The first rays of sunlight fell upon the ruined valley, lending its scars a touch of sorrow.
Chojuro stumbled toward the spot where Ao had fallen as fast as his legs could carry him.
Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Smoker followed close behind, their faces unusually grave. Boruto and Jade, who was holding Tailmon, hurried over too.
Ao lay amid mechanical wreckage and torn bandages. The energy port in his chest was charred black, and his life was fading like a candle flame in the wind.
His already pale face had turned a nearly translucent gray. Only the eye that had once read the battlefield so keenly still held a glimmer of clarity.
"Senior Ao!" Chojuro dropped to his knees beside him, his voice choked. He wanted to do something, but faced with a life so utterly spent, he found himself helpless.
Ao's gaze shifted slowly. He struggled to focus on Chojuro's face and tugged at the corner of his mouth, as though trying to offer one last reassuring smile. He couldn't manage it.
His breathing was faint and rapid. He turned his eyes to Sakazuki and the other two standing nearby.
"Sakazuki." Ao's voice was barely a whisper, but his words carried unmistakable conviction. "You're steadfast, decisive, and strong—a blade that protects. But what's too rigid can break, and anger can blind you to the bigger picture."
"Remember, protecting people isn't just about destroying the enemy. It's about knowing exactly where that destruction must stop."
Sakazuki's face remained hard as iron. He pressed his lips together, offered no argument, and gave a slow, solemn nod.
Ao turned to Kuzan. "Kuzan, you're calm and perceptive. You see the bigger picture and provide a steady foundation. But sometimes you weigh things so carefully that you hesitate."
"When Kirigakure is in danger, I hope