Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

No life is more important than another, but in one's own eyes, life is always more important than others'.

Ye Zi didn't know if Orochimaru was aware of the battle situation on his side, but regardless, he had no extra energy to inform Orochimaru that they were already escaping. Besides, he didn't believe that Orochimaru would be left behind, even though the rock lizard, which was not inferior in size to the giant snake, was merely providing a meager distraction.

Careful on the way in and equally careful on the way out—careful on the way in to avoid detection, and careful on the way out to avoid injury.

In such a difficult situation, even being hit by a kunai could cause a complete collapse.

Unable to stop, even counterattacks and strikes were carried out without pausing. Armed with nothing but a single blade and a strong desire to live, Ye Zi became a spearhead, displaying a flawless escape.

No one could block him.

Anyone who obstructed his path was eventually turned into a corpse in the wind.

That blade, which still gleamed with a cold edge in the thick, dark night, was deeply etched into the minds of the rock and gray ninjas.

No matter how persistent the attackers, no matter how they disregarded their lives, they couldn't stop his blade, which was driven by a powerful will.

"I can't die…"

Muttering this to himself, even with hands so weak that they might not hold the blade the next moment, even with vision obscured by blood, he wielded every strike with all his might. Only by doing so could the obstacles be reduced, only by doing so could the enemy deeply experience his will…

The will to break through!

He led the way, while the pressure on Kushina and Kotoe was minimal. They could feel his will to survive more profoundly than the enemy.

It could be seen as a fear of death, but it couldn't be said that he was scared to die.

Even the bravest enemies eventually faltered.

Some people are simply unstoppable, even if you try to hold them back.

Walking on blood and corpses, he left a trail of blood and fear, leading Kotoe and Kushina out of the Land of Rain, bringing an end to the ambush that went from being unplanned to meticulously set up.

The person responsible for the reception at the Land of Grass border was shocked to see the three in such a bloody state and hurried to meet them.

The Grass ninjas looked at Ye Zi, who was almost entirely covered in blood, without any physiological disgust but rather with great admiration for the young man.

No matter if the blood was his or the enemy's, the mere fact that he could stand there was enough to earn their respect.

The reception team had many things they wanted to say and ask, but looking at the resolute and exhausted Ye Zi, and the weary, distraught Kushina and Kotoe, no amount of words or questions could be spoken.

The first high-difficulty mission assigned to Orochimaru's team ended in failure.

On the following morning, Orochimaru returned to the Land of Grass, carrying an unshakeable weariness but without any injuries.

The enemies who had failed to contain Ye Zi and the others did not lose their fighting spirit. After returning to the battlefield, Orochimaru became their sole target. Under what could be described as the full force of a small country's attack, Orochimaru managed to retreat unscathed, proving his ever growing reputation.

When Orochimaru returned, he merely stated that the mission had failed. In the following days, perhaps to allow Ye Zi and the others to heal in peace, he remained silent.

When Ye Zi and Kushina's injuries were nearly healed, he was prepared to seek an explanation from the highest authorities in the Land of Grass. However, the Land of Grass gave an explanation even faster.

They paid the full reward.

A simple statement that silenced all discontent.

The purpose of accepting the mission was the reward, and with the reward received, any dissatisfaction was meaningless. Since dissatisfaction was meaningless, it made no difference to pursue whether information had been leaked or if it had been leaked intentionally.

At parting.

Kotoe approached Ye Zi and said calmly, "I owe you a life."

Ye Zi looked at her, seeing no trace of the vibrant girl from their first meeting. She seemed to have settled into the sadness of that night, much like he had, growing in a way that was both inexplicable and cold after the great fire.

"You should thank your father, and I should thank him too." His tone was equally calm.

That night, he had endured both mental and physical torment, ultimately breaking free after leaving a trail of blood and corpses. Ultimately, he owed it to Shinboku's final jutsu that had used all the remaining light of her life.

Without that great wind, their lives would have withered in the dark night.

A hint of sorrow flickered in Kotoe's eyes, but soon it returned to a dead calm.

That expression, that gaze…

Ye Zi felt as if he was seeing his former self.

"Living is the most important thing. That's what someone who once meant a lot to me said." He was unwilling to reminisce, so he decisively turned and followed Kushina and Orochimaru, who were waiting for him.

Living is the most important thing…

That dead calm suddenly flashed with a glimmer of light.

"We'll meet again." Kotoe shouted to Ye Zi's back.

Ye Zi did not turn around but silently thought to himself, "Of course."

Someday, he would return to that place, and she would be there too.

The injuries he sustained there would have to be avenged.

She wanted to avenge the pain.

And he, was just a beast that exacted retribution for flaws.

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