Chapter 17

Saitama's cheek muscles twitched slightly. He knew he had encountered a formidable enemy. All he could do now was hope Moonlight Zhengye and Captain Saki could hold out a little longer, perhaps allowing him to break through his limits.

Lightning coursed along the blade as the boy wrestled with himself. Since his opponent could keep up with his extreme speed, he would continue increasing his chakra output—even if they could follow his movements, without ocular jutsu, they would struggle to predict his killing blows.

Having made up his mind, he drove his right foot fiercely into the sand.

Boom! Amid the flying sandstorm, Saitama became a bolt of lightning that tore through the air, leaving a dazzling afterimage in the night.

Screech— The air warped in the blade's wake, and the dancing arcs of electricity gave off a piercing whine.

Bang! Fujiwara's heavy punch struck nothing but air as dust erupted from the sand pit before it had even settled.

"Interesting." Fujiwara licked the corner of his mouth and pulled back.

His hand signs were complete, and a blazing fireball roared forth. The desert heat fed the flames, and a heatwave rushed at him in an instant.

"Trivial tricks." Fujiwara sneered as he dodged, but the hairs on his body stood on end the moment he leaped into the air.

Amid a piercing shriek like a thousand Chidoris crying in unison, a white flash of death shot straight for his heart! Fujiwara roared and forced all his chakra into motion, wrapping himself in a vortex as he shifted sideways by sheer force.

The Sharingan precisely caught his trajectory, but the lightning only tore through the left side of his waist and abdomen. Just as Saitama was about to pursue, the sound of something cutting through the air suddenly struck.

"Get lost!" A flying kick from the ambusher forced Saitama back, and Moonlight Zhengye seized the chance to break free and rush over. The two stood back-to-back in fighting stances. Though wounded, their fighting spirit had not diminished.

"Hmph, it's fine!" Saitama stared at the three Sand ninja, a trace of gravity flashing between his brows.

"Cough!" Saki had been caught between two ninja. The slightest lapse in attention had gotten him injured. Barely evading their attacks, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Glancing at the battle on the other side, Saki understood that he could only fight alone now. He drew a deep breath, gripped his long sword, and charged at the enemy with a roar—only a desperate fight offered any hope of survival.

Fujiwara had taken one of Saitama's surprise attacks head-on. Though it had not struck a vital point, he had already lost most of his combat strength. The wound was charred black, blood flowing steadily from it. Gritting his teeth, he pressed down on the injury, trying to dull the pain by tensing his muscles. The expressions of his two companions varied, while Fujiwara's face grew increasingly grim.

"What happened?" Hundred Blades held his scythe horizontally and asked in a low voice.

"I underestimated him... I'll leave the rest to you. I'll hold the line for now." Fujiwara endured the agony as his gaze locked onto Saitama. "Watch out for his speed and Lightning Release."

Flow Sever and Hundred Blades exchanged a glance, their hearts heavy. The two of them had failed to take down Moonlight Zhengye even working together, and now there was the troublesome Saitama as well. Their chances of victory were slim.

Screech! Lightning flashed as Saitama and Moonlight Zhengye attacked from both sides, moving like the wind. Saitama's assault shattered the stalemate, and the two resolved to turn the battle around in one stroke.

Clang! Saitama swung his blade at Hundred Blades's scythe, sparks flying.

Crackle! Electricity raced from the blade onto the scythe. Hundred Blades grunted and sharply kicked the shaft, forcing the scythe to sweep upward and straight toward Saitama's face.

Whoosh! Saitama was forced to withdraw his sword and leap back. The scythe blade grazed his cheek, leaving behind a burning streak of blood.

On the other side, Moonlight Zhengye and Flow Sever clashed once more. Fujiwara had long since retreated to the rear, clutching his wound and gasping for breath—unless absolutely necessary, he would never make another move. The severe wound at his waist had robbed him of his fighting strength, and any violent movement would only worsen it.

"Sss..." Saitama's cheek burned with ** pain, but he had no time to care.

"Heh, brat!" Hundred Blades grinned wickedly and swung his scythe down, its cold gleam ripping through the air.

Boom! Sand exploded upward as a deep pit was carved into the ground where Saitama had just stood.

Bang! Saitama suddenly exerted himself, planting his right foot heavily on his opponent's weapon and using it to launch himself into the air. In an instant, he leaped above Hundred Blades's head.

Whoosh! As he flipped through the air, cold light flashed, and his long sword thrust straight at his opponent's crown.

Clang! The massive scythe arrived later but struck first, precisely blocking the fatal blow. The recoil sent Saitama flying several meters away.

"Die!" The jonin's attacks came like a storm. His scythe tore through the air and shot straight for Saitama's heart, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

Tap! Saitama retreated again and again. This kind of heavy weapon was especially troublesome to deal with. The massive scythe had an enormous attack range, and meeting it head-on would only waste his strength.

His figure flickered and shifted like a ghost as Saitama deliberately circled his opponent. Behind his seemingly awkward dodges, he was actually waiting for the instant his opponent ran out of strength.

"Hehe, brat, do you take everyone else for **?" Hundred Blades pressed forward step by step, scythe swinging, mockery appearing on his face.

"Hm?" Saitama's heart tightened. His tactics had clearly been seen through. Indeed, such tricks were far too childish in the eyes of a jonin.

Lightning suddenly flared around him. Since his scheme had been exposed, Saitama decided to change his strategy.

"Still haven't noticed?" Hundred Blades rested the giant scythe on his shoulder, his gaze locking onto Saitama like a venomous snake, an amused smile on his lips.

Saitama's pupils abruptly contracted as he suddenly realized something was wrong. Veins bulged on the hand gripping his sword, and as lightning surged around him, he prepared to rush forward.

Boom! The sand exploded into a deep crater as Saitama shot toward his enemy like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

"This is...?" After only two steps, Saitama suddenly sensed something amiss. His chakra flowed sluggishly, and a numbing sensation rapidly spread through his body as he circulated it.

Thud! His long sword plunged deep into the sand, and Saitama dropped to one knee, his sharp gaze fixed firmly on Hundred Blades.

"When..." Shock flashed through his narrowed eyes. As his chakra circulation slowed, the numbness indeed gradually eased.

"You thought you were the only one buying time? I was waiting for the ** to spread through your whole body with your chakra!" Hundred Blades swung his massive scythe, its blade pointed directly at Saitama's throat.

The ** pain on the left side of his face made Saitama suddenly understand. His fingertips touched the nearly imperceptible wound—the scythe had left it when it brushed past him earlier. As expected, the Sand ninja's weapons were all poisoned! Staring at that exaggerated giant scythe, Saitama finally understood: its design ensured that even the slightest scratch could be fatal.

Clang! The ninja sword was violently pulled from the sand, Saitama's expression dark as water.

"It's over, brat!" Hundred Blades's killing intent surged as he charged forward like a ghost.

Whooo—! The giant scythe tore through the air with a terrifying shriek, its arc of death chopping down.

Rip! Lightning flashed. Saitama's Sharingan locked firmly onto his opponent, and his long sword thrust along the scythe's trajectory toward the enemy's throat.

Slash! The scythe blade cleaved into Saitama's left shoulder, only to stop halfway. At the same time, his blade had pierced through Hundred Blades's chest, lightning dancing along its edge!

Splat!

"Impossible!" Hundred Blades's pupils shook violently. The boy had clearly been poisoned, yet his movements were still unbelievably fast.

He looked down at the sword in his chest. Strength was rapidly draining from the wound. The hand gripping the scythe gradually went limp, and even the weapon's shaft became incomparably heavy.

Bang! Enduring the dizziness, Saitama kicked his enemy away. The scythe remained lodged in his shoulder, blood dripping from its blade onto the sand.

"Hah... hah..." He dropped to one knee, gasping for breath. Not far away lay his enemy, dead or alive unknown. The oversized scythe trembled from his shoulder like the mark of the Grim Reaper.

"Saitama! Watch out!" Moonlight Zhengye roared. He had just driven back a Sand ninja when he saw Fujiwara staggering toward Saitama.

Saitama's face twisted. ** was eating away at his nerves, making even his chakra sluggish. He had noticed Fujiwara long ago, but he did not even have the strength to raise his sword.

"Brat... this is the end..." Blood continued to spread from Fujiwara's waist wound. His face pale, he viciously drove a kunai into Saitama's back while his other hand clamped around his throat.

"Urgh!" The intense pain jolted Saitama's mind awake, and his chakra temporarily broke through the ** blockade.

"The winner... is me..." Fujiwara panted as he leaned close to Saitama's ear, his breath hot and weak.

"You're wrong..." Saitama suddenly roared. Brilliant lightning erupted from his body and traveled through their tightly pressed forms.

Crackle! Amid explosive sounds like a chorus of Chidoris, Fujiwara convulsed all over, his head slamming heavily onto Saitama's shoulder.

The battle froze there: a scythe embedded in the boy's left shoulder, an enemy slumped against his right, like a bloodstained statue of victory.

"Saitama!" Moonlight Zhengye shook off the Sand ninja and rushed over. A flash of sword light passed, and Fujiwara was nailed into the sand.

"Captain..." Saitama laboriously raised his head and pulled out a twisted smile.

"Hold on!" Moonlight Zhengye's heart clenched as he looked at Saitama's battered body.

Moonlight Zhengye coldly swept his gaze over the last Sand Village jonin who had been driven back, the sharpness in his eyes growing even fiercer.

Flow Sever felt his opponent's surging fighting spirit and shivered inwardly. Their side had only one jonin left—himself—and he was clearly no match for the Konoha ninja. Glancing aside, he saw that the two chunin still had not dealt with the other Konoha ninja. Defeat was certain—unless reinforcements arrived.

"Muramasa, Murayuki, retreat!" Flow Sever ordered decisively, his body swiftly pulling back.

The Sand Village ninja vanished into the wind and sand in an instant, leaving only the battered Saki behind. Leaning on his long sword, he swayed unsteadily before collapsing the moment his enemies disappeared. I survived. The thought flashed through his muddled mind.

"Captain... help me with the one in my shoulder..." Saitama's voice grew weaker. When chakra became lightning and seared his wound, he did not even furrow his brow. But the kunai lodged in his abdomen told him that he was nearing his limit. ** coursed through his entire body with his chakra, and his vision began to blur.

Moonlight Zhengye caught his unconscious companion, then turned to look at Saki lying in a pool of blood.

"Teacher... I'm all right..." Saki forced out a bitter smile, his bloodied fingers unable to move at all.

Amid the mournful howl of the wind and sand, Moonlight Zhengye looked toward the direction the Sand Village ninja had retreated. Two severely wounded companions, and a hopeless situation. His gaze rested on **—this talented ** boy who never gave up had now become the cruelest choice before him.

The Sand Village's pursuers could arrive at any moment. He had to decide immediately.

"Teacher?" Saki's face was buried in the sand, his voice muffled.

"It's nothing." Moonlight Zhengye rubbed ** bloodstained hair, turmoil churning in his eyes.

(Moonlight Zhengye helped Saki up and let him lean half against his leg. The night was deep, the desert swallowed by darkness, leaving only bone-chilling cold to envelop the three of them.

Saitama had been struck by a potent poison and was unconscious, completely unable to move. Though Saki remained conscious, he was likewise unable to fight any longer. Only Moonlight Zhengye was relatively lightly injured and retained most of his combat strength. But now, he had to care for two companions on his own.

"Can you still walk?" Moonlight Zhengye asked after helping Saki regulate his breathing.

"Barely." Saki answered with a pained expression.

"We have to leave quickly. Sand Village pursuers could arrive at any moment." Moonlight Zhengye pulled Saki up by the arm.

Suppressing the pain, Saki used the support to stand, fully aware of how dire the situation was.

The two came to Saitama's unconscious body. Moonlight Zhengye silently hoisted him up. "We need to hurry!" he said in a low voice as he supported both of them toward the dunes.

Far away on the sand, a Sand Village ninja was lurking and observing their movements. The wind swept over him, revealing the forehead protector on his brow.

Their speed was naturally slow while carrying such burdens. Half an hour later, the group was about to leave Sand Village territory. Surprisingly, they had not encountered any pursuers along the way.

"How do you feel?" Moonlight Zhengye stopped to rest briefly.

"Much better." Saki shook off his support. "Teacher, focus on taking care of Saitama."

Moonlight Zhengye noticed that Saitama seemed to be showing signs of waking. He adjusted his posture and continued onward, hurried footsteps sounding over the sand.

Amid the jolting movement, Saitama's consciousness gradually cleared. A cold gust swept past, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of clotted blood before opening his eyes.

"Saitama?" Moonlight Zhengye stopped and watched his reaction. Behind him, Saki panted heavily, both hands braced on his knees.

"Captain, where are we?" The moment Saitama regained consciousness, he swiftly scanned his surroundings and realized they were no longer at the previous battlefield.

"We're still in Sand ninja territory. We need to withdraw quickly." Moonlight Zhengye set him down.

"Mm." Saitama touched the charred wound on his shoulder. He had forcibly sealed it with lightning. Though the bleeding had stopped, the pain had not lessened at all. The kunai wound in his back was even more dangerous. Moonlight Zhengye's crude bandaging had been pulled open by the jolting journey, and blood had soaked through his clothes.

"Get on. We move first." Moonlight Zhengye glanced at his injuries and gestured for him to climb onto his back. A conscious Saitama could cooperate better.

"Saki, keep up!" The moment Saitama lay across his back, Zhengye burst into a sprint, leaving Saki far behind.

The wind howled, and Saitama's awakening greatly increased the group's speed. Saki struggled immensely to keep up.

Though he had regained consciousness, Saitama was still weak all over, his chakra stagnant and difficult to gather. The poison he had been struck with seemed capable of suppressing chakra flow.

He rested his head against Moonlight Zhengye's back, adjusting his breathing to reduce the strain the jolting put on his wounds.

The journey went astonishingly smoothly. They encountered no Sand ninja interception and safely withdrew into Konoha-controlled territory.