Hemophobia

Lin Cheng spat blood, and the course of the battle changed at once!

Tsunade, who should have pressed her advantage, suddenly began trembling all over and collapsed to the ground, her face filled with fear.

Kimimaro, who had been quietly watching from a distance, was first shocked, then charged over in a fury.

"Lady Tsunade!"

"Brother!! You bastard! I'll kill you!"

Watching Kimimaro charge toward Tsunade with murderous intent, Shizune, who stood beside her, couldn't help feeling both tense and anxious.

Kimimaro might have looked young, but the terrifying killing intent rolling off him said it all!

Just as the enraged Kimimaro was about to attack Shizune, who stood on guard, Lin Cheng finally caught his breath and spoke up to stop him.

"Stop! Little Kimimaro! Cough, cough!"

"Brother! Are you all right?"

When Lin Cheng slowly got to his feet, a flash of delight crossed Kimimaro's eyes.

Then Kimimaro flickered to Lin Cheng's side and steadied him as he rose.

"Cough! You little brat! If we run into a situation like this again, you should get me out of there right away, not charge in recklessly!

Otherwise, we'd both get killed!"

After coughing again, Lin Cheng tapped Kimimaro on the forehead with his index finger, looking thoroughly exasperated.

"Heh! I saw you get hurt, and for a moment I couldn't control my emotions."

Scolded again by his brother Lin Cheng, Kimimaro scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Bull! Don't you know how capable your brother is?"

Lin Cheng rolled his eyes at Kimimaro and tried to stand on his own.

"But you really were hurt this time, Brother!"

His eyes darting about, Kimimaro immediately retorted.

"Hmph! I was just testing the strength of Princess Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Fist."

"And you nearly got yourself killed!"

"Thwack!"

"Ow~ Brother! That hurts!"

"Serves you right!"

Seeing Lin Cheng grit his teeth, Kimimaro immediately stuck out his tongue playfully.

"Hmph! I'll deal with you later!"

After giving Kimimaro another warning glance, Lin Cheng, now able to stand steadily, immediately walked toward the still-trembling Tsunade.

"W-what are you doing?"

When Lin Cheng and Kimimaro approached, Shizune, standing in front of Tsunade, immediately pulled out a Kunai and took a defensive stance.

"Don't worry. Trust me, we mean no harm!"

Seeing Shizune's reaction, Lin Cheng shook his head with a wry smile and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"I don't believe you!"

Facing Lin Cheng's explanation, Shizune was far too tense to believe him.

She didn't relax her guarded stance in the slightest.

"I-I really mean no harm!"

In an instant, Shizune's body stiffened where she stood.

It was only because Lin Cheng, who had looked utterly weak just moments ago,

had somehow used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Shizune.

He held his index finger like a Kunai against the back of her neck.

A moment later, Lin Cheng withdrew his finger and returned to where he had been standing.

"Well? You believe me now, right?"

Looking at the utterly astonished Shizune, Lin Cheng forced a faint smile despite the pain of his injuries.

"I—"

"I know you still don't trust us! But that's all right. We can talk once Princess Tsunade recovers!"

Waving a hand to show Shizune she didn't need to explain, Lin Cheng made his decision.

After that, the scene fell quiet.

The three of them stood there, silently watching Tsunade tremble.

After a long while, Tsunade finally recovered from her bout of Hemophobia and calmed down.

"Tell me. What do you want with me?"

Tsunade slowly got to her feet. Her emotions had settled, but she looked at Lin Cheng with a complicated expression.