But since Li had managed to catch her at this moment, nothing else mattered. Protecting someone while landing safely was an easy task—not just for Li, but even for the original Naruto.
Li held Hinata gently. At this moment, Hinata slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. "Naruto-kun."
Li nodded lightly, then a powerful aura erupted from him. Come on, Hinata was someone he could barely bring himself to care about. That guy had actually dared to casually throw her down like that. A trace of anger rose in Li's heart. Holding Hinata with one arm, he suddenly leaped toward the sky.
Naruto's body now displayed an astonishing physical advantage. With that jump, he actually soared dozens of meters into the air. Yet the puppet continued firing all kinds of energy blasts at Li, seemingly determined not to stop until it had blasted him into scraps. But for such half-baked attacks to hurt Li would be a miracle.
Li actually began taking the energy blasts head-on. Amid the puppet's unceasing attacks, he slammed a fist fiercely into its face.
Following Li's attack, the puppet shattered in midair, turning into countless wooden components.
Only then did Li feel the anger in his chest subside somewhat. Carrying Hinata, he landed directly atop the water tower and lightly pressed several important joints on her body.
Hinata's face immediately flushed red. "Naruto-kun, what are you doing...?"
"Checking whether you suffered any hidden injuries." Li said this while taking advantage of the situation, without the slightest hint of embarrassment. Then he let out a breath. "No problem. It seems the other side didn't truly intend to hurt you. At the very least, they didn't secretly place any kind of seal on you."
Hinata nodded lightly, then looked at Li. "Naruto-kun is so gentle today."