Hypocrisy

When it came down to the absolute limit, Yuhara would most likely choose to escape on his own. However, that "limit" referred to a state where he wouldn't be condemned by his conscience afterward, nor would he face punishment from the village rules. So, it definitely couldn't be called the absolute limit right now.

Teamwork, mutual assistance, advancing and retreating together – these were rules Yuhara recognized.

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

This was a world full of malice, where a person could die so easily. Precisely because of this, small acts of kindness and compassion became all the more precious.

Yuhara was shocked and admired the decision those ninja had made, and then...

He decided to run away with Jian Dong and Tigo.

Because even if he stayed, it would be of no use.

That ninja's judgment was spot on. At this point, the only rational decision was to cut off the limb to save the body. What was even more commendable was that they voluntarily chose to be the part that was cut off.

In this situation, perhaps Yuhara should have been more emotional, moved to tears, but no matter what, it wouldn't change the fact that he had decided to run.

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

"It looks like we've escaped their line of sight. Should we switch to stealthy movement now?" Tigo asked.

Speed and stealth were mutually exclusive. Moving too fast would definitely leave traces. Therefore, if they had escaped the enemy's sight, hiding their tracks and retreating slowly was a more appropriate choice than blindly fleeing under normal circumstances.

Yuhara looked up at the rain, then said, "No, we'll withdraw at maximum speed... Think about when we were exposed. The enemy might have sensory ninja with extremely wide perception ranges."

Actually, he wasn't sure if they had been monitored by such means, like the Rain Tiger Jutsu, but at this point, he could only consider the worst-case scenario. When hiding was impossible no matter what, it was naturally better to run as fast as possible.

Just then, Jian Dong, who was at the forefront, suddenly stopped. Or rather, she, who had been running at high speed, stumbled a couple of times and was about to fall to the ground.

Yuhara reacted quickly, reaching out to steady her.

"Captain Jian Dong, you..."

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

An open wound, excessive blood loss, and... damaged internal organs. Even if Yuhara didn't understand medicine, he could tell this was a very serious, very fatal injury.

"I... have... reached... my limit, Yuhara. Tigo is in your care, and... don't let my corpse fall into enemy hands," Jian Dong said haltingly.

If necessary, someone would need to destroy Jian Dong's brain structure... Jian Dong's words instantly reminded Yuhara of Rindou's fate.

The situation on the battlefield was complex. To be honest, Yuhara hadn't noticed when Jian Dong was injured. But without a doubt, Jian Dong needed immediate treatment.

At this point, all they could do was hope that Konoha's medical ninjutsu could work a miracle.

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

Honestly, Yuhara had no idea what to do. He could only temporarily block Jian Dong's wound with metal.

Next, he unfastened a Sword Crate from his back and made it float in front of Tigo.

"Tigo, hold onto this tightly. We need to speed up... You direct us."

"U-Understood." Tigo didn't know what Yuhara intended to do, but she followed his instructions.

Yuhara picked up Jian Dong on his back. Immediately, the metal patterns on his body lit up with bright lightning. The next moment, he shot forward.

The rain curtain was instantly torn apart. The ripples created by his footsteps connected into a single line, stretching into the distance.

Yuhara wasn't running; he was "flying close to the ground." Behind him was Tigo, who was actually "flying."

The Land of Rain was strategically located at a transportation hub between the three great nations. Although its position was important, its territory was small. Traveling at full speed, Yuhara took only two hours to break through the Land of Rain's borders.

By this point, he couldn't squeeze out a single drop of Chakra.

Thanks to the sacrificial blockade by their allies and Yuhara's high speed, the Amegakure ninja ultimately did not pursue them further.

Leaving the Land of Rain and entering the Land of Rivers, the environment became relatively safer. With Yuhara completely losing his mobility, Tigo, who had conserved her Chakra, had to go for reinforcements first.

Extremely exhausted, Yuhara guarded Jian Dong in place. After an unknown period of dazed waiting, Konoha's rescue finally arrived.

At this point, Yuhara recovered a little. He followed the Konoha ninja to the Land of Rivers' front-line camp and was immediately sent to the front-line hospital there.

Yuhara and Jian Dong were taken to the same tent. After a short while, a young female medical ninja in her early twenties hurried in... This was actually a waiting room or an emergency treatment area; the larger tent next to it was the actual medical center.

"We just had a large-scale conflict with Sunagakure. The front-line hospital is currently operating at full capacity, you guys..." The medical ninja wanted to say that Yuhara had come at the worst possible time, but then she thought that no one could decide when they would get injured, so she continued, "What's the patient's condition?"

Yuhara believed her, as the medical ninja had very heavy dark circles under her eyes; she hadn't slept for at least a full day.

He stepped forward and released the seal on Jian Dong's wound.

"This is..."

The medical ninja was stunned.

"How is it?"

As Yuhara asked this question, Tigo also rushed into the tent.

"It's very serious, and a bit late... I can only provide emergency treatment. In this front-line hospital, perhaps only Lord Partridge can handle this level of injury."

Saying this, she began emergency treatment. As green Chakra, full of vitality, emanated from her palm, she shouted, "How many more surgeries does Lord Partridge have?"

"Three!"

A response came from the tent over there.

The fact that they were communicating by shouting indicated that the front-line hospital was indeed incredibly busy.

The medical ninja turned her head and said to Yuhara, "It will still take some time. I hope she can hold on."

Yuhara nodded, then felt slightly relieved. Under the treatment of this young medical ninja, Jian Dong's breathing gradually stabilized.

The waiting time was exceptionally long; Jian Dong's life was only being barely sustained for now.

Fortunately, no matter how long it was, this time would eventually pass. It was finally Jian Dong's turn, but just then...

A group of people pushed their way forward without a word, carrying a person who was a bloody mess into the large tent.

At this moment, Yuhara didn't immediately grasp what was happening. He was just a bit stunned.

Words like "Uchiha," "critically injured," and "priority treatment" intermittently reached his ears.

However, the young medical ninja was the first to shout:

"Hey, what's going on! This is also a critically injured patient who needs immediate treatment! According to the order, we should be treated first!"

Unfortunately, her words received no response this time.

Yuhara's eyes fell on Jian Dong, whose face was pale and whose brow was deeply furrowed. Then, he realized the worst-case scenario.

For some reason, Yuhara, who had always remained detached from Konoha's affairs as an outsider, only wanting to preserve his own life and adhering to the principles of "see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing," completely lost it this time.

With his chakra almost depleted, traces of nature energy erosion instantly spread throughout his body.

Then he strode toward the tent.

Sacrifice has no noble or base value; it is equal.

But why is there a distinction in value and priority when it comes to saving lives?

So...

This is the Will of Fire.