Chapter 143: Please Heal Me

They hurled insult after insult, each one sharper than the last, their words dripping with venom, as if trying to crush Aoki under the weight of their hatred. But Aoki remained silent. It wasn't because he didn't care—it was because his body was too weak to respond. 

Every breath he took was painful, as if shards of glass pierced his lungs. All he could do was endure in silence, holding on desperately, trying to buy even a few more moments amidst the suffocating despair that surrounded him. 

Just then, the sound of rustling leaves filled the air, followed by the appearance of a large group. Over two hundred women emerged from the shadows of the trees, their movements calm yet deliberate. They surrounded the eight individuals who were now trapped alongside Aoki. 

A suffocating tension enveloped the area. The eight men froze, their eyes darting from one woman to another, trying to make sense of the overwhelming scene. Shock was written all over their faces. What had once been a group of only twenty women had now grown into a force of over two hundred. 

"How... how is this possible?" one of the men muttered under his breath, his voice trembling as the creeping realization of their situation took hold. 

Earlier, they had been confident. They knew their twenty-three comrades—Jonin, including several Elite Jonin—had gone ahead to hunt down this small group of women. Surely, they thought, that force was more than enough to either capture or annihilate them. 

But now, the reality was undeniable. Their comrades were gone. All twenty-three Jonin, including the elites, had been wiped out. And the group they had pursued—initially numbering just twenty—had somehow grown into an overwhelming force of over two hundred warriors. 

Despite their shock, the eight men quickly regained their composure. Their initial disbelief was replaced by an intense focus. They shifted their stances, standing back-to-back in a defensive formation. Their hands tightened around their weapons, and their eyes scanned every movement around them, ready for the worst. 

"This is bad... This is a trap," one of them hissed through gritted teeth, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on his blade. 

The realization hit them like a thunderclap—they were surrounded by an enemy whose numbers far exceeded their own. The odds were no longer in their favor. What had begun as a routine mission had turned into a nightmare. 

Kurisu hurried to Aoki, who was still lying on the ground, his breaths shallow and labored. Her expression was filled with worry as she crouched beside him. 

"Are you okay?" Kurisu asked, her voice soft but trembling with concern. 

Aoki forced a faint smile, though it was laced with bitterness. "Heh, do I look okay to you?" His voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper. 

Kurisu averted her gaze, an awkward flush rising to her cheeks. "No, I was just asking," she mumbled. 

Aoki tried to steady his erratic breathing, his chest rising and falling with effort. After a moment, he raised his voice, pushing it past the pain that racked his body. "Everyone! Listen to me! Hold them off for just ten minutes!" 

The women surrounding the area responded immediately, their voices echoing in unison. "Understood!" 

The eight remaining men exchanged tense glances, their unease growing with each passing second. They could sense the shift in the air, the looming threat of the women's coordinated response. 

Aoki turned his weary eyes toward Kurisu. "You… heal me, even if it's just a little. And I need ten people to channel their Chakra into my body," he said, his tone firm despite his weakened state. 

Kurisu's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Channel Chakra into you? Are you out of your mind? That's incredibly dangerous! One wrong move, and you could die!" Her voice cracked with emotion, a mix of fear and frustration. 

Aoki remained calm, his expression unwavering. "I know the risks, but this is the only way. Please, Kurisu. You have to trust me." 

Kurisu hesitated, her hands trembling slightly as she processed his words. Finally, she let out a long, shaky sigh. "Fine. Yumeko, heal Aoki first. Once he's stable, we'll begin channeling Chakra." 

Yumeko, a woman with sharp features and an air of quiet confidence, nodded without hesitation. "Understood, Lady Kurisu." 

Without wasting a moment, Yumeko activated her Medical Ninjutsu. A soft, glowing light enveloped her hands as she placed them on Aoki's battered body. The gentle warmth of her healing energy began to seep into his wounds, closing them little by little.

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Special Announcement!

Hello everyone! The author is here with some exciting news! Today is a very special day, especially for Muslims around the world, as we celebrate Eid al-Fitr!

To mark this joyous occasion, I have uploaded two new chapters for each of the following four novels:

In the Apocalypse World Becoming a Naruto Card God.

The Strongest Swordmaster in the World of Naruto.

A Shaman from the Uzumaki Clan in the World of Naruto.

Marvel: The Sorcerer in America.

For those celebrating, Eid Mubarak! May this day bring happiness and blessings to us all.