Naruto: IHCS Ch. 131

"Should we make a move?"

Looking at the three ninjas drawing closer to them, Nagato clenched his fists tightly. The Rinnegan, hidden behind his long red hair, locked onto the three approaching ninjas. He could clearly feel that these three were indeed coming for them.

One of the ninjas was even badly injured.

He and Shiratori might not be incapable of dealing with them.

Ever since secretly following him away from Aomine to the Land of Grass, Nagato had already prepared himself to face whatever might come.

A cold killing intent radiated from his body.

Shiratori's hand rested gently on Nagato's shoulder.

"Nagato, relax."

He looked at Nagato, then shifted his gaze to the three figures of Minato and his companions, now less than twenty meters away.

"I don't sense any malice from them."

Nagato glanced at him. He knew that because of the cursed spirits, Shiratori was extremely sensitive to other people's emotions. But here in the Land of Grass, he wouldn't lower his guard.

Even if Shiratori said they bore no hostility, he would not relax his vigilance.

"Let's see what they're up to first," Shiratori spoke softly to Nagato.

Their voices were kept very low.

Nagato obediently nodded and looked toward the three ninjas who had just arrived before them.

"Are you citizens of the Land of Grass? Why are you here? Don't you know this place has already become a battlefield?"

Nanami stood in front of Shiratori and Nagato, sternly questioning them.

Minato's gaze fell on Shiratori. His eyes softened, before him stood a young boy with soft black hair, blue eyes, and a face that looked so gentle and well-behaved. Clearly a good child.

"Don't be afraid. We're ninjas of Konoha. We won't hurt you," he explained, worried that Nanami's harsh tone might frighten the two children.

"We don't have time for explanations!"

Nanami snapped at Minato, glancing behind her. "The Iwa ninjas are getting closer! Take them with us!"

She scooped Shiratori up into her arms and rushed forward.

Can't you at least ask for my opinion?

Nagato froze for a moment, his eyes fixed on Nanami's retreating back.

"Sorry, but you'll have to come with us too! Otherwise, when the Iwa ninjas catch up, you'll be in danger!"

Seeing Nanami had already carried off the black-haired boy, Minato had no choice but to pick up the red-haired boy.

Come to think of it, that red hair gave him a strangely familiar feeling... It reminded him of Kushina, who was waiting for him back in Konoha, praying for his safe return.

Thinking of Kushina, his heart softened even more.

Nagato was startled as he fell into a warm embrace.

Just as Shiratori had said, these people bore no malice.

Soon Minato and Fugaku caught up with Nanami ahead.

"What are your names? Where did you come from?"

Nanami looked at the long blade strapped to the back of the boy she carried, realizing their identities might not be simple.

"We came from the border of the Land of Rain," Shiratori replied to Nanami.

"Why?" Nanami asked curiously while hurrying forward.

"If I remember correctly, the war in the Land of Rain has long since ended, hasn't it? Why didn't you stay in your homeland? The Land of Grass is very dangerous right now! Almost everywhere has fallen to ruin!"

A trace of helpless bitterness appeared in Minato's eyes.

He didn't want to take part in this war either. But he had people to protect. And as a Konoha ninja, he had a duty to protect the village.

"We know."

Shiratori nodded.

"We lived for a while near the border of the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass. Many refugees had fled there from the Land of Grass, and their lives were miserable."

His words made Minato and his companions' hearts sink.

They knew, the tragedy of the Land of Grass' civilians was something they themselves had caused.

Even if it wasn't entirely their fault, they were still among those responsible for the suffering.

"Knowing how chaotic the Land of Grass is, you still came."

Nanami's tone unconsciously grew harsher.

She glanced at the boy in her arms, then at the red-haired boy in Minato's arms. That red-haired child was unnervingly quiet.

"It is precisely because we knew the Land of Grass was in chaos that we chose to come."

Shiratori looked her in the eye and said seriously.

"What!"

Nanami's pupils contracted, her vigilance spiking.

"Why?"

Something was wrong.

Ordinary children, when suddenly taken away by ninjas, would never remain this calm.

Yet she couldn't sense any chakra from this child at all.

"Put me down."

Shiratori smiled gently at the kunoichi before him.

"We can't stop now. There are Iwa pursuers behind us. Do you even know what pursuers mean? If they catch us, we might die!"

Nanami explained sternly.

"Of course I know. I've been on the battlefield before."

Shiratori's words made Nanami's body freeze.

Almost unconsciously, her arms loosened, and his feet landed firmly on the ground.

"Before introducing ourselves to you, I think I should first treat his wounds."

Shiratori walked toward Fugaku.

"His injuries are deep. If they're not treated immediately, he'll bleed out and die."

He looked at Nanami and Minato as he spoke.

Nanami was completely stunned.

But Minato, as if seeing a lifesaving straw, quickly set down the red-haired boy and grabbed the black-haired child's shoulders.

"You know medical ninjutsu?"

Shiratori nodded.

"Yes."

A sudden brightness flashed in Minato's eyes.

"That's incredible!"

He hadn't thought he would be so lucky.

Together with Nanami, his shocked gaze fell upon the black-haired boy's head.

He looked so young, could he really do it?

Fugaku was seriously injured, wasn't he?

The shock in Nanami's eyes quickly shifted into doubt.

Nagato came to stand by Shiratori's side. He wasn't surprised at all.

Because Shiratori was such a kind person. If he saw someone injured, he would certainly step forward to help.

Shiratori walked toward Fugaku, but Fugaku barked at him coldly, "Stop!"

Minato froze, staring blankly at Fugaku.

"What's wrong?"

Why not accept medical ninjutsu treatment?

Fugaku glanced at Minato, then closed his eyes helplessly, sharp light flashing in them.

"They suddenly appeared on our only path forward, already suspicious enough. And now one of them even knows medical ninjutsu. Don't you think that's too much of a coincidence?"

He was not as easy to fool as Minato.

Minato's gaze slowly fell upon the two youths.

It really was suspicious, but still... He believed he hadn't misjudged their character.

Nagato's brows furrowed.

Shiratori had offered to treat them, and they actually doubted him?

"Nagato."

Sensing Nagato's rising emotions, Shiratori patted his shoulder.

Looking straight at Fugaku, whose eyes were filled with vigilance, he said, "If anything, it's you who appeared on our path. To us, you're the suspicious ones. I only want to heal you because you're injured."

"Anyone who is injured before me, I will save. Whether that person is a Konoha ninja or an Iwa ninja, it doesn't matter. In my eyes, he is simply an injured person."

Shiratori quietly looked at Fugaku, who locked eyes with him.

He couldn't find a single trace of a lie on the boy's face.

"Fugaku, just let him try!"

Minato looked at him worriedly.

At that moment, Nanami, no longer able to bear it, pressed Fugaku down.

"Please," she spoke to Shiratori.

He nodded, and with practiced hands unwrapped the blood-soaked bandages around Fugaku's waist.

Nanami scolded Fugaku, who still wanted to resist.

"Hey! Be obedient now! Don't waste time! We can't afford delays! If your bleeding is stopped, we'll move faster!"

Hearing Nanami's words, Fugaku stopped struggling. He truly didn't want to drag his comrades down.

His eyes locked tightly on the black-haired youth. If the boy made even the slightest suspicious move, he would draw his blade immediately.

Shiratori looked at the wound on Fugaku's abdomen, his brows furrowing. He glanced at him again.

As expected of the Uchiha clan, legendary warriors indeed. Such a wound, if it had been on anyone else, they'd already be dead from the pain.

The gash was long and deep, flesh torn apart, exposing mangled muscle within. Dark red blood seeped out continuously, soaking the surrounding clothing.

Exposed to the air, the wound made Fugaku twitch with pain.

Shiratori didn't hesitate. He placed both hands over the wound. Soft light poured quickly from his palms.

A soothing energy, like flowing water, wrapped around Fugaku's wound.

The wound began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The itching of flesh knitting together made Fugaku grunt.

Soon, the hideous wound had become a faint pink scar stretched across his abdomen.

Fugaku stared in shock at his healed wound.

Minato's face broke into a joyful smile.

"Incredible!"

He looked at Shiratori.

"Your medical ninjutsu is amazing!"

[Gratitude detected: Namikaze Minato +5000 points]

[Curse Growth - Gratitude: 27.5%]

Shiratori smiled at Minato.

"It's because the teacher who taught me medical ninjutsu is amazing."

"Truly remarkable!"

Nanami sighed in admiration.

To have mastered medical ninjutsu so thoroughly at such a young age!

Meeting this boy on their path today was truly their good fortune!

[Gratitude detected: Nanami +5000 points]
[Curse Growth - Gratitude: 28%]

But Nanami's expression quickly changed. Before she could even feel relief for more than a second, she grabbed Shiratori up into her arms.

"Run! They'll catch up any moment!"

Nagato was also scooped up by Minato, and they sprinted forward.

Fugaku only delayed a second, then immediately caught up. No longer hindered by his injury, his speed nearly doubled.

The whole team's pace increased significantly.

Nanami's face was stern as she ran forward without pause.

Shiratori noticed the path ahead seemed very familiar. It was the same way he and Nagato had come earlier.

Images of the abandoned houses there suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Could that be their destination?

Soon, the familiar houses appeared before his eyes.

Curious, he looked toward Nanami. Just what were they here for?

What mission had Konoha assigned them?

There wasn't a single person here. What were they doing in this place?

He and Nagato were quickly set down.

"Fugaku, stay here to protect them. Minato and I will carry out the mission."

Nanami gave her orders.

Fugaku frowned, just about to argue, but Nanami cut him off.

"Your wound may be healed, but your body and strength haven't fully recovered. Stay here. Protect them! They need your protection!"

She reached out, intending to pat Shiratori and Nagato's heads, but both dodged at the same time.