Chapter 3: Difficult Choices and New Threats

Chapter 3: Difficult Decisions and New Threats

The heat of blood still permeated the air as Kaito went through the fallen ninja's belongings.

His fingers, skillful and precise, found basic medical supplies and some useful tools for the road.

With the skill gained in his previous life, he used acupuncture to immobilize the unconscious ninjas. He made sure that if they woke up, they couldn't follow them.

The option of killing them crossed his mind, like a shadow lurking on the edge of consciousness. But the thought of taking a life made him sick to his stomach.

His oath as a doctor, an anchor of his past, held him back.

Although he was in a world where life and death were decided in the blink of an eye, he still held onto those principles.

Saving lives, not taking them, was what he had to do, whether they lived or not was no longer his problem as long as it is not a life or death situation I have no need to get my hands dirty.

Kushina was breathing heavily next to him, the pain still latent on her face. Kaito, now with the resources of the ninjas, improved the treatment of his wounds.

The bandages and ointments that he carefully applied accelerated his recovery.

Soon, he noticed her more relaxed, her expression softening as relief replaced the suffering.

The silence between them grew heavy, laden with unasked questions and answers Kaito was unwilling to give.

Kaito's hands, covered in blood and ointments, moved with precision, as the tension grew between them like a rope stretched to its limit.

"Where are you from?" Kushina's voice was soft, but curiosity shone in her eyes despite her exhaustion.

Kaito paused, his fingers pausing over the bandages.

"From far away," he responded, his tone evasive, not looking directly at her.

"I'm just passing through."

"Why are you helping me?" Kushina insisted, her green eyes fixing on him, searching for something more than a simple answer.

Kaito looked at her for a moment, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.

"Because you were in danger," he answered, returning to his task.

"I couldn't leave you here hurt."

The silence grew deeper, each word echoing between them like an echo in a cave.

Kushina watched him, still filled with doubt, but Kaito didn't budge.

He had shared enough.

Any additional details would only complicate things.

When Kushina was finally able to stand up without wobbling, Kaito felt the weight on his chest lighten, but only for a moment. He knew it was time to part ways. 

He had already intervened too much in this world, the reason is that although he had to change the world, but if it caused the protagonist of the story not to be born, what would happen? How twisted the world would become, it was something that he was not sure he could face current.

"You should head west," he said, pointing the way with a firm hand.

It will probably take you to Konoha.

I found those ninjas coming from that direction.

If you want to return home you should go that way.

Kushina nodded slowly, although something in her eyes revealed that she wasn't completely convinced.

"Thank you, Kaito. But... what about you? Won't you come with me?"

Kaito shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I have to follow my own path. My destiny was not to go to Konoha in the first place."

Kushina looked at him with a mix of frustration and sadness, her voice shaking as she spoke. "I don't want to go back alone," she admitted, her voice now a whisper thick with fear. "Please stay with me."

Kaito felt a knot form in his stomach.

He knew that Kushina spoke from fear, but he also understood that her mission was much more complicated than he thought. 

"I can't, Kushina," he said softly. "You must return to Konoha. It is where you will be safe."

"You don't understand!" she exclaimed, her voice breaking, her eyes filled with a desperation he hadn't anticipated. "I don't want to go back to that place again."

Before Kaito could respond, a dark presence emerged from the trees, cutting through the air like a blade. Kaito was instantly alert.

A group of ninjas appeared from the shadows, their movements were precise and calculated.

Their masks were the characteristics of the ANBU, but something about them didn't fit; Their masks seemed stained with more than just paint.

"ANBU!" Kushina exclaimed, her body immediately tensing.

The leader of the group took a step forward, his voice as cold as the wind blowing through the trees.

"We have come to escort you back to Konoha, Lady Kushina."

Kaito moved instinctively, placing Kushina behind him. "Who are you?" he asked firmly, his gaze fixed on the leader and the bodies of the ninja he had defeated had been killed without Kaito realizing it.

"I won't let them take her without knowing who they are first."

The ANBU tilted his head slightly, his voice now laden with thinly veiled threat.

"We are Konoha ninjas. Our duty is to protect her."

Kaito didn't believe a single word.

There was something dark about them, something he couldn't ignore.

"Really?" he replied, his voice thick with distrust.

"Why didn't they intervene when they attacked us before? 

The ANBU leader remained silent, but Kaito had already decided.

The threat was real, and he was not going to let Kushina fall into his hands.

Kaito knew he couldn't allow himself to hesitate.

The ANBU in front of him were not simple soldiers; There was something dark about her presence, something that made him feel a pang of alarm inside him.

Kushina, despite her injuries, stood firm at his side, but he could feel the tremor in her hand as he took it, a silent gesture of protection.

The ANBU leader took another step forward, his white mask shining in the light filtered through the leaves of the trees.

"It is none of your business, stranger. "Hand over the kunoichi and we will let you go."

Kaito didn't respond immediately.

His eyes swept over each of the ANBU, memorizing their positions, their movements, and searching for any sign of weakness.

Although his body was tense, his mind remained cold, analytical.

He knew the odds were not in his favor, but he also couldn't allow Kushina to fall into unknown hands.

I looked at Kushina and remembered her words, I don't want to go back.

There, remembering the original story, Kushina had to be saved by Minato, thus causing their relationship to become part of the main story, but so far there has been no trace of Minato even when the battle was developing and In their place came these ambus, which not only show my distrust of them but also the system window has marked them as Hostile entities for a while.

Second Objective Achieved: 

Deliver Kushina to the hands of the root.

Or 

Help Kushina leave the country of fire.

Hostile presence identifier.

Unknown Names.

Ambu Konoha Root Affiliation.

Knowing the history he would know that nothing good would come if they took Kushina.

And Remembering the leader who had to lead the Ambu Root knew that nothing good would come of it.

With my mind steady I responded.

"I don't trust you," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "If they are really from Konoha, they should prove it."

The ANBU leader let out a long, tired sigh.

"We don't have time for games, kid."

In the blink of an eye, one of the ANBU moved towards Kaito, his speed superhuman. Kaito barely had time to react, raising his hand and unleashing a blast of fire from his palm.

Blue flames engulfed the ninja, forcing him to step back with a gasp.

The heat was so intense that the leaves on the ground began to burn, creating a circle of fire around them.

"Kushina, run!" Kaito shouted, not taking his eyes off the ANBU.

She knew her only hope was to keep them distracted long enough for her to escape.

"Don't look back!"

But Kushina didn't move.

His gaze remained fixed on Kaito, and a determination shone in his eyes that surprised him.

"I won't leave you here," he said, his voice shaking, but resolute.

"Don't be stupid! Go now!" Kaito roared, but his words were lost in the sound of drawn swords.

Two of the remaining ANBU lunged at him, coordinated like wolves stalking their prey. Kaito had no choice but to face them.

He spun on his heel, dodging the first attack as his leg swept through the air, crashing into the abdomen of one of the ninjas.

The impact resonated, but it was not enough to stop them.

The second ANBU was already upon him, his kunai tracing a deadly arc towards Kaito's neck.

At the last second, Kaito raised his arm, summoning a wall of fire that stopped the attack, but the heat of the flames burned his skin.

"Curse!" Kaito stepped back, feeling the stinging pain in his arm.

The flames he had conjured disappeared, leaving a trail of smoke in their wake.

I knew I couldn't keep up that pace for long.

Every movement cost energy, and the ANBU knew it.

They were playing with him, wearing him down little by little.

The ANBU leader approached, moving like a shadow, his presence ominous and controlled.

"It's useless to resist, boy," he said, his voice calm but implacable. "You can't protect her."

Kaito didn't respond, his thoughts spinning at breakneck speed.

There was no way to beat them all, but maybe he could create a distraction.

He raised his hand, channeling chakra through his body, feeling the energy pooling inside him, hot and fierce.

His eyes narrowed, focusing on the leader. "Don't underestimate me," he murmured, his voice thick with defiance.

Suddenly, the air around them ignited in an explosion of blue fire, a barrier that expanded outwards, forcing the ANBU back.

It was a desperate move, an all-or-nothing tactic. The fire roared, rising into the sky, and for a moment, Kaito saw the opportunity.

"Kushina, run now!" he shouted again, with all the strength he could muster.

This time, Kushina obeyed. He turned and began to run, his steps quick and determined, fear giving him wings.

Kaito watched her disappear into the trees, and only then did he allow himself to exhale, feeling his body begin to tense under the pressure.

The ANBU quickly regained their composure, and the group leader advanced again, his patience exhausted.

"Let's finish this, and pursue the jinchuriki," he ordered, his voice hard.

Kaito knew there was no escape.

He could feel exhaustion taking over him, his energy dwindling.

But it didn't matter.

He had made a decision so he would have to follow it to the end without caring about the consequences it could unleash in the future.

With one last effort, he raised his hand, summoning a final flame that rose with all his remaining power.

"If they want to take Kushina, they'll have to get over me first," he said with a defiant smile, as the flames grew around him, a burning wall of pure will.

This is the end of chapter 3.

I will be posting the chapters twice a week.

If you like it, leave a comment or add it to your library to read it when you have more chapters.