Before he could finish, he saw Toroi's expression change sharply as he hurriedly took two steps back.
Come on, man! I've bled for the village! I've earned my stripes! Even if I really am a foreigner, don't treat me like an outsider!
Putting me out front now? Aren't you just sending me to my death?
Toroi inwardly groaned.
He was indeed an elite jonin of Kumogakure, and he was indeed loyal to the village.
But loyalty did not mean throwing his life away mindlessly.
If Lord Raikage were still here, if there were even a sliver of hope left, he would willingly charge into battle alongside him, even if it meant dying on the battlefield.
But what was the situation now?
The other side wasn't even trying to kill them.
Shouting "Loyalty!" and "Long live Kumogakure!" while charging forward to fight them to the death would be nothing but a pointless suicide.
He was willing to risk his life for Kumogakure, but he absolutely refused to become worthless cannon fodder like that.
Besides, what if he got hotheaded, charged in, and was killed instantly, only for his comrades behind him to see things going south and surrender right away...
Wouldn't he have died for nothing?
His death would be utterly worthless, and those who surrendered might even laugh at him for being a fool!
The shrewd Toroi would never take such a losing deal!
"You... you people..."
Seeing Toroi back down as well, the scarred jonin trembled with rage. He pointed a shaking finger at Dodai and Toroi, finally forcing a few words through clenched teeth:
"You coward from Sunagakure!"
He seemed to be trying to goad Toroi with his words, but Toroi merely turned his head aside and pretended not to hear.
When the scarred jonin saw that his