Illegal Encounter After Making a Run for It (I)

But if the Nine-Tails went berserk, the consequences... Ahem. Anyway, making a run for it was the best choice.

So the problem now was actually very simple: how could they leave the battlefield?

The problem was simple, but the answer was hard to find.

Hagoromo could still fight, but his face had begun to turn pale from blood loss. Lightning Release could greatly boost his combat power, but its stimulation kept his wounds from healing. Or rather, Lightning Release and the electricity coursing through him were worsening his blood loss. By now, he could already feel a slight dizziness.

There was nothing to be done about that. It was impossible to remain completely uninjured on a battlefield like this, especially when Hagoromo had charged into the enemy ranks several times.

The paralysis brought by Lightning Release could greatly dull Hagoromo's sense of pain, but blood loss was another matter. He could not expect to possess the First Hokage's powerful healing ability.

So he was no longer suited to continue fighting. If he fainted from excessive blood loss on a battlefield like this, it would mean the end of his little life.

There were fewer and fewer Konoha ninja left within the Sand Ninja encirclement. If they wanted to run, they needed to do it quickly.

Hagoromo did not think he possessed the sort of defense the Raikage had.

As an aside, the Raikage was a Hokage character Hagoromo was fairly familiar with, because he had written a rather professional paper long ago titled "A Comparison of the Defensive Effects of Lightning Armor and the Barrier Fruit."

"Teacher Kushina, the enemy's main target is you, so staying here really isn't a good choice. We need to run." Hagoromo emphasized it again.

"So I'm asking how we're supposed to run?" The frustration on Kushina's face did not lessen. Of course she knew it was time to leave the battlefield. Watching Konoha ninja die one after another to protect her, her feelings were easy enough to imagine.

At that moment, she could not help thinking that if Minato were here, it would be great. With his technique, he could run whenever he wanted, and go wherever he wanted to go.

Unexpectedly, just as she thought of Minato, Hagoromo spoke again.

"I have another method that isn't really a method. It can get us out of here."

"What method?" Kushina asked. Facts had proven that Hagoromo's previous not-really-a-method had been highly effective. He had directly forced Shukaku off the battlefield, changing the balance of power between Konoha and the Sand Ninja.

"I can fly," Hagoromo said in an exceptionally solemn tone.

The flying he meant was not flying in the ordinary sense, nor was he planning to use some unconventional hovering-like method of movement. Leaving aside the fact that the environment here was unsuitable for certain forms of movement, more importantly, after firing continuously at Shukaku for a full minute, the electricity in his body was no longer enough to support a long-distance movement method with such outrageous energy consumption.

If he did not travel far and still exhausted all his stamina, he would only end up at others' mercy.

For the same reason, he had not considered firing a few more shots at the surrounding Sand Ninja either, because he judged that no matter how high his attack power was, he could not clear the field.

But because Kushina had just been thinking about Minato, when she heard Hagoromo say the word "fly," she naturally thought of that S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu.

"Flying Thunder God? I remember you haven't had much contact with Minato. When did you learn such an advanced ninjutsu?"

Could Hagoromo use Flying Thunder God? Sorry, he really could not.

But people sometimes had urges to seek death. Hagoromo was in one of those moments right now.

"Wrong. I only have 'Flying,' not 'Thunder God.' More precisely, although Space-Time Ninjutsu is complicated, it isn't too difficult for a ninja to try it. Though unlucky ninja might die as soon as they finish trying."

Hearing Hagoromo say that, Kushina immediately understood which ninjutsu he meant.

"You mean the Reverse Summoning Technique?"

Wasn't that exactly it? The Summoning Technique and Reverse Summoning Technique were indeed space-time ninjutsu. Without a Summoning Beast, those who dared use the Reverse Summoning Technique usually ended up exactly as Hagoromo had said: unlucky enough to drop dead right after using it.

Otherwise, this technique would practically become an essential escape technique.

At this point, Hagoromo had already begun forming hand seals.

"Don't worry, Teacher Kushina. I made some improvements to this technique before..." That was true, because he had considered long ago how he could quickly escape if he were surrounded. That was when he discovered the Reverse Summoning Technique... and naturally began making experimental improvements to it.

Of course, due to his lack of theoretical knowledge, no one knew what effect those improvements would have. Hagoromo had never tested it before either... Although he appeared brimming with confidence, as for what the result would actually be... Heh, heaven knew.

"Now, theoretically, flying one person is flying, and flying two people is no trouble either. Also, it can ensure that both during the technique and at the landing point after it ends, we remain in stable space. Theoretically speaking, it's a safe technique."

Listening to him say "theoretically" over and over, Kushina felt that it was not convincing at all, okay?

"Hagoromo, you..."

Before Kushina could finish speaking, Hagoromo had swiftly completed his hand seals and reached out to grab her arm.

Then, the Sand Ninja discovered that their foremost target for destruction had vanished from the battlefield...

When Hagoromo opened his eyes again, he first endured the unbearable headache and looked around.

Kushina was not beside him, but he was not overly worried about her safety. Since he himself was fine, that meant his improvements to the technique had succeeded. Theoretically speaking, Kushina should be fine as well.

Yes, theoretically again.

After surveying the area, Hagoromo found himself in an unknown space.

Fatigue and pain constantly assailed his mind. The dozen or so wounds on Hagoromo's body were not deep, but there was still the issue of blood loss.

Using his limited medical knowledge, Hagoromo confirmed that there was no danger nearby, then immediately began treating his wounds.

His blood loss had already reached its limit. He could still remain conscious, but for safety's sake, he was clearly unfit to use Lightning Release again anytime soon.

Without Lightning Release, Hagoromo's attack power dropped sharply. Fortunately, this space was relatively safe.

Unfortunately, Hagoromo did not know that this thought was already setting a flag.

P.S. Thanks to reader Radiant Holy Light for the reward.