In the world of Detective Conan, however, he was bound to the Naruto System.

Chapter 232 Rescue

Chapter 232 Rescue

As for why, most people actually see or are most impressed by red-crowned cranes standing and resting, or simply red-crowned crane specimens, which are in the form of having their wings folded and not extended.

The black tail that people see is actually the black secondary and tertiary flight feathers on the folded wings covering the originally white tail, causing people to mistakenly believe that the tail is black.

Just as he was happily feeding them, Machida Shuzo suddenly frowned: "Wait, one's missing!"

As a farmer who has been taking care of red-crowned cranes in this area for many years, he can tell you how many red-crowned cranes there are and what the characteristics of each one are, even with his eyes closed.

The old man gripped the crossbow hanging at his waist with great force, ignored Akutagawa Hiko and the others who were still there, rushed into the cabin, and came out carrying a hunting rifle.

"Wait—wait, don't be impulsive!"

As someone who valued the red-crowned crane more than the women or even his own life, how could Machida Shuzo possibly listen to advice? He didn't act like an old man who was preparing to make a will at all. He drove a three-wheeled motorcycle and rushed out in the direction the red-crowned crane had originally flown away.

"I'll follow them and see."

Akutagawa Hiko told the remaining people to continue caring for the red-crowned cranes as the old man had taught them, gave Conan and Ai a look, and then chased after them.

Conan and Ai understood each other perfectly and quietly followed when the others weren't looking.

Professor Agasa and Ran exchanged glances. As for Kogoro Mouri, he was fast asleep in the car. Although he hadn't been drinking because he was driving, he had been staying up all night, so this was a good opportunity to catch up on his sleep.

"Could there really be poachers? Uncle Machida looks very anxious—"

Xiao Lan was worried about the red-crowned cranes being hunted and the safety of the people who went with her. While thinking about this, she put down the feed in her hand and decided to go and help.

However, Professor Agasa stopped him.

Xiao Lan is unarmed, which is fine for people with cold weapons. She can teach those who underestimate her strength a lesson. Even though she looks weak, she is a ruthless character who can kick a telephone pole down with one kick.

But she wouldn't be able to deal with people armed with firearms. She wasn't strong enough to ignore firearms, and poachers should at least be equipped with hunting rifles. Sending too many people would only cause more trouble.

Professor Agasa spent a lot of time and effort to calm Ran down, but she still seemed a little worried as she kept glancing in the direction where the group had disappeared.

To accommodate their pace, Akutagawa Hiko didn't rush too fast. Fortunately, Machida the old man needed to slow down from time to time to check for clues and didn't lose them.

This was the first time Ai had ever known she could run so fast. The whistling wind pierced her ears, stinging her face like knives, but she felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. This was a joy and excitement that was completely different from, but far superior to, the success of the experiment.

It's like if you keep running like this, keep getting stronger, you can get rid of the shadows of the past and truly live in the sunlight.

Ai touched her dyed black hair, a determined glint in her eyes.

If things continue like this, could she perhaps hope to avenge her sister herself, and after completely severing ties with the past, ask the FBI agent if he had ever felt even a sliver of regret because of her sister?

Thinking of her older sister, Ai clenched her fists, then shook her head and tried her best to catch up with Conan, who had started earlier and was currently ahead of her.

Conan's eyelids twitched. Although he knew that Hiko was giving Ai extra lessons to catch up on her progress, the speed of her progress was truly astonishing. If he didn't work harder, he might be surpassed in the blink of an eye.

"Bang—bang—"

—

Two gunshots rang out in quick succession. It was unclear whether the poachers or the old man fired the shots. Akutagawa Hiko immediately used his Byakugan to take in the scene in the distance.

The old man was alright; only a few poachers were fleeing, presumably unwilling to fight to the death with this old man who fired without saying a word.

For these outlaw thugs, taking lives is nothing; being hit or even losing members is utterly worthless.

"The old man is fine, but the red-crowned crane is injured and is dying."

After saying that, Akutagawa Hiko used several Body Flicker Techniques to arrive at the scene.

There was no time to explain; the red-crowned crane was on the verge of death. The difference in cost between saving it and saving it from death is like night and day.

To prevent the old man, whose eyes were already red with anger, from causing trouble, Akutagawa Hiko directly used the chakra threads he had practiced while playing with puppets to bind the man tightly, and took the initiative to stabilize the injuries of the red-crowned crane, whose cries of pain were intermittent.

"What are you doing?!"

It was clear that the old man had lost his senses and was incapable of normal thinking. He not only failed to notice the strange silk thread binding him, but also failed to consider the possibility that Akutagawa Hiko might be rescuing the red-crowned cranes.

When Conan and Ai arrived, this was the strange scene they saw.

"Conan, explain yourself. Ai, come here and be my assistant."

This was a rare live teaching session. Akutagawa Hiko didn't use advanced medical ninjutsu like the Palm Healing Technique or the Chakra Scalpel, and Ai was still far from being able to use them reliably.

Ai studied very hard. She had already learned all the ninjutsu and techniques used by Akutagawa Hiko, which meant that she could independently complete the surgery that others considered a life-saving operation.

She benefited greatly from the surgery.

Akutagawa Hiko breathed a sigh of relief. He had been so focused that he hadn't noticed, but now he saw that the old man had calmed down, so he untied the chakra puppet strings from the old man's body.

Machida Shuzo stumbled over, knelt down beside the red-crowned crane, and couldn't help but reach out his trembling, rough hand to gently stroke its warm, rhythmically undulating body.

Throughout the surgery, because the transmission of nerve signals was disrupted, the red-crowned crane, which did not feel pain, knew who had protected it and who had saved it, so it gently rubbed against the two people with its long beak.

"Thank you—thank you, thank you for saving it."

Akutagawa Hiko sprang into action, and heaven knows this was the first time someone had ever kowtowed to him. He was genuinely startled and quickly helped the man up, saying, "Grandpa, please don't do this. I can't accept it."

Seeing Akutagawa Hikaru in such a disheveled state for the first time, Conan and Ai couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle, which earned them a glare from Akutagawa Hikaru and a flick on the forehead from each of them.

"Although it was saved, it's severely depleted and needs to be replenished with nutrients. You, sir, should know more about this than I do."

Amidst Machida Shuzo's grateful expression, Akutagawa Hiko finally got to touch the red-crowned crane's head.