"You… what exactly do you intend to do?" Yugao Uzuki instinctively took half a step back.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest as her grip tightened on the hilt of her katana.
Just moments ago, she had witnessed this man—this complete stranger—annihilate seven highly trained ANBU operatives in an instant.
Yet now, despite the blood that still dripped from his fingertips, he looked at her with an amused smirk, his voice laced with unsettling nonchalance.
Upon hearing his casual remark, Yugao felt an overwhelming sense of unease.
A battlefield filled with enemies was preferable to this.
At least with the enemy, death was straightforward.
But this? This felt far worse.
"You already know the answer." The man, Qin Yu, chuckled as he turned his gaze toward Hayate Gekko.
"I'm giving you a chance to live."
Hayate's tense expression wavered. "You… you'll let us go?"
His voice carried the faintest glimmer of hope.
"My father, Moonlight Nighteye, is a respected Jonin. If you let us leave, I swear you'll be handsomely rewarded."
As he spoke, his mind was already calculating his next move.
If he could leave Yugao behind—even for a moment—he could make it back to Konoha's stronghold in time.
"You seem confused," Qin Yu's smile darkened. "I never said both of you could leave."
Hayate and Yugao stiffened.
"One of you walks away. The other dies."
A suffocating silence fell over them.
This was no negotiation.
It was an ultimatum.
"You get to decide," Qin Yu continued, voice laced with cruel amusement. "Of course, I'll do the killing."
The words hung in the air, thick with finality.
"Unless, of course, you think you can fare better than those Root operatives. If so…" Qin Yu raised a single hand, lightning crackling at his fingertips. "Step forward and die."
A sharp inhale from Yugao was the only sound that followed.
Her gaze flickered toward Hayate.
She saw it.
The hesitation.
The fear.
Hayate clenched his fists. "Xi-Yan… wait for me."
Then—
He ran.
With the full force of his chakra, he propelled himself forward, his form disappearing into the dense foliage of the forest.
His speed was breakneck—far beyond what Yugao had ever seen him exert before.
Desperation fueled him, his entire being focused on reaching the Konoha stronghold.
The only thought that consumed him was survival.
"Interesting, isn't it?" Qin Yu mused, watching Hayate vanish.
He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "People say desperation brings out the best in them. But all I see is cowardice."
Yugao's fingers trembled.
Her entire body felt numb.
He… he left.
Hayate… left her.
Qin Yu tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Since he abandoned you, I assume you'll take the honorable way out?"
Yugao bit down on her lower lip.
She had already made her choice.
Without hesitation, she flipped her kunai, angling the blade toward her own throat.
If she was going to die—
She would do it on her own terms.
Clang!
The sharp ring of metal echoed through the forest.
Her kunai had been knocked clean from her grasp, sent spinning into the air by a perfectly aimed shuriken.
Her head snapped up, eyes blazing with fury. "You said one of us had to die! Why won't you let me do it myself?"
Qin Yu exhaled sharply, amusement dancing in his expression.
"Of course, you can."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"I just wanted to see if you'd actually go through with it."
Yugao's breath hitched.
"I honestly thought you'd beg for your life." Qin Yu tilted his head. "But you didn't. That's rare. I respect that."
She stiffened as his gaze bore into hers.
"Still, I wasn't expecting that kid to run faster than a damn rabbit."
He exhaled, shaking his head. "Go on. You should get moving before your commander starts worrying."
The casual dismissal threw her off guard.
"What…?"
Qin Yu turned his back to her, already walking away. "Hurry up. You're wasting my time."
Yugao was speechless.
Her body screamed at her to move, to flee—but her mind was still processing what had just happened.
He wasn't going to kill her?
A gust of wind rushed past, carrying Hayate's frantic voice.
"HELP! UNCLE CANGWU! SAVE YUGAO!"
The sound came from the Konoha stronghold ahead.
Yugao clenched her jaw.
Qin Yu had let her live.
But Hayate…
He never even looked back.
At the Konoha outpost, Hayate burst through the gates, panting heavily.
His frantic shouting caught the attention of the stationed Jonin.
Yueyue Cangwu, an elder swordsman and one of Yugao's mentors, strode forward, his expression darkening. "Breeze… what are you yelling about?"
"Uncle Cangwu!" Hayate gasped. "Yugao and I were ambushed! A lightning-wrapped man killed all of the Root operatives!"
His words sent murmurs rippling through the gathered shinobi.
"He—he was dangerous! He demanded that one of us die! I—I had no choice! I ran for help!"
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Then—
SLAP!
The sharp crack of Yueyue Cangwu's palm against Hayate's cheek echoed through the air.
Hayate staggered backward, stunned. "U-Uncle—?"
"You ran." Cangwu's voice was ice. "You ran, and you left her."
The weight of his words crushed down on Hayate's shoulders.
"If Yugao hadn't been lucky enough to survive, I swear, I would have cut you down myself. And I wouldn't care if your father was Moonlight Nighteye."
The cold condemnation sent a violent shudder through Hayate's body.
But before he could speak—
"Uncle Cangwu, I'm fine."
A familiar voice cut through the tension.
Everyone turned.
Yugao strode forward, her expression unreadable.
Her eyes locked onto Hayate's.
"Why do you look surprised?" Her voice was quiet.
Hayate swallowed, guilt and shame twisting in his gut. "I—Yugao, I—"
SLAP!
This time, it was Yugao's palm that met his face.
The impact stung, but not nearly as much as her cold, emotionless words.
"There's nothing left to explain between us, Hayate."
She turned away without another glance. "Father, I'll be reporting for my next mission."
Cangwu gave Hayate one last glare before following Yugao into the stronghold.
Hayate stood there, face burning with humiliation.
Behind him, Qin Yu's laughter echoed.
"Damn, kid. You ran like your life depended on it, and now you're acting tough?"
Hayate clenched his fists.
Qin Yu smirked. "Wanna duel? I could use some entertainment."
Hayate felt the eyes of the gathered shinobi on him.