Hozuki Mangetsu's Plea for Help

When Yoru undid Tōzanshō and stepped out, his right eye was already wrapped in another layer of bandages.

This immediately made everyone present tense up. Yurui and Yukiko in particular nearly pressed themselves against him to inspect Yoru's condition, but restrained by his authority, they only dared pull Yumi aside and ask in low voices.

"What happened to Lord Yoru's eye?"

"Yumi, did you even treat Lord Yoru? Why is his eye still wrapped in bandages?!"

As teammates, they knew Yumi's abilities very well.

Though only thirteen years old, the girl had mastered exceptional medical ninjutsu. Her Sealing Technique and Chakra control were also among the very best in all of Kirigakure.

Most importantly, Yumi possessed an extremely special constitution.

No matter how severe an injury was, as long as the person had not died on the spot, a single bite would completely heal all their wounds.

However.

At present, only Yoru was qualified to enjoy this ability. No matter how badly others were injured, Yumi would not let them take a bite.

Don't ask. The answer was that she was a germaphobe.

"Th-this..."

Faced with her companions' questioning, Yumi did not know how to answer. After all, the matter of transplanting a Sharingan was not something Lord Yoru intended to reveal, even to his partners, so she could not speak freely.

"No need to worry."

Yoru waved a hand. "It was just a small experiment. There's nothing wrong with my eye."

Hearing this, everyone finally let out a breath of relief. Still, Yurui and Yukiko's gazes continued drifting toward Yoru's bandaged eye.

Yukiko especially.

Bandages of this level could not conceal anything from her.

Her Red Eye could clearly see through the bandages and observe the changes in Yoru's eye.

Though she was surprised that Yoru had replaced his own eye with a Sharingan, since he did not wish to say more about it, she naturally kept her mouth shut.

The others sensibly refrained from asking further questions as well.

Bang!

Before they could continue reorganizing for even a moment, a special firework suddenly burst in the distant sky.

"A rescue signal?"

Yurui looked stunned. "Mangetsu?"

"It's our squad's special distress signal, all right."

Yoru frowned slightly and looked at Yukiko.

Yukiko immediately understood. She activated her Red Eye at once and looked toward the direction where the Signal Flare had exploded.

The flare had gone off not far from them, still within the Red Eye's range of perception.

But after just one glance, Yukiko's pretty face filled with shock.

"S-so much Chakra!"

"This level of Chakra is practically monstrous..."

Terror appeared on Yukiko's face. "Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen can't compare to it. The intensity of this Chakra is comparable to Mizukage-sama's!"

"What?!"

Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Yukiko's forehead. The strength of the person fighting Mangetsu had completely exceeded her expectations.

Mangetsu could not withstand an enemy like that!

"Looks like he encountered an extraordinary enemy."

Yoru murmured before speaking in a grave voice. "Yurui, Yukiko, Yumi, the plan has changed. The three of you will lead your respective groups to Tsunan Town and rendezvous with Lord Yagura first."

"But Lord Yoru..."

Whoosh!

Before Yurui and the others could speak, Yoru had already vanished, leaving with Shunpo.

Seeing this, Yurui and the others looked at one another.

"Damn it, Lord Yoru definitely went to save that idiot Mangetsu!" Yurui said irritably. "He can't even deliver intelligence properly. Useless trash!"

But Yurui actually knew that Mangetsu could not be blamed for this.

If he had encountered a monster comparable to the Mizukage, escaping would have been impossible. The only outcome would have been death in battle.

People from the Village Hidden in the Mist could not fear death, but Mangetsu carried the "Konoha Frontline Troop Deployment Details" that Yoru had just intercepted.

Something capable of influencing the course of the coming battle had to be brought back. That was why he had fired the distress Signal Flare.

But Yurui did not care about any of those messy reasons. Lord Yoru was the one facing that monster comparable to the Mizukage now. The one in danger would be Lord Yoru!

"We should go help too... No, we can't."

Yurui took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

Against a monster like that, the few of them would be useless if they went over. Yukiko was a scouting and support-type ninja, and although Yumi had mastered a certain degree of Sealing Technique, she was ultimately a medical ninja. Yurui was the only one with any combat ability.

But if she went there, how much help could she really bring Lord Yoru or Mangetsu?

She would only be a burden!

Calm thoughts clashed in Ringo Yurui's mind, and in an instant, she made up her mind.

"Tsunan Town isn't far from here. If we rush there at full speed, it'll only take a dozen minutes or so! We'll go to Tsunan Town first and meet up with Lord Yagura. Then Lord Yagura can go support Lord Yoru!"

"Alright!"

Yukiko and Yumi exchanged a look and nodded solemnly. In the next instant, everyone activated the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from where they stood.

At the other end.

Mangetsu, who had followed Yoru's orders and was preparing to deliver the Konoha Frontline Troop Deployment Details to Yagura, was now facing an enormous crisis.

As he headed toward Tsunan Town, a sudden rustling came from the bushes behind him.

The next moment, countless insects flew out of the bushes like a whirlwind, swooping toward Mangetsu!

"Secret Technique: Insect Tornado!"

The buzzing of the insects' wings gave Mangetsu a brief window to react.

The instant the swarm attacked, Mangetsu's body transformed into a puddle of water, evading the insects' assault.

But before Mangetsu could reform his body, an indifferent voice rang out from the bushes again. A massive swarm surged forth like a locust plague and flew toward him.

"Secret Technique: Parasitic Insects!"

"The Aburame Clan, huh."

A grave look appeared in Mangetsu's eyes.

The Hozuki Clan's Water Transformation Technique was immensely powerful. This secret technique allowed its user to turn their body into liquid, rendering them almost completely immune to physical attacks.

Its weakness was Lightning Release ninjutsu. Lightning's paralyzing effects prevented complete liquefaction, but certain secret techniques could also prove quite troublesome.

Clearly, this member of the Yamanaka Clan was an existence that gave Mangetsu an immense headache.

The Yamanaka Clan's Parasitic Insects could devour an opponent's Chakra completely.

These creatures, which fed on Chakra, were the natural nemesis of the Water Transformation Technique. After all, without Chakra, the Water Transformation Technique would naturally fail.

However, Mangetsu was no motionless living target, ignorant of how to fight back.

The instant the overwhelming swarm of Parasitic Insects descended upon him, he clenched his palm. His entire arm suddenly swelled, and his body leaped high into the air. With his fist tightly clenched, he threw a fierce punch!

"Great Water Arm: Water Gun Fist!"

In an instant.

A surging torrent of water erupted from Mangetsu's fist, blasting toward the insect swarm like a cannonball.

The swarm had no time to evade and was blown apart by the water cannon fist.

But in the next moment, Mangetsu suddenly discovered that an unknown force had bound his body, leaving him unable to move in the slightest.

At some point, a black shadow had extended from beneath Mangetsu's feet all the way into the bushes.

As that shadow connected them, several figures slowly emerged from the bushes.

Along with them came a low voice.

"Shadow Imitation Technique."

"Success!"