Leave One Behind, and I'll Let You Go

Fifteen minutes earlier, beneath a massive tree deep in the forest.

A Kumogakure Examinee stood before Kagura.

Just from his appearance alone, it was obvious that the examinee was in an abnormal state.

He stared blankly ahead, his hands trembling as he slowly removed the forehead protector from his head.

Then, as though it were mere trash, he casually handed the item he normally considered most precious to Kagura before him.

The three tomoe in Kagura's eyes were slowly spinning. Clearly, he had already cast a genjutsu on him.

However, just as Kagura was about to take the forehead protector, a pained expression flashed across the examinee's face. His hand tightened, clutching one corner of the protector tightly.

Seeing this situation, Kagura let out a faint sigh, and his Sharingan activated once more.

Several seconds later, the pain vanished from the examinee's face, replaced by numbness.

After handing the forehead protector over completely, he closed his eyes, his body going limp as he collapsed to the ground.

Since his objective had been achieved, Kagura did not mind giving the other man a pleasant dream.

In truth, cruelty and kindness existed within him in an extremely contradictory way.

When carrying out missions, he never showed mercy.

No matter what kind of opponent he faced, he could kill without hesitation and leave no future trouble behind.

That was because, having read countless films, television shows, and novels in his previous life, he understood one thing very clearly.

Villains died from talking too much, and chaotic times weeded out saints.

In an environment where true peace had yet to arrive, if you did not kill the enemy before you during a mission, the enemy's weapon would pierce your body the very next second.

Yet outside of battle, Kagura did not mind showing mercy.

When an enemy had lost the ability to harm him, he would always instinctively spare their life.

Kagura understood all of this very well, but he did not care.

Human nature was never simply black or white. As long as he followed his heart, that was enough.

Having successfully completed his task, Kagura stood atop a huge treetop, narrowing his eyes as he looked into the distance and identified the direction of the final destination.

However, several loud booms suddenly came from afar. Kagura turned to look over, only to see smoke rising from that area.

"Damn, are Genin battles really this intense?"

The distant battle piqued his interest, and he activated his Sharingan, intending to secretly watch the long-distance broadcast.

But when he saw that blurry figure in the smoke, his heart suddenly jumped.

"This is... the Seven Blade Group?"

Before he could think more, he saw Tsunade blasted away by the explosion caused by Munashi Jinpachi's Exploding Blade Shibuki.

Seeing that, Kagura felt the blood in his veins turn cold.

Without another thought, he immediately opened the Fifth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates—the Gate of Limit.

While the Gate of Limit was open, his speed would increase drastically, even surpassing the speed of sound!

(Once again, to clarify: the Protagonist's current taijutsu attribute progress is Taijutsu: Sixth Gate, Gate of View, progress 67.2%.

This meant his physical body could perfectly handle the Fifth Gate state. He could also open the Sixth Gate, but there would be severe aftereffects afterward.)

In addition to opening the Eight Inner Gates, he also used Chidori Stream. It was all to make himself even faster.

His entire being transformed into a streak of lightning as he charged at top speed toward Tsunade.

Finally, at the last moment, he saved Tsunade from beneath Juzō Biwa's blade.

Paying no attention whatsoever to the enemies of the Seven Blade Group, Kagura carefully examined Tsunade in his arms with his back to them.

This was the first time he had ever seen Tsunade in such a weakened state. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her face was twisted in pain, and her eyes were tightly shut.

There was a huge wound on the part of her back that had been hit, blood constantly dripping from it.

She barely opened her eyes, and the instant she saw Kagura's face, her entire being finally relaxed.

"Can you still heal yourself?"

Seeing that Tsunade was still conscious, Kagura asked softly.

When Tsunade nodded, Kagura let out a breath of relief.

He gently placed her beside a tree, letting her lean against the tree trunk as she sat on the ground.

Squatting down, he tenderly rubbed the top of her head and said:

"You don't need to worry about anything next. Heal yourself properly. I'll settle things on my end soon."

Tsunade no longer had her usual bandit-like aura. Like a frail little girl, she obediently nodded and gave a soft "Mm."

Giving Tsunade a smile, Kagura rose to his feet and slowly turned to face the Seven People.

As he turned, his aura underwent a complete transformation.

One second, he was a gentle youth. The next, he had become an enraged ferocious beast.

With his fury, the Sharingan seemed even redder than before, the slowly spinning tomoe making people unconsciously fall into their depths.

Looking at the eager crowd before him, Kagura no longer suppressed his anger. His slightly hoarse voice rang out:

"You people are nothing but trash, and you fucking dared to lay a hand on my woman?"

Kagura, with his back to Tsunade, did not notice that after those words left his mouth, Tsunade's face behind him instantly turned crimson ꈍ◡ꈍ .

She was in no hurry to treat herself. Instead, she held her face in both hands, her eyes turning starry as she watched the back view of the youth before her.

At that moment, Kagura was like a War God who had stepped out of myth. The opened Fifth Gate had his entire body emitting a faint red aura.

The lightning formed by Chidori resembled electric snakes, occasionally slithering around his body.

Juzō Biwa, who had remained highly vigilant ever since Kagura appeared, tightened his grip on the great blade in his hand.

But before he could make a move, a figure suddenly charged toward Kagura ahead of him.

It was Kushimaru Kuriarare, hand holding Nuibari!

He gripped the sharp long blade and viciously stabbed it at Kagura standing before him.

Seeing Kagura seemingly make no move at all, a cruel grin appeared beneath his mask as he prepared to enjoy the wonderful sensation of his blade piercing flesh.

However, in the next second, under his astonished gaze, Kagura before his eyes suddenly turned into an afterimage.

A sharp gust sounded by his ear. Before he even knew what had happened, he felt himself being kicked viciously.

His body was sent flying even faster than when he had arrived, crashing down like a meteor and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Seeing this, Juzō Biwa, standing at the very front, nervously swallowed.

Kushimaru Kuriarare, caught in the middle of it, might not understand what had happened, but Juzō Biwa, who had been watching, had seen it clearly.

Against Kushimaru Kuriarare, who was known for his agility, Kagura had completed the evasion and counterattack in just an instant.

The earlier intelligence had only said his Dōjutsu and ninjutsu were powerful. No one had ever said this guy's taijutsu was this perverted too!

At this point, the others finally put away their leisurely expressions. Everyone drew their weapons and surrounded Kagura.

On the other side, Kagura slowly lowered his kicked-out right leg.

Looking at the figure sent flying away, a trace of disdain flashed through Kagura's heart.

You're joking, comparing speed with me after I've opened the Fifth Gate?

If I still weren't faster than you, I might as well quit being a ninja and find some secluded place to live out the rest of my life.

He looked up at the Seven Blade Group closing in around him, a smile appearing on his face instead.

He lightly brushed the dust from his body, looked at them seriously, and spoke with utter arrogance:

"My demands aren't high. Tsunade probably hasn't completed her mission yet.

"Out of the seven of you, leave one behind, and I'll let you go."