"Disperse and escape—hurry!" Fujikawa shouted.
Yes—run.
Fujikawa had no intention of engaging Saigoji Youmu in battle. The moment he witnessed Saigoji Youmu's power, he knew with absolute certainty that the three of them were no match for him. The Earth-Style Wall he had summoned wasn't meant for defense—it was merely a desperate attempt to buy them time to flee.
"Yes!"
His two fellow Chūnin nodded grimly.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With the towering wall of earth obscuring their movements, the three Rock Shinobi bolted in different directions.
On the Other Side...
"They're trying to escape."
Konan observed their movements sharply.
"What should we do, Brother Youmu?" she asked.
Even at such a young age, Konan's talent and combat awareness were outstanding. A single glance was enough for her to understand Fujikawa's intentions.
Saigoji Youmu smiled slightly, patting Konan's head.
"Relax, Konan."
"They can't escape."
If he had truly been a member of the kirigakure, Fujikawa's strategy might have worked. But Saigoji Youmu's Demon Manifestation - Demon Essence was far beyond the limits of Ice Release.
Instead of saving them, Fujikawa's actions had only sealed their fates.
Behind the Earth Wall...
The moment Fujikawa and his men took off, countless sharp ice spears suddenly erupted from the solid earthen barrier.
The ice spikes extended rapidly, spreading outward in all directions—swiftly closing in on the fleeing Rock Shinobi.
In an instant—
Splatter!
The spears impaled them from behind, mercilessly piercing through their bodies.
"Aghhh!"
Their screams echoed for only a moment before they fell silent—lifeless.
Aftermath
Hearing the dying screams, Saigoji Youmu knew his attack had worked.
"Konan, let's go check."
"Mhm."
The two stepped around the Earth-Style Wall, coming to where the Rock Shinobi had fallen.
As expected, the three were sprawled lifelessly on the ground, each body impaled by multiple crystal-clear ice spears.
Konan stared at the scene, then turned to look up at Saigoji Youmu, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Brother Youmu, was that your ninjutsu?"
She was captivated. Like many girls, Konan had a natural affinity for beautiful things. And the transparent ice spears, glistening under the dim light, were as breathtaking as they were deadly.
"Can you teach me?" she asked eagerly.
Saigoji Youmu chuckled, shaking his head.
"Sorry, Konan. My ability isn't ninjutsu—I can't teach it to you."
"Oh… okay."
Konan's shoulders slumped, disappointment clear on her face.
Seeing this, Saigoji Youmu softened his tone.
"Don't be discouraged, Konan. Your talent is incredible."
"One day, you'll grow into a powerful kunoichi."
He smiled. "I may not be able to teach you, but I promise I'll find you a great teacher."
Konan nodded, though her mood remained slightly low.
If possible, I still wish I could learn it from Brother Youmu… she thought.
But she trusted him. If he said it was impossible, then it truly was.
A New Destination
After confirming the Rock Shinobi were dead, Saigoji Youmu and Konan departed.
"Brother Youmu, where are we going now?"
"There are still some places in the Land of Rain that have remained untouched by the war."
"That's where we're headed next."
Konan tilted her head. "Why not just leave the Land of Rain?"
Saigoji Youmu smirked. "Because here, you can meet a lot of interesting people."
The Next Day – A Small Town in the Land of Rain
"Wow…"
Konan's eyes gleamed as she took in the bustling streets.
Despite the ongoing war, this small town was lively, filled with people moving about. Though the pedestrians looked somewhat tense, they didn't appear overly fearful.
Clearly, they didn't worry too much about being dragged into the war.
"I didn't know such a place existed in the Land of Rain."
Konan marveled at the town's atmosphere.
Saigoji Youmu nodded. "This town survived thanks to the leader of the Land of Rain—Hanzō of the Salamander."
Konan turned to him, curious. "Hanzō of the Salamander?"
Saigoji Youmu explained, "When war broke out, Konoha, Sand Shinobi, and Rock Shinobi acted without restraint."
"They treated the Land of Rain as nothing more than a battlefield."
"But Hanzō stepped in and proved his overwhelming strength."
"His sheer power forced Konoha, Rock Shinobi, and Sand Shinobi to hold back."
"Because of that, some places—like this town—were spared from destruction."
Konan listened carefully, then asked, "Is Hanzō really that strong?"
"How powerful is he?"
Saigoji Youmu smirked.
"Hanzō calls himself a 'demigod.'"
"In a one-on-one battle, even Konoha's Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Rock Shinobi's Tsuchikage Ōnoki, or Sand Shinobi's Third Kazekage—"
"None of them can say for sure that they could defeat him."
Konan's eyes widened. "That strong…?"
Saigoji Youmu nodded.
"Yes. That's why, even amidst war, there are still places in the Land of Rain that remain untouched."