Rain poured down in torrents, rousing several unconscious Uchiha children. They shivered in the cold downpour, sobbing their hearts out.
They were still young and did not yet understand what Susanoo meant to the Uchiha.
But its warm radiance told them they had been saved. With safety came the fear of what they had just survived, and they crowded around Xihuo, crying miserably.
It was enough to break anyone's heart and bring tears to their eyes.
Ah... troublesome little brats.
Xihuo scratched his head.
When the Konoha group arrived, all they saw was an orange-red Susanoo and bloody remains scattered across the ground.
The Susanoo looked a little wider than last time, its interior crammed with little children in Uchiha clothing sheltering from the rain.
Xihuo stood rooted to the spot, looking somewhat at a loss as they clung to his legs.
He was lifting a child who looked only two or three years old. This was the poor little fellow who had been used as a hostage earlier.
The back of his neck was bruised purple from the Jashin Cult followers' rough grip. Between the pain and terror, he was crying harder than any of the other children.
"You, stop crying."
Xihuo held the child under his arms as though picking up a cat and tried to soothe him, only to watch him cry even harder.
The child was already frightened, and the way he was being held was particularly uncomfortable. His body shook with sobs as he flailed his arms.
Then he caught a thin cord securing the mask and unconsciously tugged it.
The silver-white mask fell off, struck some unlucky child's head, and dropped to the ground.
Xihuo instinctively tried to cover his face, drawing his arms back, but both hands were holding the child.
He froze