Akarin knew her hair was a striking feature, and it was enough to make her a target.
However, the calm Akarin felt that night did not last long.
"I see an Uzumaki..." a hoarse and sly voice came from behind.
Akarin turned quickly, her eyes widening. Four men stood there, their faces twisted into wicked smiles. One of them stepped forward, his eyes scanning Akarin's body with a disgusting gaze.
"That red hair... and strong chakra... you must be one of them. A rare Uzumaki like you will fetch a high price on the black market," the man said with a grin.
Without thinking twice, Akarin turned and began to run toward the forest. Akarin's breath was quickening, and her heart was pounding. However, even though Akarin had extraordinary stamina, the four men were far more trained Shinobi.
Akarin only managed to escape a few hundred meters before they cornered her in an open area in the middle of the forest.
"Don't fight back, stupid Uzumaki," one of the men said as he pulled a kunai from his belt. "We can make this easy... or painful."
Akarin raised both her hands, trying to form hand seals, but one of them quickly attacked, striking Akarin down. Akarin's knees hit the ground, and pain spread throughout her body.
"Come on, don't waste time. We need to tie her up before this woman tries to escape again," another man said.
However, one of them, with a lustful gaze, stepped forward with clear intent. "Wait... we have time. This Uzumaki is too beautiful to pass up."
Akarin crawled backward, her eyes filled with fear. "Please... don't..." Akarin's voice trembled, but she knew no one would listen to her pleas.
However, before the man could get any closer, a cold voice sounded from behind the shadows of the trees.
"I think you've had enough fun."
The four men turned toward the source of the voice. From the shadows of the trees, a masked man emerged. He wore a long black cloak with tattered edges. At his waist, the hilt of a sword wrapped in cloth was visible. The man's gaze was sharp, full of threat.
"What's your business, kid?!" one of the men asked angrily.
The man, Aoki, did not answer. Instead, Aoki swiftly drew his sword from its sheath. The blade glimmered under the moonlight, sharp and deadly.
"My business? To eliminate you," Aoki replied tersely, his voice as cold as ice.
Before the man could react, Aoki moved with incredible speed. In an instant, Aoki was in front of one of them, and his sword moved quickly, mercilessly cutting the man, then Aoki swiftly slashed the man's neck.
"That guy is fast!" one of the men shouted, trying to attack with a kunai. However, Aoki agilely spun his body, dodging the attack, then swung his sword at the man's legs, causing him to fall, and then Aoki continued by stabbing the man's chest.
The remaining two men tried to escape, but Aoki did not give them a chance. With agile movements, Aoki leaped toward them, his sword flying and dispatching them with precise strikes.
Akarin, who watched all of this with bated breath, could only remain silent. Akarin's body trembled, but in her eyes, there was an overwhelming sense of relief.
Aoki cleaned his sword with a cloth before sheathing it again. Aoki walked over to Akarin, his gaze remaining calm yet cold.
"Are you okay?" Aoki asked briefly.
Akarin could only nod slowly. Akarin's hands trembled as she reached for Aoki's hand, who was trying to help her stand.
________________________
[Note: 265+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Patreon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]