After the Battle

After carefully tallying the cargo losses and casualties, Hyuga Reon reported the results to Kurenai Yūhi.

"Captain, in this attack, we lost the supplies from twenty carts. The supplies on the other carts were also damaged to varying degrees. The exact extent still needs further inspection." Despite being mentally prepared, Kurenai Yūhi could not help but sigh.

"No need to inspect them. What about the casualties?"

"Other than the few of us who suffered minor injuries to varying degrees, five Chunin were killed, along with twenty-four genin. Most of the others were injured as well," Hyuga Reon said sadly.

"Are the injuries serious?"

"Only a few have particularly large wounds. There are no Medical Ninja in our group, so..."

So they might not make it through the night. Kurenai Yūhi sighed. Listening to the casualty report, everyone was filled with anger over their comrades' deaths and helplessness at being unable to treat the wounded.

"I can stitch their wounds with thread. Do you think that would help?" Yūske suddenly asked Hyuga Reon.

"It would!" Hyuga Reon's eyes lit up. At that moment, she remembered Yūske's Kekkei Genkai.

"Come on, let's go now."

Hyuga Reon pulled Yūske away. Hearing that there was still a chance to save several comrades, the people present felt somewhat relieved.

Yūske looked at the severely wounded. Some had already fainted from excessive blood loss, while others, pale-faced, were writing their wills. His mood grew heavy. Realizing time was running out, he had to act quickly.

"Do we have anesthetic?" Yūske looked at Hyuga Reon, who held bandages in her hands. She bit her lip tightly and gently shook her head.

Yūske drew a deep breath and said to the wounded who were still conscious, "Are you afraid of pain?"

One of them answered with a smile, "No. I'm not even afraid of death."

"That's the spirit. Then brace yourselves. This may hurt a lot."

Yūske gently drew out fine threads and carefully stitched the wounded men's injuries. Once he finished, Hyuga Reon swiftly applied medicine to the wounds.

The several conscious wounded endured the entire stitching process with their teeth clenched tight. Not one let out a pained groan.

There were also two unconscious wounded. Yūske used fine threads to restrain their movements. Then Hyuga Reon prepared wooden sticks. During the stitching, the wounded struggled in agony and cried out loudly. Seeing this, Hyuga Reon immediately shoved the sticks into their mouths.

Once the stitching was complete, the bleeding gradually stopped.

"Thank you, Lord Yūske." Several wounded men struggled to rise and thank him, but Yūske pressed them back down.

"You're still injured. Once you recover, just treat me to a meal when we get back to the village," Yūske said reassuringly.

"Okay!" Several of the wounded answered with moist eyes and choked voices.

"Yūske, I thank you on their behalf."

At that moment, Kurenai Yūhi walked over and gave Yūske a deep bow.

Yūske hurried forward and helped Kurenai Yūhi up.

"Captain, don't be so formal. I'm a member of the village too. Besides, the Third Hokage is my Teacher. If he finds out you did this, he might even punish me," Yūske said lightly.

"Very well, but I will report this truthfully to Lord Hokage," Kurenai Yūhi said, nodding seriously.

Before long, the remaining carts, carrying people and supplies, set off once more.

Since nearly everyone was injured and there was no one to replace them, those with minor injuries could only take over driving. All the jonin remained highly vigilant, and Might Duy was no exception.

In this battle, Might Duy had earned everyone's recognition. He had proven with his strength that he was qualified to fight alongside them, rather than being a weakling who held everyone back.

By nightfall, there were no streetlights in this area, and the surroundings were pitch-black. Such conditions were no longer suitable for continuing their journey.

Kurenai Yūhi decisively ordered them to make camp where they were. The few uninjured ninja began standing guard, while Yūske released a great number of fine threads and set traps around the area.

Then several fires were lit, and everyone gathered around them to rest.

To help everyone replenish their strength, Yūske and the others had specifically taken the time to hunt several young deer. At that moment, the deer were being simply cooked.

"Yūske, why is your ninja tool pouch full of seasonings?" Hyuga Reon asked in surprise.

"Hehe, Yūske has been grilling fish for three days already. You're only noticing now?" Inuzuka Shiro said with a grin, since she had asked the same question on the first day.

"You can't blame us. We spend most nights on guard duty. We noticed the taste of seasonings when we ate, but we simply didn't have time to think about it," Hyuga Reon explained unhappily.

"Haha, my combat methods mainly rely on my Kekkei Genkai. After Monkey Head took me into the forest to train for three months and I ate countless bland things, I started instinctively bringing these along whenever I traveled far," Yūske explained with a laugh.

"Monkey Head?" Uchiha En asked doubtfully.

"That's Lord Enma, the Third Hokage's summoned beast!" Inuzuka Shiro answered for Yūske. As someone from a clan that had lived alongside summoned beasts since childhood, Inuzuka Shiro held Enma in especially high esteem. He was the Third Hokage's companion in battle!

Thinking of the nickname Yūske had given him, Uchiha En figured he must have taken quite a beating for it, and his mood improved considerably.

"Is Lord Enma strong?" Emboldened by the number of people around, Inuzuka Shiro asked the question she had long wanted to ask.

"Well, how should I put it? He's pretty strong, and pretty good at taking hits too," Yūske said after pondering for a moment, pinching his chin.

"You can beat him?"

"What do you think? He was my Teacher for my jonin examination."

"Gasp..."