After giving the order, Ao raised a hand to straighten his forehead protector, stood up, and headed out of the ship.
A ninja beside him asked in confusion:
"Lord Ao, didn't you say everyone should rest? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to the island to keep watch over Funato Daika."
"You've just been through a fierce battle, and you're injured. Let us go instead."
"No..." Ao shook his head expressionlessly.
"Lady Mizukage went to great lengths to capture the Funato Clan's leader. Nothing can go wrong. I wouldn't feel reassured sending anyone else..."
"Besides, my injuries are nothing. They're not serious."
Hearing this, the Kirigakure ninja no longer wanted to rest either and rose to their feet.
"Then we'll go with you! If something does happen, we can help."
"No need. Stay here and watch over Funato's widow."
With those words, Ao went ashore alone, his expression grave.
For some reason, the eyelid over his Byakugan kept twitching.
This had never happened before.
"Strange. Is it because I overused my eye today?"
"Or... is something bad going to happen?"
At that thought, Ao's expression tightened slightly, and he hurried toward the island's highest point.
When he reached the barrier, everything before him was unchanged, without a hint of danger.
The ninja maintaining the barrier nodded in greeting when they saw him. "Lord Ao, you're here."
"Yes. How is it? Can you keep this up?"
"Of course. We've been following Lady Mizukage's instructions and rotating every thirty minutes. We've had enough time to rest, so we have more than enough chakra."
"Good." Ao gradually relaxed.
It seemed he had been worrying too much...
Ao walked slowly up to the barrier, looked at Funato Daika inside, and sneered coldly.
"Funato Daika, you'll be staying in Kirigakure from now on."
"Thinking of