"I understand..."
Hatake Sakumo was not one to hesitate. Besides, he had already done everything he could. Unfortunately, Chuanjie's body could not hold on until they returned to Konoha.
After Uchiha Yuu finished speaking, Chuanjie seemed to have received the message and quietly fell asleep.
"We still couldn't save him."
There was no time for anyone present to grieve. Though the man was dead, a great deal of information remained stored in his mind. Hatake Sakumo immediately sealed the body into a scroll, then said to the people beside him:
"During the breakout, a group of ninja was behind me. For some reason, they didn't catch up. We need to get to the coast as quickly as possible."
Everyone looked grim. Thinking of the assassination attempt, Uchiha Yuu pondered for a moment before saying:
"After you left, I encountered Hiruko. He is a rogue ninja from Konoha. He attacked me for my Bloodline Limit. That is why I didn't wait for you where I was."
"So besides being wary of the pursuers behind us, we also need to watch out for Hiruko lurking in the shadows. His ability is Swift Release, which gives him a natural advantage in speed."
That was hardly good news. Hatake Sakumo's mood had already been heavy, and his expression grew even grimmer. In the end, he nodded and said:
"On the way back, no one is to leave the group. The most frightening thing about Swift Release is its speed, but as long as we stay together, I have a way to block his attacks."
Hatake Sakumo's greatest strength was close-quarters combat. Countless ninja had died beneath his blade.
As the captain, when danger arose, Hatake Sakumo had to complete the mission while also protecting his teammates.
With Hatake Sakumo in the group, Hiruko, lurking