Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

With an angry look, Ye Zi directed sharp wooden spikes through the air toward Mei and Ao. They quickly dodged, and the spikes struck a tree, tearing it apart and causing it to topple onto another.

After pushing Mei and Ao back, Ye Zi dispelled his Wood Release, his face showing a faint trace of anger, though he remained calm. He held the injured Kotoe with one arm, choosing not to linger in battle as he headed toward Manda's location.

One arm held Yagura over his shoulder, while the other cradled Kotoe, his gaze fixed ahead, deliberately avoiding looking at Kotoe's injuries.

"With proper treatment, you'll be fine."

His comforting words blended with the sound of the wind as they leapt through the trees.

Kotoe gently gripped Ye Zi's shirt, a small smile appearing on her lips as she replied softly, "How rare, you're actually comforting someone."

Her soft words held no concern for trivial matters; perhaps there were things far more important.

Ye Zi gritted his teeth slightly, looking forward in silence as the scenery on both sides rushed past. Without turning around, he sensed the two Mist ninjas pursuing closely behind.

Capturing the Three-Tails Jinchūriki had almost drained his chakra, but he had means to replenish it. The problem was, with Kotoe injured, he couldn't spare a hand, so he had no choice but to retreat.

If he could reach Manda, he'd have Manda hold off the enemies, allowing them to escape.

Observing Ye Zi's silent retreat, Kotoe said calmly, "I don't mind. This sort of thing… I haven't encountered it much, but I prepared for it long ago."

As a ninja who walks in darkness, a disfigurement is hardly unusual for a kunoichi.

In the Grass Village, she had seen many kunoichi with scars on their faces and bodies. Some, she'd heard, would even cut their own faces if a mission required it.

For a small village caught between larger ones, the responsibilities were even greater than those of the big nations.

"You can fix it."

Ye Zi said briefly before increasing his speed, soon reaching Manda's battleground.

His arrival quickly drew everyone's attention.

Kisame, slippery as an eel, had been frustrating Manda, preventing him from landing a killing blow despite their prolonged battle.

As for Shin, he had managed to kill the last Mist ninja at the cost of an injured arm, coinciding with Ye Zi's arrival.

"Lord Ye Zi…!" Shin quickly leapt over to Ye Zi, glancing at the severely injured Kotoe. His expression shifted, and an uncontrollable anger flashed across his face.

His pupils narrowed, and his crimson Sharingan reflected a chilling, wintry look. But he forced down his emotions, frowning as he awaited Ye Zi's instructions.

Ye Zi gave a cold glance at Manda rampaging through the forest, then tossed Yagura from his shoulder to Shin. "There are two more coming up behind us. No need to engage; we've captured the target. Let's leave and have Manda cover our retreat."

"Put me down," Kotoe said softly.

"Are you sure?" Ye Zi asked.

Kotoe nodded. "I'm sure."

Ye Zi lowered her, and as her feet touched the tree trunk, her knees bent slightly, though she managed to stand.

Shin looked at Kotoe, then turned his gaze away, saying in a low voice, "We don't have a medical ninja."

Ye Zi glanced at Shin's bleeding arm, understanding what he meant but chose not to comment. Instead, he said calmly, "Stop the bleeding without using herbs—they're too slow. Do you want my help?"

Shin hesitated, then nodded firmly, tearing open his sleeve to reveal a deep wound down to the bone.

Ye Zi extended his hand, which ignited with flames. Without a word, he pressed his burning hand onto the wound, using his index and middle fingers to press the flesh together, sealing it with a charred surface.

Throughout, Shin's face twisted in pain, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound.

"All done. Let's go."

With the wound cauterized, Ye Zi retracted his hand and headed toward Manda.

"Manda, cover our retreat."

Attracting Manda's attention, Ye Zi left the curt command, then moved with Kotoe and Shin toward the border of the Land of Water.

Hearing Ye Zi's order, Manda's face twisted in displeasure, though his summoning time was almost up.

Manda's cold, fierce snake eyes glared hatefully at the small figure of Kisame, as well as Mei and Ao closing in.

Having Manda hold off the pursuers bought them some time to retreat.

However, they still had a long water route ahead, and transporting Yagura was a challenge. It was unfortunate that White Zetsu wasn't here.

"Hm?" Ye Zi suddenly thought of a solution. But even if he managed the transport issue, Kotoe's injuries still required immediate treatment. The water route would take a while, not to mention the long journey back to the Land of Earth.

His brow furrowed. If he had suffered such injuries, he wouldn't care so long as his combat ability remained intact. But Kotoe was a girl, and he didn't consider it a minor matter.

After a brief, silent journey, Ye Zi signaled for a halt. Kotoe and Shin stopped, positioning themselves on either side of him.

As they stopped, Kotoe's expression showed a hint of pain, though she quickly suppressed it.

Ye Zi noticed this but said nothing, glancing back. "This should be far enough. First…"

He placed his hand on Kotoe's less-burned shoulder. After channeling chakra, a white liquid emerged from her shoulder, slowly forming into a White Zetsu clone.

"Shin, give the Jinchūriki to him," Ye Zi ordered.

Shin complied, tossing Yagura to the White Zetsu clone, who silently took hold of Yagura.

"Take him to the main body, and have him brought to the Land of Rain to meet Rei (Pain)." Ye Zi instructed the clone.

White Zetsu nodded quietly. His body split open, absorbing the relatively small Yagura inside before sealing up and dissolving into liquid, merging into a nearby tree and disappearing.

After the clone vanished, Ye Zi said, "Kotoe, apply some herbs to your wounds."

"There's not enough to treat these burns, and it would be a waste of time. We should move on quickly," Kotoe replied, her voice strained as she endured the pain.

As she'd said, the amount of herbs was limited and their effect minimal. Staying here would only waste time. From her perspective, it was better to evade their pursuers quickly. Those three Mist ninjas were highly skilled, so leaving would be wiser.

Hearing Kotoe's words, Ye Zi fell silent, realizing that everything about her thoughts and actions was centered around him.

Enduring intense pain without complaint, just to avoid slowing their pace—was that why she was forcing herself to hold on?

"You're really quite foolish."

Ye Zi remained silent.

Shin suddenly said, "Apply the herbs."

What Ye Zi had noticed, Jin had noticed too.

Kotoe responded by shaking her head slightly at him.

"Then we won't," Ye Zi said.

Shin's eyes flickered with a hint of disappointment.

Suddenly, Ye Zi scooped Kotoe up. She didn't even have time to react before he leapt through the air, heading toward the next tree.

"Let's go."

Shin blinked, then quickly followed.

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Currently on Chapter 325 - Retreat and A Chance Encounter