Know When to Quit

At this moment, Jinin Akebino, Suikazan Fuguki, and Kushimaru Kuriarare had focused all their attention on Uchiha Daiki, who was hiding in the darkness.

They paid no attention at all to Hyuga Koji and Uzuki Sen beside them, nor to the gravely wounded, barely breathing Sarutobi Shio.

This gave the two of them a chance to survive and catch their breath.

Uzuki Sen and Hyuga Koji regrouped. Both were still shaken and uncertain as they followed the enemies' gazes toward the darkness ahead.

"Was it really him?"

Uzuki Sen asked softly.

"I didn't see him."

Hyuga Koji had his Byakugan activated, yet after scanning the area, he found nothing at all.

It made him wonder whether something was wrong with his eyes.

"Shio... doesn't seem like he'll make it..."

Hyuga Koji warned her.

Hearing this, Uzuki Sen hurriedly leaped over to examine Sarutobi Shio's injuries.

"Aren't you being a little too brazen?"

"If he won't show himself, then we'll kill you first!"

Kushimaru Kuriarare turned and attacked Uzuki Sen just as she was about to treat Sarutobi Shio.

The Nuibari in his hand shot straight toward Uzuki Sen's back.

"Watch out!"

Hyuga Koji rushed to save her, but he was still a step too late.

At that very moment, another kunai suddenly flew from the darkness at a speed nearly impossible to see with the naked eye, striking the Nuibari precisely.

With a clang—

The Nuibari fell to the ground.

"There!!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!!"

Jinin Akebino unleashed a Water Style ninjutsu toward the direction from which the kunai had flown.

But after his Water Dragon Bullet flew over, it vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

Other than the powerful current knocking down several large trees, nothing happened.

"That kid is fast! Could he be...?"

Suikazan Fuguki's expression shifted slightly as something came to mind.

At his reminder, Kushimaru Kuriarare's pupils contracted as well.

He quickly reeled the Nuibari back in by the cord attached to its end, warily observing the movements around them.

"Uchiha Shisui? The one who rose to fame because of his exceptional Body Flicker Technique..."

Jinin Akebino was somewhat wary as well.

Kirigakure's ninja forces had clashed with the Uchiha Clan many times. Their fear of the name Body Flicker Shisui was no less than their fear of the Yellow Flash—perhaps even greater.

Already injured, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had no choice but to seriously consider whether continuing this fight was truly in their favor.

Then, a cold voice rang out from the darkness. "If we continue fighting, my companions may not survive either. But neither will you be able to leave."

It seemed the other side was unwilling to remain entangled with the seven of them for too long.

Realizing this, Suikazan Fuguki immediately spoke first. "You may leave. We guarantee we won't make things difficult for you, but release those four first!"

"You two, take the wounded and leave this place first."

The voice in the darkness rang out again.

This time, it was clearly addressing Hyuga Koji and Uzuki Sen.

The two of them understood the situation and quickly took the severely injured, unconscious Sarutobi Shio away first.

The pitch-black forest suddenly became utterly silent, and an eerie atmosphere spread through the air.

All of a sudden, the Water Prisons restraining the movements of the four Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist shattered.

The four of them fell from the air to the ground. Finally freed, they gasped for breath.

"I almost suffocated to death..."

Suikazan Fuguki, Jinin Akebino, and Kushimaru Kuriarare, whose nerves had been stretched taut, could not help but let out long sighs of relief at the sight.

"Was that guy really Body Flicker Shisui?"

"Not sure, but that kid isn't weak either. Let's withdraw first!"

"..."

They had only just earned the prestige of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. If something went wrong here, it would no longer be merely a matter of pride.

The seven who had narrowly escaped death no longer dared to stay and fight. They quickly turned and fled for their lives.

Uchiha Daiki, concealed in the darkness with the Advanced Camouflage Technique, watched the enemies leave. Only after confirming that they were not playing tricks this time and had truly gone far away did he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Honestly, if he really had to fight all seven alone, he was not confident he could defeat them completely.

If he pushed them into desperation and both sides fought with everything they had, he might be the one at a disadvantage.

So, he could only let them go for now.

Uchiha Daiki sensed the locations of Hyuga Koji and the others, then turned and chased after them.

Hyuga Koji laid Sarutobi Shio down, his body drenched in blood and his severe injuries leaving him barely alive. He let him lean against the trunk of a large tree.

Uzuki Sen hurried over and used Chakra to perform Medical Ninjutsu, trying to heal him.

But no matter what she did, blood continued to gush from the massive wound on Sarutobi Shio's body.

Blood flowed down in streams, and together with the mangled flesh of the wound, it made for a horrifying sight.

Uzuki Sen's hands began to tremble faintly.

"Wake up, Shio!"

She tried to awaken her teammate.

Yet no matter how she called to him, Sarutobi Shio not only failed to wake up or improve—his body only grew colder and colder.

Watching his teammate gradually lose all signs of life, Hyuga Koji knew he could no longer be saved.

His eyes dimmed.

Just then, a figure landed beside them. It was Uchiha Daiki.

"Sorry, I came too late."

Uchiha Daiki calmly stared at Sarutobi Shio, whose body on the ground had already begun to grow cold, as he spoke to the other two.

"Was it really you who saved us just now?"

Hyuga Koji asked in surprise.

"Yes."

"But... how did you do it?"

"My Byakugan didn't see you at all."

"Maybe the power of those eyes hasn't been fully developed yet."

Uchiha Daiki did not explain further.

Changing the subject, he said, "We have to leave this place immediately. If those guys catch up again, I may not be able to keep protecting you."

"But Shio..."

Uzuki Sen looked conflictedly at Sarutobi Shio, whose face was pale and devoid of life.

"The recovery unit will come to handle his body."

Uchiha Daiki reminded her.

Hyuga Koji also said sorrowfully, "We're still at war. We have to make sure we survive first, so that we'll have a chance to avenge Shio!"

Uzuki Sen burst into loud sobs.

She desperately tried to use her Chakra to save Sarutobi Shio.

But clearly, she failed.

After struggling for a while, Uzuki Sen finally had no choice but to accept the cruel reality.

She stood up, wiped away her tears, then raised her eyes to Uchiha Daiki with a determined look.

"Our strength is far below theirs. If you want revenge, come with me."

Uchiha Daiki spoke before she could say anything.