"Senior Ao, did you... did you defeat that white-haired boy?"
"Yes."
Chojuro's eyes lit up. "As expected of Senior Ao! Earlier... it was my fault for being too weak-hearted. I was completely overwhelmed by that boy's power..."
Ao lifted his head. "Chojuro, learn from this. Your mental fortitude is too weak. I hope this failure helps you grow."
Chojuro: "Yes... yes! I'll remember Senior Ao's teachings!"
Ao waved his hand. "Enough of that. Help me take that kid's body back. It's too valuable to fall into others' hands..."
"Alright!"
"Phew... this rebellion is finally over." Ao sighed as he walked toward where Kimimaro lay.
When he arrived, he saw Kimimaro lying motionless, devoid of life.
"Is he dead?" Chojuro felt a bit regretful. A child with such talent should have had a limitless future, but now...
"Sigh..."
"Stop sighing, Chojuro. Your task is to finish him off. The Mizukage has ordered that the Taketori clan... leave no survivors."
"But..." Chojuro lowered his head cautiously and said:
"He... he's just a child! Senior Ao, spare his life. He's only been misled by the Taketori clan. If we teach him properly in the future, he could become a great asset to the village!"
Ao sternly rebuked, "Are you getting soft? Being soft-hearted to the enemy is the most foolish mistake in war! Especially towards the Taketori clan!"
"The Taketori clan's mindset is twisted. They are naturally warlike and have no pursuit other than battle throughout their lives! They are the bloodthirstiest ninja clan!"
"And their kekkei genkai has a severe downside: the stronger their ability, the more serious the negative diseases it brings! This likely has to do with their bones constantly being exposed..."
"You see him as strong now, but... he has no future! He can't become our asset! Even if you don't kill him now, he'll die soon anyway!"
Chojuro was stunned, not knowing the Taketori clan had such traits and physical defects.
"Don't hesitate any longer, kill this kid. For him, it would be a relief..."
"...Oh."
Chojuro raised his sword, Hiramekarei, and gritted his teeth. "Friend, heaven envies talent, don't blame me..."
"Swish!"
The twin swords Hiramekarei came down vertically.
Suddenly, two pale jade hands burst out of the ground, their arms unusually long, seemingly able to stretch freely.
The sudden change made Ao and Chojuro immediately alert. In the next second, Kimimaro was almost pulled into the ground by those hands.
"Damn, who is it!" Ao shouted. "Chojuro, don't let the enemy take the boy's body!"
"I... I understand!" Chojuro swung his sword at the arms, but just as the blade was about to strike, a sword suddenly appeared out of thin air, blocking Chojuro's attack.
That sword was completely unmanned, as if it had a will of its own, skillfully parrying Chojuro's attacks.
Taking advantage of the moment, Kimimaro's body was completely pulled underground, disappearing without a trace.
"Damn it!" Ao was anxious. He wanted to help, but his chakra was depleted, and even his Byakugan couldn't be maintained.
However, Ao retained a bit of composure. He knew he couldn't act recklessly now. As a sensory ninja, fighting wasn't his strength. He needed to conserve chakra to sense the mysterious person's presence.
"Chojuro, stop engaging with that sword. The mysterious person is underground, escaping towards the forest at high speed!"
Chojuro gritted his teeth. "Senior Ao, I... I can't defeat this sword!"
"What did you say?"
Ao was shocked. He knew Chojuro's swordsmanship well. Though young, his immense talent and understanding placed him in the top ten within the village. How could he not defeat a single sword!
What baffled him most was that the sword could withstand Hiramekarei!
This mysterious person... was definitely not ordinary!
"Chojuro, Ao!" At this moment, Mei Terumi's voice came from not far away.
Mei Terumi arrived with a group of Kirigakure ninjas.
"Mizukage-sama!" Ao was overjoyed. After much waiting, Mei Terumi had finally arrived:
"You came just in time. A mysterious person is hiding underground and has abducted a Taketori boy!"
Mei Terumi: "Then what are you waiting for, Ao! Take me to chase them!"
"Yes!"
Following the direction of the chakra sense, Ao led Mei Terumi in hot pursuit of the mysterious person.
...