Struggle (Revised)

Qi Shuang did not hesitate for even a moment. He immediately charged toward where Kamiya Ki had landed.

The gap between a Jōnin and a Genin was unimaginably vast, to say nothing of the fact that his opponent was a Jōnin of the Uchiha clan.

In terms of combat power, Uchiha Jōnin were generally a cut above most Jōnin.

So fleeing was meaningless for Qi Shuang.

By his own estimate, without Kamiya Ki holding the enemy back, his speed would not carry him even two hundred meters.

Therefore, he could not flee now. He had to fight with his back to the wall.

Although he had no idea what condition Kamiya Ki was in, rescuing him was the most advantageous option.

His chakra was nearly depleted. Even if Kamiya Ki had only enough strength left for one more attack, that would still be a tremendous help to him.

"Teacher Ki, how are your injuries?" Qi Shuang hurriedly lifted Kamiya Ki, who had been smashed to the ground and was barely clinging to life, and asked anxiously.

The young teacher's chest was already stained red with blood. Crimson blood gushed from the wound, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop the flow.

Before long, even most of his clothes had been dyed red with blood.

Hearing his little subordinate's voice, Kamiya Ki slowly opened his eyes. He was stunned at first, then realized that his little subordinate had created another miracle.

This youngster, who had only recently set foot on the battlefield, had already killed two Konoha Chunin by overcoming the gap in rank.

Unfortunately, as the team leader and teacher, he had failed to set a sufficient example. On his first encounter with the enemy, he had not only lost two subordinates, but even staked his own life.

He grabbed the hem of his little subordinate's clothes and rasped, "Go... go... I... I can't be saved!"

He knew his own injuries better than anyone.

Uchiha Tai's blade had pierced straight through his chest and back. Combined with the kick to the wound, he was beyond saving.

At this point, all he could do was urge this little subordinate, who had created two miracles, to leave at once.

He could only pray that the boy would create another miracle and escape Uchiha Tai's pursuit.

Qi Shuang gave a bitter smile and shook his head. In a low voice, he said, "I want to leave too, but... I can't outrun him, Teacher!"

Then he leaned close to Kamiya Ki's ear and whispered, "Teacher Ki, please help me one last time!"

At the same time, Kamiya Ki felt as if someone had stuck something onto his back.

It was a ninja tool he knew extremely well.

After thinking for a moment, he understood what his little subordinate meant.

"Good... very good!"

He nodded gently, a trace of relief appearing on his face.

Although his squad had been almost completely wiped out this time, he had witnessed the birth of a qualified ninja.

He was more than willing to use the last of his strength to help the boy survive.

To leave behind an excellent seed for Kirigakure.

Or rather, he no longer had the right to refuse. From the moment his little subordinate had acted, whether he agreed or not no longer mattered.

At the same time, a young Konoha ninja slowly emerged from the gradually dispersing mist. He held a gleaming short blade, whose tip was dripping with blood.

It was Uchiha Tai, who had struck back and defeated Kamiya Ki.

He swept his gaze around but did not see his companion. Then he glanced in surprise at the Mist ninja child, whose arm had been slashed, and asked, "You killed that guy?"

The two of them had fought to the death, yet only this child remained. Although he found it unbelievable, he could not think of any other explanation.

Then, seeing that the other party was nervously watching him without responding, he sneered with complete indifference, "I knew the three of those guys were all useless. Going on missions with them is nothing but a waste of time!"

"They couldn't even deal with a brat at the level of a Genin. If word got out, people would think the Uchiha clan was incompetent. What a disgrace!"

With that, he spat heavily on the ground.

It was as if forming a team with those three had been an enormous humiliation.

He then looked toward the two Mist ninjas, one large and one small, and mocked, "Kid, looks like you two aren't ordinary acquaintances, huh?"

"At a time like this, you still haven't turned and run. I'm truly touched!"

Ordinarily, once the team leader died, the remaining members would be so terrified that they fled in panic, losing all will to fight.

Subordinates willing to stay and fight to the very end were extremely rare.

Especially when the opponent was a child barely ten years old. With the team leader dead and death approaching, the fact that he still had not turned and fled was truly admirable.

"To show you my respect, I've decided to leave you with your whole corpse!"

Before he had even finished speaking, he used the Body Flicker Technique to flash in front of the two and raised his short blade to strike.

Against a brat at the level of a Genin, he could not even be bothered to use ninjutsu.

After all, every one of the opponent's movements was perfectly clear in his Sharingan, without the slightest omission.

He had no fear of a Genin's "last struggle"!

As for the Mist ninja at the level of a Chunin, he did not take him seriously either. The man had suffered his fatal blow and probably had only one breath left. He posed no threat at all.

At that very moment, as the opponent moved, Qi Shuang released Kamiya Ki from his arms and hurriedly retreated.

Uchiha Tai was far faster than him. He had to remain highly vigilant if he wanted any chance of dodging the man's ambush.

Speaking would mean dividing his attention. That was why he had not responded.

Although Qi Shuang's reaction was already extremely fast, it was still nothing in Uchiha Tai's Sharingan.

He clearly saw the other party abandon his companion and retreat. Disdain rose in his heart as he thought, So you're afraid of death too!

The short blade descended without any flourish. He was fully confident he could kill the opponent with one strike.

Although the opponent had reacted quickly, he had still failed to escape the blade's effective range.

"Got you!"

As he watched the short blade draw closer and closer to its target, the corners of his mouth curled upward.

Just then, the dying Mist Chunin at his feet suddenly moved.

The man abruptly opened his eyes, as if granted a final burst of life. No one knew where he found the strength, but he suddenly wrapped both arms around Uchiha Tai's legs and violently thrust his head backward, jolting Uchiha Tai's movement to a halt.

That momentary delay allowed Qi Shuang to narrowly dodge the fatal blow.

"Bastard!"

Furious that his sure-kill strike had missed, Uchiha Tai snarled, "Since you still refuse to die, I'll make sure you die thoroughly!"

As he spoke, he withdrew his blade, intending to deliver one final strike to Kamiya Ki.

At that moment, he saw the four or five Explosive Tags pasted to Kamiya Ki's back, as well as the triumphant smile smeared with blood across his face.

"Bastard!"

Cursing loudly, Uchiha Tai desperately tried to pull his legs free from the man's embrace.

By now, how could he not understand? That scene had not been a display of "deep comradeship" at all. It had been a deliberate trap, using weakness to lure him in!

Unfortunately, Kamiya Ki knew he was certain to die and had already made up his mind to sacrifice himself. How could he give the enemy a chance to escape?

He gritted his teeth and used the last of his strength. No matter how Uchiha Tai struggled, he could not break free of his hold.

To a ninja, five or six meters was only a blink away.

In the blink of an eye, Qi Shuang had already retreated five meters.

"Goodbye, Teacher Ki!"

"Explode!"

He immediately tugged on the trace of chakra he had left in the Explosive Tags, detonating them.