Chapter 37: Clearing the Area

With the Sharingan's extraordinary dynamic vision, Kai deftly dodged the desperate attack from the last Iwa ninja before swiftly ending his life. He sighed, looking at the eight lifeless bodies scattered around. The pervasive stench of blood made him feel nauseous, but he felt no sympathy for the fallen Iwa ninjas.

In the heart of war, it was kill or be killed. Kai had long become indifferent to this reality. He wasn't a psychopath who enjoyed killing, but he also didn't shy away from it.

"Life is too fragile. You could say you've found release," Kai murmured to himself, sighing again as he retrieved another soldier pill. This was his third pill in twenty-four hours. He didn't like relying on them, but he had no choice.

Although these pills had some side effects, they were minor compared to their benefits. Having something was better than nothing, and Kai wasn't in a position to be picky. Sheathing his sword, he didn't spare another glance at the fallen Iwa ninjas and set off towards Kenta's position.

Minato's battle was likely nearing its end, and he might even be helping Kai clear out the remaining weaker Iwa ninjas. Kenta's situation was more uncertain. Although Kai didn't care much about Kenta's fate, having one more ally was advantageous.

Kenta's exceptional recovery ability made him the best among them, and Kai knew he needed his strength. After running about five hundred meters to the left, Kai began noticing bodies on the ground. A quick inspection revealed a common trait among them: fatal sword wounds.

Unlike Kai's swift, one-strike kills, these bodies showed signs of prolonged struggle before succumbing to fatal injuries. Following the trail of corpses, Kai soon found Kenta emerging from behind a large tree, charging at a group of Iwa ninjas.

Kenta's speed was like a flash of light. In an instant, he was upon the Iwa ninja, striking with a thunderous blow that left no room for reaction. The ninja didn't even have time to draw his kunai before his life ended.

"Watch out!" The remaining Iwa ninjas barely had time to react to their comrade's shout.

Kenta didn't pause. His next strike swiftly killed the one who had shouted the warning. Two Iwa ninjas fell in quick succession, leaving the others in a state of panic. They quickly drew their weapons and prepared to defend against Kenta, who had temporarily halted his advance.

Seeing this, Kai knew that stealth was no longer an option. The upcoming fight would be a direct confrontation.

"Consider yourself lucky. I didn't expect that since taking this mission, I've gotten into the habit of saving people."

Kai mocked himself. Since entering the battlefield, he had been extremely selfish and self-serving. Not killing his teammates was already an act of great kindness. He had once used a teammate as a shield against an enemy's jutsu in a desperate situation.

Saving people now was purely out of necessity for this damn mission. Konoha ninjas would never believe that the Kai who saved so many prisoners behind enemy lines could be such a person.

With that thought, Kai threw two kunai. The Iwa ninjas, already on edge, responded like startled birds, throwing their own kunai to intercept his. Kenta's earlier ambush had clearly left a deep impression on them, making them overly cautious.

What they didn't realize was that they were facing someone even more skilled in ambush tactics than Kenta.

Seizing the moment when the Iwa ninjas were distracted by the kunai, Kai launched himself forward. Even without using the Body Flicker Technique, his speed was impressive. As the kunai collided in mid-air, Kai was already at the side of one Iwa ninja.

This ninja wasn't foolish and instinctively swung his kunai, but against the Sharingan, his movements were slow and predictable. Kai's blade found its mark, and the ninja's scream echoed as he fell, his voice distorted by the pain.

This terrifying scene deeply unsettled the last Iwa ninja. Kai could see his hand trembling as he gripped his kunai. He shook his head, knowing this ninja's fate was sealed. Kenta was already behind him, ready to strike.

"Thanks for the rescue, Captain," Kenta said, wiping blood from his blade with a disarmingly innocent smile.

However, in the midst of this blood-soaked battlefield, his smile seemed eerily out of place.

"Of course, I had to save you. Who else would block the enemy's jutsu for me?" Kai sheathed his sword. "Is everything cleaned up?"

"Mostly," Kenta replied, unfazed by Kai's words. "I'm not sure how many Minato-senpai took care of, but I think it's nearly done."

Clearly, Kenta had noticed Minato's earlier actions and assumed he had dealt with the enemies. If Minato hadn't appeared yet, it meant he was likely clearing out other Iwa ninjas or scouting ahead.

Nodding, Kai suddenly sensed a presence behind him. Minato stood there, as silent as a ghost.

The Flying Thunder God Technique truly lived up to its reputation as one of the most fearsome and mysterious jutsu in the Naruto world. It was unmatched for assassination and ambush.

"Kai-kun, I've located the target," Minato said without preamble. "But it could be troublesome."

(Chapter End)