The explosion behind them was loud enough to be heard clearly at the front of the team, and the screams of his teammates reached Guixiong's ears. However, what concerned him the most was not their safety—it was why they had encountered Konoha's ninja so soon after leaving the Land of Water.
"The route we traveled was personally planned by Mr. Kisame Hoshigaki. It should have allowed us to avoid Konoha's key defense areas."
"And we just crossed the border not long ago. Even if Konoha noticed our movements, their response time was too fast!"
"There's a traitor among us!"
"They're coming specifically for us!"
Kisame's thoughts were sharp, and he quickly realized the possible situation. As this realization struck him, his gaze swept over the people around and behind him, trying to glean something from their expressions.
To his disappointment, the survivors all looked terrified, revealing nothing.
"Mr. Kisame, our trail has been discovered."
"What should we do now?"
The girl walking beside Kisame glanced back at the explosion behind them in fear before turning to him. Though she was the captain of the infiltration unit, she had been instructed that some decisions would fall under Kisame's command. Moreover, she belonged to the intelligence division and was not skilled in combat.
The chaos unfolding before her felt surreal.
"You go ahead. I'll cover the rear!"
Kisame's eyes flashed before he grinned. Just as he spoke, Konoha's hidden ninjas launched another attack. Countless kunai shot from the shadows, raining down on the group. A middle-aged man, unable to dodge due to his large build, took a kunai to the back. Losing his balance, he collapsed to the ground.
"Go!" Kisame shouted, coming to an abrupt stop.
The girl understood that hesitation would be fatal. Without another word, she took one last look at Kisame before quickly retreating with the others.
Now, only four members, including Kisame, remained in the fleeing group.
"Ahh! Help me! Save me!"
A Mist ninja who had been struck by a kunai lay collapsed on the ground. Blood pooled beneath him as he suffered from massive blood loss.
When he saw Kisame approach, hope rekindled in his eyes. He stretched out his trembling hand toward him, pleading for help.
"What are you doing?"
However, to the wounded ninja's despair, Kisame had no intention of helping him. Instead, he pulled the long sword from his back, gripping it tightly. The look in Kisame's eyes was not one of sympathy—it was pure, cold-blooded intent.
"Hey!"
The blade pierced the wounded ninja's heart, silencing him instantly. Kisame then pulled a kunai from his pouch, attached an explosive tag to the ring at its end, and casually planted it next to the corpse before swiftly catching up with the rest of the team.
His return had not been to save his fallen comrades—it was to silence them, ensuring that no information fell into Konoha's hands.
The Mist ninja were fast, but the Konoha ninjas pursuing them were elites. The chase that began at noon lasted until nightfall.
After reuniting with the vanguard, Kisame led them in a desperate escape through the dense forest for several hours. Eventually, they were forced to a halt at the edge of a cliff.
"Damn it... is this the end?!"
Kisame's heart sank as he stared at the precipice. Behind him, he could hear the approaching footsteps of Konoha's forces.
His gaze flickered to the three remaining teammates. The girl stood frozen, staring at the cliff in a daze, while the other two scanned their surroundings, searching for a way out.
Kisame tightened his grip on his sword and, without hesitation, swiftly cut down both of his male companions.
"Ahhh!"
"Ugh!"
The girl's eyes widened as two agonized screams echoed in her ears. She turned in shock, staring at Kisame in disbelief.
But what met her gaze was the cold, glinting edge of his blade.
Slash!
The long sword sliced through her shoulder and down to her abdomen, leaving a deep, gaping wound. Blood gushed out as she collapsed to her knees, gazing up at the man she had once admired.
"Mr. Kisame... why...?"
Even in her final moments, there was no resentment in her eyes—only confusion. She couldn't comprehend why Kisame had turned his blade on his own teammates.
"Killing my comrades... this is my mission."
Kisame's voice was cold, but his bloodshot eyes betrayed the turmoil within.
"You have such a strong will to live..."
The girl struggled to keep herself upright, raising her head with great effort. With her last breath, she uttered those words before collapsing, motionless.
Kisame stood silently, staring down at her lifeless form. The fragile warmth within him was shattered by her dying words. But there was nothing he could do to respond to her kindness.
In his short life, he had killed too many of his own comrades.
Some died in fear. Others perished with resentment.
But never before had anyone, even in death, cared about him.
At that moment, Kisame despaired—not just for the Mist Village, but for the entire world.
As he remained motionless, lost in his thoughts, more than a dozen figures emerged from the forest, stepping into the open space.
The newcomers were all Konoha ninjas, and by their attire, they were at least Chunin-level or higher. Their leader was a man wearing a headband, his face lined with scars. Though his features were youthful, he appeared to be in his forties.
"If we survive, we will meet again."
Kisame glanced at the advancing enemy, then turned toward the cliff behind him. Taking one last look at the girl lying in a pool of blood, he quickly retreated and leaped off the edge.
He had no intention of fighting.
Killing the girl with his own hands had already shaken him to the core. The only way he could honor her was by leaving her body intact.
"He escaped?!"
Morino Ibiki rushed to the cliff's edge, staring down into the abyss below. He cursed under his breath.
"At least we got something out of this."
"The deal is complete."
Morino Ibiki walked toward the fallen Mist ninja, kneeling to examine them. The two men were already dead, but the female Mist ninja was still alive—barely. However, with no medical-nin in his squad, her fate was sealed.
"A deal? What kind of deal?"
A hoarse voice suddenly spoke beside Morino Ibiki, sending a chill down his spine. Instinctively, he shifted into a defensive stance.
Turning his head, he was shocked to see a young man standing beside him, his bright red hair swaying in the night breeze.
"You... you're—"
Morino Ibiki's pupils contracted in shock. He had never expected to encounter him here.
(End of Chapter)