Chapter 312: Going to Her Death

"Mei!"

Kaede’s mind went completely blank.

He watched that figure enter his field of vision and place herself between him and the black rod.

’Pull her away!’

That was the only thought left in his mind.

But the two hands rising from underground held him like welded iron shackles.

He couldn’t move an inch.

At that same moment, Tsunade was wrestling with the Four-Tails in the distance while keeping the corner of her eye locked on Kaede’s battle.

When she saw the half-black, half-white creature emerge from the ground, her heart dropped.

When she saw Mei charge in like a madwoman, shock immediately turned into fury.

Too far.

Body Flicker would never reach them in time.

"Bastard!"

Tsunade roared.

She stopped caring about the Four-Tails in front of her and spun around.

Every trace of chakra in her body surged into her right fist.

Then she slammed it into the solid ground beneath her.

BOOM!

Terrifying cracks spread from Tsunade’s fist like living things tearing across the earth.

A visible shockwave erupted upward.

Kaede, Mei, Fu, and the entire section of ground beneath them were violently blasted into the air by overwhelming force.

"Damn it!"

Black Zetsu, hidden underground, was caught as well and forced halfway out of the earth.

It saw the killing blow interrupted and cursed furiously.

Then it released Kaede without hesitation and sank deeper underground.

The restraints around Kaede’s ankles vanished.

Weightlessness hit him.

He stepped on a flying slab of rock and used it to stabilize himself.

Fu was not far away, also adjusting in midair.

Kaede didn’t spare him a glance.

His eyes were fixed on the figure falling rapidly below.

Mei had already been badly injured.

The shockwave had stripped away the last strength she had to maintain balance.

She fell like a leaf.

She didn’t cry out in pain.

She only stubbornly looked toward Kaede.

That gaze struck his heart like a boulder.

Kaede activated Body Flicker immediately.

His body blurred between flying debris and dust.

One arm reached out and firmly caught Mei around the waist, pulling her tightly against himself.

Her body felt so light.

Kaede landed steadily with her in his arms.

The sensation of falling disappeared.

Mei rested weakly against his chest, breathing shallowly and unevenly.

She could clearly hear the wild pounding of his heart.

Kaede looked down at her bloodless face.

Fear and anger mixed into a nameless fire inside him.

"Are you stupid?! You’re injured this badly and still dared to run over here!"

His voice warped with anger.

Mei didn’t answer immediately.

She seemed too weak to lift even one finger.

She simply watched him quietly with those beautiful eyes.

Then the corner of her pale mouth formed a tiny, breathtaking smile.

"Hehe... if it’s for you... how can it be stupid?"

That one sentence erased all of Kaede’s anger.

Mei seemed satisfied with his reaction and tried to nestle a little closer against his chest like a cat seeking shelter.

"I thought... I was going to die."

"Idiot."

Kaede’s voice softened until only heartache remained.

He held her more securely and slowly raised his eyes.

His gaze passed beyond her and locked onto Fu, who had just stabilized himself.

Fu clearly intended to attack again.

But just as he prepared to move, dazzling golden light appeared.

Minato stood in front of Kaede with a Flying Thunder God kunai in hand.

He didn’t look back. His eyes remained warily fixed on the enemy.

"You all right, Kaede?"

Kaede took a deep breath and forced down the killing intent churning in his chest.

"I’m fine."

The words said one thing, but Minato could hear the almost tangible coldness in his voice.

Kaede looked down at Mei and lifted her carefully into a bridal carry.

"Minato-sama, take her to the rear for me."

"All right."

Minato immediately recognized that Kaede’s state was extremely dangerous and agreed without hesitation.

He placed one hand on Mei’s shoulder and prepared the technique.

Mei still wanted to say something.

Kaede silenced her with a look that allowed no argument.

She could only bite her lip in grievance and remain quiet.

Golden light flashed.

Minato and Mei vanished.

...

Atop the wall, Pakura nearly lost all strength when the golden flash appeared out of nowhere.

She hurried forward.

"Her wound reopened."

Minato handed Mei to the medical shinobi who rushed over, his expression grave.

Pakura crouched and looked at the bandages around Mei’s abdomen, already soaked with fresh blood.

Her hands trembled.

But Mei seemed unable to feel the pain.

She stubbornly turned her head and stared at the lonely figure walking alone toward the enemy.

Pakura followed her gaze, emotions tangled beyond description.

A moment earlier, this woman had charged forward like a lunatic.

Did she truly have no fear of death?

This woman...

She had been willing to trade her own life for Kaede’s.

If Pakura had been in that exact moment, would she have rushed forward without hesitation too?

Yes.

But perhaps not with Mei’s immediate decisiveness.

Pakura no longer criticized Mei’s recklessness.

She silently helped the medical shinobi press down on the wound that kept seeping blood.

Mei’s face grew even paler from pain. Her body trembled slightly, yet she still forced out a smile.

"He was... really scared just now, wasn’t he?"

Pakura’s hands paused.

She didn’t answer.

Mei already knew.

The fury and trembling Kaede had failed to hide while holding her couldn’t be faked.

That near-loss of control was a side of the normally calm man she had never seen.

A side even she had never been shown before.

Satisfied, Mei closed her eyes, her smile deepening.

...

On the other side of the battlefield, Tsunade watched the pale-blue figure disappear with Minato.

But the image replaying in her mind was Mei’s final smile in Kaede’s arms.

It hadn’t been relief at surviving.

It was the satisfaction of seeing the person she loved still alive, as though that alone would have made her own death acceptable.

Tsunade had never imagined that the woman who always wore a smiling face and seemed full of schemes could go that far.

For him, she could abandon even her own life.

Tsunade slowly unclenched her fist.

She didn’t immediately rush over to help Kaede.

She simply watched his distant figure walking alone toward Fu, her brows drawing together.

"That woman..."

"Just how important is Kaede to her?"