Yakushi Kabuto was like a venomous snake hidden in the darkness.
Asuma, on the other hand, was like a blazing flame, instantly evaporating even the raindrops that fell on him.
But it was clear that the heavily wounded flame's life force was continuously weakening.
Pop.
Asuma tilted his head back and gulped down a bottle of recovery potion.
The injury on his abdomen slowly healed at a visible speed, cells metabolized extremely quickly, evaporating faint white smoke.
"The Captain is really willing to spend; although a bottle of recovery potion isn't expensive, using it in reality requires an additional reward points certification fee."
Although Yakushi Kabuto's smile remained, his expression became serious.
He couldn't just let Asuma recover.
Crescent Moon Slash.
His figure suddenly vanished, followed by a bright silver arc of moonlight tearing through the rain, the moon blade ripping towards the enemy engulfed in flames.
Even the surrounding rain was blasted open by the moonlight.
This was Yakushi Kabuto's strongest technique, a blue skill he was lucky enough to obtain while hunting Ghost Soldiers.
Since learning it, he had never displayed it in front of anyone.
Ash Pile Burning.
Asuma spat out ash and smoke, a spark ignited, and the area covered by smoke instantly burst into flames.
He intended to block the oncoming Crescent Moon Slash.
However,
The B-rank Ninja Art, Ash Pile Burning, was easily torn apart like thin paper, having no effect on the incoming Crescent Moon Slash.
Bang!
The Crescent Moon Slash and the flaming twin blades collided, emitting a dull thud.
The flame energy and moonlight generated a violent shockwave.
Yakushi Kabuto was sent flying backward, crashing into the roadside railing before getting up with burn injuries all over his body.
Asuma was also struck by the Moon Slash, breaking his proud Chakra blades, and leaving a long, narrow wound across half of his body.
Both were severely wounded.
However, Yakushi Kabuto's injuries healed rapidly, as if he had consumed a recovery potion.
Mystical Palm Technique.
A medical Ninja Art with an extremely high mastery difficulty, at the cost of a large amount of Chakra consumption.
"Captain, don't struggle anymore."
Yakushi Kabuto spat out a mouthful of blood and smiled, "In a Ninja battle, gathering intelligence is the primary element. I know you like the back of my hand, but you don't even know my strength. How could you possibly defeat me?"
He had fallen into a trap!
Asuma sat on the ground, leaning against a lamppost, blood continuously oozing from the corner of his mouth.
Just now, he had hesitated for a moment.
Why would Yakushi Kabuto, who used stealth and surprise attacks as his primary means of offense, suddenly use a head-on skill like Crescent Moon Slash?
He had intended to use Ash Pile Burning for cover, but he still underestimated the power of Crescent Moon Slash.
It was actually a blue skill!
He had originally thought that even if it was a mutual injury, being in Konoha Hidden Village gave him an advantage, allowing him to buy time for the Konoha Ninja to arrive.
Just as Yakushi Kabuto said, he hadn't expected his opponent to be a medical Ninja!
Combat-capable medical Ninja were rare enough, let alone one who could master such a high-difficulty rapid healing Ninja Art…
The seemingly unknown Yakushi Kabuto before him was undoubtedly a genius.
Asuma smiled bitterly, "Yakushi Kabuto, a wanderer adopted by an Orphanage, who grew up in the village since childhood. How could such a genius not be discovered by the village?"
"Then I should thank Lord Shimura Danzo. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to meet Lord Sasori."
"Is it Shimura Danzo?"
A look of anger flashed in Asuma's eyes. Through fragmented words and clues, he had roughly guessed a possibility.
Yakushi Kabuto was very likely once a member of Root.
Shimura Danzo had actually concealed such an important matter, even daring to hide Ninja files that the Hokage had requested.
Yakushi Kabuto looked down at Asuma, his smile unchanged, "Die by my hand, or hand over the ghost flag."
Asuma was about to speak when he heard Yakushi Kabuto's additional words.
"If you die, with the current attitude of the village's high-ranking officials, the Konoha Squad will probably be disbanded instantly."
These words struck Asuma's sore spot.
The more he understood the immense potential of the Reincarnation Game, the more he felt grief and indignation at the current attitude of Konoha's high-ranking officials.
But Asuma could not just watch Konoha Hidden Village miss this opportunity for change.
As expected, he came prepared.
Asuma couldn't even attempt a mutual kill. He could only pull out the ghost flag and then forcefully throw it into the distance.
To distract Yakushi Kabuto with it.
"Captain still doesn't trust me. I said I wouldn't kill you, and I certainly won't break my word."
Yakushi Kabuto quickly flashed over and picked up the ghost flag from the ground.
Then he smiled at Asuma and fled without looking back.
"Phew…"
Asuma sat panting, and after a while, he stood up, staggering out of the genjutsu barrier Yakushi Kabuto had set up.
Soon, Anbu appeared.
"Yakushi Kabuto has defected, stealing a purple equipment worth one billion. Quickly report to the Hokage and dispatch a pursuit squad."
"Someone defected?!"
The Anbu originally wanted to inquire about Asuma's injuries and the specific situation, but upon hearing about a defection, they quickly reported to the Hokage.
In times of peace, a defection was a very serious matter.
In the Hokage Building's office,
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was solemn; he hadn't expected such a thing to happen.
He looked at Shimura Danzo beside him with a furious expression and asked, "Why was Yakushi Kabuto's Root identity concealed?"
Danzo's gaze flickered slightly, then he replied defiantly, "Root Ninja are also Ninja of the village, absolutely loyal to the village, there's no need to conceal anything. It's just that there's no necessary connection between the Reincarnation Game and Root identity, so I thought there was no need to report it."
"Because of your concealment, the village has suffered immense losses!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a headache. Although his attitude towards the Reincarnation Game was hesitant, something worth a clear one billion had been stolen.
It wasn't just an economic loss, but also the face of the strongest Ninja Village.
"The one who caused the loss wasn't me, but your good son!"
Shimura Danzo retorted without showing weakness, "If it weren't for your indulgence, allowing Asuma to throw a large amount of the village's funds into a strange game, there would be no loss today."
"Danzo!"
"Hiruzen!"
Their gazes intertwined, neither willing to back down.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was grim as he said, "Regarding the Reincarnation Game, you are also aware of Asuma's report. It involves multiple Ninja villages and the mysterious Game Merchant behind it. This is not the time for petty maneuvers behind the scenes."
Hearing this, Shimura Danzo's expression also turned unsightly, and he replied, "Hiruzen, even you don't love Konoha more than I do. Everything I do is for the village."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was noncommittal, and after a long while, he suddenly said, "Danzo, I have decided to increase financial support for Reincarnation Game missions."
In just half a month, the posture displayed by the Reincarnation Game had made it impossible for the Kage of this largest Ninja Village to ignore it.
He was gradually beginning to agree with his son's words.
Including the greatly changed Hyuga Neji and Naruto Uzumaki, whose strength had undergone earth-shattering changes in just half a month.
Danzo's single eye widened abruptly, and his cane struck the floor, making a dull sound before he said, "Hiruzen, are you serious?"
"With years of peace, the Daimyo finds excuses to constantly reduce the village's military budget every year, and you still want to invest money into a strange game? Are you crazy?"
"Kirigakure and Cloud Hidden have already made their moves. If Konoha doesn't act, it will only fall behind."
"They are just two defeated opponents, what's there to be afraid of?"
"This is a decision made by me and the two advisors, Danzo, you have no right to refuse."
Seeing his old friend assume the Hokage's authority, Danzo was inwardly furious but helpless. He could only say bitterly, "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Bang.
With the sound of the office door slamming shut, their argument came to an end.
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