Red Nara

Looking up, I immediately noticed the trio of girls and the kage bunshin (shadow clone) behind them, looking at us worriedly from the side of the road.

- Ryo-sensei!

- Sensei!

Instantly, the students were at my side and hung onto me, squeezing me in a hug.

- Easy, girls," I patted them on the top of their heads, smiling, "you don't want to throw yourself at shinobi who have just come out of battle.

- Ryo-sensei, are you hurt? - Hoshi looked up, recoiling.

- No, but I'm overstretched and not in the best shape," I waved my hand, still leaning on the clone, "still, to face a nukenin of S-rank....

- Sensei, who was that? - Asani asked, glancing in the direction of the battlefield where smoke was billowing.

It's okay, they'll die out on their own, after all the water I've spilled over there, there's no need to worry about a fire.

- Kakuzu, the nukenin of Takigakure no Sato, who was the founder of the Five Great Villages and fought against the First Hokage," I said, "that's why I had to remove you from the battlefield as quickly as possible.

- But that was years ago," Hoshi exclaimed, "and that man didn't look old!

- There are many techniques in the world that will never be known to anyone but the creator and the lucky few," I shrugged, "maybe there are some that will allow a man to live much longer and stay in shape even in his old age.

To be honest, I didn't remember anything about Kakuzu's technique except for the five masks made from shinobi hearts, let alone any details of how they were used.

- Ryo-sensei, is this Kakuzu dead? - Asani suddenly asked seriously. - Since he lost...

- I'm not sure," I sighed, somewhat surprised by her question.

- Why?

- Because with a shinobi of that level you can never be sure, unless you personally blow your head off," I sighed, "the longer a shinobi lives, the more ways he has to cheat death and get out of a hopeless situation, I told you that already.

- Yes, Sensei!

- Now that we're done with the questions, it's time for us to get out of here before the curious get here, boys," I nodded to the clones, "drag me along, since I'm a little under the weather myself.

- You got it, boss," the clones nodded and picked me up, throwing their arms around my shoulders and sprinting in sync.

- Sensei, this is Ho no Kuni territory, Konoha's area of responsibility, so what do we have to fear? - Surizawa, who had been listening intently to our conversation, spoke up.

- First of all, it's relatively close to the border of the Fire Country, which is easy enough for loners to cross despite the patrol teams, and Kakuzu is a perfect example of that," I explained to the kunoichi running beside me, "and secondly, with some allies, you don't need any enemies, so outside of Konoha you should remain vigilant even in your own territory and avoid unnecessary risks.

Especially if it's going to be Danzo's youngsters, then it's better to lie low and keep a low profile. The old man has a huge grudge against me.

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