"Yahiko, stay here and keep watch."
Shinji stood up, hurriedly instructing Yahiko beside him, then quickly headed toward the most severely devastated area within the valley.
"Hey!" Yahiko was taken aback, raising his hand to stop him.
He wanted to ask about Konan's condition, but seeing Shinji's anxious expression and noticing that Konan's wound had stopped bleeding, he slowly lowered his hand, feeling a slight sense of relief.
Shinji paid no mind to Yahiko's thoughts. The most urgent matter now was finding Fugaku.
The battle was over. Whether Fugaku was alive or dead, he had to go and confirm it—this would determine his attitude upon returning to the village.
He stepped over one corpse after another, passed through the still-burning black flames, and finally found Fugaku beneath a half-collapsed stone wall at the edge of the inferno.
This was precisely the area where he had fought most fiercely against Black Zetsu and Obito. Since Fugaku had been possessed and controlled by Black Zetsu, he was bound to be nearby.
Cold rain poured onto the nearby black flames, steaming up a white mist that enveloped the area.
Fugaku lay on his back, his face as pale as paper.
His right forearm and right calf were gone, the severed wounds a bloody mess, with blood spreading in a large pool on the ground. His abdomen had also been pierced by Obito's Stabbing Technique, and his clothes were long soaked through with blood.
Shinji's expression changed, and he quickly crouched down, pressing his ear against Fugaku's chest.
A faint yet clear heartbeat reached his ears. He sighed in relief, then carefully examined Fugaku's injuries:
Multiple fractures throughout his body, severe blood loss, and severely damaged meridians.
The most critical were the severed limbs on his right arm and right leg. Although the abdominal wound was serious, Obito seemed to have deliberately avoided vital organs, so it wasn't fatal.
Gently lifting Fugaku's eyelids, Shinji saw that his pupils were already dilated, his eyes rolled back—he had completely lost consciousness, as if half a step into the Pure Land.
When his gaze fell on Fugaku's right eye, Shinji froze. The eye was now covered in a grayish-white haze.
The Mangekyō Sharingan had been overused to the point of near blindness.
While Black Zetsu possessed him, it had clearly been frantically draining Fugaku's Ocular Power, especially by continuously activating Amaterasu, which caused immense strain.
Shinji looked around. Layers of black flame barriers still surrounded Fugaku, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly.
That bastard Black Zetsu—it wasn't his own body, so he had no qualms about using it recklessly.
This was Amaterasu, and now it was practically useless.
Should he gouge it out?
"Ahem!"
He cleared his throat, suppressing the somewhat improper thought in his mind, and somewhat guiltily lifted Fugaku's left arm, half-carrying, half-supporting him out of the range of the black flames and back to where Yahiko and the others were.
Seeing Shinji bring Fugaku back and noticing his pitiful state, Yahiko's face showed a hint of sympathy.
The three of them had shared life-and-death experiences with Shinji and his group. Compared to Fugaku, they had been extremely lucky.
Still, without Shinji, the three of them likely wouldn't have fared well either.
Yahiko sighed softly and stepped forward to lend a hand, asking, "How is this gentleman? Do you need any help?"
Shinji raised a hand to stop him and said, "You take Nagato and Konan. Is there a place nearby where we can temporarily settle? Also, I need some medical equipment and supplies."
He glanced down at the unconscious Nagato and Konan, then adjusted Fugaku on his back before continuing, "These three urgently need treatment. The current environment is too poor, and it's still raining. We can only manage basic care for now, but we must find a place to perform surgery as soon as possible."
Yahiko wiped the rain from his face, thought for a moment, and nodded. "Our Akatsuki Organization's base is nearby."
After all, they were a ninja organization. Although they didn't have specialized Medical Ninjas, they had stocked up on plenty of basic medical equipment.
Under Jiraiya-sensei's careful guidance, all three of them had mastered simple emergency treatment methods, which was why they had prepared a good supply of basic medicines and tools.
Hearing Shinji's request, Yahiko didn't hesitate at all and immediately decided to take him back to the Akatsuki Organization's base.
This alone showed how completely he trusted Shinji.
"Good, let's go to your place then!"
"I'll lead the way!"
Yahiko immediately helped Konan and Nagato up and headed off in one direction.
Shinji followed silently behind, carrying Fugaku on his back.
Because they were transporting severely injured people, the two moved slowly. Especially with Fugaku—Shinji was afraid the jostling along the way might cause him to stop breathing altogether, so he continuously used the Mystical Palm Technique to stabilize his injuries and sustain his vitality.
The Akatsuki Organization's base was built inside a natural cave on the outskirts of Amegakure.
Originally a deserted ninja camp, it had been renovated by Yahiko and the others. It now had a simple living area, meeting room, and supply storage area. Its concealment was excellent, making it well-suited for secret activities.
Shinji followed Yahiko up the stone steps to the entrance of the hideout.
"This is it!"
Yahiko pushed open the heavy door and went in first, calling out as soon as he entered, "Daifuku! Kyūjo! Ki'e!"
When he and Nagato had left earlier, they hadn't brought the other members along. Now, hoping to call for help, he shouted several times, but the hideout remained eerily silent, with no response.
Yahiko stood frozen in place, his expression gradually darkening.
"Stop shouting," Shinji interrupted, still carrying Fugaku. "Saving lives comes first. Find me a decent room—these three need to be taken in together."
In his heart, Shinji already had a vague answer. The other members of the Akatsuki Organization had likely rushed out to rescue Yahiko and the others, only to run into Obito on the way. They were probably all dead by now.
Probably all dead.
Shinji sighed inwardly, thinking how truly despicable Obito was during this period.
To push Nagato into a corner and completely shatter his beliefs, he hadn't even spared these companions.
These people were comrades who had struggled alongside Yahiko and the others, bound by deep bonds of affection—nothing like the later Rogue Ninjas such as Deidara or Sasori.
Yahiko's heart sank, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
But treating the wounded was the top priority now. Without another word, he dragged Nagato and Konan deeper into the base.
Passing through a crude corridor, the two arrived at a room marked for medical use. It wasn't very large but was kept clean and tidy, with a few simple beds set up.
Shinji looked around. The conditions weren't great, but they were sufficient for emergency treatment.
Together, he and Yahiko placed Fugaku, Nagato, and Konan on separate beds.
Yahiko dragged a medical kit from the corner and carried it over.
Shinji took the opened case, which contained scalpels, hemostats, gauze, and sutures—everything needed.
"Bring all your medicines," he instructed without looking up.
Yahiko nodded, turned, and hurried out, returning shortly with a larger wooden box. "Everything's here."
Shinji quickly sorted through it, his brow slightly furrowed.
Inside were only disinfectant, coagulants, painkillers, and basic anti-infection drugs—not exactly abundant.
But for emergency treatment, it would just about suffice.
He closed the lid and said, "I'm going to start treating the three of them."
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!