The Hidden Mist Ninja's Way of Showing Gratitude

Three hours after the blood transfusion, the big man actually woke up, and he looked to be in pretty good spirits.

Bula was overjoyed and immediately bustled around cooking for the big man, while Qian Yun continued making plasma for the others.

Two days later.

Everyone who was still alive woke up.

When they heard that Qian Yun had found them at sea and revived them, every one of them was deeply moved.

However, Yagura Karatachi was still uneasy. While Qian Yun went fishing by the shore, he gathered everyone for a meeting.

"Bula, tell us exactly what happened three days ago, starting from when he woke up!"

Bula's face turned solemn at those words. He knew this was not something to be careless about.

First, Qian Yun had learned to climb trees. Then, the next morning, he had staggered across the sea's surface, followed by using the Insect Taming Technique to control a seabird and search for people.

He explained every detail clearly, even mentioning how he had crouched by the shore and cried.

When he spoke of how Qian Yun had frowned over medical books in order to save them, even Yagura Karatachi could not help but sigh.

There was no longer any doubt that teaching Qian Yun knowledge and ninjutsu could save their lives.

The shark-toothed man quietly came to the shore to thank Qian Yun, then solemnly made him swear that he would not pass on the ninjutsu he was about to teach him.

Qian Yun did as he was told, his heart pounding as he felt like he was about to strike it rich.

Sure enough, the man named Hoshigaki Riki taught Qian Yun three practical ninjutsu: the Water Clone Technique, Water Prison Technique, and Hidden Mist Technique. He also explained their usage and combat applications.

The lesson lasted more than half a day. By the time the two returned to camp, everyone was wearing strange expressions.

Yagura Karatachi said, "Eat quickly. I have something to tell you tonight!"

Everyone held back their laughter, while Bula winked meaningfully at Qian Yun as though something good was about to happen.

Sure enough, after practicing ninjutsu all day, Qian Yun was taken to the shore by Yagura Karatachi again after dinner.

Yagura did not make him swear anything. He only casually told him to try not to kill Hidden Mist ninjas in the future.

Naturally, Qian Yun readily agreed, then looked eagerly at Yagura Karatachi.

He only taught him one ninjutsu, Mist Body Flicker, which was said to be one of his proudest techniques.

After explaining the essentials, Yagura went straight back to sleep. The wound at his waist seemed to be hurting badly.

Next came the big man, Hozuki Seigetsu. He too taught only one ninjutsu—Water Gun Technique. Apparently, after ten years of training, it could instantly kill a jonin.

The others also taught him their signature techniques, such as Dehydration Technique, which could turn an opponent into a dried corpse.

Then there was the Parasitic Technique, which could make an opponent feel one's own pain.

Qian Yun studied earnestly, but there was no way he could fully grasp everything in such a short time.

Over the following days, Qian Yun practiced ninjutsu whenever he had free time. Otherwise, he sat by the sea and fished. But on this day, uninvited guests arrived.

Upon receiving the seabird's report, Qian Yun immediately threw down his fishing rod and ran to camp.

"Someone's here. There are eighteen of them in total, and they've stopped on the sea ten li away!"

Qian Yun looked excited, but Yagura Karatachi's little face turned pale and bloodless.

Qian Yun did not understand, so he timidly asked, "Aren't they a supply team?"

Yagura Karatachi shook his head. "Your seabird probably can't describe what they're wearing!"

Qian Yun nodded blankly. Though he had roughly guessed what was happening, he did not show it on his face.

"This is bad."

The shark-toothed man, Hoshigaki Riki, took over, and everyone's faces darkened.

Bula said, "Let's run. Once we get back to Hidden Mist Village, we can explain everything!"

Everyone gave bitter smiles. It seemed that was a naive idea.

Qian Yun said quietly, "If they're not friends, can't we resist at all?"

Everyone smiled bitterly again. In the end, it was the big man Hozuki Seigetsu who explained.

"The Hidden Mist Enforcement Squad usually travels in groups of eighteen. Their purpose is to execute village ninjas who have failed their missions abnormally!

They only follow orders and never listen to reason!

With all of us seriously injured, we'll probably have no choice but to die!"

Qian Yun asked back, "Can't we fight back? Not even to redeem ourselves through merit?

That's too heartless!

What if the mission itself was a conspiracy? Wouldn't that be different?"

"A conspiracy?" Yagura Karatachi did not understand, and the others were equally confused.

Qian Yun said quietly, "Both Konoha and Hidden Mist are poor, yet that old Third Hokage keeps sending supplies.

Even sending civilian ninjas like us, who can't do anything, to the front lines counts as sending supplies!

But Hidden Mist seems to never send supplies. You don't even have medical ninjas.

Most ridiculous of all, Konoha has over a thousand people stationed in the Death Forest, while you only have a little over a hundred!

Even if your ninjutsu is highly refined, you won't hold an absolute advantage in a fight, right?

It feels like someone deliberately sent you here to die!

Of course, this is only my personal speculation as an outsider. You'll have to judge the specifics yourselves!"

Qian Yun thought that he would first plant a seed of doubt.

Once it grew into a towering tree, Hidden Mist Village would probably see a massive, bloody coup.

Heh, I'm a genius!

Yagura Karatachi nodded. "Whether this argument is right or wrong, it is enough for us to dispute matters before the council of elders!

And now, even if only one person can survive, we have to fight!"

At that, Qian Yun grinned and took out half a bottle of anesthetic. "Although I don't understand combined ninjutsu, I think you can mix the anesthetic into the mist.

That way, you won't need to kill anyone, and you can still escape safely!"

Everyone's eyes lit up. Qian Yun truly was their lucky star.

Moreover, Qian Yun's idea perfectly matched his profession, showing that he bore no hostility toward Hidden Mist ninjas.

Under Yagura Karatachi's command, Qian Yun and Bula hurriedly hid, while everyone else suppressed their presence and prepared for battle.

As they spoke, the Hidden Mist Enforcement Squad had already approached. Every one of them wore a flak jacket and mask, with a katana strapped to their back.

Their attire was exactly like Konoha's ANBU, except their flak jackets were a different color.

The eighteen people surrounded them and simultaneously used the Hidden Mist Technique. Then five of them drew their swords and rushed into the camp.

Qian Yun had underestimated them. In an instant, Yagura Karatachi could only take down three.

And before those three fell, they flung a shower of needles all over Yagura Karatachi.

The other two were too fast. In an instant, they cut down two people in the camp, and even Yagura Karatachi's neck was grazed by a blade tip.

"Water Release: Water Wild Wave!"

The shark-toothed man attacked, and the wounds on his body split open in an instant, blood spraying out as if it cost nothing.

He finally forced the two back, but everyone on Yagura Karatachi's side was panting heavily, and all of them had been struck by needles.

Even after pulling out the needles, their movements became extremely sluggish.

Qian Yun secretly thought things were bad. At this rate, they would soon be wiped out, and he would die too.

But before Qian Yun could think of a way to escape, that brain-dead Bula charged out.

"Go die!"

Bula shouted as he raised a kunai, about to stab an enforcement squad member.

Splat!

There was no surprise. That enforcement squad member merely swung his katana backward, and Bula's head instantly flew into the air.

Blood shot high like a fountain. Behind a coconut tree, Qian Yun covered his mouth, terrified that he might cry out.

He felt that his position was unsafe as well, so he prepared to use the Substitution Technique at any moment.

Swish!

Sure enough, just as Qian Yun finished preparing, a flying needle instantly embedded itself in the substitute log.

The battle was too fast and too dangerous. Qian Yun's calves trembled uncontrollably. These people were far stronger than the two men he had killed a month ago.

Still terrified, he quickly threw out a smoke bomb.

Bang!

He had originally prepared it to escape from Yagura Karatachi, yet now he was using it against the Hidden Mist Enforcement Squad.

Qian Yun was not brain-dead enough to rush in and try to assassinate them.

He did not know whether his drugged smoke bomb could knock the enemies out.

He could not even determine their locations within the mist.