"What are you planning to do?!"
"Huh?!"
A voice familiar to the Cloud Shinobi rang out. Beside the medical ninja, the Third Raikage raised his head and roared at the Cloud Shinobi ahead!
With the light behind him, his face was shrouded in shadow, making his expression impossible to see.
"I've already lost! What do you think you're doing?!"
His powerful roar made the Cloud Shinobi lower their blades.
Of course, the Third Raikage wasn't doing this for some so-called honor. Though gravely injured, he could still think clearly. They could take the enemy down, but then what?
How many of Kumogakure's last seven thousand elite troops would remain?
Did they really think these were all the people Konoha had? If they attacked here, the Third Hokage could lead an army out tomorrow. What would Kumogakure use to stop him?
He might even bring his three students. Lay a hand on his close friend? The Shinobi World's biggest gang of thugs was no joke.
"Let them go!! Cough..."
The Third Raikage shouted those words, then began coughing violently. The medical ninja beside him hurriedly rubbed his back while continuing to treat the wounds that kept seeping blood from his agitation.
The Third Raikage's heart was filled with sorrow. He knew Kumogakure would have to leave the Shinobi World War's gaming table for the next few years.
The Konoha group exchanged glances, then looked at the bare-chested Danzo.
"Go!"
Yūma and Ayano quickly propped Takahashi Yū up between them. The others surrounded him as they rushed toward the Land of Fire.
The Cloud Shinobi along the way dared not stop them and could only watch them leave in frustration.
They ran at full speed. Though they had yet to meet up with Konoha's troops, the growing number of trees characteristic of the Land of Fire made their taut nerves ease despite themselves.
"How's Takahashi doing?"
Danzo raced ahead of the others and turned to ask Ayano.
The others also cast admiring looks at Takahashi Yū. He had defeated the Third Raikage. Even the invincible Raikage now had a defeat to his name.
"His body is recovering incredibly quickly. He just needs to replenish his energy as soon as possible!" Ayano said as she supported Takahashi Yū.
Danzo said nothing more at that. He merely squeezed more chakra out of his body in silence and quickened his pace.
Takahashi Yū actually wanted to tell them that his injuries really weren't that serious. They just looked frightening. He was just very hungry right now!
So hungry that even Nara Yūma, who was supporting him, smelled delicious!
He wanted to ask him whether his meat tasted good.
Takahashi Yū shook his head, a surge of horror rising within him!
Oh no. Maybe it really is pretty serious!
Under Danzo's lead, the group picked up speed. Konoha's ninja forces were still following Danzo's last orders.
They had already set up a crude temporary camp twenty li behind their original camp.
Most of the ninja had gone to help at the field hospital. Quite a few Konoha ninja had been wounded this time, most of them caught in the fallout of Takahashi Yū and the Third Raikage's battle.
Some ninja were also patrolling the dense woods nearby. Ninja on missions were already extremely vigilant in ordinary times, let alone during a war.
Danzo burst out of the dense woods, immediately found the ninja patrolling the perimeter, and roared at them:
"Takahashi Yū defeated the Third Raikage! He's gravely injured! Tell the medical ninja to free themselves up!"
After that, he took a deep breath to steady himself. His chakra was almost exhausted.
The patrolling Konoha ninja dared not delay upon hearing this. Still full of energy, they burst into a sprint at a speed that surprised even themselves.
They soon ran back to camp and shouted to the ninja there:
"Lord Takahashi Yū won! He's gravely injured! Get the medical ninja!!"
Even after shouting Danzo's message, they still found it somewhat unbelievable.
News of his victorious return with grave injuries spread through the camp at tremendous speed.
The Third Raikage's fearsome reputation intimidated the Shinobi World. Those on the Land of Lightning front were among the people who knew his strength best.
Throughout his time on the Land of Lightning front, the patrolling ninja had never seen the Raikage get injured!
Even Lord Danzo's schemes had never worked!
Someone who had cast such an enormous shadow over the Konoha ninja's hearts had actually fallen to Takahashi Yū less than a day after the Undying Squad arrived as reinforcements!
Invincible!!
Those receiving treatment from medical ninja at the temporary field hospital all asked them to save their chakra, saying that their own treatment could wait.
Several medical ninja quickly ran to the camp entrance, but the ninja patrolling nearby were even faster and had already crowded the entrance.
By the time Takahashi Yū's group raced to the temporary camp, a sea of people was waiting. Everyone who could move had come.
They had gathered of their own accord, yet remained silent, simply watching Takahashi Yū as he was supported between the others, as though trying to engrave his appearance in their hearts.
They had been here since the war began. Konoha was fighting on four fronts and simply couldn't find anyone to rotate them out.
The shadow the Third Raikage had cast over them was immense, shrouding their hearts. Every battle was a gamble, a prayer that the Raikage wouldn't set his sights on them.
The medical ninja gasped at the wounds covering Takahashi Yū's body. Puncture wounds, electrical burns, and open wounds were everywhere, though they were no longer bleeding.
They hurriedly set down a stretcher, intending to carry him into the temporary hospital.
Takahashi Yū no longer wanted to endure it. He forced out a little strength, pushed away Ayano and Yūma, who were supporting him, and refused the medical ninja.
"Bring on the food!!!"
His powerful voice dispelled the Konoha ninja's fear of the Raikage.
Now their fear had shifted to Takahashi Yū...
"This is the last bag of rice in our front's supplies..."
"Stop talking and go hunt for Lord Takahashi Yū! Do you want him asking, 'Does your meat taste good?' again?"
The ninja watching nearby closed their mouths, which had fallen open in shock, and hurried off into the distance. They were going to search for wild animals frightened away by people or the sounds of battle.
At the camp entrance, Takahashi Yū devoured the food before him like a starving ghost. His stomach was like a pulverizer, grinding up food the moment it entered and turning it into nutrients to supply every part of his body.
White smoke kept rising from his wounds, accompanied by sizzling sounds, as his flesh recovered at incredible speed.
At first, the ninja had brought Takahashi Yū prepared meals. Now, they had moved all the camp's food supplies outside, placing them beside him as soon as they were cooked. Takahashi Yū had even mistakenly bitten a few chunks out of the pots.
The medical ninja had gone from trying to stop him to questioning everything they knew.
Danzo watched from behind Takahashi Yū for a long time before finally heading toward the newly erected tent with a complicated look in his eyes.
Monkey, you said in your letter that Takahashi Yū had no feelings for Konoha, but that isn't what I'm seeing...
You said Takahashi Yū asked for a large plot of vacant land, claiming he wanted to grow food, but you didn't believe him and insisted I keep an eye on him.
But I think that really is all there is to it! A man like him wouldn't lie. Besides...
Danzo recalled Takahashi Yū's appetite and table manners and shook his head bitterly.
Have you gone senile, or was this a deliberate scheme to turn Takahashi Yū and me against each other...?
Close friends for so many years... How could it come to this!
Before you continue