Not One Can Be Left Behind

Day five.

Evening.

Central Tower in the Forest of Death.

When Guy emerged from the woods, the first thing he saw wasn't the tower, but the person standing at its entrance.

Ikkaku Umino.

He was still wearing his chunin vest, leaning against the railing and gazing ahead.

The moment he saw Guy, his body visibly stiffened.

Then, he let out a breath of relief.

That relief wasn't just on the surface.

It was the kind where his entire being seemed to go slack.

But immediately after, that relaxation was replaced by an even greater tension.

Guy walked over and grinned at him.

"Teacher Ikkaku."

Ikkaku Umino looked at him.

Three days had passed, and the kid hadn't changed a bit.

Still in that same green outfit, still carrying that massive broadsword on his shoulder.

Behind him followed Anko and Shibi; the three of them were covered in dust and grime, but their spirits were high.

"The first," Ikkaku Umino said.

Guy was stunned for a moment.

"The first?"

Ikkaku Umino nodded. "You are the first group to arrive."

Guy looked back at the forest.

Night was falling, and the woods were pitch black, revealing nothing.

"What about the others?"

Ikkaku Umino didn't speak.

He just stared at that expanse of forest.

Guy suddenly understood what that more intense look of nervousness meant.

The most agonizing part wasn't the days spent waiting.

It was after the first person appeared.

Who among the rest would make it out.

Who would remain inside forever.

He didn't know.

Ikkaku Umino didn't know either.

Guy stood in place, silent for ten seconds.

Then, he took the broadsword off his shoulder and drove it into the ground.

"Alright, I'm heading back."

Ikkaku Umino was taken aback.

"Where to?"

Guy didn't answer; he turned and walked back toward the forest.

"Hey!" Ikkaku Umino shouted after him. "You just got out! It's dark in there—"

"I know."

Guy's voice drifted back from the woods.

Then, he vanished from sight.

Ikkaku Umino stood there, stunned.

He turned his head to look at Anko.

"What is he doing?"

Anko curled her lip.

"Going back to fetch people."

"Fetch people?"

"Yeah." Anko walked to the tower entrance and plopped down. "With so many people still inside, there's no way he'd be able to sleep."

Ikkaku Umino fell silent.

"Can't sleep?"

"Yeah."

He couldn't sleep either.

He cast a glance toward that pitch-black forest.

No leaving the tower for seven days.

That was the rule set by the Third.

He had to abide by this rule, but Guy certainly wouldn't.

"I knew it. That kid knows there are people who haven't come out."

"He's definitely going back to find them."

Ikkaku Umino's tense gaze slowly began to relax.

He withdrew his line of sight and looked at Anko and Shibi.

"You two go get some rest. You must be exhausted after these past few days, right?"

Anko looked indifferent.

Shibi didn't speak.

He simply stared in the direction of the forest.

That green-clad figure had already vanished into the darkness.

He lowered his head, lost in thought.

The night grew deeper.

A campfire was lit at the tower entrance.

Ikkaku Umino sat by the fire, Anko dozed against the wall, and Shibi huddled in the corner, his body crawling with insects.

The forest was very quiet.

There was only the rustling of wind through the leaves.

And the occasional roar of a beast.

Suddenly, there was movement at the edge of the woods.

Everyone looked up.

A figure emerged from the darkness.

Guy.

He was carrying someone over his shoulder.

That person was covered in blood, but still alive, eyes half-open.

"Kotaro." Guy set him down. "Ran into three venomous snakes and got bitten. I drained the blood for him; he won't die."

Ikkaku Umino hurried over to check.

He was indeed going to live.

But if they had been any later, it would have been hard to say.

He looked up at Guy.

Guy had already turned and left.

He disappeared back into the darkness.

An hour later.

Guy came out again.

This time, there were two people.

Yamashiro Aoba and Shiranui Genma.

Aoba had a leg injury, and Genma was supporting him.

"Hit a trap." Genma chewed on his toothpick, his face pale. "Leg got caught. We treated it ourselves, but we couldn't move fast. Luckily, we ran into him."

Ikkaku Umino looked toward Guy.

Guy had already turned away for the third time.

Late into the night.

Guy emerged for the fourth time.

He brought back two classmates whose names Guy couldn't recall.

One had a broken leg, and the other was running a high fever.

The fifth time.

The sixth time.

As dawn approached, Guy emerged for the seventh time.

This time, he was carrying one person on his shoulder and supporting another with his hand.

Both were wounded.

He set them down, plopped onto the ground, and gasped for air.

He was covered in blood.

Some of it belonged to others, some to himself.

His sleeves were shredded, and deep claw marks on his arms revealed raw flesh.

Yet, he was smiling.

Ikkaku Umino watched him.

He watched this eight-year-old child.

One night.

Seven entries, seven exits.

He had carried back nine wounded comrades.

He had also guided seven others to safety.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But in the end, he only uttered three words.

"Rest a while."

Guy nodded.

He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

But only five minutes later, he opened them again and looked toward the forest.

"Someone is coming."

Everyone looked in that direction.

From the woods, Anko and Rin stumbled out.

Obito followed beside them.

Though disheveled, they were all alive.

They froze for a moment upon seeing the battered Guy.

They immediately ran over.

"Guy! Are you okay!?"

Obito spoke nervously, while Anko looked like she was about to cry.

Guy grinned, revealing his White Fang, and gave a thumbs-up.

Seeing him like this, the three of them felt significantly relieved.

But immediately after, they watched Guy stand up and head back toward the Forest of Death.

"Guy, where are you going?" Obito asked with a puzzled expression.

Guy grinned. "I'm going to fetch the others."

"Huh? Oh!"

Obito was stunned, failing to react for a moment.

Anko, however, wore an expression that said, "I knew it would be like this," upon hearing Guy's words.

She didn't try to stop him; instead, her gaze toward Guy softened.

"I'm going with you."

Anko looked at Guy and spoke earnestly.

Guy reached out and ruffled her black hair.

Seeing her stubborn gaze, he nodded.

"Alright."

Anko smiled.

She took Guy's hand, and together they headed back.

"You two! Hey, hey, hey! Wait for me!"

Obito gritted his teeth, but quickly chased after them.

Having gone halfway, he suddenly turned back.

"Rin, you rest here for now. We'll be back in a bit."

"No way."

Rin walked over with a beaming smile, patted Obito on the shoulder with a "smack," and brushed past him.

"What are you staring at? Let's go."

Obito opened his mouth, but ultimately shut it wisely and hurried to catch up.

The three of them had barely arrived, and in less than five minutes, they were all leaving together.

Beneath the high tower, amidst the crowd.

Aburame Shikuroo suddenly stood up.

He didn't say a word.

He just got up and started walking forward.

He was a wallflower.

A person whose presence was so low that even when Guy saved him twice, Guy still couldn't remember his name.

But this time, someone noticed him.

"Hey!"

Anko jumped up.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Aburame Shikuroo paused his steps and looked back.

The sunlight shone on his face, and those ordinary features held something rare and different.

"I... I am going to look for people too."

Anko grew anxious.

"Are you crazy? Don't you know your own strength? What will you do if you run into danger?"

Aburame Shikuroo was silent for two seconds.

Then he spoke.

"I know my own strength."

"I won't go anywhere too far."

"I'll just wander around this vicinity."

He paused.

"But what if there are others nearby?"

"What if they are just that little bit of distance away?"

Anko opened her mouth.

She wanted to retort.

But the words died on her lips.

She looked at Aburame Shikuroo's face.

That ordinary face, which had never been noticed by anyone.

Right now, it was terrifyingly earnest.

Anko gritted her teeth.

"Idiot!"

She cursed.

Then she ran over and stood by his side.

"Let's go! What are you standing there for!"

Aburame Shikuroo was stunned.

"You..."

"I'm afraid you'll die in there!" Anko turned her head away. "Then I'd have to make Guy go in and fish you out!"

Aburame Shikuroo looked at her.

He was silent for two seconds.

Then he nodded.

"Mm."

Just as the two were about to leave, footsteps sounded from behind them.

Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses and walked over.

"This great one isn't doing this because I'm worried about you two." He gave a dry cough. "I'm just stretching my legs after sitting for so long."

Then he stood next to Anko.

Yamashiro Aoba walked over.

He didn't say a word, merely adjusted his sunglasses and stood beside Ebisu.

Gekko Hayate coughed twice and also walked over.

Uzuki Yugao followed behind him.

Shiranui Genma, a toothpick dangling from his lips and hands shoved in his pockets, sauntered over.

Then one.

Two.

Three.

More and more people stood up and headed toward the edge of the forest.

Some still had bandages wrapped around their bodies.

Some were still limping.

But their gazes were all resolute as they walked toward the Forest of Death.

Ikkaku Umino stood at the tower entrance, watching those people disappear into the darkness one by one.

He remembered six days ago.

He remembered standing at the entrance of the Forest of Death, sending them in one by one.

Back then, he didn't know how many would be able to come out alive.

Now, he knew.

"They will all live."

"Everyone... will come out alive."

Ikkaku Umino's eyes blurred.

He suddenly recalled that day at the school gate, the words Guy shouted into the megaphone.

"In the ninja world, those who don't follow the rules are trash."

"But those who don't know how to value their companions are even worse than trash."

He smiled.

Looking at that forest, he said softly.

"Guy, the words you said back then have come true."

The wind blew.

The leaves rustled.

Shouts drifted from the distance as people called out to one another.

Ikkaku Umino turned and walked into the tower.

He didn't look back.

He knew.

They would all return.

The seventh day dawned.

The sun rose from the east, shining upon the Central Tower.

The tower entrance was packed with people.

Some were lying down, some were sitting, some were leaning against the wall, and some were injured.

But they were all breathing, all alive.

Twenty-three people.

Not a single one missing.