Naruto: I Have Cursed Spirits!

The figure of Kuroi was blown away by the violent impact of the ninjutsu, slamming heavily onto the ground. A sharp pain spread through his chest, and it felt like all his internal organs had been shattered. As he opened his mouth, blood mixed with fragments of flesh spurted out.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his fingers gripped the ground tightly. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stand up.

The arrogant face of the enemy entered his field of vision.

A ninja, wearing the forehead protector of Suna, looked down condescendingly at his fallen opponent. He didn't finish him off. Because there was no need. This man was already as good as dead. Killing him would just be a waste of time.

He swiftly turned and rushed back into the battlefield.

"Cough, cough…" A weak growl came from Kuroi's mouth. Gradually, his breath weakened. Even opening his eyes was becoming impossible.

"Kuroi!"

A familiar face appeared in Kuroi's fading vision.

It was… Tetsuma.

A faint smile emerged on his face.

Without hesitation, Tetsuma picked up Kuroi's body and brought him to Shiratori, who was hiding behind a rock.

Shiratori immediately pressed his hands on Kuroi's chest. A green glow emitted from his palms, enveloping Kuroi's wounds.

The cursed energy quickly repaired the injuries, which had been so severe that his organs were visible.

Kuroi slowly opened his eyes and looked at Tetsuma in front of him. "To think I'd still see you here… what bad luck, huh, Tetsuma?"

Tetsuma's face darkened. "Try saying that again!"

Before Kuroi could shift his gaze, he felt a sudden stab of pain. He frowned, confused, how could he still feel pain if he was supposed to be dead?

Sensing something was off, he looked down at his chest. His damaged organs had been perfectly restored, and his bloody, mangled wounds were gradually healing.

He stared in disbelief at Shiratori. It was like a bolt of lightning struck his mind. He blurted out the name of the child in front of him: "Shiratori!"

Shiratori glanced at him and smiled gently. "Don't worry! I'll heal you completely!"

He hadn't expected to already be so well-known among the ninjas of Ame.

Kuroi recalled what Hanzō had once said. At first, he had doubted that a child could possess such miraculous healing ninjutsu, but now…

A miracle was unfolding before his eyes.

[Gratitude detected: Kuroi +5000 points]

[Energy transferred to Smallpox Deity]

[Development progress: 52%]

Coming to this battlefield had truly been worth it!

"All done!"

Shiratori withdrew his hands and said to Kuroi, "I need your help."

"Absolutely!"

Kuroi replied firmly, without hesitation. Even if the boy asked him to walk into fire or climb a mountain, he'd do it without question!

His life had been saved by Shiratori.

"There are still many wounded ninjas. Help me bring them here," Shiratori said with concern.

Kuroi's whole body trembled. He suddenly thought of something and asked, "How did you even get to the battlefield?"

Shiratori said nothing and lowered his gaze.

Kuroi looked deeply at him.

To think that a child would venture alone into such a dangerous battlefield, just to save people…

[Affection detected: Kuroi +1000 points]

[Energy transferred to Rika]

[Development progress: 50%]

Shiratori hadn't expected such an unexpected bonus.

A smile formed on Kuroi's face. He looked at Shiratori with a protective gaze. "I will definitely protect you!"

Such a strong and brave child… He was the future of Ame!

"..."

Who's protecting whom, really?

Kuroi left the cover of the rock and headed into the heart of the battlefield, where ninjutsu flew wildly, to retrieve the wounded.

Tetsuma stayed behind to protect Shiratori.

Shiratori, unable to stand seeing him idle, urged, "You should go help save people!"

But Tetsuma stood firm. "I'm staying here to protect you!"

Shiratori stared at him, speaking sincerely and earnestly, "But if you bring even one more person back, I can save one more life. That means they won't have to die. I don't want a single ninja from Ame to be sacrificed. I'm well hidden here, no one will find me."

Tetsuma couldn't help recalling the pain and despair of nearly dying. If he could help it, he didn't want any of his comrades to go through that again.

He began to waver.

Shiratori pressed on. "If anything happens, I'll run straight back here. You guys will protect me then."

Tetsuma looked around. No other ninjas seemed to be paying attention to this spot.

"Be extremely careful!" he warned Shiratori, who nodded.

Still uneasy, Tetsuma gave him one last look before turning and leaving from behind the rocks. His figure quickly disappeared into the chaos of the battlefield.

After he left, the black mist swirling around Shiratori's ring grew thicker.

[Killing intent detected: Tsuchigumo +5000 points]

[Energy transferred to Sukuna]

[Development progress: 36%]

A shadow loomed over Shiratori.

"So Ame had such a powerful medical-nin hiding all along. What a pity. Kid, it's your own fault for being from Ame."

The blood-soaked blade was reflected in his eerily calm eyes.

Tsuchigumo twisted his wrist, and the long blade slashed straight toward the child's neck.

Boom!

The blade was caught mid-air by a massive, pale-blue claw.

Tsuchigumo's pupils slowly moved upward, and his body froze.

Rika's figure emerged from the ring. A deafening shriek burst from her gaping mouth, filled with razor-sharp teeth.

Right before Shiratori's eyes, Tsuchigumo exploded into a mist of blood.

"..."

That was… way too violent, Rika.

He turned to see Kuroi and Tetsuma, each carrying a wounded ninja, staring warily at the figure of Rika in front of him.

"Shiratori! Don't move!"

"Leave it to us!"

Kuroi and Tetsuma laid the injured down, gripped their weapons tightly, and their murderous gazes locked onto Rika.

Shiratori reached out a hand toward Rika. Kuroi and Tetsuma's pupils contracted, and they rushed forward, trying to shield him behind them. But in the next second, Rika quietly allowed him to pat her head and dissolved into black mist, returning to the ring.

"..."

"..."

…What just happened?

"Hurry up and help the wounded!" Shiratori called out to Kuroi and Tetsuma.

Only then did the two remember their barely breathing comrades, and they quickly brought them over to him.

A green light glowed from his hands.

He explained to the wide-eyed Kuroi and Tetsuma, "That was my fiancée, Rika."

"..."

"..."

Was this… a hallucination?

Or were their ears playing tricks on them?

Tetsuma rubbed his ears in disbelief.

Shiratori, noticing his reaction, his mouth twitched and he added a brief explanation: "After Rika died, she stayed with me in this form to protect me."

"Protect…?"

Kuroi blinked. That scene just now looked more like a monster trying to kill him.

Tetsuma looked down, picked up a long blade, and asked nervously, "Did someone attack you just now?"

Shiratori nodded. "A ninja from Suna. But Rika already killed him."