Anya successfully escaped pursuit by riding the water current, but a new crisis quickly emerged. The backflow of underground river water struck with tremendous force, engulfing him. Instantly, an unbearable cold spread through his body, as if he had fallen into a massive ice cavern. Struggling desperately, he also had to withstand immense water pressure.
At this moment, Anya was just like a drowning man, completely unable to breathe. His face turned bright red, but he gritted his teeth and persisted. If he let go even slightly, water would flood into his lungs, immediately causing suffocation and certain death.
Meanwhile, the cold water slowly spread from his chest to his limbs, soon engulfing his entire body. His Anbu mask had already been ripped away by the current.
No way—I can't hold on much longer.
Anya gathered chakra into his tanto and swung his most powerful [Breaking the Blade] technique upward.
The mighty strike split the surrounding river water in two, creating a near-vacuum in its wake. Anya took in a few deep breaths of air before the water crashed back down, even more forcefully than before, with a strong suction pulling from the riverbed below.
Anya narrowed his eyes downward. There, at the bottom of the river, he saw endless dark shadows stretching infinitely into the distance.
This was the river's undercurrent.
Extremely powerful and moving swiftly, the undercurrent could pull anything that fell into it away with immense tearing force, dragging it to unknown destinations.
Knowing what would happen if he didn't break free, Anya fought desperately against the pull. However, movement in water was already difficult for a human, and combined with the awesome power of nature, after resisting for a while following his use of Breaking the Blade, he ultimately couldn't endure the immense suction any longer. Anya was pulled in completely, his figure vanishing entirely.
Inside the Anbu headquarters of Mist, many Anbu members had also been submerged and scattered by the rushing water. Fortunately, upon hearing the news, numerous village Chunin hurried to assist. With the help of Water Release and Earth Release techniques, they managed to stabilize the situation and save the headquarters from being completely flooded.
Patty, their leader, had an expression so dark it was terrifying. His voice was filled with rage as he spoke, word by word, "Find all members of the Fourth Anbu Squad immediately. Also, deploy all Anbu units in squads. Find that rat—alive or dead, I want a body."
"Yes," responded the Anbu in unison. All Anbu members were dispatched, Mist Village entered a state of maximum alert, and a barrier was raised around the village, completely cutting off any escape route for the intruder.
The river undercurrent dragged Anya through pitch-black darkness like a giant hand. Tumbling uncontrollably in the depths, he had already lost all sense of direction. Even his tanto was gone. The immense water pressure crushed against his internal organs, blood continuously leaking from the corners of his mouth.
Green chakra surged from his hands, protecting his heart and lungs. Resist the current, you die; flow with it, you live. Now that he'd been sucked in, there had to be an escape if he moved with the flow. I won't die. I must not die.
As if sensing Anya's indomitable will, the dark current began to slow. Finally, Anya managed to take hold of his own body again—without hesitation, he summoned every last drop of chakra in his body and surged forward along the water's flow.
A muffled sound of breaking earth echoed around him as the underground river connected with another water source. Light returned to Anya's eyes. Survival was within reach. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upward with the last ounce of strength he had left.
Suddenly, two dazzlingly white, stunningly beautiful long legs shot toward him in an attack.
Though his mind screamed at him to dodge, his exhausted body refused to obey. He took the kick full force—the straw that broke the camel's back. A wave of unbearable pain swept over him, and everything went black. His last conscious thought, strangely enough, was: What legs. So white.
"What kind of person sneaks underwater to peek while I'm bathing? How annoying!" Terumi Mei shouted angrily after delivering the kick. She swam closer, only to freeze instantly at the sight before her.
There in the water floated a face carved with perfectly sculpted features—sharp, strikingly masculine, yet exuding a natural charisma that screamed hero material. The pained look on his face gave him a subtle air of melancholy, making him seem fragile, heartbreakingly charming.
"Heavens… this world really has men this breathtakingly handsome," Terumi Mei gasped, momentarily stunned. As she reached out to touch his face, she suddenly jolted back to her senses. "Oh no—did I actually kick him to death? No way, it'd be such a waste if someone this gorgeous died now."
Without hesitation, Terumi carried Anya ashore—naked as the day she was born. After hastily dressing herself, she hurried with him into a nearby lakeside wooden cabin, shouting anxiously, "Master Gen, come quickly! Help me save this man!"
Hmm, no reply. Without hesitation, Terumi kicked the door open, but found no one inside.
"That old geezer must've gone fishing again." Determined, Terumi carried Anya straight toward where Master Gen usually fished. Sure enough, there sat an old bald man wearing a brown robe, leisurely lounging in a chair as he fished, looking thoroughly relaxed.
"Master Gen, stop fishing already—help me save this man," Terumi declared impatiently as she approached, still holding Anya tightly.
Master Gen turned his head in surprise, glancing briefly at Anya before glowing his hands with chakra and placing them on the young man's chest. His expression grew serious. "He's in critical condition—we need to treat him right away. Come, let's get him home."
When Anya woke up, he found himself lying in a wooden cabin. A subtle, delicate fragrance tickled his nose—it smelled exactly like a woman's bedroom. Where am I?
He recalled what happened just before fainting—the leg! Right, it was that girl who kicked him unconscious. Could she have saved him?
Anya tried to sit up, but searing pain shot through his entire body, forcing a stifled groan from his lips.
Hearing the noise, Master Gen entered slowly, leaning on a wooden staff carved into the shape of a snake. Looking meaningfully at Anya, he said, "Young man, you sure woke up fast. Rest well—you won't be walking anytime soon, at least not for ten days or half a month."
"Thank you for saving me," Anya replied weakly as he lay back down. "May I ask how long I've been unconscious?"
Master Gen hadn't answered yet when a tall girl stepped forward from behind him and replied, "You slept for a full day and night. You sure know how to sleep the day away, huh?"
Anya glanced at the girl, his eyes naturally drifting down to her legs.
Terumi Mei noticed Anya's gaze. As if remembering something, she said a little awkwardly, "It was me who kicked you. I thought you were peeking on me bathing back then. Who knew you were just swept over by that hidden current? But I also saved you, so we're square."
Anya quickly shifted his gaze elsewhere. Outwardly calm, he was secretly furious inside—wasting a whole day and night like that...
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