The only significant threat, Kakuzu, had fled. The remaining enemies posed no real challenge, aside from their large numbers. However, these numbers still posed a certain level of danger to Moko, who was incapable of defending herself.
Ye Zi raised his sword, Raiga, leveling it before his eyes. A faint blue lightning sparkled around his body, twisting and crackling as the sharp sound of chirping birds filled the air.
The situation was clear: the quicker they repelled the enemy, the better. At that moment, Ye Zi unleashed his full power without concern for the massive amount of chakra he was expending.
Zzzing!
He became a bolt of lightning, darting through the forest under the cover of night. Wherever the light passed, blood sprayed and life was snuffed out, leaving faint traces of death in some forgotten corner.
Ye Zi's lethal efficiency greatly reduced the pressure on Kotoe, Kurenai, and Guy. It was during critical moments like these that many things became clear. That man was strong, standing as a barrier between them and all danger, making everyone feel secure.
Kotoe had used up all her senbon needles and, lacking stronger offensive techniques, stayed by Moko's side, watching Ye Zi cut through enemies. Her deep green eyes slowly began to shine with admiration, her gaze following his every movement as if nothing else existed.
"What else is left?" Kotoe suddenly smiled brightly.
It was as if she had just realized something profound, like a monk reaching enlightenment. In that moment, she understood things so clearly that she would be willing to sacrifice her life for them.
This sudden radiant smile left both Kurenai and Guy stunned. It seemed to be the first time they had ever seen Kotoe smile so purely.
In the darkness of the night, the storm of lightning did not leave all the bounty hunters behind. After all, these ruthless mercenaries weren't driven by the same unwavering resolve as true ninja. Most of them had been expelled or had defected from the ninja villages. While they could be cold-blooded and heartless for the sake of money, they weren't foolish enough to throw away their lives here.
After witnessing Ye Zi's overwhelming power, the remaining bounty hunters were terrified. Without hesitation, they began to retreat. Just as swiftly as they had arrived, they fled with no second thoughts.
When the enemy had retreated, Kurenai and Guy collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
Their first battle had been a harrowing experience, one that would stay with them. It wasn't a simple lesson to open their eyes to the world, but a direct, brutal introduction to blood and corpses.
This was the life of a ninja. This was the reality of battle between shinobi, where it was kill or be killed.
Ye Zi sheathed his sword and returned to the group. Glancing over them, he asked, "Injured?"
Kotoe and Guy shook their heads, and both immediately looked toward Kurenai, who had been kicked hard earlier.
Under their concerned gazes, Kurenai clutched her abdomen and tried to act nonchalant. "It's nothing serious… just a little pain, that's all."
Kurenai was only a Genin, and one who wasn't particularly skilled in taijutsu. There was no way that heavy kick didn't affect her. While her nerves had been on high alert during the battle, numbing most of the pain, now that the fight was over, the injury's severity was becoming more evident, and waves of pain began crashing through her body.
It hurt a lot. The injury seemed quite serious.
That was what she thought, but perhaps because of her fragile sense of pride, she didn't want to show any sign of weakness.
"That's good. You really scared me back there," Guy, oblivious as usual, beamed, thinking Kurenai's injury wasn't serious.
Kotoe glanced at Kurenai's bowed head, noticing the fine beads of sweat on her pale forehead, then turned her gaze to Ye Zi. When their eyes met, Ye Zi gave a slight nod.
Kotoe could tell Kurenai was hiding the true extent of her injury, and Ye Zi had noticed it as well. In the past, he would have harshly told Kurenai how foolish her behavior was, but after this battle, he acknowledged her effort.
The Ninth Squad lacked a medical ninja, and the flaws in their mission execution became clear when things went wrong.
They needed to protect Moko and reach the capital of the Land of Fire as quickly as possible, so there was no time to waste. But if Kurenai was injured, it would slow them down. If they had a medical ninja, such an injury could be easily treated.
While there wasn't a medical ninja, Kotoe, who had come from Kusagakure, was skilled in both poisons and healing some injuries.
"We don't have time to rest. Tend to her injuries quickly. We'll move out in ten minutes," Ye Zi said, scanning the dark forest around them.
"Got it."
Kotoe acknowledged him and dragged Kurenai over to sit down.
"I'm fine, really," Kurenai said with a forced smile.
Kotoe rolled her eyes and replied, "Stop pretending. It's too obvious. Only Guy would believe you."
"Ugh…" Kurenai's smile froze. She turned her head to look at Ye Zi's back—his black attire seemingly merging into the night.
Kotoe pulled out a small green box from her tool pouch, which contained a paste made from crushed herbs that could stop bleeding, reduce pain, prevent bruising, and accelerate healing.
After taking out the medicine, she glanced at Kurenai, noticing her focus on Ye Zi's back. Kotoe sighed softly. She could see how much Kurenai longed for Ye Zi's approval—so much that she would hide her injury just to prove she wasn't weak.
"He already recognizes you."
Kotoe didn't say it out loud, but she lifted Kurenai's shirt up to expose her bruised abdomen and gently applied the green paste to the bruised area.
As soon as the herbal medicine touched her skin, a cool sensation spread over the wound, instantly alleviating the pain.
Kurenai's furrowed brow relaxed, and she threw a grateful look at Kotoe.
After treating Kurenai's injury, the squad rested for ten minutes before setting out again.
Tonight's attack made Ye Zi even more eager to deliver Moko to her destination and complete this troublesome mission, so he didn't concern himself with whether Moko could endure traveling at night.
Typically, young girls from noble families were spoiled and weak, yet Moko seemed entirely different from what Ye Zi had expected.
She was calm and composed, showing no sign of fear or panic even when surrounded by enemies.
She was resilient and reserved. Despite the exhausting journey and the need to travel through the night, she didn't complain once.
Though Guy carried her on his back, every single thing Moko had done since leaving Konoha hadn't gone unnoticed by Ye Zi.
"The future wife of the next Daimyo of the Land of Fire, huh? She certainly has the poise for it," Ye Zi thought to himself.
While Ye Zi was contemplating Moko, she too was thinking about him as she rested on Guy's back.
Through the night, she could just make out Ye Zi's silhouette. In her beautiful eyes, an unidentifiable emotion flickered.
"For you…"
She quietly watched, her thoughts stirring, a twisted pleasure rising within her.
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Currently Chapter 156 - Flashback I (Time to gaze into Ye Zi's mysterious past)