"We should find somewhere safe to rest and recover first. Do either of you know a Summoning Technique or any ninjutsu that can send messages?"
"In our current condition, we can't keep moving. We need to report our situation to Kakashi."
After reaching Might Guy and Ebisu, Ye Yuexin checked on them and spoke.
Though he looked capable of carrying on, his chakra was nearly depleted.
At this point, he couldn't even use his footwork, which barely consumed any chakra.
Worse, a Kunai had pierced his left arm. The bleeding had stopped, but it would take a long time to heal.
Ebisu was in somewhat better shape, but he still didn't have enough chakra left to fight.
Might Guy was in even worse condition. It looked as if he'd strained muscles all over his body.
He could still move, but every movement was probably painful.
This was the most dangerous time for them.
They were still near the border of the Land of Rock, and no one knew what unexpected danger might appear.
They had to retreat immediately and find somewhere safe to recover their chakra.
"I don't know any jutsu like that, and I don't have a summoning technique,"
Ebisu said awkwardly.
Then he turned to Might Guy, who was looking back at him along with Ye Yuexin.
Might Guy awkwardly scratched his head. "Don't look at me. I don't know any communication jutsu, either, and I don't have a summon."
Hearing this, Ye Yuexin realized that Might Guy hadn't yet obtained the summoning turtle wearing a Konoha Forehead Protector that he had in the original story.
That left all three of them at a loss.
The other two looked at him again.
They were leaving the decision to him.
Ye Yuexin thought for a moment, then said, "Let's get somewhere safe and recover our chakra first."
When it came down to their lives or the mission, Ye Yuexin chose their lives without hesitation.
He wasn't the stubborn sort. Besides, in their current condition, even if they met up with Kakashi's team, they'd only hold them back.
After speaking, Ye Yuexin carried Might Guy on his back, and the three of them headed toward the Land of Fire.
At first, they walked slowly and cautiously.
As long as they didn't exert themselves, they could recover chakra, though it meant they'd get there more slowly.
They walked for about an hour before they could see the border between the two countries.
They had also managed to recover a little chakra.
Ye Yuexin had wrapped his left arm in medical bandages.
Might Guy was now the only one with serious injuries. Muscle strains all over his body weren't life-threatening, but they severely limited his speed.
"Ye Yuexin, I'm all right now. I've recovered some chakra. Let me down so I can walk." Might Guy felt embarrassed about being carried for so long.
Since Ye Yuexin was carrying him, he'd recovered more chakra as well.
Hearing Might Guy's embarrassed protest, Ye Yuexin laughed. "Come on. With your body in this condition, you could easily strain your muscles again. We'll talk once we reach the base."
But holding Might Guy up with one arm was tiring. Ye Yuexin turned to Ebisu and said, "My arm's getting tired. You carry him for a while."
"Oh, sure. My injuries are the least serious. I should've taken Might Guy earlier." Ebisu took Might Guy from him.
"You... you guys..." The Blue Beast was so moved that his eyes welled up with tears.
Ye Yuexin's eye twitched. Why was a guy getting so emotional?
"Take cover!" Ye Yuexin suddenly called, his voice stern.
Even though Ebisu hadn't sensed anything, he immediately began hiding.
After recovering some chakra, Ye Yuexin had used his self-developed Wind Perception.
They couldn't afford to be careless in a place like this.
Just then, he'd clearly sensed two chakra signatures up ahead.
One was large and the other small.
Even though they were about to reach the Land of Fire, they couldn't let their guard down.
Ye Yuexin decided they should hide and observe before making a decision.
Once they were concealed, Ye Yuexin used Wind Perception to monitor the two chakra signatures.
It seemed his caution had paid off. Through his perception, he could tell that the two signatures, one large and one small, were heading straight toward them.
The smaller one was in front, the larger one behind.
Judging by their speed, Ye Yuexin roughly estimated their strength.
He figured they could handle them in their current state and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
If another jonin showed up, they'd be as good as dead.
Seeing where Ye Yuexin was looking, Ebisu and the others guessed where their opponent would emerge.
Might Guy had already climbed down from Ebisu's back and was warily watching the thick woods ahead.
The approaching figures drew closer.
Ye Yuexin signaled to Ebisu and the others, telling them to get ready to attack.
Ye Yuexin drew the short sword from his back.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
A dog suddenly dashed into view.
Wind Perception told him that the smaller chakra signature belonged to the dog.
Then who did the larger one belong to?
"Rin Nohara!"
Ebisu cried out when he saw who was approaching.
He hadn't expected Rin Nohara to be the one coming.
Might Guy looked just as astonished.
Had Team Kakashi learned they were in danger and come to help? But they were much too late.
And even if they had sent help, they wouldn't have sent only Rin Nohara, the weakest girl on the team. Ye Yuexin immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Rin Nohara was clearly overjoyed to see them and hurried toward them.
Once they recognized her, Ye Yuexin and the others jumped down from the branches.
As she drew closer, Ye Yuexin saw the dust covering Rin Nohara's face. That was enough to tell him that Kakashi and the others had run into trouble.
"Rin, what happened? Why did you rush over here alone in such a hurry?" Might Guy asked first.
When she reached them, Rin Nohara also saw that Ye Yuexin and the others were in bad shape.
But there was no time to ask questions. She went straight to the point.
"Come help Kakashi and the others! Kakashi is badly injured and nearly unconscious. Genma Shiranui is badly injured, too."
Before you continue