Because of this, others also kept their distance from her.
But Shion couldn't see Naruto's future or cause of death.
"The reason is simple. Your power isn't enough to glimpse my future."
Naruto took over the conversation, smiled, and pulled a Soldier Pill from his Ninja tool pouch, handing it to Shion.
"Eat some. Replenish your stamina."
"As for the 'that' power you mentioned, it's called Daikokuten, just a minor ability that absorbs Chakra."
"Daikokuten? Not enough to glimpse your future?"
She silently accepted the Soldier Pill, lowered her head, and ate it in small bites.
The Soldier Pill tasted ordinary, nothing special.
However, Shion wasn't paying attention to the Soldier Pill at all; her heart grew increasingly curious about the mysterious Naruto.
"We need to go to the Land of Swamps."
After a while, Shion spoke softly, as if to herself, no longer with the resigned tone from before, but with a hint of determination.
"Its body is sealed there."
"Only there can I completely seal it."
"But Yomi—the man attempting to break the seal—will surely set up an ambush there as well."
"The Land of Swamps? Understood."
Naruto stood up and clapped his hands.
"We've rested enough. Let's go. No matter what ambush awaits us there, we'll just break through it."
He extended his hand towards Shion, a bright smile on his face: "Don't worry, Priestess! Your safety will be protected by me, Uzumaki Naruto!"
Shion looked at the hand extended before her, then at Naruto's sincere and sunny smile. For the first time, a faint but real blush slowly appeared on her delicate, pale face.
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended her hand and gently placed it in Naruto's palm.
"Mmm..."
Shion responded almost imperceptibly.
After a good rest, the four set off again.
To save time, Naruto carried Shion on his back. Shion's development was not much inferior to Hinata's, pressing firmly against Naruto's back. Of course, if Naruto wanted to, he could have directly teleported Shion.
Even with his absolute strength, comparable to a demigod, he could easily deal with Yomi, and the Ghost Army.
However, Naruto, adopting a playful attitude and focusing on the experience, did not do so.
"Naruto, am I too heavy?"
"Or maybe you can put me down and let me walk for a bit?"
Having changed out of her priestess robes into a jacket over a white tank top in the safe house, Shion's cheeks were slightly flushed. She wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck and whispered in his ear.
They had been running, either scaling walls or leaping through forests, all with Naruto carrying her.
"Not heavy. Don't underestimate a Ninja's stamina and strength, and besides, I like slightly chubby girls."
Naruto, holding Shion's thighs, dashed at the front of the group, answering as he went.
Hyuga Hinata and Ino Yamanaka were running on Naruto's left and right, respectively, in the Hokage run style.
Hearing Naruto and Shion talking, the two girls immediately perked up their ears to eavesdrop.
"Naruto-kun likes slightly chubby girls?"
"What does 'slightly chubby' mean? Am I slightly chubby?"
Hyuga Hinata and Ino Yamanaka secretly wondered.
Indeed.
Shion also curiously asked Naruto what kind of girl would be considered slightly chubby.
"Slightly chubby means being plump where it should be, and slender where it should be."
"You and Hinata both belong to the category of slightly chubby girls."
As he answered, Naruto leaped down from a thick giant tree into an open space and said, "Let's rest here for tonight."
"Okay."
Hyuga Hinata landed happily, while Ino Yamanaka's pretty face showed a hint of disappointment.
At night.
The firewood crackled. Shion, asleep in her sleeping bag with a tight frown, suddenly opened her eyes. Her purple irises were replaced by brilliant, intricate crystal snowflake patterns, and she had another premonition, seeing herself killed by Yomi's subordinates.
The premonition dream came and went quickly.
When Shion's irises returned to purple, she gasped, still shaken.
"Had a nightmare?"
"Or did you foresee your own death?"
Naruto, leaning against a tree trunk nearby, slowly opened his eyes. His azure eyes appeared so deep and serene in the dark night.
Shion remained silent, then suddenly felt her hand being held by Naruto.
"Sleep peacefully. With me protecting you, the foreseen fate cannot happen."
That calm, confident voice, filled with immense self-assurance, echoed in Shion's ears.
She unknowingly fell asleep again.
"Swish swish swish"
Days later, in the lush foothills, Naruto and his group moved swiftly forward, tall trees rapidly receding behind them.
Their destination—a certain volcano in the Land of Swamps—was already visible on the horizon.
However, four malicious Chakra signatures, like sharks smelling blood, pursued them relentlessly, moving at an extremely high speed!
"They're here!"
Hinata's Byakugan "first" spotted the pursuers, and she warned in a low voice.
Ino Yamanaka also looked serious: "Four of them. Their Chakra is very strange, giving off a cold, evil feeling!"
Before her words finished, the four figures had already closed in.
They were Yomi's four most capable subordinates:
One named Gitai, tall and burly, with a fierce expression, skilled in Earth Release and Fire Release.
One named Setsuna, tall and slender, moving as lightly as the wind, with sharp eyes, skilled in Wind Release.
One named Rei, the only female in the quartet, with cold eyes, skilled in Water Release and various strange Ninjutsu.
The last one was named Kusuna, with the most sinister aura, seemingly skilled in stealth and support.
"Hmph, can you escape?"
Gitai sneered and formed hand signs.
"Fire Release: Rapid Fire!"
He didn't spew a giant fireball, but dozens of high-speed, sharp streams of flame like arrows, covering a wide area, shooting straight at Naruto and his group!
"Wind Release: Divine Wind!"
Setsuna attacked almost simultaneously, a strong whirlwind augmenting the flame arrows. Wind fueled the fire, causing the speed and penetrating power of the flame arrows to suddenly surge!
The air was torn, emitting a shriek!
"Gentle Fist Art: Byakugan Palm: Heavenly Spin!"
Hinata turned around, instantly adopting the starting stance of Gentle Fist, and shouted. Her entire body's Chakra points released surging Chakra, forming a perfect blue Chakra rotating shield.
"Clang clang clang clang—!"
The dense flame arrows struck the Heavenly Spin shield. Most were deflected and shattered by the absolute defense, but the flame arrows empowered by Divine Wind had extremely strong impact, causing a slight lag in the Heavenly Spin's rotation, and fine sweat beaded on Hinata's forehead.
"It's not over yet! Earth Release: Earth Corridor!" Gitai slammed his hands on the ground, and two thick stone walls rose abruptly on both sides of them, forming a narrow corridor, intending to restrict their movement space.
"Wind Release: Divine Falling Wind!" Setsuna pressed both hands downwards, and a heavy, invisible rock-like wind pressure descended from above, heavily pressing down on everyone, attempting to completely pin them in place.
The combination Ninjutsu was expertly coordinated and deadly!