"Itachi, are you all right?"
Tenzo gently supported Itachi's slightly weakened body and asked softly.
"I'm all right. My eyesight has deteriorated quite a bit, but it's still within an acceptable range."
Itachi gently wiped away the bloody tears at the corners of his eyes, looking at his bloodstained index finger with vision far blurrier than before.
"It's just that we failed to keep him here this time."
He closed his eyes, but he did not lower his guard. After all, no one could be certain whether the man in the white mask would come back to attack.
"The man in the white mask was driven off!"
"Who are those two? What was that terrifying giant humanoid creature just now?"
"My house! It's ruined! It's all ruined!"
"Shibuki, you're here."
The battle gradually subsided, but the village's once-peaceful streets had been reduced to rubble.
As the smoke and dust in the air slowly dispersed, quite a few Takigakure ninja poked their heads out, looking at Tenzo and Itachi, who remained where they were, and murmuring among themselves.
Just then, a figure walked through the ninja. His breathing was somewhat hurried, and it was clear that rushing over had exhausted him.
"Is the battle over already?"
Shibuki let out a breath as he looked at the two standing on the battlefield, his anxious heart finally settling.
Although the village's streets had been damaged, as long as everyone was all right, they could still rebuild them later.
"Yes, that's right. It's over."
Tenzo released the hand supporting Itachi almost imperceptibly and turned to Shibuki.
"That's good. Thank you both so much for this (ง •̀灬•́)ง."
A smile finally appeared on Shibuki's face. From the traces of the battle, he could tell that the intruder was definitely not someone Takigakure could handle.
His