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"What... what exactly do you want?" Uzuki Yugao instinctively stepped back half a step. After witnessing Kaito instantly kill seven Anbu members, hearing this frivolous remark, she would rather face those Anbu. Better to be harassed than killed.

"I don't need to say it, you should know very well," Kaito said with an amused smile, looking at Hayate Gekko. "I'm giving you a chance to live now."

"Are you willing to let us go?" Hayate Gekko said with a look of joy. "My father is Gekko Kuroya. If you let us go, we'll definitely reward you handsomely later." As he spoke, Hayate Gekko was thinking of taking Uzuki Yugao away.

"You seem to have misunderstood. What I mean is, only one of you can leave alive," Kaito suddenly said.

Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao's expressions froze. Wasn't this forcing them into a life-and-death struggle?

"Don't worry, you decide who stays and who goes. Of course, I'll do the killing," Kaito said with a mocking smile. "If you think you're stronger than the seven Anbu, feel free to come and die." The not-so-loud voice echoed in the forest, adding an inexplicable sense of oppression to the atmosphere.

Uzuki Yugao couldn't help but look at Hayate Gekko. What she saw stunned her.

"Yugao, wait for me. The base is only a few kilometers away from here. I'm faster than you, I can definitely bring back reinforcements." With those words, Hayate Gekko turned and fled. He ran so fast, it was as if he was using every ounce of his strength. In just a few leaps, he disappeared into the forest.

"Would you say that in a crisis, a person's inner cosmos erupts?" Kaito said with a smile.

Uzuki Yugao's face turned slightly pale. She took a kunai from her ninja tools and aimed it at her throat.

Clang! Kaito flicked a shuriken with his hand, instantly knocking the kunai out of Uzuki Yugao's hand.

Uzuki Yugao's expression changed, and she shouted urgently, "Didn't you say it was only life and death? Can't I do it myself now?"

"Of course you can," Kaito said seriously. "But I was just trying to scare you. I didn't expect that kid to run faster than a rabbit. Let's go, or Uncle Uzuki will worry about you." With those words, Kaito turned and walked towards the base.

Uzuki Yugao was dumbfounded; she had already resigned herself to suicide. Who would have expected this outcome? Watching Kaito's departing figure and recalling Hayate Gekko's earlier escape, a hint of self-mockery appeared on her face.

"Help, Uncle Uzuki, hurry and save Yugao," Hayate Gekko was detected by the sentries before he even reached the base. Kaito's earlier battle had also been detected by the sensory ninja. So Cangwu and Inuzuka Feng had already brought people out.

"Hayate, why are you here?" Cangwu's expression changed. "What were you saying just now? What happened to Yugao?"

"Uncle Uzuki, something terrible happened," Hayate Gekko explained urgently. "Yugao and I were ordered to bring Minato-senpai's Flying Thunder God kunai for precise spatial jump positioning. However, a few kilometers away, Yugao and I were ambushed by Root Anbu. At the critical moment, a boy surrounded by lightning arcs appeared and killed the Root members. But he coveted Yugao's beauty, allowing one of us to leave. I'm faster than Yugao, so I came to seek help."

Seeing Hayate Gekko's anxious and panicked face, everyone exchanged looks.

"You bastard," Cangwu said, swinging his hand.

Slap! The crisp sound of a slap suddenly echoed.

Hayate Gekko was stunned, holding his cheek. "Uncle Uzuki, why... why did you hit me? Hurry and save Yugao, there might still be a chance."

"To hell with you!" Cangwu almost kicked him. "Two can live, and you damn well ran first. If Yugao had encountered someone other than Kaito and something happened to her, I'd definitely cripple you. Even if your father is Gekko Kuroya, I don't care."

In Cangwu's eyes, Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao were childhood sweethearts. Moreover, Gekko Kuroya had taught Uzuki Yugao the Konoha-style sword technique. So, he had quite an appreciation for Kuroya. If this situation had continued a bit longer, Cangwu might have let them develop naturally. But now, faced with a life-and-death decision, he ran faster than a rabbit. This made Cangwu feel like he had been blind.

"Uncle Uzuki... what... what did you say... Yugao is still in that madman's hands..." Hayate Gekko's expression stiffened.

"Hey, are you looking for me?" A familiar voice drifted over. "I was just taking a walk and saw two naive kids, so I saved them on a whim."

Hayate Gekko was stunned and hurriedly looked towards the voice. What he saw was that merciless face. What surprised Hayate Gekko even more was that Uzuki Yugao was walking over with a frosty expression.

"You... how are you okay?" Hayate Gekko couldn't help but ask Uzuki Yugao.

"You're an interesting kid. You ran faster than a rabbit just now, and now you're asking if I did anything to Yugao?" Kaito said with a smile. "I'm still young, I don't understand that stuff."

You! Hayate Gekko was infuriated, remembering Kaito's lecherous face vividly.

"Yugao, let me explain," Hayate Gekko hurriedly stepped forward.

Slap! The crisp sound of a slap suddenly echoed.

"It seems there's nothing to explain between us, Hayate," Uzuki Yugao said coldly. "Dad, I'm here to hand over the mission."

"Hmm, let's talk inside," Cangwu said, giving Hayate Gekko a cold look. "Girl, you need to be more discerning in the future. Some people won't show their true colors until a critical moment. Once you choose wrong, there's no turning back."

Watching Uzuki Yugao leave without a second thought, Hayate Gekko's face turned ashen.

"You're Kaito, right? I want to..." Hayate Gekko said urgently, holding his still-stinging cheek.

"Want to duel me? Bring it on, I haven't killed enough yet," Kaito said mockingly.

"Duel, duel!"

"Kaito, go ahead and accept, so we can start betting. But your odds are very low..."

Seeing the situation suddenly become lively, Hayate Gekko's face turned red with embarrassment. Remembering the seven Root ninjas who were instantly killed, he was completely deflated.

"I'm leaving, I'll go hand over the mission now," Hayate Gekko turned and left swiftly. This once again caused everyone to burst into laughter.

"Kaito, have you really mastered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode?" Inuzuka Feng suddenly asked.