Go Together, Fight Together!

His movements were light and swift, barely stirring a whisper of wind, as though he had merged with the surrounding shadows of the trees.

Aoba gripped his long blade tightly, forcing himself to focus on his surroundings.

The wind rustled through the treetops, and a faintly sweet, fishy scent lingered in the air—the smell of blood.

He swallowed and asked in a low voice, "Sister Kurenai, will the teacher be alright going alone?"

"Don't worry. You know Father's strength, don't you?"

Yuhi Kurenai reassured him softly, but her gaze never left the distant woods. "What we need to do now is protect ourselves and this spy, then wait for Father's signal."

Yuto crouched down to inspect the spy's wounds, frowning. "This guy's badly hurt. Two ribs are broken, and he has several blade wounds on him.

"We need to stop the bleeding quickly, or he won't last long."

Nao pulled out a roll of bandages and a bottle of ointment from her ninja tool pouch, swiftly beginning to treat the spy's wounds.

As she wrapped the bandages, she said quietly, "His pulse is fairly stable, but he's lost too much blood. His consciousness is already starting to fade.

"Aoba, help me raise his head a little."

Aoba hurried forward and gently supported the spy's head.

His hand trembled slightly. The moment he touched the man's cold skin, his heart tightened involuntarily.

This person had been desperately fleeing for his life just moments ago, yet now he was so weak that he looked as though he could stop breathing at any time.

The ninja world truly had no mercy, just as Shinku had said.

"Aoba, don't space out."

Nao's voice pulled him back to reality. "Put this pill in his mouth. It'll stabilize him for now."

Aoba nodded and carefully placed