Border of the Land of Frost
Ye Liangnai stood battered, blood seeping from countless wounds, his breaths shallow and ragged. Each gasp burned his lungs, his vision blurring at the edges. This wasn't an act—he was genuinely cornered, teetering on the brink of death.
He'd assumed the Mist ninja pursuing him were part of the ruse, actors in a staged chase to sell his cover as Kira, the rogue ninja. But when a blade had grazed his heart, nearly ending him, the truth hit like a thunderbolt. This is no act. The realization chilled him. They're really trying to kill me. And behind it all, he sensed a familiar hand—Elder Yuan Long, whose hatred for him and Mei burned brighter than ever.
"Such a pity," the lead Mist ANBU sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "We gave you a chance, but you didn't take it. Now we'll carry out his orders and end you here."
"This is a perfect spot, isn't it?" another taunted. "No villages, no witnesses—just a lonely grave for a ghost like you."
"Let's finish him!" a third growled. "Kill the brat, and we can focus on dealing with his sister for the boss!"
The ANBU surged forward, their blades glinting like a pack of wolves descending on wounded prey.
"Yuan Long!" Ye Liangnai's voice was a guttural snarl, the name a curse as he connected the dots. Rage flared, but survival trumped anger.
"You figured it out? Too bad it won't help you!" the leader mocked. "This 'fake chase' is sanctioned by Lord Mizukage himself. If we kill you, it's just 'overzealous pursuit.' Your sister can't touch us!"
"Die!" The leader's blade flashed, aimed for Ye Liangnai's throat, while his comrades' weapons closed in from all sides. Blood loss dulled Ye Liangnai's reflexes, his body sluggish, unable to dodge the onslaught.
Damn it—no choice. "I'll use Water Style if I have to. Screw the cover—my life comes first!" Ye Liangnai wasn't some rigid fool, clinging to his alias at the cost of survival. His hands began to form seals for Hidden Mist Jutsu.
But before he could act, a voice boomed from behind. "Want to kill him? You'll have to go through us first!"
"Lightning Style: Thunder Pillar!" A blinding column of lightning erupted, illuminating the battlefield in a dazzling flash. The Mist ninja scattered, regrouping defensively to avoid a sneak attack.
As the light faded, their vision cleared—only to find the clearing empty. Ye Liangnai was gone, his rescuers vanished without a trace.
"Damn it! After them!" the lead ANBU roared, his face contorted with fury. "We can't let him escape!"
"Yes, sir!" The squad sprinted in pursuit, but in the Land of Lightning, the Mist ninja were out of their element. The Cloud ninja's familiarity with the terrain gave them the edge, and the trail went cold.
"Argh!" The leader's scream echoed, a howl of frustration and fear. He'd let slip Yuan Long's involvement, and now Ye Liangnai had slipped through his fingers, rescued by the Cloud. Yuan Long will have my head for this. Even if the Elder spared him, Ye Liangnai's terrifying potential meant a future reckoning was inevitable. But regret was useless now—he had to face Yuan Long's wrath and explain this failure.
Meanwhile, Deep in the Land of Lightning
"Yura, right? We're Cloud ninja, here to save you," a lean Cloud ANBU said, his tone clipped but professional. Ye Liangnai, barely conscious, was slung over the shoulder of a towering comrade. "Don't move—just follow us to Kumogakure."
Ye Liangnai's lips curled into a weak, relieved grin, the weight of survival washing over him. "Talk about timing," he rasped, his voice laced with dark humor. "Thanks, guys."
Inwardly, his mind churned with vengeance. Yuan Long, you couldn't wait to bury me, huh? This isn't over. When I get back, you're done. The betrayal stung, but it sharpened his resolve. He'd play their game—for now.
One Day Later, Kumogakure
The Cloud medical team assessed Ye Liangnai's injuries with raised brows. "Heart wound, critical. Multiple severe lacerations across the body," one medic noted. "If this was staged, they went all out. This was a kill order, not a performance."
"Get him to the medical ward," the ANBU captain ordered. "Heal him, but keep surveillance tight. Once he's stable, bring him to the ANBU for vetting. We need to know who he really is."
The captain turned to the Fourth Raikage, reporting. "He escaped a squad of Mist ANBU elites. That's no small feat. If he's genuine, he could be an asset."
The Raikage nodded, his expression unreadable. "Do it. If he's useful, we'll keep him. If not, we've lost nothing but time."
Two Days Later, Kumogakure Medical Ward
Ye Liangnai's eyes fluttered open, the sterile scent of the medical ward grounding him. A young female medic, her ponytail bouncing, stood over him. "You're awake! With injuries like that, it's a miracle you made it this far. Your body's tougher than most."
Ye Liangnai sat up, wincing but managing a chuckle. "Guess I owe the gods a thank-you for pulling me through." He glanced around, taking in the ward's clean, open design. "Compared to Kirigakure's gloom, this place feels… alive. Relaxing, even."
The medic smirked. "No wonder you risked your life to get here. Anyway, Lord Raikage wants you to report to him now that you're up. Don't keep him waiting." With a flick of her ponytail, she left.
"Straight to the point, huh? I like it," Ye Liangnai muttered, swinging his legs off the bed. His chest wound had healed enough to move, though pain lingered. He grabbed the white-bladed katana by the bedside, dressed, and headed to the Raikage's Tower.
The guards, clearly briefed, escorted him without delay to the Raikage's office, their movements brisk and professional.
Raikage's Office
"Yura, B-rank rogue from Kirigakure. Former Special Jonin, skilled in Lightning Style and swordsmanship," the Fourth Raikage said, his voice a low rumble as he leaned back, arms crossed. "Fled after a failed attempt to assassinate the Mizukage, driven by the village's oppressive regime. That's your story, right?"
He fixed Ye Liangnai with a piercing stare. "Problem is, how much of it's true? What guarantees do I have that any of this isn't fabricated?"
At his side stood Mabui, her bronze skin and coiled hair exuding calm efficiency, and Darui, his silver hair and 'Thunder' tattoo marking him as a top operative. Both watched Ye Liangnai closely, their silence as probing as the Raikage's words.
Ye Liangnai met the Raikage's gaze, his expression relaxed, almost amused. "That info's easy to fake—child's play. Me saying it's true wouldn't convince you, would it?" He tapped his temple, a sly glint in his blue eyes. "Why bother with surface details? What you really want is what's up here—Kirigakure's secrets. That's what you're after, isn't it?"
His casual confidence, sidestepping the Raikage's trap with ease, caught the man off-guard. For a moment, the Raikage's stern facade faltered, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.