Just as Hozuki Mangetsu led several powerful fighters in protecting Mei Terumi as she broke through the encirclement, a figure in a tattered black robe and a beaked mask finally approached Kirigakure's battle line under the cover of numerous cursed spirits and rats.
There was no helping it. Sickly Ghost was simply too fragile.
So fragile that either the earlier barrage of ninjutsu or the explosive tags that went off from time to time could kill him.
On this battlefield fraught with danger, all he could do was tread carefully, avoid attracting anyone's attention, and then reach the heart of the enemy's ranks to deliver that fatal thrust!
Ao's reaction was anything but slow. The instant he heard that voice, he knew something was definitely wrong!
Someone on the enemy's side must have set their sights on him.
So he immediately chose to retreat.
It was not because he was chickening out, nor because he feared death.
Rather, at this critical juncture, nothing could be allowed to happen to him!
If something happened to him while Mei Terumi was trapped within the enemy ranks, the leaderless Kirigakure forces would immediately face the danger of total annihilation!
This was not alarmism. Kirigakure truly had no one else available right now.
They could hardly expect Lord Genji, who might go to his grave at any moment, to come command them on such a dangerous battlefield!
As he decisively withdrew, he remained calm, immediately activating his Byakugan to search for whoever had just spoken while watching for attacks from any direction.
Strangely, however, he found no enemies attacking him.
I can't let my guard down. Just to be safe, I should retreat farther.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he finally saw a figure in a tattered black robe and a beaked