"Still, I've already gained quite a few tangible benefits."
Standing where he was and watching the other person's back disappear from view, Namikawa Yū shook his head. "At least I won't lack ninjutsu to practice from now on."
Although he had been reborn for some time, his identity as a Medical Ninja had left him with few opportunities to come into contact with ninjutsu. Until now, he had only been able to rely on Taijutsu against his enemies.
There was nothing he could do about it. Genuine ninjutsu was rarely circulated outside, and even if he could purchase it through certain channels within Konoha, the price was far from low.
At the very least, it was beyond what Namikawa Yū's publicly known wealth could afford.
But after subduing Shanming Changjin, those problems had been solved.
The other party was, at any rate, a Jonin, and he had mastered quite a few ninjutsu.
Although, because he came from Iwagakure, most of his ninjutsu were Earth Style techniques, while the rest were mostly common techniques, they still greatly supplemented Namikawa Yū's pitifully lacking stockpile.
With these, at least the methods he could use against enemies from now on could be upgraded. He would no longer have to rely entirely on Taijutsu as before.
Of course, although the gains had been considerable, the losses had been as well.
After this encounter, most of Namikawa Yū's previous chakra reserves had already been depleted.
That chakra had been absorbed by Namikawa Yū at the front lines, and it had taken him a long time to accumulate.
This time, activating Karma had consumed a great deal of it.
There was nothing he could do.
Namikawa Yū's body was still far too fragile.
Forcing Karma to activate in such a physical condition would place an enormous burden on his body.
To reduce that burden, he could only consume a large amount of chakra and use it to lessen the strain.
This was also why Namikawa Yū was reluctant to fight anyone with all his strength.
The price was simply too high.
"By my calculations, it should be time to leave."
Standing where he was, Namikawa Yū looked toward the outside world, in the direction Kurenai Yuhi had left. All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind.
Within the dim forest, Kurenai Yuhi's figure darted rapidly through the trees.
She was carrying Hyuga Fu on her back. She had been moving through the area for some time, and she was already utterly exhausted.
After several consecutive days of rushing, her body had been heavily drained. Tonight's pursuit had left her equally fatigued, and the sensation of constantly hovering between life and death still clung to her.
Even as a ninja, Kurenai Yuhi felt that her body had reached its limit. She was continuing to hold on by sheer force of will.
"I have to break out..."
Her body was already incredibly exhausted, but she still gritted her teeth and pressed forward. "At the very least, I have to get the message out..."
As far as she was concerned, this surprise attack had already failed.
But if she did not get the message out, even more Konoha Ninjas would fall into the trap and be relentlessly slaughtered by the Iwa Ninjas.
Therefore, no matter how she looked at it, she had to break out and deliver the message to headquarters.
Unfortunately, events would not change according to a person's will.
Just as she was about to leave the forest, a voice suddenly came from ahead.
"There's actually another one here..."
Another voice came from the side. It sounded like a man.
A moment later, a man emerged from the dense woods, wearing an Iwagakure Forehead Protector.
The instant he appeared, he launched a surprise attack on Kurenai Yuhi, gaining an absolute advantage in the battle.
His strength was no small matter. Although he was not a Jonin, he was still among the elite Chunin.
Had she been at her peak, Kurenai Yuhi might have been able to fight him, with the victor still uncertain.
But by this point, Kurenai Yuhi's strength had been completely exhausted, and she had barely any chakra left.
She quickly fell into a disadvantageous position and could only struggle to hold on.
If the other party had not wanted to kill her and instead intended to capture her alive for information, she would probably have already been killed.
"I can't fall into their hands..."
Kurenai Yuhi's heart tightened as that thought flashed through her mind.
Both she and Hyuga Fu were elite Konoha Ninjas who knew many classified secrets.
Hyuga Fu was especially important.
As a member of the Hyuga Clan, even though he was only from the branch family, the consequences would still be disastrous if he were captured alive.
One mistake could cause Konoha to suffer enormous losses.
Even if she died here, she absolutely could not let the enemy capture her alive.
With that thought, she hardened her resolve and withstood the other party's attacks. She charged directly toward Hyuga Fu beside her, intending to kill both herself and her comrade before the enemy could act.
Unfortunately, she was still a little too late.
"Your mission has failed, and now you want to destroy the intelligence?"
The Iwa Ninja in front of her let out a cold laugh. He had already anticipated her move.
Under Kurenai Yuhi's despairing gaze, he knocked away the Kunai she threw and then quickly knocked her unconscious.
"What a tremendous haul."
After completing all this, he let out a long sigh of relief. Looking at the unconscious Hyūga Fu nearby, his face filled with wild joy. "A living member of the Hyūga Clan."
Konoha placed great importance on the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan. From the past until now, the Byakugan had rarely fallen into outsiders' hands.
But if a living member of the Hyūga Clan fell into their hands, there would be countless ways to make use of him.
As long as he took him back, it would be a great achievement.
Unfortunately, his wish was destined to fall through.
The moment he took a step forward, an inexplicable aura suddenly locked onto him from ahead.
When he looked up, a boy of only eight or nine years old was standing in front of him. He had no idea when the boy had appeared.
"Looks like I made it in time."
Namikawa Yū looked down at Kurenai Yuhi and Hyuga Fu beside him, then turned to the middle-aged ninja in front of him. A smile appeared on his face. "Although this may be somewhat presumptuous, I still want to say one thing."
"For the sake of your life, would you please leave?"
As his voice fell, a Ninja Blade thrust forward.
The middle-aged man in front of him stared at the suddenly appearing Namikawa Yū with a wary expression. He immediately struck first, thrusting his Ninja Blade forward and slashing straight down.
"All right."
Namikawa Yū sighed. "I suppose that won't work after all."
The next moment, his figure vanished from where he stood and appeared behind his opponent in an instant.
A Kunai stabbed forward, piercing straight through the other party's chest.
"W-When...?"
The middle-aged man stared blankly at his chest.
The Kunai had already pierced through it, and crimson blood dripped down.
"So fast..."
That thought flashed through his mind. Then his body went limp and collapsed, dying on the spot.
"Wouldn't it have been better to leave obediently?"
Namikawa Yū shook his head as he looked at the corpse beneath his feet. Then he silently rose and picked up Kurenai Yuhi and Hyuga Fu, one in each hand, before leaving the area.
The night passed quickly.
When the sun once again shone over the earth the next morning, Kurenai Yuhi slowly awoke.
Coming out of her sleep, her consciousness rapidly returned. She instinctively drew the Kunai from her body and warily looked around.
"It's all right now."
Namikawa Yū's voice came from beside her.