The battlefield situation changed in an instant. Shinji, who had just been at a disadvantage, had completely turned the tables in a flash.
"Huh?"
Asuma and Chiriku exchanged bewildered glances. They had already steeled themselves for a desperate rescue, but in the next moment, Hiruko was utterly defeated?
"Shinji, are you alright?"
Kurenai Yuhi didn't have time to think further. Seeing Shinji so weak he could barely stand, she immediately rushed forward anxiously, reaching out to steady him firmly.
"I'm fine."
Shinji supported himself with one hand on his sword hilt and the other on Kurenai's arm. His face was as pale as paper as he silently circulated Chakra within his body to recover his strength.
From deep within the flames, Hiruko's agonized screams gradually weakened.
"It seems he's been dealt with."
Chiriku let out a long sigh of relief. Today's Fire Temple had truly been plagued by misfortune.
"Wait! Be careful!"
Asuma shouted a sharp warning, his gaze locked intently on the flames.
Everyone tensed up, instantly on high alert.
The raging flames crackled and popped. A charred figure tumbled out from the fire, its skin scorched and flesh burned, clothing completely incinerated, bearing no resemblance to its previous arrogant appearance.
Hiruko curled up on the ground, limbs twitching uncontrollably, every inch of his skin searing with unbearable pain.
"Gah—"
He suddenly pushed himself up, vomiting a large mouthful of blood. His eyes fixed fiercely on Shinji as he roared in fury, completely ignoring everyone else present.
"Damn you! You've made me look this pathetic!"
"I will definitely kill you!"
He, Hiruko, was a shinobi from the same generation as the Legendary Sannin. Yet he had been reduced to such a miserable state by a junior from Konohagakure.
At this thought, hatred threatened to consume him.
"Let's go!"
Asuma immediately called to the others, intending to finish him off while he was weakened. Hiruko's combat power had plummeted drastically and was no longer a threat.
"Don't!"
Shinji stretched out his arm to stop everyone, his tone urgent. "Now, get away from him immediately!"
Just as everyone was puzzled, they saw Hiruko let out a pained groan. The muscles all over his body swelled violently, and grotesque lumps of flesh surged and bulged madly beneath his skin.
"Everyone, be careful!"
This bizarre and horrifying sight made Asuma and the others instinctively take a few steps back.
Shinji gave a slight nod, understanding dawning in his heart.
It seemed the Ghost Absorption Technique itself still had flaws. Forcibly absorbing two Ninja Monks was bound to trigger a severe rejection reaction in the body.
Absorbing power that did not belong to oneself inherently placed a multiplied burden on the body.
Previously, Hiruko had been able to forcibly suppress it with his strength. But after being severely injured in the fierce battle, the balance within him had completely shattered.
The flesh on Hiruko's body swelled uncontrollably. Chunks of charred, blackened flesh writhed and bulged like deformed tumors, emitting a horrifying, bloated sound.
The next moment—
A deafening explosion!
His body, stretched to its limit, violently burst apart. A bloody mist and fragments of scorched flesh and tissue sprayed in all directions.
Amidst the swirling dust, Hiruko, covered in blood and grime, crawled back out, utterly disheveled.
Hiruko's aura had now completely plummeted to rock bottom.
"Damn it!"
Hiruko lay sprawled on the ground, fingers digging desperately into the dirt. He had finally realized that his Ghost Absorption Technique still had defects.
"I must fix these flaws, and then take my revenge!"
"The Sage Clan Talent of the Fire Temple isn't as powerful as I imagined."
"I must seize some powerful Kekkei Genkai!"
He shot a venomous glance at Shinji, imprinting this man deeply in his heart.
"Summoning Technique!"
His hands flew through Hand Seals before slamming them onto the ground.
As the dust cleared, a massive beast with giant bird wings and a canine head roared into existence. It let out a fierce cry toward Shinji and the others, then lowered its head to pick up Hiruko with its mouth, gently tossing him onto its back.
"Heh heh heh heh!"
Hiruko struggled to prop himself up, fixing everyone with a gaze full of hatred.
"I will return for revenge!"
"You all just wait!"
He abruptly raised a hand to point at Shinji, his voice sinister and bone-chilling:
"Uchiha brat, I'll remember you!"
He slapped the beast's back, and with a powerful flap of its wings, it stirred up a gale, carrying him soaring into the sky and vanishing into the distance in an instant.
The aftermath of the battle hadn't yet settled, but the tense nerves of everyone finally relaxed, and cheers rose and fell among the ruins.
"Did we really win?!"
"We won!"
Their strained nerves finally gave way, unleashing long-suppressed joy.
"Quick! Rescue the wounded!"
"Notify Chief Priest Chukaku immediately!"
"I'm a Medical Ninja, leave this side to me!"
Asuma and the others swiftly threw themselves into post-battle cleanup. Amid the busyness, he suddenly smacked his forehead.
"Right, where's our big hero?"
He anxiously scanned the surroundings and froze in place the next second, his expression tangled and complex.
Not far away, Kurenai Yuhi was gently holding Shinji.
Shinji was leaning against Kurenai's shoulder, his head nodding slightly, having already fallen asleep from extreme exhaustion.
Noticing Asuma's gaze, Kurenai softly raised an index finger to her lips, lowered her voice, and said gently:
"He's too tired, he fell asleep. I'll take him to rest in a guest room in the back hall."
Carefully supporting Shinji, she slowly made her way toward the guest rooms in the rear hall.
Asuma watched their retreating figures leaning on each other, feeling an inexplicable pang of sourness in his heart, as if lightly pricked by something.
"I've never seen Kurenai so gentle before!"
He murmured quietly, "Maybe... I can still try a little harder?"
"Don't give up!"
A voice sounded beside him.
"Asuma, could I ask for your help?"
Chiriku pressed his palms together, speaking with a solemn expression, interrupting Asuma's chaotic thoughts.
Asuma immediately composed himself and nodded readily:
"No problem!"
He had gotten along quite well with the Guardian Ninja recently, especially Chiriku; the two were very compatible.
He was happy to help with Chiriku's request.
...
Shinji felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body.
Once he confirmed Hiruko had completely retreated, a wave of overwhelming fatigue instantly swallowed him whole. In the last moment before his consciousness blurred, he simply followed instinct, leaning gently toward Kurenai's direction.
Shinji groggily opened his eyes and immediately caught a familiar, clean scent.
"Awake?"
Kurenai looked down at him, a gentle smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
Shinji was slightly startled. Kurenai's face was right above his line of sight, and his head was resting on something soft.
It was comfortable, Healing, and he wanted to stay like this forever.
He instantly realized—this was Kurenai Yuhi's lap pillow.
"Is this the reward for winning the battle?"
Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks flushed slightly as she reached out to gently adjust his face.
This was the first time she had let a boy rest his head on her lap, and her heart was already racing uncontrollably.
"This isn't a reward."
She leaned down slightly and, under Shinji's astonished gaze, gently pressed a kiss to his forehead.
It was brief, just a touch before she pulled away.
"This is your reward. And also my apology."
She was referring to what had almost happened on the rooftop earlier.
Shinji immediately understood and smiled.
"That doesn't count."
Kurenai Yuhi chuckled and lightly pinched Shinji's cheek, but didn't deny his words.
Next time, if there's a chance.
She silently answered in her heart.
Then, she slowly began recounting everything that had happened after Shinji fell unconscious.
At the end, as if suddenly remembering something important, she looked down at him.
"Shinji, Lady Tsunade ordered that as soon as you wake up, you must go see her."
"And also, Chief Priest Chukaku said he has important matters to discuss with you."