After saying this, he was silent for a long time.
Then, he stood up and walked out of the alley.
The cold wind blew towards my face, carrying the smell of blood and the unique chill of the night.
He took a few steps and suddenly stopped.
No.
Those seven people just now... he knocked them unconscious, not killed them.
Ning Xue's pupils shrank suddenly, he exerted force on his feet, and his body flew out of the town like an arrow from a string.
After a while, he returned to the original place.
Five people were lying on the ground.
Not seven.
Two are missing.
Ning Xue squatted down and checked the conditions of the unconscious people.
The pulse was still there, the breathing was steady, and the two men did not kill their companions.
He stood up and swept around with Byakugan.
There are traces of movement in the weeds, extending towards the hills in the distance.
The two wandering ninjas who ran away must have woken up and escaped when he rushed back to the town.
Trouble.
Ning Xue stood there, looking at the dark mountains, his mind racing rapidly.
Now he had two choices before him.
First, leave immediately.
As if nothing had happened, and continued on his way without waiting for Sasuke.
The life and death of this town has nothing to do with him.
Second, notify the remaining villagers and ask them to leave together.
Go to a relatively safe place, where at least Konoha Ninja is stationed.
But this is too slow and can easily be hunted down.
Third...
Ning Xue lowered his eyes and looked at the blood on his palms.
Those dark red traces look particularly dazzling under the moonlight.
Then, he took a deep breath and raised his head.
Third option.
Fight it and get it over with once and for all.
Yes, you heard it right.
He is going to fight Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin.
Ning Xue I don't know why I have this idea.
Maybe it's because of the innkeeper's unbending eyes.
Maybe it was because of the little girl who tugged at the corner of his clothes and asked cautiously, "Just one candy will do."
Perhaps it was because Orochimaru organized the invasion of Konoha, which led to the death of Sugiyama Tetsu.
Or maybe... he'd had enough.
Ning Xue Without hesitation, both hands Hand Seals.
"Water Clone Technique."
"Bang, bang, bang--"
Several Water Clone appeared from his side, and their faces were the same as his.
"Pick these up and take them back to town."
Ning Xue pointed at the unconscious wandering ninjas on the ground and spoke calmly.
Water Clone nodded, stacked them one by one, carried them on his shoulders, and swept towards the town.
Ning Xue's main body followed behind, not walking fast, but thinking rapidly in his mind.
The town is no longer safe.
Although one group of wandering ninjas have been dealt with, who knows if there will be a second or third group?
And the two people who ran away will definitely report the situation here.
What comes next may not be this kind of miscellaneous fish.
The villagers must be allowed to leave.
Back in town, Ning Xue wasted no time.
He walked straight to the middle of the street and took a deep breath.
"Everyone, come out."
Ning Xue's voice was not loud, but it spread clearly throughout the entire street.
Behind the door, behind the window, and in the shadows of the corners, pairs of eyes were prying carefully.
Those eyes fell on him, on the blood stains all over his body, with fear, hesitation, and a trace of confusion about the rest of his life.
No one dared to come out.
They are afraid.
I was afraid that this white-haired man covered in blood was in the same group as those wandering ninjas.
I am afraid that just after leaving the wolf's den, I will enter the tiger's mouth again.
"It's that adult!"
A childish voice sounded from the corner.
The little girl who tugged at the hem of his clothes ran out of nowhere and stumbled towards Ning Xue, her head raised, her clear eyes full of trust.
"My lord is back!"
Where there is the first, there is the second.
The boy who stole the wallet walked out of the alley, with a nosebleed on his face, but stood beside Ning Xue with his chest raised, scanning the surrounding figures with his ruthless eyes.
"What are you afraid of! If it weren't for him, you would have been dragged away long ago!"
Immediately afterwards, the boy who was digging for food next to the trash can, the girl who was protecting her younger siblings, and the few young people he had rescued from the wandering ninjas came out one by one.
They stand around Ning Xue.
There were so many people around to prove it, and finally the doors were opened one after another.
They Earth Flow came out cautiously and stood at the door of their house, looking at the white-haired man and then at the unconscious wandering ninjas on the ground who were carried back by Water Clone.
"Everyone."
Ning Xue spoke, his voice calm but with an unquestionable certainty.
"It's no longer safe here. There's someone behind those wandering ninjas, and two of them escaped. Someone will be here soon."
The crowd was in commotion.
Some people sobbed softly, some hugged their children tightly, and some looked around blankly, not knowing where to go.
"Going east, about a day's journey, there is a small town where Konoha ninjas are stationed."
Ning Xue paused and glanced at everyone present.
"It will be safe once we get there."
An old man spoke tremblingly.
"But... but we... how do we go? We don't know the road..."
Ning Xue did not answer, but took out a yellowed map from the scroll and unfolded it.
And that was the scroll he used when he just left Konoha.
He came to the body of the innkeeper, closed his eyes that were still staring at death, and said softly, "Sorry, I can borrow it for a moment," and then took out the pen that the boss had been holding in his hand.
Then he turned back, squatted down, and drew a line on the map.
The starting point is this nameless town, and the end point is the market town where Konoha Ninja is stationed.
The route is clear and clearly marked.
After he finished drawing, he stood up and handed the map to the eldest man in the crowd.
The old man took the map, looked at it carefully with cloudy eyes, and nodded, his voice hoarse.
"I... I know a few words. I probably know how to take this road."
Ning Xue nodded, and took out a few Kunai and short knives from the scroll.
These weapons were prepared after the last battle with Shinnō.
The space that could absorb Chakra made him realize that sometimes ninja tools are useful.
But he didn't expect that it would come in handy here.
He distributed Kunai to several stronger people, and then handed the short knife to the boy who stole the wallet.
The boy took the dagger and was stunned for a moment. He raised his head and looked at Ning Xue, with a complicated light flashing in his eyes.
"Will it work?"
Ning Xue asked.
The boy gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the handle of the knife.
"No, but you can learn."
Ning Xue glanced at him and said nothing more.
He took out a few more Kunais and handed them to the girl who was protecting her younger siblings, as well as several other older children.
"There may be wild animals on the road, or there may be other things.
Take it and defend yourself."
The girl took Kunai, her fingers trembled slightly, but she still held it tightly and nodded.
After doing all this, Ning Xue turned around and walked towards a relatively complete house on the street.
In the room, several Water Clone were guarding the tied up wandering ninjas.
They were Water Taffy tied up tightly and lying on the ground in a mess.
Some have already woken up and are looking around in horror.
Some are still unconscious, but Ning Xue plans to wake them up soon.
Ning Xue waved his hand, and Water Clone turned into a puddle of water and dissipated.
He closed the door, pulled up a chair, and sat down in front of the wandering ninjas.