After everyone left, a puddle of yellowish water remained where Pakkun had been lying, proof that he had been scared into wetting himself. A giant pitcher plant poked out of the ground beside the puddle.
"Ugh... what is that smell? It stinks!"
"Why did you choose to come out where a dog peed..."
"It's not like I had a choice!"
Splash—!
A heavy object fell into the water, and the instant it touched the surface, it was like tossing a red-hot branding iron into water.
Sizzle—!
Steam surged upward. Fish killed by the instantly boiling water floated belly-up on the surface.
"Naruto!"
"Naruto!"
Yakushi Nonō and Mikoto Uchiha anxiously watched Naruto as the Nine-Tails Chakra vaporized the skin all over her body, exposing red flesh beneath. A Tailed Beast Cloak formed from Nine-Tails Chakra wrapped around her, and her skin rapidly regenerated.
Naruto slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the two women anxiously looking at her, she glanced around.
"Where... is the Hyuga Clan member?"
"Over there."
Mikoto Uchiha pointed at Haruki Hyuga, who was floating on the water not far away.
"Hurry... take him and leave this place. With Kakashi's Ninja Hound here, they should catch up soon. ΨΨ" Naruto leaned weakly against Mikoto Uchiha's chest, exhaustion in her eyes.
"Naruto, you were too reckless!"
The eye controlled by the Nine-Tails slammed hard into Naruto's face. The little tail behind the eyeball lashed about irritably as the Nine-Tails glared at her.
Naruto opened her mouth to cry out in pain, but she was too exhausted to even do that. She did not want to move at all. Her body felt like it was falling apart.
"Sorry, Nine-Tails. I made you worry, but this was the only way to escape. I couldn't just leave them behind..."
"Don't let it happen again!"
"Mm..."
Mikoto Uchiha carried Naruto, who looked as though she had fallen asleep, and ran over the water as if it were level ground. "That Hyuga Clan guy is up to you, Nonō~! I'm taking Naruto and leaving first."
"Ah... sigh... I wanted to carry Naruto too..."
Yakushi Nonō reached out and watched Mikoto Uchiha's retreating back, then sighed helplessly. Grabbing Haruki Hyuga by the collar, she slung him over her shoulder and chased after them.
Led by the Ninja Hound Pakkun, Kakashi and the others quickly arrived at the spot. Pakkun sniffed the scent in the air.
"That way!"
Pakkun caught the faint trace of scent left behind after Naruto had fallen into the water, weakening the smell.
The moment Pakkun landed on shore, he smelled burning paper. Looking down, his dog eyes widened as though they were about to pop out of their sockets. Just as the Explosive Tag was about to detonate, a piece of wood extended from behind him and formed a shield in front of him.
Boom—!
"I never thought they'd bury Explosive Tags here..." Pakkun, having narrowly escaped death, looked gratefully at Yamato. "As thanks, I'll let you touch my paw pads!"
"I appreciate the thought..."
Yamato had no desire whatsoever to touch Pakkun, who had an old man's face. Looking at those pink paw pads, he took several steps back.
"Alright, Pakkun, keep tracking them! We have to rescue Haruki Hyuga before they do anything to him!"
Several miles away, Yakushi Nonō heard the explosion and glanced in its direction.
"The Explosive Tag was triggered. I think they'll catch up soon."
"Konohagakure ninja really are relentless..."
Naruto opened her weary eyes, irritation flickering in her azure gaze. Seeing Haruki Hyuga over Yakushi Nonō's shoulder, she pursed her lips. "I think they're probably chasing us to save him."
"Stop..."
Yakushi Nonō and Mikoto Uchiha stopped when they heard Naruto. Naruto stood up, her small body swaying before Mikoto Uchiha caught her in time.
"I'm fine..."
A bright smile appeared on Naruto's pale face.
"I just want Konohagakure's ninja to answer a multiple-choice question. Nonō, help me pry open his eyes..."
Haruki Hyuga, who had long since awakened and was pretending to be unconscious, immediately opened his eyes and glared at Naruto.
"What do you want to do to me?!"
"Of course... dig out your eyes~!"
"Let me go!"
Haruki Hyuga struggled violently, trying to release Chakra from his chakra points to break free of Yakushi Nonō's restraint. However, Yakushi Nonō swiftly used a Chakra Scalpel to sever the tendons in his hands and feet, turning him into a cripple who could only move his head.
"Naruto..."
Seeing Naruto's fingers reach toward Haruki Hyuga's eyes, Mikoto Uchiha could not bear to watch and closed her eyes.
"You should understand what Konohagakure once did to your Uchiha Clan, shouldn't you?"
"Konohagakure sent people after me because of the Nine-Tails sealed inside me... Then they should have considered what I might do to the people they sent..."
Naruto's fingers slowly reached toward Haruki Hyuga's eyes. Watching them draw nearer, Haruki Hyuga twisted his body, trying to get away from Naruto. A grown man screamed in terror like a little girl.
"No! No! Ah—!!!"
Naruto's fingers pierced Haruki Hyuga's eye. Watching him howl in agony, Naruto knew that having one's eye torn out while still alive had to be an indescribable pain.
A chillingly bright smile rested on Naruto's face, madness in her eyes and ferocity between her brows. Yakushi Nonō and Mikoto Uchiha both felt an inexplicable chill rise within them.
With a sinister grin, Naruto yanked hard and tore Haruki Hyuga's eye out. Blood sprayed from the hollow eye socket, staining Naruto's pale face red.
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