Yang Jiu retracted the golden lightning dancing around his body and cast a faint glance at Kakashi Hatake, who was still frozen in place not far away.
"Aren't you going to save him yet?"
His voice was as calm as if he were remarking on the nice weather today.
"In a moment, your Konoha's Jinchuriki is really going to kick the bucket."
The stunned Kakashi snapped back to his senses instantly.
He practically launched himself forward, rushing to the center of the giant crater in a few steps, reaching out to pick up Naruto—
"Hiss—!"
The moment his hand touched Naruto's skin, he jerked it back.
It was too hot.
The skin's temperature was terrifyingly high, as if he had just been fished out of molten lava; even the air was slightly distorting.
Kakashi looked at the scalded, red skin on his palm, then at the scorched child on the ground whose breathing was faint, momentarily at a loss for how to proceed.
Standing at the edge of the crater, Yang Jiu watched Kakashi's helpless state, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.
"Tsk."
He spoke lazily.
"Can't you use some water to cool him down first?"
Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and with the Uzumaki Clan Bloodline, his Physique was terrifyingly resilient; as long as no one actively tried to kill him, he wouldn't die no matter how heavy the injuries.
"Oh, right!"
Kakashi rarely showed such a flustered expression as he quickly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
A stream of water erupted from his mouth, accurately washing over Naruto's body.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—
When the scalding body met the cold water, a large plume of white mist instantly billowed up.
After the mist dissipated, the scorching heat on Naruto's body finally dropped, and his breathing became a bit more stable.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, then bent down to pick Naruto up.
He looked at Yang Jiu with a complex gaze.
"Thank you for showing mercy."
Yang Jiu gave him a faint glance.
"When teaching someone, don't just teach Ninjutsu; teach them how to conduct themselves. Before they have strength, tell them to watch their mouths."
Kakashi fell silent for a second before nodding: "I understand."
Just then, a hurried set of footsteps approached.
Old man Tazuna ran up quickly. He first cast a fearful glance at Yang Jiu's ten-meter-tall massive form, his Adam's apple bobbing, before turning to Kakashi.
"Captain Kakashi!"
His voice was still trembling, but he tried his best to appear steady.
"C-Come to my house to rest... I have some medicine at home. Although it's not as good as a medical Ninja, at least we can treat the wounds..."
Kakashi looked down at Naruto in his arms, then at the equally disheveled Sasuke and Sakura, and nodded.
"Alright."
He looked toward Yang Jiu.
"Are you... coming with us?"
Yang Jiu looked down at him, a hint of playfulness flashing in his golden eyes.
"Let's go."
"It just so happens I have things to ask you."
——
The group walked toward Tazuna's house.
Yang Jiu followed at the back with composed strides. With every step his ten-meter-tall silver-gold body took, the ground trembled slightly.
Sasuke and Sakura walked in front, occasionally stealing a glance back at the giant wolf before quickly turning away.
Old man Tazuna led the way at the very front; his legs were shaking violently, yet he didn't stop for a single step.
Kakashi walked in the middle carrying Naruto, his mood complex to the extreme.
Soon, the group arrived at Tazuna's house. With everyone's help, they wrapped Naruto up like a mummy.
Night deepened.
Yang Jiu lay on the open ground by the stream some distance from the house, his ten-meter-long silver-gold body stretched out under the moonlight.
The cool moonlight spilled down, plating him in a dreamlike silver glow. Those golden electric arcs were now dormant, only occasionally flashing a single spark that pulsed like a heartbeat.
He lay there quietly, like a deity descended upon the mortal world.
The sound of light footsteps came from behind him.
Kakashi slowly walked to his side and sat down.
The moonlight shone on his silver-white hair, reflecting a face that was tired yet remained calm.
He held a bottle of wine—a local brew from Tazuna's private collection.
After a few seconds of silence.
Kakashi tilted his head back for a gulp, then turned his head to look at the massive creature beside him.
"What did you want to ask me?"
His voice was calm, yet it carried a hint of complex emotion.
He paused, then added another question:
"And... why did you come here?"
Yang Jiu turned his head slightly, those golden eyes looking like two burning stars in the moonlight.
He looked at Kakashi, the corner of his mouth slowly curling.
"I've stayed in Wolf Valley for too long and wanted to come out to see the world."
"And to exchange pointers with the strong—"
He paused, his smile deepening.
"As well as to recruit some subordinates."
Kakashi's brow furrowed instantly.
He looked at the giant wolf before him, his voice growing more solemn:
"A rogue Ninja like Zabuza Momochi is very dangerous."
"Furthermore—they will only bring you trouble."
Yang Jiu laughed.
That smile was filled with absolute confidence.
"Only the weak fear trouble."
He said faintly.
"Besides..."
He tilted his head slightly, a playful glint in his golden eyes.
"Do you think the Hidden Mist Village has the strength to cause me trouble?"
Kakashi's voice caught in his throat.
He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, wanting to say 'You're too arrogant,' wanting to say 'The Five Great Nations are not as simple as you imagine'—
But when the words reached his lips, he couldn't say anything.
Because he remembered the scene from earlier today.
He remembered Yang Jiu swatting away Zabuza's attack with a single claw.
He remembered those golden lightning bolts, that ten-meter-tall body, and those eyes like a god's.
He remembered how easily Yang Jiu had suppressed Naruto when he went berserk in his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
Even the Sandaime could only fight to a draw with him before, let alone now...
Such a person...
Such an existence...
After a few seconds of silence.
Kakashi's voice sounded hoarse:
"No matter how powerful you are, you cannot be a match for an entire hidden village..."
"The Five Great Nations have stood for so many years because they have never relied on a single strong individual..."
Yang Jiu looked at him; there was no rebuttal in his golden eyes, nor was there any disdain.
Just indifferently—
"Tsk."
He made a soft sound, retracted his gaze, and looked back at the night sky.
"Kakashi."
"Beasts walk alone; only cattle and sheep flock together."
Yang Jiu's voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable conviction.
"No matter how many ants there are, they are ultimately just ants—for the truly strong, they never become an elephant just because of their numbers."
Hearing this, the corner of Kakashi's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
In his heart, he was complaining wildly:
"You're a wolf yourself! Wolves also hunt in packs! What about that pack of Ninja Wolves under you? What about Zabuza whom you just recruited? What about the hundreds of people in your Wolf Ninja Village?!"
But he didn't dare say it out loud.
He still wanted to live.
So he silently swallowed his bellyful of complaints and took a large gulp of wine.
Then he looked at Yang Jiu somewhat helplessly and changed the subject:
"Then where are you going next?"
Yang Jiu said plainly, "Since I've come this far, I might as well visit the Land of Water."
"To have a little exchange with the current Mizukage."
The wine Kakashi had just swallowed almost choked him.
"...The Mizukage?"
"Yeah, Mei Terumī, right? I heard she's quite strong, so it's a good chance to test my skills."
Kakashi fell silent.
He began to seriously consider whether he should write a letter to the Hidden Mist Village in advance so they could be mentally prepared.
"By the way."
Yang Jiu suddenly spoke.
"Do you have a map on you? Give me a copy."
Kakashi looked at his unceremonious manner, somewhat speechless.
Nevertheless, he took out a folded map from his Ninja tool pouch and handed it over.
Yang Jiu took it, scanned it, and put it away.
"Thanks."
Kakashi opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he just sighed.
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