Reinforcements

Chiba gasped for air, a wry smile on his lips. At this moment, he was truly exhausted. His Chakra was completely depleted, and he couldn't refine Chakra in his exhausted state. The *Clone Jutsu* and *Transformation Jutsu* he had used earlier had consumed the last of his Chakra.

Yet, he was still standing. Chiba couldn't help but admire his own resilience. Truthfully, he couldn't even feel his limbs anymore, yet he remained upright.

He lowered his head to confirm that the Ninja was indeed dead, finally allowing himself to relax.

Then, the nausea hit him.

After all, this was Chiba's first kill. In his previous life, he had lived in a peaceful time and had never killed anyone. Feeling nauseous was normal, but with it came fear.

The details of the battle flooded his mind, and he realized how close they had come to death. If Yukina Hyuga hadn't used the *Substitution Jutsu* in time or hadn't seen the wood plank... or if the kunai hadn't been avoided... then they would be the ones dead!

"Are you okay..." Yukina Hyuga took a few steps forward, trying to help Chiba, when suddenly a stern shout interrupted: "Miss, get out of here! Chiba Taki! You actually helped a Ninja from an enemy country! Traitor. The son of a traitor is also a traitor!"

"Thud thud thud!"

Four kunai landed in front of Chiba, each attached with a detonating talisman.

Damn!

Chiba stared at the four kunai at his feet, the detonation talismans with "chi" sounds igniting.

'This is an attempt on my life!'

Chiba desperately wanted to move, but he had no strength left in his body. How could he possibly avoid it?

To not die at the enemy's hands but at his own comrades'...

Disgusting!

Chiba cursed inwardly.

The detonation talisman "Boom" exploded, and the chain reaction caused the other three kunai to explode simultaneously. A fireball erupted out of nowhere, instantly engulfing Chiba.

In the next second, two figures rolled out of the fireball, their bodies scorched.

It was Chiba and Yukina Hyuga.

After rolling several times, Chiba could only feel the world spinning around him. When it stopped, his chest felt as if it was being pressed by a heavy object.

He looked down to see Yukina Hyuga lying on his chest, her back smoldering, and the smell of burnt flesh filling the air.

At that moment, Yukina Hyuga had her eyes tightly closed, her face contorted in pain, seemingly unconscious.

Chiba was taken aback.

She... saved me?

Suddenly, a young man dressed in Hyuga attire rushed over, followed by several figures who emerged from the forest and ran after the young man.

"Miss!" The young man ran over anxiously. Seeing the scorch marks on Yukina Hyuga's back, he glared at Chiba with *Byakugan*, as if blaming Chiba for Yukina's injuries, almost as if he wanted to devour him whole.

Chiba felt the man's gaze but didn't pay it any mind. His heart was a mix of emotions.

He remembered how Yukina Hyuga had flown up, stood in front of him during the explosion, blocked it, and pushed him out of harm's way.

If it weren't for her swift actions, Chiba's life would have been lost.

She had saved Chiba's life.

Looking at Yukina Hyuga, who lay unconscious on his chest, Chiba moved his lips but could say nothing.

In his previous life, he had been bullied, but no one had stood up for him. Relatives and friends were all bewitched by the power of that person. Until his death, no one had even lifted a finger to help him.

And now, here was a girl who had risked her life to save him.

Chiba's heart was filled with complex emotions.

"You traitor!" The young man with the Byakugan suddenly drew a handful of kunai and looked at Chiba angrily, ready to stab him and end his life.

"Stop!" At that moment, a stern voice called out, and simultaneously, the hand of the man with the Byakugan was caught.

No matter how hard the young man with the Byakugan tried to move, the other voice's hand held him firmly, preventing the attack.

Chiba turned his head to look and saw a white-haired boy with a mask covering his mouth, stopping the would-be killer with the Byakugan.

Kakashi Hatake!

Chiba's pupils contracted slightly.

"Kayami Hyuga, calm down. He is the one who saved Yukina," Kakashi said sternly, his grip causing Kayami Hyuga to wince in pain, and he held him firmly with his hand.

Kayami Hyuga, taken aback by the pain, noticed several adult Hyuga clansmen behind him looking at him in surprise.

The situation was clear at a glance. If Chiba was a traitor to the village, why would Yukina risk her life to save him?

Considering the situation just now, it was evident that the boy had killed the enemy Ninja and saved Yukina.

This outburst from Kayami seemed quite abnormal.

Seeing everyone's gaze, Kayami Hyuga lowered his face and reluctantly said to Chiba, "Sorry, I was really worried about Yukina and lost my mind."

Hearing Kayami Hyuga's grudging apology, Chiba ignored him. 'Wanting to kill me and then using Yukina as an excuse.'

Chiba was fully aware that Kayami Hyuga could see the situation for what it was; he was clearly on their side.

'He did it on purpose! This guy really wants to kill me! The accusation he shouted was also meant to justify his intent to kill, making it seem like a misunderstanding. After all, I am the son of a so-called traitor. A mistake in killing me would neither be severely punished nor highly investigated. And with no relatives or friends on my side, no one would trouble him for it.'

This Kayami Hyuga is so malicious.

Chiba silently noted Kayami Hyuga, and at the same time, he glanced at Yukina Hyuga, thinking to himself: 'So her name is Yukina Hyuga, a beautiful name. I'll remember that.'

But, why does this name sound familiar?

As he was thinking, Chiba felt his body lighten, and looking up, he saw Yukina Hyuga being picked up by a Hyuga comrade and only heard them say, "Let's go!"

Afterward, Kayami glanced at Chiba, then leaped away, followed by the others, leaving only Chiba and Kakashi behind.

Kakashi examined him and said, "You're just exhausted and have some burns, it's nothing serious."

Chiba was thinking about the look Kayami Hyuga gave him as he left. 'Damn, this kid wants to kill me. If I encounter him in the future, I must be cautious and find a chance to deal with him first.'

"You are impressive." Kakashi looked at Iwagaki's body and then said to Chiba.

'Though it was a seriously injured Jonin, he was still a Jonin. What method did this guy use to kill him?'

'Was that large pit the work of the invading Jonin, or was it this guy's doing?'

This was what Kakashi pondered.

Seeing the genuine admiration in Kakashi's eyes, Chiba didn't speak because he was still thinking about Kayami Hyuga.

Kakashi, seeing that he didn't speak, didn't press further. He went to check Iwagaki's body to confirm the death and then grabbed his collar with one hand to drag it behind him.

'That fatal wound was a mystery. Hmm... what method did he use?'

Kakashi moved through the rock pillars and ground fissures, frowning slightly as he thought and analyzed. At the same time, he grew more interested in Chiba.

"That..." Just as Kakashi was deep in thought, Chiba's voice interrupted.

"Huh?" Kakashi stopped.

"Can you carry me back? My house is on the other side of the dense forest," Chiba said with a wry smile.

"Oh! Sorry, I was going to carry you back anyway," Kakashi said, then walked over, picked up Chiba, dragged Iwagaki's body, and headed into the dense forest.

'Really... He should at least carry someone wounded more carefully'

Chiba felt his belly pressed against a firm shoulder.

'So uncomfortable... I feel like I'm going to throw up...'