Ruri glanced down at him and said:
"No, it's the power of the strong."
"The power of the strong?"
Not a genius?
Then, Ruri's serious voice echoed in his ears again.
"Of course, the same goes for you. Even if you were just a brief firework."
Duy fell silent upon hearing this, then silently smiled.
Forget it, let's just take it as comfort.
In the end, being acknowledged by an enemy, this feeling isn't so bad.
Unfortunately... in the end, I still disappointed the Hokage's expectations...
I am just a powerless mortal.
My fangs could not reach that vast starry sky.
My youth has ended here.
Guy, if it's you, please don't waste your youth, strive to live strong...
Duy silently prayed in his heart, finally closed his eyes weakly, his consciousness dissipating at that moment, with a smile still on his face.
Ruri exhaled lightly, withdrawing the Chakra Sword from Duy's body, seemingly still immersed in the remnants of the previous battle.
Only at this moment, Ruri realized the blood within him was hotter than he imagined.
"Father!"
Footsteps came from behind, it was Guy, his breath could be heard, panting.
Dragging his injured body, Guy saw Duy's motionless figure on the desert, and nearby Ruri standing with a blood-stained sword.
His pupils dilated, his mouth opening, his mind blank, all anger and sadness disappeared from his face, leaving only a stupor, forgetting even what to say.
"It's Guy, sorry, you came a step too late, the battle is over."
Ruri held the Chakra Sword, dripping blood from the blade, slowly walking toward Guy.
"...Ru...ri...sensei...my father..."
"Just as you thought. Although opening the Eight Gates means self-death, I greatly respect your father, he was a very strong ninja, so I personally sent him on his way."
Ruri stopped, lifted his arm, resting the Chakra Sword at Guy's throat, ready to kill him.
Smiling, he asked a seemingly unrelated question:
"By the way, you also know how to use the Eight Inner Gates, right?"
Guy's throat rolled, he didn't speak, his pupils shaking.
"This battle was less thrilling than imagined. So I plan to let you go, when you can also open the Eight Gates, come to find me and avenge your father. Once you open the Eight Gates, perhaps things will become a bit more interesting."
Ruri said, seemingly certain Guy indeed possessed the potential to open the Death Gate, holding this expectation in his heart.
Without waiting for Guy to speak, he lowered the sword, turning and walking away a few meters, then slightly tilting his head:
"By the way, if you don't want to die, the best thing now is to get as far away from here as possible. For someone with the qualifications to open the Death Gate, dying here would be indeed a pity."
With those words, Ruri's figure disappeared from the spot, leaving only Guy there, guarding Duy's body.
◎
"Seems you aren't here to visit me."
Watching Tsunade walk past directly, Hakushi scratched his head awkwardly, feeling a bit overly sentimental.
Then he looked at Shizune standing there unmoving, greeting:
"Long time no see, Shizune, you've grown up, and turned out beautifully. Do you have a boyfriend?"
Shizune forced a smile, seeing the 'Hakushi-senpai' she hadn't seen for a long time, honestly speaking, she didn't know what tone to use to speak.
Perhaps the relationship between them could never return to the way it was before.
Tsunade reached Jiraiya's side, gazing down at his current injuries, then looking around, seeing Sarutobi Ryu, Sarutobi Linko, and other familiar faces all fallen, from a medical perspective, they were already dead.
No matter how skillful the Medical Ninjutsu, it couldn't bring them back.
Tsunade clenched her fists, took a deep breath, finally saying nothing.
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, coughing weakly.
"You shouldn't have come here, Tsunade..."
"Don't speak."
Tsunade knelt down, beginning to heal Jiraiya's injuries with Medical Ninjutsu.
The white-haired boy beside Hakushi moved his Blood Spear, preparing to step forward.
"Let her be."
Hakushi's voice stopped his advance.
The white-haired boy tilted his head, looking at Hakushi, somewhat puzzled.
Hakushi skimmed the anxious and unsettled Shizune, then his gaze settled back on Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sensei, I don't want to fight you. As the condition for Jiraiya's survival, he must subsequently be taken as a prisoner and return with me to the Land of Demons."
Tsunade did not respond, continuing to treat Jiraiya on her own.
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as agreement."
Hakushi sighed.
In fact, even if Tsunade didn't come, he wouldn't kill Jiraiya, not out of fear of enmity with Konoha, but because the value of living people is greater than dead ones.
Until he squeezed out the last drop of Jiraiya's value, dying wouldn't be so easy.
Upon hearing Hakushi's words, Jiraiya pushed away Tsunade's hand performing Medical Ninjutsu, standing up from the sand.
While standing, his knees almost buckled several times, even maintaining balance seemed difficult, staggering like a fragile infant, yet even so, he didn't want to fall to the ground.
Or perhaps, he didn't want to show his weakness in front of the person he loved.