“I know what you’re thinking.” Aoki kept his eyes on Fū while discreetly scanning the surrounding forest.
“The one controlling him should be somewhere nearby.” “Once we’ve subdued Fū, we’ll find that bastard and kill him.” At the same time, another thought crossed his mind.
Why was the enemy only using this strange technique to attack them instead of launching a full assault?
…Wait.
Could it be…
There was only one enemy?
A savage grin spread across Aoki’s face.
“Konoha’s ninja really have some nerve.” “One person actually dared to chase us.” “Just one?” Arashi stared in disbelief.
Who could be that reckless?
One of the Sannin?
But if it were one of them, they would’ve attacked head-on already.
“Still not coming out?” Aoki sneered at the surrounding forest.
“I have a way to make you show yourself.” Before he could do anything else, Fū suddenly lunged toward him with a shuriken in hand.
“Stop!” Aoki instantly retreated, yanked Kushina off his shoulder, and pressed a kunai against her neck.
“Or I’ll kill her!” Sure enough…
Fū froze.
A mocking smile appeared on Aoki’s face.
Just as I thought.
The person pursuing them was clearly connected to this little girl.
How naive.
“Now come out.” “Or I’ll kill her.” “Alright.” Akira slowly stepped down from the trees, his eyes fixed warily on Aoki.
“A kid?” Aoki’s eyes widened in shock.
Then his expression twisted with envy.
“Konoha really is a cradle of geniuses.” Why didn’t the Land of Lightning have this kind of luck?
…Whatever.
So what if he was a genius?
A dead genius was worthless.
Since this boy had delivered himself to their doorstep…
He would kill him.
Raikō’s sacrifice had been worth it.
At least they could take a Konoha genius down with them.
“Let her go.” “We can talk.” “Trying to stall for time?” Aoki smirked as though he’d seen through everything.
“Enough nonsense.” “Release Fū.” “Or I’ll kill her.” As he spoke, he tightened his grip around Kushina.
“Don’t worry about me!” Tears streamed down Kushina’s face.
“I don’t regret anything!” “Just leave!” “Knowing you in this lifetime has already been enough for me!” “It’s better for one of us to die than both!” “Run!” She knew exactly what they were facing.
These four were elite shinobi.
One of them was even a Jonin.
Akira couldn’t possibly win.
He had only managed to kill one through surprise.
“You two really do care about each other.” Aoki put on an exaggerated expression of being “moved.” “I’m almost touched.” “Hahahaha!” Then his face became vicious once more.
“I said…” “Release Fū!” “Tch.” Akira looked unwilling, but he slowly formed the hand seals to release the technique.
The next instant…
Fū felt the invisible restraint vanish.
His body was finally his own again.
Rage exploded inside him.
He charged straight toward Akira.
He was going to make this brat pay.
“You want to die?!” Akira shouted angrily as he drew a kunai and moved to attack.
“Don’t move!” Aoki roared.
“Do you want this girl to die?!” Akira’s expression changed.
The hand holding his kunai slowly lowered.
Seeing that, Fū’s grin became even more twisted.
He rushed in and began punching and kicking Akira relentlessly.
“Weren’t you acting all high and mighty?!” “Didn’t you enjoy controlling other people’s bodies?!” “Go on!” “Do it again!” “Get up!” “Come on!” Throughout the beating, Akira never looked at Fū.
Instead…
His eyes remained locked on Aoki.
More specifically…
On the arm holding Kushina hostage.
It was as if he were waiting for the perfect opportunity.
“Enough.” Aoki frowned impatiently.
“Kill him already.” “We need to leave before Konoha’s pursuit team catches up.” “Looks like your plan to stall for time has failed, brat.” Fū laughed viciously.
Picking up the kunai Akira had dropped moments ago, he raised it high.
“Don’t blame me.” “If you want to blame someone…” “Blame this cursed world.” “We were all born into it.” For a brief moment…
A trace of sadness flickered through Fū’s eyes.
But it was immediately swallowed by madness.
He drove the kunai toward Akira’s abdomen.
Slash!
The blade sank into flesh.
Akira’s eyes widened, struggling as though making one final attempt to survive.
Fū’s excitement reached its peak.
“Hahaha!” “Yes!” “That’s the look!” “Perfect!” “Let’s go.” Seeing Akira collapse, Aoki hoisted Kushina back onto his shoulder.
“I thought it was someone important.” “So it was just a brat.” Trying to play the hero and save the damsel?
Ridiculous.
Did the kid read too many novels?
“Akira…” Kushina looked at Akira’s motionless body in agony.
At that moment…
It felt as though her heart had shattered.
Losing the person she loved…
The pain was unbearable.
Her eyes suddenly hardened.
She bit down fiercely on Aoki’s shoulder.
“You little brat!” Annoyed, Aoki flung her away.
“I’ll teach you a lesson first!” At that exact instant— Everything changed.
A five-colored string suddenly descended from the sky.
It wrapped around Kushina’s body and whisked her away in an instant.
At the same time…
The “Akira” Fū had just killed exploded.
Instead of blood and flesh…
It burst into countless flying strings that instantly surrounded Fū.
“Razor String.” “Die.” “Sav—” Slash!
Fū didn’t even have time to react.
His body was diced into countless tiny pieces.
“Tsk.” Floating in the air while holding Kushina safely in his arms, Akira looked down at the remaining Hidden Cloud ninja with utter contempt.
“I thought Hidden Cloud ninja were supposed to have incredibly tough bodies.” “After seeing them for myself…” “They’re nothing special.” “It’s you?!” Aoki stared at him in horror.
If that was him…
Then who had they just killed?
He turned around.
Fū had already been reduced to minced flesh.
“Damn it!” “I got careless!” This brat…
Maybe he wasn’t just an ordinary child after all.