xiang, Xu San, Xu Si, Zhang Chulan…
All of them have looked out for me, protected me, tolerated me.
And you too, Hikaru.
You told me things no one else did—about who I really am.
Thank you…
Because of you, I won't die in ignorance."
Tears welled in her eyes and quietly slid down her cheeks.
But her gaze remained clear, steadfast—
unshaken by the approach of death.
Hikaru's heart stirred as he looked at her.
Something wasn't right—
the old Baobao would never say things like this.
But when her eyes met his—
still pure and unclouded—
he knew.
It was still her.
No one else had taken over her body.
Feng Baobao caught the confusion in his eyes—
and suddenly broke into a teary laugh:
"Surprised? Wondering how I suddenly got so enlightened?"
Without waiting for a reply, she went on:
"I told you—I wasn't complete before.
I couldn't understand a lot of things.
But now that I'm whole, I get it."
She stuck her tongue out and made a playful face:
"Everyone says I'm slow…
But I'm actually pretty sharp when I want to be!"
Hikaru stared at her—
the girl who had always felt like an enigma.
His thoughts stirred restlessly.
He had always prided himself on being someone who acted freely, who followed his will with no regrets.
And yet…
He realized he had become cautious,
hesitant.
Always worrying about failure before even attempting action.
When did that start?
Back in the Naruto world, he had been bold.
Just six years old,
yet he'd dared to challenge Hiruzen Sarutobi,
forcing him off the Hokage seat.
And now, as an adult,
he found himself afraid of risks, always retreating at the first sign of danger.
Was this really the life he wanted?
He took a deep breath.
Resolve burned in his eyes.
He knew now—he couldn't keep living like this.
If the day ever came when his loved ones were threatened,
he couldn't choose to run.
He would need to stand, fight, protect.
And it wasn't like he had no chance.
Baobao's aura was terrifyingly strong—
just a little weaker than his own.
But between them, rules made all the difference.
He had a clear edge—because he understood his own rules far better.
Confidence surged in his chest.
He looked at Baobao and asked with a calm smile:
"Is that really what you believe?
Or is there something else you want to say to me?"
Baobao blinked—caught off guard.
She didn't quite get what he meant.
She was whole now, yes.
She could understand things she never could before.
But she still didn't believe anyone could stop the Demon from awakening—
much less save her.
To her, this was destiny—
an unchangeable one.
Back then, the Demon had only been sealed because spiritual energy had not yet returned to the world.
Even with full mastery over the Eight Forbidden Techniques,
the Demon couldn't resist a flood of enemies.
He was forced to anchor his consciousness into the techniques,
waiting for a revival.
Later, the Tianshi Du (Celestial Master Degree) sealed the techniques—
until Zhang Huaiyi and Wugen Sheng cracked it open,
bringing the Eight Forbidden Techniques back into the world.
That gave the Demon his chance.
He cooperated, even helping people master the techniques.
But just before the final revival, Wugen Sheng discovered the truth—
and with his last strength, he scattered three of the keys, halting the Demon's return.
Now though, spiritual energy had returned.
And the Demon was stronger than ever.
She believed it was hopeless.
Back then, numbers could win.
Now… the power gap made numbers meaningless.
That's why she had spoken as if saying goodbye.
But Hikaru's voice pulled her out of her thoughts:
"You…
Don't you want to live?"
This time—she understood.
She stared blankly, then slowly remembered her past.
Back then, she had been incomplete—
unable to understand pain, emotions, or even why she searched for her memories and family.
Now… she was human.
She understood emotion.
She understood what it meant to love—
even if she'd never truly felt it.
And now she was going to die without even knowing what falling in love felt like?
If it were the old her—
maybe she would've just accepted it.
But now?
No.
No way.
She looked up at Hikaru's encouraging eyes.
Her pale face flushed pink.
She parted her lips,
and softly said the words:
"I… want to live."