Using fifty-seven hand seals of a memorized, but not practiced, technique on two bodies is actually a pretty decent amount of time (especially considering the one misfire), not to mention the considerable chakra expenditure.
But I was still surprised when, after moving away from the second corpse, I detected three sources on the edge of sensitivity, approaching the site of the recent battle at a very decent speed, even for strong fighters. Given the distance of several tens of kilometers between the place where the kage bunshin had dispersed and me, they had been too fast.
- Pretend to be unconscious," I commanded the reanimated corpses. - And wait for your moment.
- Boss!
The Chunins collapsed on the ground, and I gave them each a couple of low blows with my foot, and then, calculating my movements to the second, I pulled out my kunai and prepared to deliver the finishing blow. But, as expected, the whizzing pile of iron made me jump back a few times, and a moment later, three jonin landed in front of the victims.
Two men stood in protective stances with swords (tanto and simple straight sword) in their hands, and another blonde cloaked woman immediately rushed to the wounded, enveloping her hands with medical chakra. Even despite the darkness and the distance of a couple dozen meters, I could perfectly notice the raucous breathing of the trio. As well as their chakra reserves, compared to the beginning of the chase.
- How are you guys doing?
One shinobi asked hoarsely, giving me a quick glance behind his back.
- They're critical, but they'll live if I have time," the woman replied in an unexpectedly gruff voice, not taking her eyes off her work.
- Where is Saya-sama? - The other looked around quickly, not letting me and my clone out of his sight.
- I can't feel anyone alive around me besides these two," the kunoichi said.
- I can't believe it! Saya-sama lost...," the first shinobi, a short, stout man with cream-colored skin, barely audibly muttered.
- Does this guy look tired to you? - The second shinobi asked quietly, examining me intently.
- 'Doesn't look like it,' his partner said quietly.
- 'Help Saya-sama, help Saya-sama,' the taller man with the tanto interjected, 'and now tired and without most of our chakra, we're dead!
His neighbor said nothing, only gripping the hilt of his sword tighter. Suddenly there was another faint glow of chakra, approaching rather quickly. Is one of the chunin this frisky?
- Oh no, Yui is the only thing missing here! - The chunin who had also spotted the intruder suddenly raised her head and groaned.
- Xo! - The jounin with the tanto swore.
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