After separating from Hyuga Kai, Tatsuma quickly headed towards the camp with Hyuga Miyako on his back, occasionally looking back.
The frequency of the fire on that side was decreasing, indicating that the battle was coming to an end. However, the battlefield was gradually shifting towards the direction of the Land of Fire camp, making Tatsuma's expression extremely grim.
This meant that the Konoha Ninjas on this side might be on the losing end, retreating step by step.
Hyuga Miyako, weak on Tatsuma's shoulder, opened his eyes and said, "You are Tatsuma, mentioned by both Sento and Kai, right?"
"Miyako-sama, it's better for you not to talk. Although I've stopped the bleeding, your body is still very weak," Tatsuma replied. After speaking, he accelerated his pace. Hyuga Miyako remained silent for a while before saying, "Tell Tsunade that Chiyo is a decoy. Her conspicuous appearance is for..."
Hyuga Miyako seemed to have his throat choked, made a few attempts to adjust his breathing, and said, "It's to divert our attention. The Third Kazekage has come secretly."
Upon hearing this, Tatsuma exclaimed, "Hidden Sand Village has deployed the Kazekage?!"
The Kage of a Village represents not only a high-level combat force but also a symbol of an entire village. Once a Kage joins the battle, it's either an all-out conflict or a desperate situation.
However, it seemed that Hidden Sand Village hadn't reached that point yet. The deployment of the Kazekage at this moment undoubtedly violated the unwritten agreement.
After all, the current friction between the two major nations was only due to the killing of Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law. The current outbreak could be described as a battle, not yet a full-scale war. The Kazekage shouldn't have acted at this time.
Hyuga Miyako nodded and said, "That's why this assassination attempt is so serious."
Tatsuma realized that with the speed of the Hyuga team and the messages they received, they simply didn't have the time to do anything specific against the Hidden Sand Village's camp.
It's highly likely that once they approach the Hidden Sand Village camp, they'll be discovered and face retaliation. The Kazekage, who is violating the rules, definitely won't let the Hyuga team escape.
This also explains why the Hyuga team lost so quickly and why the six ninja brought by Tatsuma were defeated in such a short time. Only a Kage has the strength to achieve that.
"Cough, cough~ Don't run away. Help me. I can't destroy my eyes anymore."
Hyuga Miyako suddenly coughed up a large amount of blood. However, Tatsuma, upon hearing his words, continued to run without paying any attention. Hyuga Miyako struggled to breathe and spoke again:
"The eyes of the main family's main branch cannot be leaked, and we can't all escape. You still have a chance."
"Regardless of which sensei it is, none of them taught me to harm my comrades!"
Tatsuma embraced the steadily weakning Hyuga Miyako, channeling all his chakra into activating his legs. However, Tatsuma knew that at this speed, once there was no one to hinder him, the Kazekage would soon catch up.
"Enough! As a Sensory Ninja, my failure to detect this was a severe dereliction of duty. I've condemned so many of my people and comrades. I don't deserve to live! If you're truly a genius, you should know that killing me would be good for you, for me, and for the village."
Listening to Hyuga Miyako's words, Tatsuma clenched his teeth, refusing to speak again. However, the sounds of the battle behind them were getting closer, and at a certain moment, they abruptly stopped.
Tatsuma had even sensed that a tremendously powerful chakra had entered his sensory range. He speculated that it was the Third Kazekage or one of his subordinates.
"Careful!"
Just at that moment, another surge of chakra entered Tatsuma's sensory range. Sensing the fluctuation of chakra behind him, Hyuga Miyako suddenly burst into laughter.
"So, you've indeed learned sensory jutsu, as expected from you Tatsuma."
After murmuring this, Hyuga Miyako forcefully pushed Tatsuma's back with his broken arm. He instantly fell from Tatsuma, who came to a halt. As Tatsuma turned around to continue carrying him, Hyuga Miyako spoke again:
"Destroy my eyes!"
"But..."
"Kid, you're not qualified to change my fate. Go ahead, take action."
Tatsuma looked at Hyuga Miyako. His breath, already somewhat erratic due to the sprint, became even more chaotic. Finally, he made up his mind and said, "I apologize."
Hyuga Miyako nodded, then closed his eyes. Tatsuma swiftly flipped his right hand, revealing a Kunai. With a wave of his right hand, the Kunai passed between Hyuga Miyako's eyes, causing a slight twitch in his body.
"I will inform Sensei that everything you've done for the village and your admirable sacrifice. You are deserving of respect as a ninja."
As the words fell, the Kunai pierced through Hyuga Miyako's lower jaw, and in an instant, another Kunai stabbed from bottom to top into hi brain, ending his life.
"Swish, swish~"
At this moment, a figure rushed out from the nearby dense forest, heading straight for Tatsuma. Unmindful of the untimely announcements in his mind, Tatsuma glanced at the distant spot where the sounds of battle had also disappeared.
!
At this moment, the person approached Tatsuma and was even closed. Pulling his bloodied kunai out, Tatsuma turned and threw it, and the person quickly moved their head to avoid it.
However, in the hand that threw the Kunai, Chakra had gathered, forming a blue Chakra sphere in Tatsuma's palm. Rasengan, which Tatsuma had secretly learned for a long time, hadn't had a chance to be displayed until now.
"Boom!"
The Chakra sphere pressed towards the person's chest. The unfamiliar Ninjutsu startled the person for a moment, but they quickly bent their arm, and a puppet suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Boom!"
The puppet was blasted into pieces. Tatsuma glanced at the person's horrified expression, swiftly threw a smoke bomb, not intending to continue the fight, and used the Body Flicker Jutsu to escape in an instant.
This person was not the Third Kazekage; perhaps the Third Kazekage was delayed by Hyuga Kai. However, the young man chasing after him, using puppetry skills, was evidently an elite from the Hidden Sand Village.
Tatsuma now knew he was no match. The sneak attack just now was his only chance, but unfortunately, it was still intercepted.
Without carrying Hyuga Miyako and deviating from the planned route, Tatsuma's speed came into play as he continuously evaded in the Land of Rivers with no set pattern.
It wasn't until the next day at sunset that Tatsuma returned to the camp. Seeing Tatsuma's return, the ninjas in the camp hurriedly went to inform Tsunade, who had returned temporarily.
However, Tatsuma, looking somewhat lost, went back to the medical tent, his gaze vacant as he dealt with the wounds accidentally incurred during his escape.
"You rascal!"
Tsunade arrived at the medical tent in a hurry, intending to scold Tatsuma. However, upon seeing Tatsuma's condition, she found herself at a loss for words.
Noticing Tsunade's arrival, Tatsuma forced himself to focus a bit and said, "The Kazekage of Hidden Sand Village is on the move. Chiyo was used to cover the Kazekage's tracks."
"What?!"
Upon hearing this news, Tsunade was also extremely shocked. Then she asked, "How did you come by this information?"
"I found Hyuga Miyako-sama, and he told me," Tatsuma replied.
"And? What about him and the others? Where are they?" Tsunade inquired.
"They're all dead. I personally killed Hyuga Miyako-sama," Tatsuma said, swallowing saliva continuously. The churning in his stomach made him feel nauseous. Tsunade frowned, but she quickly understood the reason.
"He asked you to kill him, didn't he?"
"Yes."
Confirming her suspicions, Tsunade nodded and said, "The information you brought back is of great significance, and you haven't done anything wrong. From now on, Hyuga Miyako's death is at the hands of Hidden Sand Village, unrelated to you. It's the only answer you will give, no matter who asks. Even when you question yourself, this is the only answer. Take a good rest; I need to report to the village."
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