Haruki was well aware of the current situation. No matter what they said, the final outcome would be the same. The ninja before them would never let them go.
Yahiko continued to explain to the ninja in front of him.
The ninja looked down at Yahiko, a malevolent glint in his eyes.
When Yahiko finally ran out of words, his voice even turning hoarse, a sneer appeared on the ninja's lips, his words completely crushing the light of hope in Yahiko's eyes.
"Then you all deserve to die." The kunai was raised by the ninja.
Haruki and Yahiko's eyes reflected his distorted and ferocious face.
Bang!
Haruki pushed Yahiko away. The blade aimed at Haruki's eye.
For the sake of affection value, I'll risk it all!
My self-sacrificing act will surely make Konan and the other two's affection value explode.
"Haruki!"
"Haruki!"
Konan and Yahiko's eyes widened in terror as they shouted.
[Ding!]
[System detected Konan's Affection Value + 5000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Yahiko's Affection Value + 5000!]
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato's Affection Value + 5000!]
[Currently collected Affection Value 15000. Would you like to feed your companion Cursed Spirit, Rika Orimoto?]
[Detected that you are unable to answer, System...]
[Ding!]
[Your companion Cursed Spirit has successfully snatched the food, and its rank has risen to 34%.]
[Your companion Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto sends feedback: I will kill everyone who harms Yuta!]
The tip of the kunai stopped forever at a height of only one centimeter from Haruki's eye.
A pale-green giant palm grasped the ninja's entire arm.
"Harm Yuta..."
"You deserve to die!"
A shriek echoed through the cave.
The colossal creature that suddenly appeared in the cave exerted a slight force.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!" The ninja let out a scream.
The kunai and his arm were instantly crushed into a bloody mist, permeating the air.
"Don't make a mess here, Rika..." Haruki came to his senses and immediately shouted.
"Listen... to Yuta..."
"Won't make a mess..."
Rika easily grabbed the ninja's head and, like lightning, arrived outside the cave.
The other ninja stood frozen in place, his trembling pupils slowly falling upon Haruki.
Bloodshot eyes instantly climbed into his whites, and he pulled out a kunai, pouncing towards Haruki.
[Ding!]
[System detected Ninja B's Killing Intent Value + 5000]
[Did not reach the activation value for Cursed Spirit, Killing Intent Value has been stored.]
"Get lost!"
Nagato raised his eyes, trembling all over, his teeth clenched, hatred appearing on his face. An invisible force emanated from his pupils.
The ninja running towards them was immediately sent flying by an invisible force.
A giant hand reached in from outside the cave, grabbed the flying ninja's leg, and dragged him out.
"No!"
"No ah ah ah ah ah..."
Screams pierced through the rain and reached Haruki's ears.
Thump!
Haruki looked at Nagato, who had made the sound beside him.
Nagato knelt down on the ground. He opened his eyes wide, his pair of dark purple Rinnegan staring blankly ahead.
The child's scared stiff!
Haruki quickly helped him up.
"Nagato?"
"Are you alright?"
Nagato seemed not to hear his voice, staring blankly ahead for a moment, then looking at his own hands.
"So..."
"It was I who killed them..."
Nagato mumbled incomprehensible words.
Haruki frowned in confusion and continued to call out, "Nagato?"
Nagato's unfocused pupils slowly sharpened, and he stared at Haruki. "It was I who killed the Konoha ninjas... It was I who killed the Konoha ninjas who killed my parents... It was I who killed them..."
Haruki listened to his rambling, combining it with his memories of Naruto, and finally understood what Nagato was saying.
Nagato's parents were killed by Konoha ninjas, and Nagato unconsciously used his Rinnegan to kill the Konoha ninjas, but he didn't know his own abilities until the scene just now replayed, and he realized that he was the one who had killed the Konoha ninjas back then. That should be the logic.
Killing or not killing, it's not important. What's important is that Haruki knew that another opportunity to deepen his relationship with Nagato had arrived.
Haruki hugged him, gently patting Nagato's back, comforting him, "Don't be afraid... Nagato... You didn't kill people, you saved me, you saved Yahiko, you saved Konan. If it wasn't for you, we would have been in danger. Nagato... Don't be afraid or fear your power, your power can become a weapon to protect your companions."
Nagato's cold body finally felt a trace of warmth. He absorbed the warmth emanating from Haruki, constantly repeating Haruki's words, "I... can protect you all... Yes! I can protect you all... I want to protect you all..."
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato's Affection Value + 1000]
[Currently collected Affection Value 1000. Would you like to feed your companion Cursed Spirit, Rika Orimoto?]
[Yes][No]
Haruki clicked [Yes].
[Ding!]
[Your companion Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto's rank has risen to 35%.]
[Your companion Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto sends feedback: Yuta, you're so good to me.]
"..."
Haruki reflected on whether something was wrong with his mind. Was he being assimilated by Rika so quickly?
He was genuinely worried that his future aesthetic sense would be problematic.
Compared to the frightened Konan and Yahiko, Nagato did not show fear, only curiosity.
"Don't be afraid." Haruki comforted them.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Konan and Yahiko take a frightened step back.
"..."
Forget it, it's impossible for them not to be afraid.
Haruki extended his hand to introduce to Yahiko and the others, "She is Rika, she is my..."
Before the word "friend" could come out, Haruki felt a chill from behind him.
Haruki shamelessly gave in, and he immediately corrected himself, "She is my fiancée, and after her accidental death, she protects me in this way."
Konan and Yahiko's expressions changed from fear to shock, and then from shock to admiration for Haruki.
Rika was quite satisfied with Haruki's explanation. She rubbed against Haruki, and pink bubbles began to appear around her.
Haruki extended his hand, showing his ring to Yahiko and the others. "Although Rika has passed away, she still stays by my side to protect me."
"Yuta..."
"Protect Yuta..."
Rika repeated happily like a child.
Haruki, with a gentle smile on his face, touched the upper half of Rika's face and uttered the classic line. "This is pure love."
Rika shyly embraced Haruki. Her movements were cautious as if Haruki was something fragile.
After Rika cuddled with Haruki for a while, she returned to the ring.
Yahiko and the others were still children after all. Accepting such things was much easier than for adults. In their eyes, this was entirely a beautiful love story. It's just that one of the protagonists looked a bit monstrous.
"What should we do now?"
Konan looked at Haruki, she hugged her knees helplessly, the smell of blood in the air lingered.
Although she hadn't known Haruki for long, she had an inexplicable trust in him as if no matter what happened, Haruki could solve it.
This was a sense of security that Konan couldn't get from Yahiko and Nagato.
Haruki pondered for a moment and said to them, "We have to leave this place."
"Leave?"
Yahiko looked at the small cave inside.
All their hard work was piled up there.
If they left, what about food?
They had painstakingly stored it.
Konan looked at the cave where they had stayed for an unknown amount of time, her face full of reluctance.
"Yes."
Haruki nodded affirmingly and told them, "Although the bodies have been dealt with by Rika, their disappearance is a fact. With four people disappearing consecutively, someone will definitely come looking for them, and it will be terrible if they are found by ninjas who are with them."
Yahiko nodded in agreement. He knew Haruki was right, he just felt a bit reluctant to part with the food.