Sacrifice

[Cough, cough!]

Haku spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to stand up, preparing to perform a simple self-treatment before heading to the other battlefield to check.

Before he engaged the Kirigakure ninja, he thought he saw that white-haired ninja use the Shikotsumyaku ninjutsu. If that was the case, things might get serious.

Adult members of the Kaguya Clan who managed to survive and reach Jonin level were at least Elite Jonin in skill. If they could perform the Sawarabi no Mai, they might even be able to take down a Kage-level expert with them.

Haku had just used a "youth edition" Morning Peacock after opening the Sixth Gate, resulting in severe injuries that left him unable to move and with brief loss of consciousness. He didn't even know how much time had passed.

[I wonder how Riko and Yu are doing?]

Haku thought as he used the chakra he had accumulated to perform medical ninjutsu on himself.

[Rumble!]

After only a short while of self-treatment, Haku, who had barely regained the ability to move, heard a massive explosion in the distance.

He immediately abandoned his self-treatment and rushed towards the direction of the explosion. If he wasn't mistaken, that was the direction Hyuga Riko and Uchiha Yu had lured the enemy.

Meanwhile, in the forest not far away.

[Hmm? Over there!]

Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze, who were rushing on their way, also heard the sound of the explosion. Jiraiya speculated as he spoke to Minato Namikaze beside him.

[You said you encountered a total of nine ninja. It's possible the other three chased after Haku and the others, and a battle broke out there.]

[Yeah. Whether it's them or not, we have to go and see. Let's hurry! If it's them, they might not be able to handle three Jonin.]

Hearing Minato Namikaze's words, Jiraiya also silently increased his speed. If Haku were to get into trouble not far from him, he didn't know how Tsunade and Orochimaru would mock him.

Especially since the incident with Nawaki had happened not too long ago. Thinking of this, Jiraiya couldn't help but speed up his pace again.

[Hmm?] Minato Namikaze was stunned by Jiraiya's two bursts of speed, not understanding what was happening with his Teacher.

Before long, Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze arrived at the location where Haku and Lan had just fought.

Looking at the small lake, several hundred square meters in size, and the shattered rocks scattered everywhere, Minato Namikaze asked Jiraiya beside him with some uncertainty.

[Can such destructive power be achieved by a Jonin?]

[To achieve this level of destruction in combat, the ninja who used the Water Style ninjutsu was not weak among Jonin. If their other aspects were not lacking, they might have even reached the level of an Elite Jonin.]

[Then, will Haku and the others be in danger?]

Minato Namikaze asked his Teacher while searching the vicinity for any signs of people.

[Minato, look here.]

[What is this?]

Jiraiya was the first to discover Lan. While examining Lan's corpse, he introduced the situation to Minato Namikaze.

[This ninja's bones are shattered, and the internal injuries are very severe, with clear traces of fire-attribute attacks. It's likely the result of a full-range fire-attribute assault. Take a look and see if this is the enemy you encountered?]

After hearing Jiraiya's analysis, Minato Namikaze moved closer to take a careful look.

[This should be one of the three who pursued Haku and the others. But? The way he looks now?]

Although the corpse was mangled beyond recognition and accompanied by widespread charring, Minato Namikaze still recognized one of the enemies who had pursued them at a glance.

Jiraiya didn't directly answer Minato Namikaze's question but instead said something ambiguous that left Minato Namikaze bewildered.

[Let's go and see where the explosion was. Perhaps this disciple of Orochimaru is not simple.]

[Minato, you have to work hard. Don't let Orochimaru's disciple surpass you.]

[Otherwise, your Teacher will lose a lot of face.]

With that, he rushed towards the direction of the explosion.

Minato Namikaze followed behind with a confused expression.

[Does Teacher dislike Lord Orochimaru? Why would he lose face if I lost to Lord Orochimaru's disciple? And why does Teacher's back look a bit sad? Not finding Haku's body proves they should be fine, right? Shouldn't he be happy?]

At this time, the still very innocent Minato Namikaze didn't think much of it and quickly caught up with Jiraiya.

When Haku arrived at the explosion site, what met his eyes were collapsed mountain rocks and a vast forest of white bones.

Not far away, Hyuga Riko was kneeling on the ground alone, his arms hanging limply at his sides, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth and staining his clothes.

As if he hadn't noticed Haku's arrival, Hyuga Riko stared blankly at the pile of rubble in front of him.

[Riko! How are you? Are you okay? Where's Yu? And where are the enemies?]