Chapter 172: Chapter 172: I Can Explain
Kitahara Kaede remained where he stood, having no intention of pursuing the enemy.
The sounds of movement deep in the forest quickly faded as Fuguki Suikazan and Juzo Biwa made their retreat. Both men were well aware that if the fight continued, the name of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would be buried forever here in the Land of Fire.
Genma stood frozen, his eyes locked on the corpses on the ground, motionless for a long time. Beside him, Guy supported Duy, his face still etched with lingering shock.
Kaede scanned the battlefield. Five corpses, five ninja swords. These weapons, which the Hidden Mist Village prized as treasures, now lay discarded in the dirt.
He turned to Genma. "Genma."
Genma snapped out of his trance. "Huh?"
"Stop staring," Kaede said, pointing to the blades. "Collect the swords. We’re taking them back to Konoha."
Genma looked at the strange weapons, his lip twitching. "Captain."
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we just dealt the Hidden Mist a massive blow?"
Kaede bent down and picked up Kiba. "I suppose so."
Genma fell silent for a moment before stepping forward to help. Together, they gathered the five swords. Guy wanted to lend a hand, but Duy let out a cough from his back.
Guy stopped instantly. "Dad, don’t move!"
Duy gave a small smile, remaining obediently on his son’s back.
Kaede didn’t say much. As long as Duy hadn’t opened the Eighth Gate, the situation wasn’t dire. The rest of his injuries could be handled once they reached the Konoha Hospital.
On the way back, Genma carried the swords, glancing at Kaede every few minutes. After enduring it for half the journey, he finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.
"Captain, that Lightning Style move you used... what exactly was it?"
Guy looked back as well. "Yeah, Kaede! That move was incredibly fast!"
Kaede’s expression remained calm. "Chidori Sharp Spear."
Genma frowned. "Never heard of it."
"I developed it myself," Kaede added casually. "I mentioned it when I was sparring with Guy a while back; I only recently perfected it."
Genma nearly tripped over his own feet. He whipped his head around to look at Kaede. "That thing had enough power to impale a Jonin in one shot, and you’re telling me you just finished developing it?"
Kaede looked at him. "So what?"
Genma opened his mouth to respond, but ultimately swallowed his words. "Fine. Forget I asked."
Guy’s eyes, however, lit up. "Kaede, you’re already so strong, yet you’re still developing new ninjutsu!" He clenched his fist tightly. "I can’t afford to stop either!"
Kaede glanced at him. "We’ll talk about training when we get back. Let’s get Senior Duy to the hospital first."
Guy nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
The four of them continued their journey.
***
By evening, the gates of Konoha appeared on the horizon. Upon entering the village, Kaede first stopped at a ninja tool shop to buy a high-grade sealing scroll.
When the shopkeeper saw the ninja swords, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wh—what are these?"
Genma grinned. "Don’t ask."
Kaede sealed the five swords into the scroll. Once it was closed, Genma finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I’m heading home first."
Kaede nodded. "Good work, go back and rest well."
Genma waved him off. "Don’t even mention it. Right now, all I want to do is lie down." He walked a few paces, then stopped. "But seriously... if it weren’t for you and Senior Duy today, Guy and I would’ve been dead."
Kaede didn’t reply. Genma didn’t wait for an answer before turning and leaving.
Guy was already anxious. "Kaede, I’ll take Dad to the hospital now."
"I’ll come with you."
Guy blinked, surprised. Kaede slung the sealing scroll over his shoulder. "It works out; I need to find someone as well."
Without thinking twice, Guy rushed toward the hospital with Duy on his back.
In the main lobby of the Konoha Hospital, Nonou was coordinating medication counts with the nurses. When she turned and saw the blood-soaked Duy and the torn clothing of Kitahara Kaede, her expression shifted instantly.
"Kitahara-kun!"
She hurried toward them, her gaze first landing on Kaede. He gave her a small smile. "I’m fine." He pointed to Duy on Guy’s back. "There was a complication during the reconnaissance mission. Senior Duy is heavily injured; please arrange for treatment as quickly as possible."
Nonou nodded. "Take him to the emergency ward immediately."
The nurses scrambled. Guy carried Duy into the ER and placed him on the bed, his grip never loosening. Kaede walked over and patted his shoulder.
"He’ll be okay."
Guy looked at Duy and nodded firmly.
Nonou quickly completed her examination. The injuries were severe, but not beyond saving. "Stay here for now," she told them before turning and rushing upstairs.
Kaede had returned. This was something that had to be reported to Lady Tsunade immediately.
***
The door to Tsunade’s office was tightly shut. Inside, it was silent. Tsunade sat behind her desk, holding a photo frame. She had been staring at it for a long time. Her finger traced the edge of the frame, her agitation refusing to subside.
They called it ’reconnaissance.’ But with five squads missing in action, how was that a simple scouting mission?
Suddenly, a hurried knocking echoed from the door. "Lady Tsunade!"
Tsunade looked up. "Enter."
Nonou pushed the door open, speaking rapidly. "Kitahara Kaede and the others have returned. Someone is critically injured."
Tsunade bolted upright, slamming the photo frame onto the desk. "Who is injured?"
Before Nonou could answer, Tsunade had already rounded the desk and reached the door. She hadn’t even fastened her white lab coat properly as she stormed through the corridor, the nurses scrambling to get out of her way.
Tsunade threw open the door to the emergency ward. Her gaze first landed on Kitahara Kaede. His clothes were torn and stained with blood, but there wasn’t a single sign of injury on his body. Most of that blood clearly wasn’t his.
Tsunade stared at him for two seconds before her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Then, her eyes shifted to Might Duy on the bed.
Her expression turned cold. She walked to the bedside, pressing her hand against Duy’s shoulder and ribs.
High-level Eight Inner Gates. And they had been open for a significant amount of time.
Tsunade’s hand paused. What kind of enemy did they encounter that would force Might Duy to push himself to this extent?
She recalled the relaxed expression Kaede had when he left, claiming it was just ’reconnaissance.’
’That brat. He lied to me again.’
There were other people in the room, and Duy’s injuries couldn’t wait. Tsunade suppressed her anger, her voice dropping several degrees. "Nonou, stabilize his chakra first. The tears in the left shoulder and right leg are the most severe; prioritize those two areas."
Nonou nodded immediately. "Yes!"
Guy, standing nearby, asked urgently, "Lady Tsunade, my dad... he’ll be okay, right?"
Tsunade glanced at him. "He will."
The tension in Guy’s face finally eased. Tsunade added, "However, he is not to train for the next month."
Guy nodded vigorously. "I’ll make sure he stays put!"
Duy, lying on the bed, whispered, "Guy, actually, I think..."
Guy looked down at him. "Do as Lady Tsunade says!"
Duy shut his mouth.
Standing to the side, Kaede felt a sudden tightening in his chest. This was bad. Very bad.
When Tsunade had entered the room, the first person she looked at was him. And after she did, she had become far too calm.
The calmer she seemed, the more furious Tsunade actually was.
Once the treatment arrangements were finalized, Tsunade turned and headed for the door. As she passed Kitahara Kaede, she paused.
"Kitahara Kaede."
He looked up at her. Without even glancing his way, Tsunade simply commanded, "Come with me to my office."
Silence fell over the hospital room. Guy looked back and forth between Kitahara Kaede and Tsunade’s retreating figure. "Kaede, what’s going on?"
Kitahara Kaede gave him a small, strained smile. "Take good care of Duy-senpai."
With that, he braced himself and followed her.
The corridor was short, and Tsunade remained silent the entire way. With every step, a growing sense of dread filled Kitahara Kaede.
The office door swung open. He had barely stepped inside, still finding his footing, when—*slam*—the door was shut and locked behind him.
In one fluid motion, Tsunade grabbed his wrist and shoved him backward into the oversized office chair.
Before he could utter a word, Tsunade leaned over him, her hands planting firmly on the armrests as she stared him down. She was close—so close that Kitahara Kaede could see the lingering traces of alarm in her eyes, mixed with a simmering rage.
Kitahara Kaede’s survival instincts kicked into overdrive. He immediately threw up his hands.
"Wait! I can explain!""Let me tell you something!""Let me tell you something!"
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