Hypocrisy

When things truly reached the absolute limit, Yuhara would most likely choose to run away alone. However, that kind of "limit" meant a situation where he would neither be condemned by his own conscience afterward nor punished by the rules of the ninja villages. So this certainly could not be called the absolute limit yet.

Yuhara acknowledged the rules of teamwork, mutual assistance, and advancing or retreating together.

Strictly speaking, Yuhara's personal relationship with Jian Dong and Tigo was only slightly better than that of passing strangers. But just as the ninja who had decided to stay behind and cover their retreat had said, there were not many people in Konoha willing to look these people in the eye and treat them seriously. Regardless of their purposes or reasons, Rindou before and Jian Dong now were at least willing to treat people as people.

This was a world filled with malice, where a person could die just like that. Precisely because of this, small acts of kindness and consideration were so precious.

Yuhara was shocked and impressed that those ninjas could make such a decision. Then...

He decided to run away with Jian Dong and Tigo.

Because even if he stayed behind, it would not help.

That ninja's judgment had been completely correct. At this moment, the only rational decision was to sacrifice the tail to save the rest. Even more commendable was that they had voluntarily chosen to become the part that was cut off.

In this situation, perhaps Yuhara should have felt more strongly—be moved to tears, for example. However, none of that could change the fact that he had decided to run away.

Next, under the desperate obstruction of the ninjas who had stayed behind, Yuhara, Jian Dong, and Tigo finally managed to put some distance between themselves and the enemy.

"It looks like we've escaped the enemy's sight. Should we switch to moving stealthily?" Tigo asked.

Speed and concealment could not be achieved at the same time. Moving too quickly would inevitably leave traces. Therefore, if they had escaped the enemy's sight, concealing their tracks and retreating slowly would normally be more appropriate than fleeing blindly.

Yuhara looked up at the curtain of rain, then said, "No. We'll retreat at full speed... Think about when we were exposed. The enemy might have a sensor ninja with an extremely wide detection range."

In truth, he had no idea whether they had been subjected to that kind of surveillance, such as the Rain Tiger Justu. But at a time like this, he could only consider the worst-case scenario. If they could not hide no matter what they did, then naturally, the faster they ran, the better.

Just then, Jian Dong, who was at the very front, suddenly stopped. Or rather, she had been running at high speed when she suddenly staggered twice and was about to fall to the ground.

Yuhara reacted quickly and reached out to support her.

"Captain Jian Dong, you..."

Yuhara wanted to ask Jian Dong what was wrong, but before he could do so, he saw the wound in her abdomen.

An open wound, severe blood loss, and... damaged internal organs. Even without understanding medicine, Yuhara could tell that this was an extremely serious and fatal injury.

"I've... reached... my limit, Yuhara. I'm leaving Tigo to you. And... don't let my body fall into the enemy's hands," Jian Dong said haltingly.

When necessary, someone would have to destroy the structure of Jian Dong's brain... Her words instantly reminded Yuhara of Rindou's fate.

The situation on the battlefield was complicated. To be honest, Yuhara had not even noticed when Jian Dong had been injured. But without a doubt, Jian Dong needed treatment immediately.

At this point, he could only hope that Konoha's medical ninjutsu would bring about a miracle.

"Don't talk. I'll stop the bleeding first."

To be honest, Yuhara had no idea what to do either. He could only temporarily seal Jian Dong's wound with metal.

Then he took off one of the Sword Crates on his back and let it float in front of Tigo.

"Tigo, hold on tight to this. We need to speed up. You'll point out the direction."

"I... I understand." Tigo did not know what Yuhara wanted to do, but she still followed his instructions.

Yuhara carried Jian Dong on his back. Immediately afterward, the metal patterns he had laid across his body flared with bright lightning. In the next instant, his entire body shot forward.

The curtain of rain was split apart instantly. The ripples in the water kicked up by his feet connected into a single line in the blink of an eye, spreading into the distance.

Yuhara was not running. He was flying just above the ground, with Tigo—who was truly flying—following behind him.

The Land of Rain lay at a vital transportation hub between the three great nations. Its location was important, but its territory was small. At full speed, Yuhara took only two hours to rush out of the Land of Rain's borders.

By then, he could not squeeze out even a single drop of Chakra.

Thanks to the sacrificial obstruction of their comrades and Yuhara's high speed, the Rain ninjas ultimately did not catch up with them again.

After leaving the Land of Rain and entering the Land of Rivers, the surroundings became relatively safer. With Yuhara having completely lost his mobility, they could only rely on Tigo, who had conserved her Chakra, to go ahead and seek help.

Utterly exhausted, Yuhara guarded Jian Dong where they were. He had no idea how much time passed in his dazed state before Konoha's rescue team finally arrived.

By then, Yuhara had recovered a little of his spirits. He followed the Konoha ninjas to the frontline camp in the Land of Rivers, where he was sent directly to the frontline hospital.

Yuhara and Jian Dong were sent into the same tent. After a short while, a young female Medical Ninja in her twenties hurried in. This was actually a place similar to a waiting room or emergency-treatment room; the large tent beside it was the real medical center.

"We just had a large-scale clash with the Sand. The frontline hospital is currently operating beyond capacity, so you..." The Medical Ninja wanted to say that Yuhara had arrived at the worst possible time, but then she reconsidered. No one could decide when they would be injured. She continued, "What's the condition of the injured?"

Yuhara believed her, because the Medical Ninja had extremely dark circles under her eyes. She had not slept for at least an entire day.

He stepped forward and undid the seal over Jian Dong's wound.

"This is..."

The Medical Ninja froze.

"How is she?"

Yuhara asked the question just as Tigo rushed into the tent.

"It's extremely serious, and we're already a little late... I can only provide emergency treatment. In this frontline hospital, only Lady Tigo might be able to treat an injury of this severity."

As she spoke, she began providing emergency treatment. Green Chakra filled with vitality glowed in her palms as she shouted, "Lady Tigo, how many surgeries are left?"

"Three!"

A reply came from the tent next door.

The fact that they had begun communicating by shouting showed just how overwhelmed the frontline hospital truly was.

The Medical Ninja turned to Yuhara and said, "It'll still take some time. I hope she can hold on."

Yuhara nodded, feeling slightly reassured. Under the treatment of the young Medical Ninja, Jian Dong's breathing gradually steadied.

The wait was extraordinarily long. At present, Jian Dong's life was merely being maintained by a thread.

Fortunately, no matter how long the wait was, it would eventually pass. At last, it was Jian Dong's turn. But just then...

A group of people ignored them completely and cut in front, carrying a person whose flesh and blood were a mangled mess into the large tent.

For a moment, Yuhara did not understand what had happened. He was simply a little dazed.

Fragments of words such as "Uchiha," "critically injured," and "priority treatment" reached his ears.

The young Medical Ninja was the first to shout:

"Hey, what's going on? We have a critically injured patient here who also needs immediate treatment! According to the order, this side should be treated first!"

Unfortunately, her words received no response this time.

Yuhara's eyes turned toward Jian Dong's pale face and tightly furrowed brows. Then he realized the worst possible outcome.

For some reason, Yuhara had always been an outsider. He had treated Konoha's affairs as none of his concern, caring only about preserving his own life and following the principle of seeing nothing, hearing nothing, and saying nothing. Now, he completely erupted.

Though his Chakra was nearly exhausted, the corrosive traces of Nature Energy instantly spread across his entire body.

Then he walked toward the tent.

Sacrifice had no rank or distinction. It was equal.

But why were salvation's value and priority divided?

So this...

Was the Will of Fire.