Iwao Genyako was the first to arrive at the battlefield.
She took a vial of healing potion from the pouch at her waist and fed it to Rasa, then switched her combat disk to a healing one. Releasing a gentle green glow from both hands, she placed them over Rasa's chest.
Gaara clenched his fists tightly, holding back his tears as he waited nearby.
A few seconds later, under Gaara's despairing gaze, Iwao Genyako slowly withdrew her hands and lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Gaara embraced his father's body as tears streamed down his face. His mouth hung open, but not a single sound came out.
Boom—
Lin Qing landed straight down, bending his knees slightly to absorb the impact.
Without even needing to touch him, Lin Qing—who had mastered Ripple and was exceptionally sensitive to life energy—had confirmed it the moment he saw Rasa.
Rasa had already died.
Not merely because of the piercing wound in his chest.
But also because his chakra had been severely depleted.
The earlier Gold Dust storm had not been ninjutsu at all. It had been an effect Rasa created through years of skill in manipulating Gold Dust, consuming chakra without regard for the cost.
There was a limit to exhausting chakra through ninjutsu, because once it fell below a certain level, ninjutsu could no longer be cast or activated.
But this kind of pure Kekkei Genkai manipulation was different.
It would first drain chakra, and then life energy.
Rasa's life energy had already run dry after he severed the Totsuka Blade and saved Gaara. The only reason he could still stand before Itachi Uchiha, forcing himself not to collapse, was his final will to protect his child.
Lin Qing closed his eyes.
He heard the breathing of the world. He heard the final