With a BOOM, Raiga's body was sent flying once more. But this time, his injuries were far worse than before. He collapsed weakly onto the ground, his entire body twitching uncontrollably.
Up close, the lingering crackle of electricity after the lightning strike could still be heard.
Raiga's face was deathly pale and weak. He struggled several times to stand, but failed every time, only continuing to convulse on the ground.
Tap, tap. Footsteps gradually drew nearer. Before long, Ueno Kei appeared before Raiga. Looking down at him from above, Ueno Kei shook his head with a cold smile.
The one called Ranmaru, whom Ueno Kei held in his hand, struggled fiercely upon seeing Raiga's miserable state. Crying, he begged, "Please, please let Raiga go. Raiga is a good person. Please don't kill him."
The boy was practically about to burst into loud sobs. Raiga looked at the crying Ranmaru, and a trace of gentleness flashed across his face before it vanished, replaced by a ferocious expression.
"Hmph. If you want to kill me, then kill me. Ranmaru, don't beg this guy for mercy. After all these years, I, Raiga, have lived long enough!" Though Raiga's voice was extremely weak from his injuries, Ueno Kei could hear the determination in it—the overwhelming resolve to die.
That made Ueno Kei view Raiga somewhat differently. Over the past few years of carrying out missions, Ueno Kei had seen far too many cowards who clung desperately to life.
People with backbone like this were rare. But when he saw the forehead protector on Raiga's head, he immediately understood. After all, he had come from one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. The ninjas of those villages, even rogue ninjas, were mostly people of strong character.
It was not that none of them feared death;