The blood was hot.
Ryuto held Rena, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
Rena lay in his arms, so light she seemed weightless. The kunai was still lodged in her chest, and blood had stained both their clothes red, leaving them wet and clinging to their bodies.
Her eyes were still open, but lifeless. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
"Re... na..."
Ryuto forced the name out of his throat, his voice so hoarse it hardly sounded like his own.
His head buzzed.
Why?
Why should he have to?
Was he just supposed to lie here, unable to move, and watch?
Shouts and explosions still rang out in the distance, but they sounded muffled, as though behind a thick pane of glass.
All he could hear was Rena's faint breathing in his arms, one breath after another.
Growing slower and slower.
"Over there! The kid with the strange power!"
"He's done for! He's kneeling there and can't move!"
"This is our chance!"
Several shouts came from the other side of the woods.
Ryuto didn't look up.
All he could see was Rena's pale face.
Four or five figures rushed into the clearing.
They were ninja from the Hyuga Clan, three of them. There were also two from the Kaguya Clan, bloodstained and grinning.
The Hyuga jonin in the lead had his Byakugan fully activated and a scar on his face.
He stared at Ryuto, then looked at Rena in his arms.
"A girl from the Uzumaki Clan? Hmph. That saves us some trouble."
"Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki are tied up. They won't get here in time to save you."
"Ryuto, you're coming with us. The Hyuga Clan needs to 'study' your power."
The scar-faced Hyuga jonin advanced as he spoke, while the other two Hyuga ninja moved to flank