The sea breeze carried a damp, cold tang of salt across the desolate Rocky Shore. Under the steady flow of senjutsu chakra Ling supplied to heal her, a trace of color returned to Terumi Amagasaki's pale face. Though still weak, she was fully conscious now. As she looked at the Konoha boy before her, younger than herself yet possessed of incredible power, her heart filled with awe and tangled gratitude.
"Ling Hatake of Konoha... I'll remember that." She struggled to prop herself up against a rock. "Thank you... for saving me. That place beneath the sea... that place..."
A flicker of fear crossed her eyes, then gave way to resolute anger. "I must see Lady Mizukage immediately! Those monsters... they were draining our power... and they wanted to perform something called 'Abyssal Communication'!"
Ling nodded and withdrew his healing chakra. "Your injuries are stable for now, but you'll need further treatment. I'll escort you to the outskirts of Kirigakure."
He needed to get Terumi Amagasaki back safely, but appearing openly himself could still provoke a conflict. The best approach was to let her enter Kirigakure alone to deliver her report while he observed from hiding and waited for the village leadership's response.
Yet just as Ling was about to set off with Terumi Amagasaki, his senjutsu perception suddenly caught a familiar presence-a cold, razor-sharp chakra rapidly approaching the shore! That intense killing intent stood out like a beacon in the night. He knew it all too well-Zabuza Momochi!
Ling's gaze sharpened. In an instant, he took Terumi Amagasaki behind an enormous rock and concealed them both.
Moments later, a tall figure landed on the beach nearby. It was Zabuza Momochi, carrying the Kubikiribōchō on his back and wearing a Kirigakure Anbu mask. His sharp eyes swept the coastline like a