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"Konoha Style—Swift Blade Combo!"
Kōsuke and Chiba dealt with the two Rock ninja, then regrouped. The three of them launched their assault on Kūgo simultaneously.
Without his Explosion Release, Kūgo was no different from any other jōnin. Facing one powerhouse supported by two others, he quickly found himself overwhelmed, his defenses crumbling.
Thunk.
Kōsuke's blade was viciously fast. He seized the moment Kūgo's guard dropped, his center wide open, and plunged the longsword deep into his chest.
Drip. Drip.
Blood trailed down the blade. Kūgo's body slowly slumped to the ground, eyes filled with thick, unyielding resentment.
His grand ambitions had barely taken flight. There was so much he hadn't done yet. He…
Thwack.
Just to be safe, Chiba delivered a final knife-hand strike to Kūgo's head, cutting short his trip down memory lane.
"This area isn't secure. We should move," Kōsuke urged.
"Right. Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Chiba responded, spewing several fireballs onto the ground. The bodies of the Rock ninja were swiftly consumed, their identities and any trace of their presence reduced to ash. Chiba noted that the Great Fireball really packed a punch when it actually hit something.
…
"Mystical Palm Technique!"
They relocated to a safer spot with the woman. Chiba placed his hands on her chest, applying gentle pressure as he began channeling chakra into her depleted system.
"Hey, Chiba. Where exactly are your hands?"
Nawaki's eyes were practically glowing with envy.
He'd lived this long and never even touched a girl's… not that it mattered! What gave Chiba the right?!
"What about my hands?"
Chiba defended himself, his tone full of righteous logic. "As everyone knows, the Mystical Palm Technique is administered by applying pressure to the patient's chest. That's exactly how I saved you back then."
"Hmph!" Nawaki's face flushed. "Lie to your friends all you want, just don't lie to yourself. I can't even be bothered to call out your little scheme."
Kōsuke sat nearby, cooking in a small iron pot from his pack. He watched their bickering with a soft, amused smile. Being around these two lively kids made him feel alive again.
[Ding! Treatment successful. Host has obtained A-Rank Medical Ninjutsu: 'Yin Healing Wound Destruction'!]
"Oh? Damage negation? Nice."
After the treatment, the system notification chimed. Chiba's eyes lit up.
"An A-rank medical technique… this woman isn't ordinary. Probably not some nobody."
[Yin Healing Wound Destruction: A self-healing ninjutsu that predicts the location of an incoming injury and initiates healing before the attack lands, minimizing damage.]
"…But why isn't she waking up?"
Chiba was puzzled.
The system said the treatment was successful. Her heartbeat felt normal under his palm. So why was she still out?
Why hasn't he moved his hand yet?
The woman on the ground was exasperated.
She'd regained consciousness a while ago. To avoid the awkwardness, she'd planned to "wake up" after Chiba removed his hand.
She never expected him to keep it there for so long while she was "unconscious."
"Ahem. Could you… move your hand, please?"
With no other choice, she slowly opened her eyes and spoke, her voice faint and somewhat accusing.
"Ah! Sorry! My bad!"
Chiba quickly snatched his hands back, scratching his head with an awkward, apologetic grin.
"Will it rain today?"
The woman ignored Chiba's apology. She scrutinized the three of them, then suddenly asked a seemingly nonsensical question.
"Not today. But tomorrow, and it'll be a downpour," Nawaki answered without hesitation.
"Cipher confirmed."
The woman nodded. She reached up and peeled a mask from her face, her expression turning serious. "Greetings, comrades. I am a member of Konoha's Intelligence Division. Codename: 'Miko'."
"Holy shit! Nonō Yakushi?!"
When Chiba saw her face clearly, he couldn't help but blurt it out.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, black-framed glasses, a nun's habit, white thigh-highs… the epitome of a smart, mature beauty…
In his past life, Chiba had been a big fan of Nonō Yakushi's… ahem, work. He recognized her instantly. He felt like a fan meeting their idol, hence the loss of composure.
"You know me?"
Nonō produced a pair of glasses from somewhere and put them on, looking at him quizzically.
Nonō wasn't famous in the shinobi world, but the child she took in—Kabuto Yakushi—was a name any Naruto fan would know.
"Yeah. I stayed at the orphanage for a while. Heard they got a new director later, so I kept an eye out."
Back in control, Chiba offered a watertight explanation.
"Whoa, Chiba! So you're an orphan?" Nawaki exclaimed from the side.
"Nawaki, if you don't know how to talk, just shut up!" Chiba snapped, annoyed.
In the world of Naruto, how many people had both parents alive? It was practically the norm for a trio to have less than two complete sets of parents between them.
"Please share the intelligence you obtained from the Rock Village."
Chiba shot Nawaki a glare before turning back to Nonō. "We need to get it back to Konoha as soon as possible."
"Understood."
Nonō nodded, her expression grave. "I cannot guarantee the intelligence's accuracy. Personally, I believe there's an eighty percent chance it's genuine. Please use your own judgment."
"The Rock Village appears to be orchestrating a plot targeting the Sannin. They've set a trap near Iwata Mountain in the south of the Land of Rain, intending to eliminate all three at once!"
"What?!" Nawaki's face paled. "My sister and the others are in danger?!"
"It seems this meal will have to wait." Kōsuke looked ruefully at the delicious, freshly prepared broth in his pot.
At this time, the Sannin were the strongest of Konoha's new generation, second only to Sakumo. Their existence was crucial to the village. They could not be lost.
"Also, there's something else you should know," Nonō added with a warning. "That Rock ninja with Explosion Release, Kūgo… his identity was special. He was the Third Tsuchikage's nephew."
"Given the current Tsuchikage's notorious vindictiveness, if he discovers you were the ones who killed Kūgo… you may face significant trouble."
"I'm the First Hokage's grandson! Who cares about him?!" Nawaki was already on his feet, frantic with worry. "Let's go! Now, Chiba! Kōsuke-sensei!"
…
Southern Land of Rain, Iwata Mountain Range.
Inside a dimly lit cave, Orochimaru silently sealed the entrance with an Earth Release technique and turned to his two companions.
Jiraiya lay on the ground, barely breathing, his body covered in blood. He had lost too much and slipped into unconsciousness.
Beside him, Tsunade was desperately applying medical ninjutsu, but the effects were minimal.
The Rock ninja's ambush had been meticulously planned. They had forced the trio to flee into this cave during their march. Now, they were trapped, hanging by a thread.
"Give it up, Tsunade."
Orochimaru's eyes were cold and detached, his voice flat. "Their earth techniques will bring this mountain down on us soon. If we want to escape, we cannot hesitate. You and I must leave. Now."
"But what about Jiraiya?!"
Tsunade continued her Mystical Palm Technique, her voice strained with worry. "In his condition, carrying him is impossible. That's why I'm trying to stabilize him with medical ninjutsu first—"
"Enough, Tsunade!"
Orochimaru's voice sharpened, turning icy. "This is wartime. We cannot lower our own chances of survival for an uncertain outcome."
"If you continue being sentimental, it will lead to all three of us dying here. Since you lack the resolve to make the necessary decision…"
He slowly drew a kunai from within his robes.
"…I will send Jiraiya on his way."
The glint of the blade matched the pure, cold killing intent in his eyes.
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