At the instant Jūgo rushed forward, Yōsuke reacted in time, activating his Blood Demon Art—Dark Bind, restraining Jūgo completely.
If Jūgo were allowed to run wild, these refugees would very likely end up dying by his hands.
Since Yōsuke had promised Jūgo that he would stop him from killing, he had to honor that promise.
"Jūgo! Calm down!"
Jūgo struggled violently, his face twisted and feral, saliva continuously spilling from the corners of his mouth.
Watching from nearby, Shilì noticed Jūgo's abnormal state and instantly appeared in front of Yōsuke's group.
With interest, Shilì looked at the berserk Jūgo.
"Looks like there really are rebels hiding among these refugees. You're rogue ninja hired by that dead-fatty Michiru, aren't you?"
However, Yōsuke didn't even spare Shilì a glance. Together with Pakura, he continued calming Jūgo down.
Being completely ignored, veins bulged on Shilì's forehead.
"You're about to die and you still don't realize it!"
Shilì pulled out a kunai and hurled it straight at Yōsuke.
Clang.
The kunai was knocked away by Pakura.
She looked at Shilì with disdain.
"The one who doesn't realize he's about to die is you, idiot."
Several fireballs created by Scorch Release appeared around Pakura.
Shilì's originally arrogant expression gradually became serious, as he felt an intense sense of danger emanating from the fireballs.
"Kongō! Kinrenka! Come back!"
Kongō and Kinrenka, who had been carrying out a one-sided massacre, returned to Shilì's side.
Kinrenka still hadn't realized the gravity of the situation and sneered.
"Oh? So there really are rebels hiding among these refugees."
Shilì warned coldly,
"Don't be careless. These people aren't simple."
Just as Pakura was about to eliminate the three of them, a large number of armed soldiers and a small group of ninja suddenly charged out of the surrounding forest.
Leading them was a greasy, obese man.
That man was the Moon Prince of the Land of the Moon—Michiru.
Michiru glared at Shilì with hatred.
"Shilì! We finally caught you while you're separated from the others!"
"Michiru, looks like you've grown bolder. You actually dared to ambush us!"
In Shilì's mind, an entire scenario had already formed: Yōsuke's group were Tsukimitsu's subordinates, lying in wait among the refugees to lure them in, after which Michiru would lead his army to surround them.
Thinking he had been set up, Shilì's face darkened.
"I never expected a lazy, gluttonous fatass like you to come up with something like this. You've really surprised me."
Michiru was completely confused. What scheme? He had only come here to escort the refugees. Fearing exposure, he had brought a large force for safety—and had simply happened to run into Shilì and the others.
Michiru was eager to attack. Shilì, Kongō, and Kinrenka were the three strongest ninja under Shabadaba, each possessing jōnin-level strength. If he could eliminate them, the royal faction would gain a decisive advantage.
But another change occurred.
Another army appeared along the distant coastline.
When Michiru saw the man at the front, disbelief and fear filled his expression.
"Shabadaba?!"
Minister Shabadaba of the Land of the Moon confronted Tsukimitsu with his army.
Looking at Michiru with contempt, Shabadaba said,
"Michiru, I saw through your little tricks long ago. As long as I kill you, the Land of the Moon will belong to me—Shabadaba!"
Caught between the two armies, Yōsuke and Pakura stood there with their mouths slightly open, completely bewildered.
The situation had developed far beyond their expectations. They were merely passing through, yet had suddenly been dragged into a war.
Jūgo's consciousness gradually returned. Looking at the tense standoff around him, he asked in confusion,
"What… is going on?"
Yōsuke and Pakura exchanged a glance, both seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes.
As Yōsuke rose from his crouched position, Shilì—who had been closely watching them—was startled and once again hurled a kunai at him.
That kunai became the final straw.
The two armies immediately clashed.
Yōsuke caught the kunai and scratched his head in confusion.
"Did we… just start a war?"
"…Does this even count?"
Pakura felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity. What kind of country was this? The war had begun far too casually.
Just as Yōsuke was wondering whether he should participate in the war they had unintentionally triggered, Shilì seemed to fixate on them, joining forces with Kongō and Kinrenka to attack Yōsuke's group.
"Scorch Release: Excessive Steam Kill!"
Pakura detonated her fireballs, creating a massive explosion that instantly formed a vacuum zone.
When the dust settled, several mummified corpses—completely drained of moisture—lay among the ruins.
Shilì and the other two had narrowly survived by hiding behind rocks before the explosion.
From Pakura's attack, Shilì immediately recognized her. His expression turned to shock.
"A rogue ninja of Sunagakure… Scorch Release Pakura?!"
Pakura did not answer. She continued manipulating the fireballs, launching another attack at the trio.
In an instant, the rocks they were hiding behind were completely obliterated.
"Kongō, Kinrenka—attack together! You two deal with those two men! I'll hold Pakura off. After you finish them, come help me! Even if she's Scorch Release Pakura, she won't stand a chance against the three of us!"
In Shilì's eyes, Yōsuke and Jūgo were weaker than Pakura. To prevent them from interfering, he ordered Kongō and Kinrenka to kill them first.
Black patterns spread across the skin of Shilì, Kongō, and Kinrenka's right arms, forming an eye on the back of each hand.
Pakura continued bombarding Shilì with fireballs, while he relied on agile taijutsu to dodge.
The burly Kongō swung his fist at the nearest target—Jūgo—who chose to meet it head-on, returning the blow with a punch of his own.
Meanwhile, countless red petals suddenly appeared around Kinrenka, her figure vanishing within them.
Seeing his companions follow the plan, Shilì relaxed slightly. Though he didn't know why Pakura was in the Land of the Moon, facing her alone wasn't enough to worry him.
Then, in the very next second, something happened that Shilì could not accept.
Kinrenka—who had chosen Yōsuke as her target—was now impaled on Yōsuke's samurai blade.
The blade had pierced straight through her chest, blood pouring endlessly from the wound.
Shilì and Kongō's eyes nearly split apart in disbelief.
"How is this possible?!"
They had only seen Yōsuke draw his sword and casually thrust it forward. When Kinrenka emerged from the petals, she was already skewered through the body.
Yōsuke didn't even know how to begin complaining.
"This really is a completely inexplicable fight.".
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