"Mm..."
Hada Ichiba slowly came to a stop. His face clouded with thought as he turned back to look once more in the direction the two children had left, but his contemplative expression was gradually replaced by intense concern.
Why did it feel like those two children were facing considerable danger right now? No matter what, when it came to two children barely six or seven years old, his concern ultimately outweighed his reassurance.
What they had done in public earlier could draw the enemy's attention onto him to the greatest extent possible. However, they had attracted everyone's attention. Everyone thought differently and had different experiences. Some would believe the Earth Scroll was on him, but others would do the opposite—and they had ample reason to hunt the children down instead.
Hada Ichiba did not need to think to know that.
After years of studying the human heart, his sensitivity to such matters had practically become instinct.
It could be said that Hada Ryuhiko and Hada Anna's actions had greatly increased the danger they faced.
Originally, Hada Ichiba had thought they would remain with him the whole time. In that case, it would not matter how many people they attracted. He was still confident he could protect them against the siege of multiple teams. At the very least, if he could not win, he could still run.
Besides, even if every team joined forces to kill them, they would probably still be a disorganized mob. If one seriously examined the grudges and hatred between these teams from different ninja villages, then going back five or six generations, they were likely all sworn enemies of one another.
People's hearts could never truly unite.
And so long as the attackers were divided, Hada Ichiba would have an opportunity to turn things around