Chapter 29: Villains Die from Talking Too Much

"Where's Galobi?" Maki asked.

Kiyosuke smiled. "Do you smell it in the air? With every breath you take, you're inhaling pieces of your teammate."

He had poured nearly all his chakra into that last move—he was completely spent now.

"You bastard!" Maki roared, striding forward and kicking Kiyosuke hard.

Kiyosuke slammed into a tree and coughed. With his chakra drained, he couldn't phase into elements anymore. This was the most dangerous moment for him.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Maki didn't hold back, kicking him again and again, completely ignoring the fact that Kiyosuke still had the body of a child.

"Galobi was a fool," Maki spat. "To think someone like you—a brat—could trick him. He deserved what he got."

He grabbed Kiyosuke, now coughing up blood, and sneered.

"Let me finish you off myself!"

Just then, Kiyosuke opened his mouth, and a snake shot out, sinking its fangs into Maki's wrist. Maki cried out in pain and let go.

He grabbed the snake and crushed it in one hand, but it was already too late. His arm immediately began to swell, his blood turned black, and it felt like something was blocking his windpipe.

Poison.

Clutching his throat with one hand, he reached for the antidote with the other.

...

"KIYOSUKE!" Asuma and Kurenai rushed back onto the scene just as the chaos settled. The moment they saw Maki, they hurled shuriken and kunai at him, pinning him down.

Kiyosuke, gasping, croaked,

"That idiot... and you're no better! Don't you know villains die because they talk too much? Bite him!"

Out of nowhere, a little white snake slithered forward, darted up Maki's leg, crawled under his clothes, and bit deep into his flesh.

Another dose of venom.

This time, Maki dropped the antidote he had been holding.

Kurenai caught Kiyosuke as he collapsed, while Asuma rushed forward and drove a kunai through Maki's heart.

"Kiyosuke! Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay to you? I've got at least three broken ribs. That guy really didn't hold back!" he groaned. "Kurenai, do you know any medical ninjutsu?"

"Ah... no," she said, shamefaced. "If I did, I could heal you..."

"Then start learning when we get back."

Holding his side, Kiyosuke winced.

"I wonder how Shinku-sensei is doing... Asuma, let's head back to Konoha."

"Aren't we going to wait for him?"

"We can't afford to. If Shinku-sensei's still alive, he'll catch up. If not... well, we increase our chances of survival by moving now," Kiyosuke said calmly. "I know it sounds cold, but it's the truth."

Kurenai lowered her head. Her father's life was still uncertain, and she desperately wanted to check on him. But she knew she'd only slow the others down. They had to move.

Just then, a figure landed before them. The three of them instantly relaxed when they saw who it was.

"You're all safe?" asked Shinku.

"I'm not!" Kiyosuke raised a hand weakly. "Out of chakra. Broken ribs."

Shinku nodded. When his eyes landed on Maki's corpse, his face darkened. "You poisoned him?"

"A blood-stopping venomous snake, plus poison, and Asuma's finishing blow," Kiyosuke replied.

"Not bad. Taking down a jōnin like that is impressive. What about the other one?"

"Blew him up. Not even ashes left. For all we know, he's part of the air we're breathing right now."

All three of his teammates went green in the face. Kurenai looked like she might throw up.

"That's enough, Kiyosuke. Don't say gross stuff like that!" she snapped.

"You did well, Kiyosuke," Shinku said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'll report this to Lord Hokage. For now, we need to head back to the village at full speed. Kiyosuke, hang in there. I'll give you a quick treatment."

"Alright."

...

"AAAAARGH!!!"

A scream echoed through the forest as Shinku, without the slightest delicacy, reset Kiyosuke's fractured bones. His brute strength didn't exactly help matters.

Then he shoved a bitter, foul-smelling secret medicine down Kiyosuke's throat to accelerate healing.

Shinku hoisted Kiyosuke onto his back. "Let's move out!"

And just like that, they were leaping through the trees.

Ugh... so dizzy. I wanna puke... Why couldn't Kurenai carry me instead? Being slung over an old guy's back is the worst.

...

Two days later

Hokage's Office

Shinku, clearly exhausted, stood before Hiruzen Sarutobi, reporting the entire mission in detail.

When the Hokage heard that Kiyosuke had taken down a jōnin on his own and poisoned another sensory-type ninja, his expression shifted—impressed and contemplative. This kind of performance... was comparable to Kakashi.

No. In terms of raw destructive power, Kiyosuke had far surpassed Kakashi. Even if the enemy had underestimated him, a genin taking down a jōnin spoke volumes. His strength was well beyond his peers—and even most chūnin.

Definitely someone worth grooming. Entrusting him to Orochimaru had clearly been the right call.

"Impressive. I misjudged the danger level of this mission, and it nearly cost you your lives," said Hiruzen, puffing on his pipe. "All of Asakawa Kiyosuke's medical expenses will be covered by the village. He may also choose one sealing technique to learn. Additionally, the mission reward will be doubled. The intel and enemy ninja you brought back are highly valuable."

He exhaled a stream of smoke, his mind already thinking of ways to ensure these young shinobi wouldn't just bleed for the village—but be rewarded too.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

"How's the boy doing now?"

"After two days of traveling, he only received basic treatment. He's been transferred to Konoha Hospital to recover."

"Good. Once he's healed, have him come see me. Oh, and give him this." Hiruzen handed Shinku a folded piece of paper. "Whether or not to participate is up to him."

"I'll let them decide for themselves." Shinku tucked it away. "Then I'll take my leave."

"Very well."

...

Konoha Hospital

Lying in a hospital bed, Kiyosuke was anything but comfortable. He was surrounded.

Not just by his teammates—Kurenai and Asuma—but also Kakashi, Obito, Rin, and even Guy, whom he hadn't seen since leaving the Academy. Six people crowded around his bedside.

"Honestly," he muttered, "Rin and Kurenai could've just stayed. The rest of you guys can leave. Looking at your faces isn't helping me heal."

Obito's face darkened. "What the hell's your problem? We came all this way to check on you and you wanna kick us out?"

"He just thinks you're annoying," Kakashi chimed in.

"You picking a fight with me, bastard?!" Obito snapped.

"Hmph."

"You idiot! Kurenai and I were the ones taking care of you this whole time! Why just let her stay and not me?!" Asuma's comment sounded... a little off.

Guy suddenly struck a pose. "Pain is just another part of youth! Kiyosuke, your injury is the fire of youth blazing bright!"

So noisy.

"Quiet down, all of you! This is a hospital, not a circus!" The head nurse stormed in and smacked Obito, Guy, and Asuma each on the head.

Finally, peace.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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