Chapter 43: Return to the Village
One after another, the Blazing Worker Ants surged forward, crawling onto the enemy. But their target was too fast; they either couldn't keep up or were crushed underfoot.
Finally, another worker ant managed to crawl onto the enemy's sandal.
When Jizo felt the sharp sting on his heel again, his expression changed instantly. He knew it wasn't an illusion this time. He looked down and saw the very same crimson ant that had thrown his Jashinist brethren into chaos.
"So it was you little pests!" Jizo snarled, fury contorting his features. He finally understood – it wasn't some powerful genjutsu cast by the Hidden Hot Water shinobi!
He stomped his foot hard, trying to fling the tiny ant off. But the next moment, the excruciating pain, originating deep within his body, maybe even his nerves, returned, forcing him to throw his head back and roar.
"Now!" Kael yelled. "Once his body is dismembered, his immortality won't work! Captain Watanabe, quickly!"
Watanabe Musashi, who was nearby, reacted instantly. Trusting Kael's words, he decided to risk closing in.
"Go!" he roared.
Three figures shot forward. From Jizo's previous reaction, Watanabe knew Kael's strange ant summons could only affect Jizo for less than three seconds. During that brief window, while Jizo was incapacitated by the intense pain, they had their only chance.
Second two!
They reached Jizo's side, their ninja blades and kunai flashing as they hacked at his limbs. Just as Jizo began to break free from the agony, he felt his body being torn apart.
"Aaargh!"
His body separated into three pieces. Only his falling head, its face twisted in a horrific scream, continued to wail.
"What the—!"
"Such a bizarre ability!"
"He can still talk even after being cut into pieces?"
The Hidden Hot Water shinobi instinctively backed away, their eyes wide with horror. Jizo's head rolled across the ground, his features contorted in agony, still letting out bloodcurdling screams. They had been shinobi for years, but none had ever witnessed such a grotesque scene.
"Without sustenance, these severed limbs will quickly lose vitality, eventually rotting away and becoming nutrients for the soil. The same goes for the head," Kael stated calmly, stepping forward. He looked at Jizo's screaming face, a chill running down his spine despite his outward composure.
"Good work, kid! I knew you were hiding back there providing support!" Watanabe Musashi walked over and clapped him hard on the shoulder, his face flushed with excitement.
"What do you mean 'hiding back there providing support'? If you don't know how to phrase things, just don't speak!" Kael retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Uh... hahaha!" Watanabe wasn't offended by Kael's retort. He looked at the boy, his eyes shining like the Big Dipper, as if gazing upon a priceless treasure.
"Hey, hey! Don't look at me with those creepy eyes!" Kael squirmed, uncomfortable under Watanabe's intense, almost burning gaze.
Smack.
A light tap landed on his head.
"I am the principal of the Ninja Academy, after all. Is this how an academy student speaks to his principal?" Watanabe feigned annoyance.
"Tch..." Kael just pursed his lips and said nothing. Authority was authority.
"Alright, Watanabe. The kid is a great hero to our village. Show some respect," one of the other Hidden Hot Water Jonin interjected with a smile. He looked to be around the same age as Watanabe, in his early forties, but had a much friendlier face.
"It looks like this kid is about to complete the first S-rank mission in the history of the Hidden Hot Water Village. I'm quite envious..." the female Jonin, who had also participated in the assault on Jizo, added, walking over with a sigh.
"You saw how much his summons contributed. Nearly half the Jashinist ninja, including this immortal Jizo with his Death Controlling Possessed Blood, were killed by Kael," Watanabe stated plainly. He then turned to look toward the rear, where Jade was being carried. Their Village Leader was receiving treatment from a medical-nin, with Rei assisting in stopping the bleeding, Goldie perched obediently on her head.
Watanabe frowned and walked over. "How is Lord Leader's condition?" he asked in a low voice, relieved to see Jade's chest still rising and falling, however slowly.
"Lord Leader has lost a lot of blood and is in a deep coma. We've stopped the bleeding, but the wound is very strange. It shows no signs of healing at all," the female medical-nin replied without looking up, her hands still maintaining the Healing Jutsu.
Rei glanced up briefly. Seeing all eyes on her, she flinched and quickly lowered her head again. But she couldn't help but notice the hopeful gazes directed at the medical-nin beside her. Is this what it feels like... to be needed?
Kael and the others gathered around. Looking at the frail, pale old man, a complex emotion flickered in Kael's eyes. "Is this... the Leader of the Hidden Hot Water Village?" he asked softly. He still disliked addressing people with titles, but he felt genuine respect for this old man who had risked his life to protect the village.
"Yes... Actually, Big Brother Jade was the one who taught me my Lightning Style," Watanabe said, his eyes reddening slightly. He blinked hard, seemingly lost in memory. "Those two and I... we were the first ones to follow Big Brother Jade, even before the village was founded. Before that, I was just a rogue ninja in the Land of Hot Water, working for nobles. Lord Jade was already forty back then, but he treated me like a real older brother..."
The female Jonin placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Alright, Watanabe. I know you're upset. Seeing Lord Leader like this... none of us feel good. All these years, even with the Feudal Lord making things difficult, we all know how Lord Leader has treated us." She paused, then turned to look at Jizo's head, which was still groaning in the distance. "What should we do with this guy's head?" she asked, looking at Kael.
"Leave it with me," Kael replied. "His body parts should also be brought back to the village and buried, just in case any stray Jashinists try to dig him up later."
Hearing that Kael wanted to take charge of Jizo's head himself, the female Jonin frowned almost imperceptibly and glanced at Watanabe. She didn't know Kael well, and she wanted Watanabe to make the call. Although Kael had performed brilliantly and rendered invaluable service to the village, she hesitated to entrust such a dangerous and important item to someone who wasn't even an adult yet. Not immediately rejecting his proposal was already showing him considerable respect.
After a moment's thought, Watanabe surprisingly nodded. "Alright. Then the most important piece, Jizo's head, I'll entrust to you."
"Okay," Kael acknowledged simply.
"Watanabe!" the female Jonin protested, frowning at him.
"I know what you're thinking," Watanabe said calmly. "But I know this kid better than you do, and I trust him not to cause any trouble. He's far more mature than he looks." Hearing this, the female Jonin couldn't argue further.
"Since it's over, let's head back," Watanabe continued, turning to the other two Jonin. "Kael and I will take Lord Leader and the seriously injured back to the village first to rest and recover. We'll wait for you there. It's not good for the Hidden Hot Water Village to be left virtually undefended." With the Leader incapacitated, the three Jonin were now in command.
"Alright!" the other two agreed.