"Kai, don't worry. This stronghold is a crucial strategic location for the Land of Fire. We won't disobey orders, but we won't give up easily either. Otherwise, if the Cloud ninjas get through the stronghold and disperse, it will be a huge threat to Konoha," said Uzuki Ao, who had spoken up to stop them earlier.
"Get ready," Kai said to the group.
In the world of Naruto, it's a dog-eat-dog world. The strength Kai had shown was enough to intimidate them.
Moreover, abandoning their comrades, even for a mission, would be met with scorn back in Konoha.
And if the Cloud ninjas got through this stronghold and entered Konoha, it would be a smooth path for them, like entering a land without any resistance.
It would be too difficult to stop them.
"Kai, don't worry…" the ninjas all echoed, preparing to take their positions and stand guard.
"By the way, does anyone have a jutsu scroll with them?" Kai suddenly remembered something important.
He now had the One-Click Max Level system, which could max out any jutsu.
He still had three days left, so he couldn't miss this opportunity to enhance his strength.
Moreover, the A and B duo of the Cloud ninjas were not easy to deal with.
"Jutsu scroll?"
The twenty or so ninjas present were stunned.
"No?" Kai didn't have high hopes.
After all, in times of war, who would carry a learning scroll with them?
Moreover, the village had a centralized jutsu scroll training room. Most jutsu were passed down from teachers or elders.
Few people would carry jutsu scrolls with them.
If they were defeated on the battlefield, not only would they lose their lives, but the scroll would probably fall into the hands of others.
Uzuki Ao stepped forward and said, "Kai, I don't know why you need a jutsu scroll, but this is an A-ranked jutsu I prepared for my daughter. It's Lightning Release: Falling Thunder. I was planning to give it to her as a gift when she became a Chunin after the mission."
"It's better to give it to you than let it fall into the hands of the Cloud ninjas."
"Your daughter?" Kai raised an eyebrow, looking at the features of the Jōnin's face. He vaguely recognized the outline. "Is your daughter Uzuki Yūgao?"
"Haha, Ao, your daughter is truly outstanding. Even Kai has taken notice," a big man laughed heartily.
Uzuki Ao glared at him. "Shut up, you bastard. You're always trying to introduce your son to me. My precious daughter has sworn that she'll only like someone who's at least a Special Jōnin."
"Cut it out. My son, Inuarashi, will soon become a Chunin. Special Jōnin is just around the corner," Inubō quickly retorted.
"Ao, what do you think of Kai? His strength is definitely at the level of a Special Jōnin. His genjutsu skills are unmatched, even by us old geezers."
A voice suddenly emerged from the crowd.
Shizune was stunned. She quickly said, "Don't joke around. Just give the scroll to Kai. Maybe he has a use for it."
"Shizune, why are you blushing? Don't tell me you have a crush on Kai."
As laughter echoed, the oppressive atmosphere in the cave dissipated slightly.
Uzuki Ao looked Kai up and down, then patted his shoulder. "Good kid. Your powerful genjutsu is indeed at the level of a Special Jōnin. Here's the scroll."
"If you can make it back alive, I have a letter here. I hope you'll give it to my daughter."
"Kai, I have something here too. Please give it to my son."
"I have something too."
"I'll trouble you too!"
Seeing the ninjas all taking out letters and personal belongings, they clearly believed that Kai had the best chance of returning to Konoha alive.
"Kai, can you please return this kunai to Tsunade-sama for me?" Shizune couldn't help but say. "It was her gift to me when I became her student…"
For a moment, the smiles on everyone's faces were hidden behind a hint of bitterness.
"Do you think this battle is a sure death?" Kai said calmly. "Then why didn't you agree when Fū Yamanaka decided to retreat?"
Everyone was stunned.
In their eyes, Kai's strength was enough to reach the level of a Special Jōnin.
However, the Cloud ninjas, over a hundred strong, and the A and B duo, were not something one person could resist.
Uzuki Ao quickly said, "Kai, don't misunderstand. We're not cowards. When we became ninjas and took on missions, we were already prepared to die."
"Moreover, this stronghold is the main passage to Konoha. If we let the Cloud ninjas pass through here and advance, Konoha will be attacked from both sides, and our families and children will be in danger."
"So, we'd rather die than retreat!"
Inubō also nodded solemnly. "Kai, we underestimated you. We didn't expect you to be so proficient in such powerful genjutsu. We're prepared to die here, but we just hope you can bring some things back for us."
"Kai, please help them," Shizune couldn't help but persuade him. "And help me too."
For a moment, everyone looked at Kai with a hint of hope.
"Sorry, I won't help you," Kai said calmly. "Keep these things. You can return them yourselves."
"Including this scroll. We'll go back together!"
His quiet voice, like a hurricane, swept through the entire place, shaking the souls of everyone present.
Uzuki Ao couldn't help but clench his fists, his eyes slightly reddening. "Good, good kid. You're right. We'll go back together."
"When we get back, I'll introduce my daughter to you."
"Haha, Ao, you're really getting old."
"Hmph, I think you're all hoping to have a daughter to introduce to Kai," Uzuki Ao glared. "Kai, what do you want the jutsu scroll for? It's an A-ranked Lightning Release: Falling Thunder."
Everyone couldn't help but look at Kai with curiosity.
Before a battle to the death, this A-ranked jutsu was powerful, but it was clearly not useful.
"Nothing. I just want to learn a few more jutsu to have on hand," Kai took the scroll.
He had the One-Click Max Level system. As far as jutsu were concerned, the more, the better.
"It's probably too late to learn jutsu now," Uzuki Ao said, stunned. "When I learned this jutsu, it took me over a month to master it. You only have three days. It's a bit too rushed."
"Don't worry, I'll learn it quickly," Kai didn't explain.
He couldn't tell them that he had a system, and he could max it out with one click.
No one would believe that.
"This!" Uzuki Ao was stunned for a moment. "Alright, I know this jutsu too. If you insist on learning it, I can guide you."
"Thank you, Ao-san. I'm good on my own," Kai shook his head and refused, taking the scroll and walking out first.
As they watched Kai's back disappear, many of the ninjas present sighed.