Harukatsu clashed with Hajime's Rasengan using a kunai, but the force sent him flying. His arm went numb from the impact.
Staggering back, he was deeply shaken.
"You're from Konoha!"
"That was a Wood Release technique just now…"
The masked Hajime gave no reply. A Rasengan spun in his right hand while his left hand, no longer holding a Rasengan, swiftly formed seals.
Behind him, screams of agony echoed one after another.
A third Hajime appeared on the battlefield. Together with the second, they cut down three more enemies in quick succession.
"Retreat!"
Harukatsu gritted his teeth and gave the order.
He had realized—this enemy before them wasn't someone they could handle.
This guy was way too strong!
The remaining Sky Ninja immediately followed orders and began to retreat.
Harukatsu tried to escape too, but Hajime's continuous Wood Release assaults disrupted his movement, keeping him locked in combat. He was unable to break free and could only focus entirely on the battle.
But the cries of his allies' deaths rang out without end.
More and more Hajime clones appeared.
Each scream felt like a heavy hammer slamming into Harukatsu's skull, breaking his concentration bit by bit.
Wham!
At last, in a moment of carelessness, a vine wrapped around Harukatsu's legs, tripping him.
Boom!
The Rasengan struck his abdomen. His clothing shredded under the force, and with a terrible scream, the ground beneath him cracked and then collapsed.
Blood sprayed from Harukatsu's mouth, splattering across Hajime's demon-faced mask, making him look even more menacing.
Though from the outside it looked like just a surface wound to his abdomen, inside—his organs were thoroughly pulverized. The Rasengan's terrifying penetrative power had smashed through him and the earth beneath.
Swish swish swish!
Inuzuka Ryo and the other two arrived on the scene.
Hajime stood up and glanced over at them.
No one was injured.
"Finish them off. Then send the bodies to the town."
Hajime gave the command.
Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Shino nodded and went to carry it out.
Once the bodies were dealt with, Hajime gave the order to rest for one hour.
After the break, Hajime created two Wood Clones to infiltrate the town alongside Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Shino.
Meanwhile, his real body dressed himself like a wandering samurai, and together with Yakushi Nonō—disguised as a traveling doctor—they entered the now panicked town.
At this time, the town's streets were desolate and empty.
Hajime and Nonō knocked on the door of an inn, pretending to be confused travelers.
"Boss, where did everyone go?" Hajime asked.
The innkeeper peeked outside nervously, then whispered,
"Some rogue ninja have appeared nearby. It's terrifying. More than a dozen Sky Ninja have already died."
"I suggest you two get out of here while you still can."
"The Sky Ninja won't let this go easily."
Yakushi Nonō couldn't help but think to herself:
What a kind-hearted innkeeper.
Hajime, however, purposely put on a look of disgust.
"Ugh… more ninja trouble…"
"Nonō, let's go."
With that, he pulled her from the inn and walked through the streets to where the bodies were displayed.
Releasing her hand, Hajime stepped forward and took down the hanging corpses.
Then he took Nonō to a merchant's shop and knocked on the door, buying some cloth with money. Together, they began wrapping the bodies one by one.
During this process, many townspeople nearby were secretly watching.
Suddenly—
Several figures appeared all around them.
Hajime immediately drew his sword in alarm, shielding Yakushi Nonō behind him. Nonō's face also tensed with genuine anxiety.
She wasn't pretending.
If their cover was blown in front of this many Sky Ninja, it could be incredibly dangerous.
Even if their captain was strong…
With the Sky Ninja's sudden appearance, the townspeople who had been hiding finally gathered enough courage to come out.
Several townsfolk pointed at Hajime and Nonō, speaking over one another. The Sky Ninja glanced at the two with gradually softening expressions.
One of the Sky Ninja stepped forward and said,
"Thank you for what you've done."
Hajime expressionlessly sheathed his sword and replied coolly,
"We just don't like seeing corpses desecrated. We didn't intend to help you."
The Sky Ninja was just about to say more when—
A sharp whistling sound tore through the air.
"Watch out!"
A shout rang out, immediately followed by the clang of metal colliding.
The flying shuriken were blocked, but the next moment—
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the area. Inuzuka Ryo's Fang Over Fang had landed a surprise hit on one Sky Ninja, carving a massive crater into the street.
At the same time, another Sky Ninja was swarmed by a horde of insects.
"That's the Aburame clan from Konoha!"
"I knew it—Konoha is behind this!"
Angry shouts erupted as the Sky Ninja lunged at Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Shino.
But before they could close the distance, two masked clones of Hajime charged out, blades in hand.
The battle erupted.
Townspeople fled in every direction.
The clash echoed through the streets. Explosions and tremors leveled houses, and civilians were caught in the crossfire.
Hajime's clones fought with overwhelming ferocity, forcing the Sky Ninja to focus solely on defense—they couldn't spare a single hand to help the townspeople.
And so—
Hajime's real body began to "perform" with Yakushi Nonō.
He pulled survivors from rubble, while Nonō tended to the wounded.
The Leaf's attack came fast, and ended even faster.
In less than five minutes, they had retreated far from the town.
The Sky Ninja didn't give chase. Instead, they turned back to help with rescue efforts.
"I didn't expect you to know medical ninjutsu as well."
"We're truly grateful for your help!"
The Sky Ninja team leader, Kogetsu Daisei, sincerely thanked the two.
Hajime kept his expression neutral as he assisted Nonō.
"We're just doing what we can to survive."
Next to him, Nonō was sweating profusely from exhaustion. She looked up and said,
"His injuries are too severe. My abilities are limited—I've only stabilized him temporarily. He needs better treatment."
The man she was treating was a Sky Ninja who had taken a vicious kick from one of Hajime's clones. His ribs were shattered, with bone fragments piercing his organs, leading to internal bleeding.
Kogetsu Daisei's face grew solemn. He nodded gravely.
"Understood. Thank you—please keep him stable."
Nonō nodded with conviction.
"I'll do my best!"
Half an hour later—
She had treated every wounded person. By then, her face had turned pale from exhaustion.
After expressing his thanks once more, Kogetsu Daisei made a formal request:
"I know it's forward of me, but… would you be willing to come with us to our village?"
Medical ninja were always in short supply.
Though Nonō's skills weren't top-tier, they were quite solid—and she was still very young, with immense potential.
If she stayed in the Sky Ninja Village, she might one day grow into an elite medical-nin.
However, Hajime immediately grew wary.
"We won't get involved in your war."
"And I won't let her go to the battlefield."
Kogetsu Daisei was taken aback but quickly smiled bitterly and nodded.
It made sense.
With Nonō's skills, she could probably be accepted by any of the Five Great Villages.
That she was wandering now—there had to be good reasons.
But that only made Daisei more eager to bring the two into the village. After some thought, he offered a compromise:
"Then… how about this—we hire you to treat our wounded."
"You won't have to go to the battlefield. Just stay in the village."
Hajime frowned, just about to decline—
But at that moment, Nonō gently tugged on his hand. She looked up at him with pleading eyes and softly whispered:
"Oni-chan…"
That expression… didn't seem like an act.
Hajime looked down at her for a moment, then turned to Kogetsu Daisei.
"We'll accept your offer. But only on the condition that we remain in the village—we won't set foot on the battlefield."
Daisei broke into a smile.
"Of course. That won't be a problem."
(End of Chapter)
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