Chapter 193: Unlucky Shrimp
The Medical-nin frowned deeply. "These injuries are too severe. Why wasn't she treated sooner?"
Grass Ninja A said nothing.
In truth, they had long treated this mother and daughter as expendable tools—nothing more than living healing supplies. Whether they lived or died never mattered.
Even as the woman grew weaker, they pretended not to notice. Whenever someone in the village was wounded, they dragged her over to heal them without care for her own condition.
Only now, with the Konoha shinobi coming to take them away, did they realize she was half-dead.
They had hurriedly summoned one of the few Medical-nin in the village to patch her up—at least enough so she wouldn't die before being handed over.
They also needed to cover up the bite marks covering her body.
The Medical-nin grimaced. The woman's entire body was covered in wounds; even he found it unbearable to look at.
"So… what's her condition?" Grass Ninja A asked stiffly.
The Medical-nin's brows furrowed tighter. "With my ability, there's nothing I can do. She won't live much longer."
Grass Ninja A's expression darkened. "Then how many days can she last?"
As long as she was alive when they handed her over to the Konoha shinobi, it would be fine. He just didn't want her dying in their village—that would only bring trouble.
The Medical-nin thought for a moment. "Four or five days, at most."
Grass Ninja A let out a long sigh of relief. That was enough.
The journey to Konoha would only take three days under normal conditions. As long as she died after reaching Konoha, it wouldn't be their problem anymore.
"Then that's fine. No need to continue treatment."
He had spoken quietly at first, but when he heard the woman couldn't be saved, his voice unconsciously rose a little—loud enough for Karin, who was nearby, to overhear.
Karin froze.
She had been nibbling at her food and even saved some in her pocket for her mother. But after hearing those words, it was as if her entire world collapsed.
Grass Ninja B, unconcerned, came over to help Grass Ninja A lift the woman.
Grass Ninja A picked up the semi-conscious woman and walked toward the door.
"Hey, kid! Hurry up and follow!" Grass Ninja B called out impatiently.
Grass Ninja A shot him a sharp look. "Watch your tone!"
Grass Ninja B flinched, shrinking back. Grass Ninja A was one of the few jōnin in the village, while he was just a mere chūnin. He didn't dare talk back.
Karin panicked and followed them closely, her tiny fists clenched, eyes filled with fear.
Her mother… was dying.
"Mom! Mom!"
Her trembling voice echoed through the corridor.
She was only six years old, and her only family—the one person she loved most—was slipping away before her eyes.
Grass Ninja A grew irritated and wanted to shout at her to shut up, but with the Konoha shinobi still in the village, he forced himself to hold back. He couldn't afford to ruin things now.
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When they arrived at the guesthouse, Grass Ninja A quickly set the woman down, as if relieved to finally be rid of her.
Uchiha Yashiro's cold gaze swept over the scene.
He saw the unconscious woman and the small red-haired girl who ran to her side, crying as she clutched her mother's hand. His brows knit together.
"What's going on here?" he asked sharply.
He immediately noticed their red hair. Uzumaki—no doubt about it.
The Clan Head had specifically ordered him to bring this mother and daughter back. Clearly, they were important.
But why was the woman unconscious?
If she was dead, it would be unacceptable. The Clan Head's instructions were clear—she must be brought back alive.
Facing Uchiha Yashiro's heavy aura, Grass Ninja A hesitated, his voice trembling slightly.
Though he was a jōnin in his own village, he could feel the oppressive difference in strength.
They weren't even on the same level.
He turned to the elder nearby, hoping for help.
But the elder only shot him a look, silently ordering him to explain.
After all, the elder barely knew anything about the woman himself. He only knew she was from the Uzumaki clan—useless, powerless, and beneath notice.
If Konoha hadn't come, he wouldn't have bothered to deal with her at all.
Grass Ninja A clenched his teeth and said cautiously, "S-Sir, this woman was injured, and our Medical-nin did everything they could."
"Injured?" Uchiha Yashiro's tone dropped several degrees colder. "How was she injured?"
His eyes narrowed, a faint red light flickering within them.
The Clan Head had personally asked him to bring this woman back. Whoever dared to harm her… he would make them regret it.
Grass Ninja A felt his scalp go numb.
The Uchiha's eyes—those crimson tomoe—glowed faintly.
Only then did he realize exactly who he was dealing with.
No wonder this man's mere presence felt suffocating.
A jōnin from the Uchiha Clan—of course.
He had once thought that perhaps it was simply a matter of strength among jōnin, but no—this was something else entirely.
The Uchiha were born predators.
Cold sweat rolled down his temples. How was he supposed to answer this?
Everyone in the ninja world knew the Uchiha were a ruthless clan. Their ancestor, the "Asura of the Ninja World," Uchiha Madara, had wiped out entire clans and countries on his own.
To anger an Uchiha was to invite death.
Grass Ninja A stammered, "Th-This…"
He couldn't think of what to say.
Seeing his hesitation, Grass Ninja B cursed silently in frustration.
Big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp, he thought bitterly. And I'm the damn shrimp.
Still, under his superior's desperate gaze, he forced himself to speak.
"Actually," he said, forcing a smile, "she was injured a few days ago while hunting outside. She was gored by a large wild boar."
But before Uchiha Yashiro could respond, the small girl beside the bed suddenly raised her head, her tear-streaked face burning with anger.
"You're lying!" Karin shouted. "My mother never went hunting! You're the ones who hurt her!"
Her small body trembled, but her eyes blazed with fury—like an angry cub facing a wolf.
Grass Ninja B's face twisted with rage. This little brat dares yell at me?
He raised his hand to slap her.
But before he could even move—
BAM!
The world spun.
He didn't even see what happened before he was sent flying across the room and crashed heavily into the wall.
A burning pain exploded across his face. He spat out a mouthful of blood—and several broken teeth.
Fear twisted his features. He had no idea what had just hit him.
Grass Ninja A froze in shock. He hadn't even seen Uchiha Yashiro move.
One moment Grass Ninja B had lifted his hand—the next, he was sprawled on the floor, half-conscious.
The sheer speed and power left no doubt.
This was an Uchiha jōnin.
And they were terrifying.
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