156-160

Chapter 156: Darui

"Hizashi-sama, it's impossible for us to hold off the Cloud Ninjas on our own."

The man speaking had graying hair and a sorrowful face, with wrinkles so deep they could trap flies. He looked at Hyūga Hizashi with a desperate, submissive demeanor, practically begging for mercy, hoping Hizashi would grant the Hidden Hot Springs Ninjas (Yu-nin) a way out.

Being stationed in the Kusatsu Mountains to fend off the Cloud Ninjas seemed, to him, like a death sentence for the Yu-nin.

"Soruto, I never said you had to stop the Cloud Ninjas. Your mission is to delay them as much as possible. Besides, we don’t even know when the Cloud Ninjas will attack. By the time they come, we may have already evacuated, and you can withdraw as well."

The man, Soruto, was the leader of the Yu-nin.

Hearing Hizashi's response, Soruto felt his heart drop into an abyss.

Despite all the words exchanged, the meaning remained the same: the Yu-nin must stay and guard the Kusatsu Mountains to buy time for the Leaf Ninjas to retreat. If the Cloud Ninjas attacked during that time, the Yu-nin were to hold them off at any cost.

Rage and frustration rose within Soruto. His breathing grew heavy, veins bulging on the back of his hands. Suppressing his anger, he once again pleaded, "Hizashi-sama, I..."

"Soruto, as long as the young and the children survive, the legacy of the Hidden Hot Springs Village will live on. And rest assured, the Leaf Village will never allow your village to disappear. Focus on completing your mission!"

Hizashi didn't even let Soruto finish speaking.

But upon hearing this, Soruto deflated, like a balloon that had been punctured, all his anger and resentment draining away.

Back when the Cloud Ninjas first started their invasion from the south, the Hidden Hot Springs Village had swiftly evacuated all women and children under the age of fifteen, sending them along with the nation's aristocracy into the Land of Fire. This was a tradition of the Land of Hot Water—each time war broke out, they would send people to the Land of Fire, their overlord, as a show of loyalty.

Thinking of his three-year-old son, Soruto let out a sigh of resignation. There was no way out. He had no choice but to face the situation head-on. As for why he didn’t defect to the Cloud Ninjas to escape the pressure from the Leaf Village, the answer was simple.

Apart from the hostages they’d already sent, the Leaf Village was the kindest and most reasonable option. In the ongoing war between the Leaf and Cloud, the Yu-nin still retained most of their strength. But their northern neighbors, the Frost Ninjas, who sided with the Cloud, had lost nearly everything.

At the start of the war, the Cloud Ninjas had driven the Frost Ninjas into battle without hesitation. After only two major skirmishes, the Leaf had retreated, and the Frost Ninjas, who had spent the last six years rebuilding after the Third Ninja War, had been utterly crushed.

Of the Five Great Ninja Villages, the Leaf Village was truly the best option.

Moreover, given the geographic proximity between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire, if the Yu-nin dared to switch sides and join the Cloud Ninjas, the Leaf Village would stop at nothing to destroy them and rebuild a new Hidden Hot Springs Village.

In the end, this was just the sorrow of small nations caught in the power struggles of the great ones.

Soruto lowered his head, accepting his fate.

Just as Soruto was about to leave, a Leaf Ninja from the communications unit rushed into the tent, shouting, "Hizashi-sama, the Cloud Ninjas! The Cloud Ninjas are attacking!"

The sudden report caused Hizashi's blood pressure to spike. He could feel the veins throbbing in his temples.

"Byakugan, activate!"

Hizashi immediately activated his Byakugan.

As the head of the Hyūga Clan and with a pure lineage, his Byakugan, honed through years of rigorous training, could see up to ten kilometers away. From inside the tent, he could clearly see the battle erupting on the frontlines, where ninjas wearing different headbands and vests of various colors were locked in combat.

Judging from the situation, the Leaf Ninjas were being pushed back, steadily losing ground.

The reason was clear: the half-transformed Two-Tails Jinchūriki had torn through the Leaf's defenses and was leading the Cloud Ninjas in a brutal advance, leaving the Leaf Ninjas with little chance to retaliate.

"Damn it!"

Hizashi's face turned ashen.

Jinchūriki were truly a nuisance. Hizashi couldn't help but curse the First Hokage's decision to distribute the Tailed Beasts among the major nations. Instead of bringing peace, it had only intensified the scale of war, resulting in three great Ninja Wars that had cost the Leaf dearly.

"How could they attack so quickly? Don't the Cloud Ninjas need to rest? Are they made of iron or something?"

Hizashi’s frustration grew.

The Cloud Ninjas had attacked far earlier than expected.

Given the intense fighting and long marches they'd endured, the strategists led by Nara Clan Jonin had predicted that the Cloud Ninjas would need at least three days of rest before launching another assault. Yet, here they were, attacking on the second day.

Soon, Shibi Aburame and the others gathered. After a brief but intense discussion, they agreed not to change the retreat plan. However, they couldn’t rely on the Yu-nin to hold off the Cloud Ninjas. It would now require sacrifices to retreat from the Kusatsu Mountains.

"I’ll handle the Two-Tails Jinchūriki."

Shibi Aburame stepped forward.

"Defeating the Two-Tails Jinchūriki is difficult, but I should be able to hold them off for a while."

"Thank you, Shibi."

Hizashi knew this wasn’t the time for pleasantries. He agreed to Shibi’s offer and said, "If you're taking on the Jinchūriki, then I’ll handle Darui!"

As a top-tier sensor ninja himself, Hizashi didn’t need a report to identify the Cloud Ninjas' formations. He had already locked on to Darui and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.

Darui and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki were the most dangerous opponents in this Cloud Ninja force.

After numerous clashes, both sides had gathered enough intelligence on each other. Darui, with his Storm Release kekkei genkai and mastery of Black Lightning inherited from the Third Raikage, was a rising star on the battlefield, rivaling the Two-Tails Jinchūriki in fame.

Otherwise, Hizashi wouldn’t have volunteered to take him on personally.

Hizashi knew that he and Shibi were the only ones capable of stalling Darui. Any other ninja would need at least three or five to even slow him down.

In ninja warfare, victory or defeat often came down to the battles between the top-tier combatants.

It wasn’t that the fights between Chūnin and Genin weren’t important, but the outcome of the battle was heavily influenced by the strongest fighters. The Leaf's gradual retreat wasn’t because their Chūnin and Genin were weaker than their Cloud counterparts; it was because Hizashi and Shibi couldn’t match the Fourth Raikage or the Cloud's Jinchūriki.

With the upper echelon outclassed, the Leaf’s lower ranks were inevitably overwhelmed by the Cloud’s elite.

"Nara Saltwater, I’m leaving the command of the retreat to you."

With Hizashi and Shibi preparing to engage in battle, command of the forces was handed over to Nara Saltwater, a young man just over twenty. Despite his age, members of the Nara Clan were known for their maturity and wisdom beyond their years. Saltwater’s performance during the campaign had earned Hizashi’s trust in his abilities.

"Hizashi-sama, Shibi-sama, please return safely."

True to the Nara Clan's reputation for intelligence, Saltwater had already begun issuing orders even before Hizashi and Shibi set out. The camp's Leaf Ninjas and Yu-nin moved swiftly and orderly, executing the retreat plan with precision. Hizashi, reassured by Saltwater’s competence, led a squad with Shibi toward the frontlines.

...

In the forest, a flash of black lightning streaked by.

"Ugh… ugh..."

A Leaf Ninja clutched his throat, trying to stop the blood gushing from the deep wound, but it was too severe. His hands quickly lost strength, and his eyes grew dim before his body fell lifelessly from the tree.

"Sorry, but please rest in peace."

The speaker was a young man standing atop a tree branch.

He had white hair, dark skin, bangs covering his left eye, and thick lips. His shoulders bore tattoos of the kanji for "thunder" and "water," and he wore the standard Cloud Ninja uniform. On his back was an empty sword sheath, the weapon currently in his hand.

Blood dripped from the tip of the blade.

He had just slain a Leaf special Jonin with a single slash.

"Captain Darui, Yugito-sama has advanced another 500 meters."

At that moment, a voice crackled through Darui’s earpiece, delivering a report.

Darui twirled his wrist, causing the blade to vibrate, shaking off the blood as he listened to his subordinates' reports. He sighed helplessly, "Lady Yugito... rushed in too quickly!" What made it even worse was that both Yugito and Lady Two-Tails were his seniors, and Lord Raikage hadn't clearly designated who had more authority between them.

Even though Darui felt that Yugito's actions were overly aggressive, there was no way to stop her. On the contrary, he could only do his best to cooperate.

"I understand, I'll get there as soon as..."

Before he could finish his sentence,

Black lightning flashed again, and Darui's figure appeared at the top of another tree. The branch where he had been standing was shattered by an invisible attack.

Had he not reacted quickly, taking a direct hit would have cost him several broken bones, if not worse.

"Is this... the Hyuga Clan's Air Palm?"

Darui's eyes shifted as he traced the path of the attack and spotted the assailant.

Then—

"Sorry, tell Lady Yugito that I've encountered a big fish here. I can't make it over for now. Also, tell her not to rush in so fast. That's all."

With that, Darui turned off his communicator, focusing all his attention on Hiashi Hyuga, who had appeared among the trees.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 157: The Two-Tails and the Parasitic Insects*

Darui stared at Hiashi Hyuga standing on the ground, observing for about five seconds. He leaped into the air, raising his blade high, with lightning flashing visibly on his feet. The Lightning Style: Body Activation technique, while rare even in the Lightning-Style-heavy Cloud Village, was a skill that every Cloud shinobi who mastered it became a top-tier fighter.

Undoubtedly, Darui, attacking with such amazing speed, was among the best in the Hidden Cloud Village.

Hiashi Hyuga knew this very well.

Among all the Cloud shinobi he had encountered, Darui’s speed was second only to the Fourth Raikage. In the blink of an eye, the blade wrapped in black lightning was upon him. Hiashi couldn't clash head-on; the Hyuga clan didn’t rely on weapons, and bare hands couldn’t block the slash of a sword.

So, Hiashi’s response was simple.

Using the insight of his Byakugan, he read Darui’s chakra flow and predicted his attack trajectory. With a slight step to the left, he narrowly dodged the falling blade and the black lightning surrounding it.

It was a risky move—one misstep, and Hiashi would have paid a high price.

Luckily, Hiashi’s Byakugan insight was excellent, and years of training in Gentle Fist had given him superb control over his body. He precisely avoided Darui’s frontal assault and immediately retaliated with a strike of the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm, hitting Darui’s right rib.

However, instead of feeling contact, the strike hit a shadow clone that dispersed with a "poof." Hiashi didn’t seem disappointed. He quickly spun and launched an Eight Trigrams Air Palm into the treetops behind him.

The powerful Air Palm nearly obliterated the treetop.

Moments before the treetop was destroyed, Darui escaped, narrowly avoiding the fierce attack. Though he avoided the blow, branches whipped by the shockwave scraped Darui’s cheek, drawing blood. The sharp sting reminded him that in this exchange, he had fallen behind.

“As expected, sneak attacks don’t work against the Byakugan, huh?”

Standing on his new perch, Darui touched the wound on his face and sighed in frustration.

No wonder he’s the head of the Hyuga clan.

He was different from the other Hyuga shinobi Darui had encountered. Not only could Hiashi see through his tricks, but he could also keep up with his speed. Previously, other so-called Hyuga "experts" could see through Darui’s feints but couldn’t react in time.

So, even when facing Hiashi, the clan leader, Darui had tried his usual tricks. But Hiashi’s actions proved that the Byakugan was still formidable, shattering Darui’s hope for a quick victory.

"Do I have to go all out?"

Darui’s expression turned serious as he dropped his frustrated look.

The Eight Trigrams Air Palm shattered the tree beneath Darui before he could attack. Hiashi had struck first. The speed of the Hyuga clan’s Gentle Fist, which didn’t require hand seals, even surpassed Darui’s own. He had no choice but to abandon forming seals and dodge Hiashi’s strikes.

Hiashi relentlessly unleashed his Eight Trigrams Air Palm, preventing Darui from finding an opportunity to attack.

"Trying to buy time? How long can your chakra last?"

Darui watched as Hiashi quickly swallowed a soldier pill. He wasn’t in a hurry to press the attack. If Hiashi wanted to waste chakra, Darui had enough patience to wear him down. Capturing or killing Hiashi Hyuga would be far more valuable than holding a mere mountainous outpost.

———

On another battlefield,

“Is Darui tied up by Hiashi Hyuga?”

"Not bad luck."

Yugito Nii, cloaked in the red chakra of the Two-Tails, spoke calmly to the Cloud shinobi beside her, unaffected by the Tailed Beast’s chakra. Her clear-headedness was astonishing. Shibi Aburame, observing Yugito through his insects, felt a heavy sense of dread.

This kind of Jinchuriki...

He had seen it before.

The previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had also been capable of such a feat. Having witnessed it firsthand, Shibi knew how terrifying such a Jinchuriki could be. Holding off this kind of monster... was going to be a headache.

“...But I’m not that unlucky either!”

As he considered this, Yugito turned her head toward the forest ahead. Hidden within the trees, Shibi heartbeat quickened—had she noticed him? As he pondered his next move, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly. Shibi expression changed abruptly, and he leaped into the air to change position.

However, in the next second—

A crimson claw burst from the ground, piercing through Shibi abdomen.

"A clone?"

In the distance, Yugito grumbled unhappily.

She was crouched, with her right hand deep in the ground. Her chakra arm had extended unseen through the earth, but the strange sensation told her she had missed the real target.

The Shibi she struck dissolved into a swarm of black insects—a Bug Clone, a unique technique mastered by the Aburame clan. When the clone was destroyed, the insects scattered, launching a counterattack.

However,

Today’s opponent was a Jinchuriki.

The chakra of the Tailed Beast was too much for the insects to handle. The swarm fell to the ground, dead. Hidden in the shadows, Shibi was helpless. The Tailed Beast’s chakra was simply too overwhelming for even his parasitic insects, whose ability to consume chakra typically made them feared by most shinobi.

But even the parasitic insects struggled with the Tailed Beast’s chakra.

Ideally,

He should have chosen Darui instead of facing this Jinchuriki head-on.

But—

He had no choice!

The Hyuga clan’s Gentle Fist was fine for fighting people, but against a massive, non-human Tailed Beast, it was utterly ineffective. Gentle Fist would likely only tickle the Tailed Beast. Shibi insects, however, could interfere and restrain the Two-Tails.

Just as Shibi was distracted,

Yugito’s next attack came.

A Fireball!

This wasn’t the Great Fireball Jutsu. To be precise, it wasn’t a jutsu Yugito controlled. It was the Two-Tails’ ability—a demonic cat that wielded flames without the need for hand seals. A gigantic fireball scorched the forest like a bulldozer.

The Aburame clan raised insects inside their bodies.

Their chakra and the insects’ chakra were nearly indistinguishable. Even with the Two-Tails’ help, Yugito couldn’t precisely detect Shibi exact location. But that didn’t stop her.

She couldn’t pinpoint Shibi location, but using the Two-Tails’ sensory abilities, she could estimate his general position.

And so,

The monstrous fireball swept through the area. The chakra it consumed was equivalent to half the amount of a normal jonin. This kind of brute-force attack was something only a Jinchuriki, or a chakra powerhouse like the Senju or Uzumaki, could pull off. Ordinary shinobi couldn’t manage such a feat.

The fireball flattened the area, and the flames continued to burn fiercely.

“Did I get him?”

Yugito withdrew her arm from the ground and stood up, gazing at the burning remains of the forest.

“Not yet. Look out above.”

A voice deep within Yugito warned her, and she instinctively looked up. Through the rolling black smoke, she saw something falling from the sky. Squinting, she realized it was a swarm of black insects, descending under the cover of the smoke.

Secret Technique: Bug Cloud!

The swarm gathered into a black cloud, lifting Shibi into the air, helping him avoid the fiery death from the earlier fireball attack. However, the insects had their limits and couldn’t continue to carry him. The Bug Cloud could lift Shibi , but not allow him to fly freely.

But,

It was enough.

They had saved him from a nearly certain death. Calling this technique useless would be too harsh.

Standing on the Bug Cloud, Shibi located Yugito and launched an attack. He couldn’t let the Two-Tails Jinchuriki continue to attack freely. These monsters had such destructive power that he couldn’t afford to stay on the defensive for long.

At this point,

The best defense was a good offense.

Secret Technique: Spindle Insects!

The descending insects didn’t rush all at once. Under Shibi control, the parasitic insects spun like a whirlwind, attacking Yugito like a drill. Of course, this opponent wasn’t easy prey, but Shibi still launched his attack with resolve.

As long as his chakra didn’t run out, the parasitic insects could be continuously produced. No matter how many died, they could be replaced.

“Annoying insects.”

Yugito opened her mouth, unleashing another massive fireball. The searing flames effortlessly burned the insects to ashes. Even though the Aburame’s insects had been bred for resistance to fire and high temperatures, they couldn’t fully withstand the Tailed Beast’s flames.

“No wonder she’s a Jinchuriki.”

Shibi’s face twitched in frustration.

So many insects had been wiped out with a single attack. The overwhelming power made Shibi feel a bit of despair. How could he defeat such an opponent?

But,

No matter how tough, he had to keep going. The longer he could hold out, the more time he could buy for the other units to retreat. Even if it was difficult, there was no option to give up easily.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 157: The Two-Tails and the Parasitic Insects*

Darui stared at Hiashi Hyuga standing on the ground, observing for about five seconds. He leaped into the air, raising his blade high, with lightning flashing visibly on his feet. The Lightning Style: Body Activation technique, while rare even in the Lightning-Style-heavy Cloud Village, was a skill that every Cloud Shibibi who mastered it became a top-tier fighter.

Undoubtedly, Darui, attacking with such amazing speed, was among the best in the Hidden Cloud Village.

Hiashi Hyuga knew this very well.

Among all the Cloud Shibibi he had encountered, Darui’s speed was second only to the Fourth Raikage. In the blink of an eye, the blade wrapped in black lightning was upon him. Hiashi couldn't clash head-on; the Hyuga clan didn’t rely on weapons, and bare hands couldn’t block the slash of a sword.

So, Hiashi’s response was simple.

Using the insight of his Byakugan, he read Darui’s chakra flow and predicted his attack trajectory. With a slight step to the left, he narrowly dodged the falling blade and the black lightning surrounding it.

It was a risky move—one misstep, and Hiashi would have paid a high price.

Luckily, Hiashi’s Byakugan insight was excellent, and years of training in Gentle Fist had given him superb control over his body. He precisely avoided Darui’s frontal assault and immediately retaliated with a strike of the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm, hitting Darui’s right rib.

However, instead of feeling contact, the strike hit a shadow clone that dispersed with a "poof." Hiashi didn’t seem disappointed. He quickly spun and launched an Eight Trigrams Air Palm into the treetops behind him.

The powerful Air Palm nearly obliterated the treetop.

Moments before the treetop was destroyed, Darui escaped, narrowly avoiding the fierce attack. Though he avoided the blow, branches whipped by the shockwave scraped Darui’s cheek, drawing blood. The sharp sting reminded him that in this exchange, he had fallen behind.

“As expected, sneak attacks don’t work against the Byakugan, huh?”

Standing on his new perch, Darui touched the wound on his face and sighed in frustration.

No wonder he’s the head of the Hyuga clan.

He was different from the other Hyuga Shibibi Darui had encountered. Not only could Hiashi see through his tricks, but he could also keep up with his speed. Previously, other so-called Hyuga "experts" could see through Darui’s feints but couldn’t react in time.

So, even when facing Hiashi, the clan leader, Darui had tried his usual tricks. But Hiashi’s actions proved that the Byakugan was still formidable, shattering Darui’s hope for a quick victory.

"Do I have to go all out?"

Darui’s expression turned serious as he dropped his frustrated look.

The Eight Trigrams Air Palm shattered the tree beneath Darui before he could attack. Hiashi had struck first. The speed of the Hyuga clan’s Gentle Fist, which didn’t require hand seals, even surpassed Darui’s own. He had no choice but to abandon forming seals and dodge Hiashi’s strikes.

Hiashi relentlessly unleashed his Eight Trigrams Air Palm, preventing Darui from finding an opportunity to attack.

"Trying to buy time? How long can your chakra last?"

Darui watched as Hiashi quickly swallowed a soldier pill. He wasn’t in a hurry to press the attack. If Hiashi wanted to waste chakra, Darui had enough patience to wear him down. Capturing or killing Hiashi Hyuga would be far more valuable than holding a mere mountainous outpost.

———

On another battlefield,

“Is Darui tied up by Hiashi Hyuga?”

"Not bad luck."

Yugito Nii, cloaked in the red chakra of the Two-Tails, spoke calmly to the Cloud Shibibi beside her, unaffected by the Tailed Beast’s chakra. Her clear-headedness was astonishing. Shibi Aburame, observing Yugito through his insects, felt a heavy sense of dread.

This kind of Jinchuriki...

He had seen it before.

The previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had also been capable of such a feat. Having witnessed it firsthand, Shibi knew how terrifying such a Jinchuriki could be. Holding off this kind of monster... was going to be a headache.

“...But I’m not that unlucky either!”

As he considered this, Yugito turned her head toward the forest ahead. Hidden within the trees, Shibi’s heartbeat quickened—had she noticed him? As he pondered his next move, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly. Shibi’s expression changed abruptly, and he leaped into the air to change position.

However, in the next second—

A crimson claw burst from the ground, piercing through Shibi’s abdomen.

"A clone?"

In the distance, Yugito grumbled unhappily.

She was crouched, with her right hand deep in the ground. Her chakra arm had extended unseen through the earth, but the strange sensation told her she had missed the real target.

The Shibi she struck dissolved into a swarm of black insects—a Bug Clone, a unique technique mastered by the Aburame clan. When the clone was destroyed, the insects scattered, launching a counterattack.

However,

Today’s opponent was a Jinchuriki.

The chakra of the Tailed Beast was too much for the insects to handle. The swarm fell to the ground, dead. Hidden in the shadows, Shibi was helpless. The Tailed Beast’s chakra was simply too overwhelming for even his parasitic insects, whose ability to consume chakra typically made them feared by most Shibibi.

But even the parasitic insects struggled with the Tailed Beast’s chakra.

Ideally,

He should have chosen Darui instead of facing this Jinchuriki head-on.

But—

He had no choice!

The Hyuga clan’s Gentle Fist was fine for fighting people, but against a massive, non-human Tailed Beast, it was utterly ineffective. Gentle Fist would likely only tickle the Tailed Beast. Shibi’s insects, however, could interfere and restrain the Two-Tails.

Just as Shibi was distracted,

Yugito’s next attack came.

A Fireball!

This wasn’t the Great Fireball Jutsu. To be precise, it wasn’t a jutsu Yugito controlled. It was the Two-Tails’ ability—a demonic cat that wielded flames without the need for hand seals. A gigantic fireball scorched the forest like a bulldozer.

The Aburame clan raised insects inside their bodies.

Their chakra and the insects’ chakra were nearly indistinguishable. Even with the Two-Tails’ help, Yugito couldn’t precisely detect Shibi’s exact location. But that didn’t stop her.

She couldn’t pinpoint Shibi’s location, but using the Two-Tails’ sensory abilities, she could estimate his general position.

And so,

The monstrous fireball swept through the area. The chakra it consumed was equivalent to half the amount of a normal jonin. This kind of brute-force attack was something only a Jinchuriki, or a chakra powerhouse like the Senju or Uzumaki, could pull off. Ordinary Shibibi couldn’t manage such a feat.

The fireball flattened the area, and the flames continued to burn fiercely.

“Did I get him?”

Yugito withdrew her arm from the ground and stood up, gazing at the burning remains of the forest.

“Not yet. Look out above.”

A voice deep within Yugito warned her, and she instinctively looked up. Through the rolling black smoke, she saw something falling from the sky. Squinting, she realized it was a swarm of black insects, descending under the cover of the smoke.

Secret Technique: Bug Cloud!

The swarm gathered into a black cloud, lifting Shibi into the air, helping him avoid the fiery death from the earlier fireball attack. However, the insects had their limits and couldn’t continue to carry him. The Bug Cloud could lift Shibi, but not allow him to fly freely.

But,

It was enough.

They had saved him from a nearly certain death. Calling this technique useless would be too harsh.

Standing on the Bug Cloud, Shibi located Yugito and launched an attack. He couldn’t let the Two-Tails Jinchuriki continue to attack freely. These monsters had such destructive power that he couldn’t afford to stay on the defensive for long.

At this point,

The best defense was a good offense.

Secret Technique: Spindle Insects!

The descending insects didn’t rush all at once. Under Shibi’s control, the parasitic insects spun like a whirlwind, attacking Yugito like a drill. Of course, this opponent wasn’t easy prey, but Shibi still launched his attack with resolve.

As long as his chakra didn’t run out, the parasitic insects could be continuously produced. No matter how many died, they could be replaced.

“Annoying insects.”

Yugito opened her mouth, unleashing another massive fireball. The searing flames effortlessly burned the insects to ashes. Even though the Aburame’s insects had been bred for resistance to fire and high temperatures, they couldn’t fully withstand the Tailed Beast’s flames.

“No wonder she’s a Jinchuriki.”

Shibi’s face twitched in frustration.

So many insects had been wiped out with a single attack. The overwhelming power made Shibi feel a bit of despair. How could he defeat such an opponent?

But,

No matter how tough, he had to keep going. The longer he could hold out, the more time he could buy for the other units to retreat. Even if it was difficult, there was no option to give up easily.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 158: Bushy Eyebrows*

“Damn it! This isn't good!”

Nara Shiomizu's forehead was drenched in sweat. His mind was working at full capacity, feeling like boiling water, as if his brain was going to melt from the heat. As their forces continued to retreat, the situation on the battlefield grew worse. The Cloud ninjas weren't just a bunch of muscle-bound brutes.

The Leaf's retreat hadn't gone unnoticed by the Cloud ninja.

But...

"Why aren't they pursuing?"

Bloodshot veins showed in Nara Shiomizu’s eyes. He was sure that the Cloud ninjas had seen through their plan to abandon the Kōsen Mountain region. But even though the Cloud ninja knew, they didn’t pursue the retreating Leaf forces. At a time like this, if they chased them down, it would definitely cause heavy losses for the Leaf.

But the Cloud ninja didn’t do that.

“Did they see through my countermeasures?” Nara Shiomizu stared at the map laid out on the table, his mind racing, muttering to himself as he tried to sort through his thoughts. “No, that’s not right. My countermeasures were just minor tricks, at most stalling them for a bit. There’s no way they could harm the Cloud ninjas significantly. With their aggressive nature, there’s no reason they’d hesitate to advance... Could it be?”

A grim thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“Someone, come here.”

“Bring the sensory ninjas over.”

He summoned members of the Hyūga and Yamanaka clans. With their help, they marked Hyūga Hiashi’s and Aburame Shibi’s positions on the map, as well as the movement trajectories of the Cloud ninjas. Looking at how the Cloud ninja formations were closing in like a crab's pincers, with Hyūga Hiashi and Aburame Shibi caught in between, Nara Shiomizu's face turned ashen.

It was a decapitation strategy!

No wonder the Cloud ninjas weren’t chasing the retreating Leaf and Hot Springs ninjas. They were aiming to capture Hyūga Hiashi and Aburame Shibi. Such tactics weren’t uncommon in ninja warfare. Given the choice between killing a thousand enemy soldiers or taking down a renowned powerful ninja, one would always choose the latter.

During the Third Great Ninja War, the "Yellow Flash" Namikaze Minato had single-handedly supported multiple battlefronts, fighting both the Cloud and Stone ninjas. His heroics turned the tide of war in favor of the Leaf, even though weak leadership tainted the victory.

The impact of powerful ninjas on the outcome of wars had been clear as day.

In the same war, the Stone ninja sacrificed everything to assassinate the Third Raikage, even letting thousands of Cloud ninjas go. That was another prime example.

Most of the time, the direction of ninja wars was decided by the outcomes of battles between top-tier fighters. This time, the Cloud ninjas were targeting the strongest fighters and commanders in the Leaf's frontline army. If they managed to eliminate Hyūga Hiashi and Aburame Shibi, the remaining Leaf forces, even if they didn’t collapse, would be powerless to face the Cloud until a new commander was appointed.

The consequences...

Nara Shiomizu could clearly see them with just a little thought.

But—

“Damn it! Is there no way out?”

A frustrated Nara Shiomizu gnawed on his fingers, staring intensely at the map, but no matter how much he racked his brain—nearly to the point of overheating—he couldn’t come up with a solution. Without any available pieces to play, even a master strategist would be left helpless.

With only around eight hundred Leaf ninjas left after the retreat, and less than twenty jonin, how could they possibly break through the Cloud’s encirclement and rescue Hyūga Hiashi and Aburame Shibi?

"Nara Advisor, your message has been passed to both lords, but their situation doesn’t look good. It's unlikely they can break out on their own!"

Nearby, a jonin from the Yamanaka clan opened his eyes, looking weary. Using the Mind Body Transmission Technique without any external aid wasn’t easy.

“If things keep going this way, we must find a way to save them.”

Nara Shiomizu paced back and forth in the command tent, his agitation clear on his face. Not just him, but the sensory ninjas around him also looked worried. They all knew how dire the situation was. They also knew the chaos that would ensue if Hyūga Hiashi and Aburame Shibi were lost.

They weren’t just frontline commanders.

Both of them held the title of "clan head." The Hyūga and Aburame clans were prestigious in the Leaf, and if something happened to their leaders... the consequences would be unimaginable. The clans might go mad!

And the Leaf Village itself wouldn’t tolerate such humiliation.

"Nara Advisor!"

Just as Nara Shiomizu was on the verge of madness, a jonin from the Hyūga clan suddenly shouted, his face showing undisguised joy.

Nara Shiomizu frowned and looked over.

---

“Haah... Haah...!”

Hyūga Hiashi could hear his own ragged breathing, like a broken bellows. His limbs felt so heavy that he could barely lift them. Worst of all, his chakra was nearly depleted. Even taking a secret ration pill couldn’t squeeze out more chakra.

With his Byakugan's 360-degree vision, he could see the Cloud ninjas closing in from all sides.

It was like an inescapable net, blocking all his escape routes.

Even though Hiashi could spot gaps in the Cloud’s encirclement, every time he tried to break through, the Cloud ninjas, guided by their sensory types, would swiftly close the gaps again. And the troublesome Darui was relentlessly pursuing him, not giving him any chance to retreat.

Because of Darui's interference, Hiashi could only watch as the Cloud's encirclement tightened, forcing him into a dead end.

“Crack!!”

Thunder roared in the sky.

Without turning around, Hiashi knew that a black panther-shaped bolt of lightning was hurtling toward him.

*Black Lightning: Black Panther Strike*

Darui’s signature technique, inherited from the Third Raikage.

Hiashi had already experienced its power firsthand.

Facing the oncoming black lightning, Hiashi immediately assumed his stance. With the last bit of chakra he had, it surged out of his body’s tenketsu points as he began spinning rapidly. The whirling chakra created a protective barrier capable of repelling any physical attack—his "absolute defense."

*Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven*

A secret technique passed down through the Hyūga clan's main family.

The black panther-shaped lightning was deflected, and the surrounding trees were flattened by the shockwave, but Hiashi, protected by Revolving Heaven, was unharmed. However... as Revolving Heaven ended, Hiashi staggered, falling to one knee.

He was out of chakra, completely spent.

That was how Hyūga Hiashi felt.

He had exhausted every last bit of chakra with his Revolving Heaven and could no longer fight.

“Clan Head Hiashi, surrender! With your status, you'll be treated well as a prisoner,” Darui said as he appeared on the scorched ground, trying to convince Hiashi to give up.

“‘Treated well’? Heh!”

Hiashi let out a breath, a cold and resolute smile on his face. “Do you mean treated like my brother, dissected in your labs for research?”

"...If you cooperate, I can guarantee your safety."

Darui spouted words even he didn’t believe.

At the same time, he cautiously moved closer to Hiashi, step by step.

“The Cloud will never get their hands on the Byakugan,” Hiashi said as he twisted his right hand slightly. A kunai slid from his sleeve, and he grabbed it, aiming the sharp blade at his own eyes.

At that moment,

A deafening crack of thunder rang out.

Darui’s feet sparked with electricity as he dashed toward Hiashi, the black lightning on his sword stabbing into Hiashi’s right shoulder. The dark currents paralyzed Hiashi’s body, stopping the kunai just half an inch from his eye.

Clang!

The kunai was knocked from Hiashi’s hand.

Darui breathed a sigh of relief.

He’d made it in time. He couldn’t believe he’d actually captured the head of the Hyūga clan alive. With this, the Cloud would finally possess the Byakugan... The sword stuck in Hiashi’s shoulder continued to release electric currents, binding Hiashi in place, unable to move. Darui held the hilt with one hand, and with his other, he clenched his fist, preparing to knock Hiashi out.

He didn’t dare use more electricity, fearing it might damage the Byakugan.

So, he opted for the most straightforward method.

A punch to knock Hiashi unconscious.

But...

Suddenly, something unexpected happened.

Out of the corner of his eye, Darui caught sight of a green blur rushing at him from the left. It was moving so fast he barely had time to react with anything complex. But he couldn’t release his grip on the sword, or Hiashi might destroy his own eyes.

Caught between two bad choices, Darui finally saw that the attacker wasn’t wielding a weapon, but... performing a flying kick?

He immediately abandoned the punch and raised his left arm to block, intending to defend against the kick and then counterattack.

Boom!!!

Crack!

First, the sound of a collision echoed, followed immediately by the sound of bones cracking, and the thought of counterattacking was completely extinguished in his mind.

Darui felt like he had been hit head-on by an elephant. The terrifying strength crashed into his body, sending him flying uncontrollably. Fortunately, most of the nearby trees had already been destroyed in the previous battle, so he didn’t crash into one. Instead, he was hurled over twenty meters before tumbling to the ground.

"Ugh~!"

The moment his body came to a stop, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Darui lifted his head, his gaze filled with suspicion as he looked along the path he had been thrown. He saw a man with a bowl haircut, thick eyebrows, and dressed in a green bodysuit pulling out a long blade that had been embedded in Hiashi Hyuga’s shoulder. Speaking of those eyebrows, they were really thick—he could see them clearly even from this distance.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 159: Guy vs. Darui

A fracture in his left arm.

That was the conclusion Darui came to after checking himself. It was far from good news—his left hand could no longer form hand signs effectively, which severely limited his fighting ability. For a ninja, the speed of forming hand signs was crucial. Even if you could clap your hands and make things happen instantly, a fractured arm still hurt!

"What kind of monster is this?"

Despite his injury, Darui didn't lose focus. His attention remained fixed on the thick-browed man who had kicked him. The speed and strength of that man were terrifying. While Darui knew he wasn't as physically strong as the Raikage, he was no pushover either, especially being skilled in the Lightning Release technique that enhanced his body. Yet, this man in the ridiculous green bodysuit had fractured his arm with just one kick.

Darui looked at his empty right hand, then pulled out a kunai from his pouch. His sword was still lodged in Hiashi Hyuga's shoulder, and he wasn’t in the habit of carrying multiple backup weapons. The kunai would have to do for now.

What confused Darui most was that he didn’t recognize this thick-browed man. Over the years, his village had sent countless spies to Konoha and the Land of Fire, collecting information on their powerful ninjas. Yet, no report had ever mentioned this man.

A warrior this strong shouldn’t be unknown!

Guy helped Hiashi Hyuga to his feet. "Hiashi-senpai, are you alright?" He glanced at Hiashi’s shoulder, concerned. Though Hiashi had managed to control his muscles to prevent heavy bleeding, a wound like that couldn’t be ignored.

“It’s pretty bad,” Hiashi sighed. “But I’m not dying just yet. Are you the only backup we’ve got? What about Sougen? Has he arrived?”

“Sougen-sama hasn’t arrived yet,” Guy shook his head. “But we didn’t come empty-handed. Shibi-senpai, Ega-senpai, Todou-senpai, and even Shisui-kun are here... About a dozen of us!”

Hiashi let out a disappointed sigh upon hearing that Sougen hadn't come, but he felt slightly relieved when Guy mentioned other strong reinforcements like Shibi and Ega. With them, they might be able to hold off the Cloud Ninjas for a while longer.

Hiashi could barely stand without Guy’s help, his chakra completely depleted. The surrounding Cloud Ninjas, who had originally closed in with Darui, were now oddly quiet, suggesting that someone else was dealing with them. Guy had saved him, but it seemed there were others in the shadows handling the rest.

Clearly, Hiashi wasn’t the only one who noticed this.

Darui, too, realized that many of his subordinates had been taken out. His left arm was fractured, and now, when he tried contacting his men via radio, only a few responded. Switching channels, he called for backup from another squad.

Darui was almost 17, but his laid-back personality meant he didn’t share the impulsiveness typical of most his age. He had no intention of being a hero, especially when they still held a significant advantage, and they had Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails jinchūriki, on their side.

Still, he couldn’t just sit and wait for Yugito’s support. They had finally trapped Hiashi Hyuga, and he wasn’t about to let Guy and the others take him away so easily. A mere fracture in his arm wouldn’t stop him from trying to capture Hiashi alive.

"Hiashi-senpai, you can’t walk right now, can you?" Guy asked, assessing his condition.

"That's right. I can barely stand," Hiashi replied, though in truth, he was worse off than he let on. The backlash from consuming too many military ration pills had hit him hard, causing his chakra pathways to spasm in pain. But through sheer willpower, he endured.

"Guy, don't push yourself. Even if you manage to defeat Darui using your father's forbidden technique, the Cloud Ninjas still have Yugito Nii and an overwhelming number of troops. They’ll wear us down."

The Eight Gates Formation.

This forbidden technique was shrouded in mystery, but records in the Hyuga Clan’s documents from over 200 years ago mentioned it. Hiashi had only learned about it after hearing that Guy’s father, Might Duy, single-handedly defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. After researching it, he found out just how terrifying this technique was.

Unfortunately, it was incredibly difficult to master. Even after acquiring its secrets, the intense training required to master the Eight Gates was beyond what most, even the most hardened of ANBU, could handle.

“If you can’t take me out of here alive, make sure my body doesn’t fall into the hands of the Cloud Ninjas,” Hiashi said resolutely. He had already accepted the possibility of death.

But Guy gave an unexpected answer. "Don’t worry, Hiashi-senpai. Someone is already handling the Two-Tails jinchūriki. We just need to get past these Cloud Ninjas and we can leave."

Hiashi was stunned. "Who could possibly handle Yugito Nii if Sougen hasn’t come? Shibi with his poison bugs? Todou and the Ino-Shika-Cho formation?”

Guy smiled. "It’s Shisui."

"Shisui? Uchiha Shisui?" Hiashi repeated in disbelief.

Without further explanation, Guy bent low and sprang forward like a bullet, shattering the ground beneath his feet as he launched himself toward Darui. His speed left Darui no choice but to prepare for a counterattack. His reinforcements had arrived, so there was no need to delay further.

"Scatter!" Darui ordered, and the Cloud Ninjas dispersed. "Attack as planned!"

They didn’t fight recklessly. Under Darui’s command, half of them unleashed Water Release, while the other half used Lightning Release to create a deadly combination.

Streams of water filled the air, followed by arcs of electricity, weaving together to form a net.

But there was no prey caught in the net.

"Did he dodge? How?" Darui frowned. His timing had been perfect. Given the thick-browed man’s speed, he shouldn’t have been able to dodge that.

Then he realized: this man was even faster than before.

“Darui-sama, behind you!!”

The warning came just as Darui sensed the danger himself.

"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"

With a mighty shout, Guy’s spinning kick was aimed right at Darui’s head. Just as the attack was about to land, the sharp crackle of lightning echoed, and Darui’s body vanished.

Guy’s kick struck a nearby tree, splintering it with a loud crash.

"You're fast!" Guy grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Don’t underestimate me,” Darui said calmly, his body crackling with black lightning as he appeared behind Guy. He lunged forward, kunai in hand, aiming for Guy’s back.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 160: Another Susanoo?

Hyuga Hizashi leaned weakly against the tree. Without anyone to support him, he couldn’t even stand, so he had no choice but to sit under the tree, watching the battle between Guy and Darui. No, to be precise, it was the battle between Guy and the more than ten elite Cloud Village ninjas led by Darui.

These Cloud ninjas weren't all jonin.

If you relaxed the standards a bit and compared them to villages like Hot Springs or Frost, their strength would be enough to earn them the title of jonin. But in the Hidden Cloud Village, they were caught in the middle, not quite jonin, known as “Special Jonin.”

Originally, the ninja ranks only had three levels: jonin, chunin, and genin. The Hokage was technically still a jonin, but with the additional title of village leader. The rank of Special Jonin didn’t exist initially; it was later created as a new rank.

As for who created it?

Such an innovative concept could only have come from the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Just like the ANBU and the Ninja Academy, the four major ninja villages copied Tobirama’s ideas, spreading the Special Jonin rank just as quickly as the ANBU structure.

A Special Jonin refers to a ninja whose strength is between chunin and jonin. They are much stronger than regular chunin, but their overall power still falls short of true jonin. They might only excel in specific skills at the jonin level.

These Cloud ninjas had mastered certain jutsu to the jonin level.

Under Darui’s command, they indeed caused Guy a bit of trouble. But just a bit. Guy’s strength surpassed Darui’s expectations and also shocked Hyuga Hizashi. After all, Might Duy once fought and crippled the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, but that came at the cost of decades of grueling training and his life.

Five years ago, during the Third Ninja War, Guy was still just a genin. In Hizashi’s mind, it would take Guy another ten or twenty years to reach his father’s level. But now, the reality before him made Hizashi doubt his assumptions.

"Eight Gates: Sixth Gate, open!"

Guy’s beast-like intuition sensed an attack coming from behind, and he made an unexpected choice.

He opened the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates.

The speed from the Fifth Gate wasn’t enough!

Darui was fast, and just moving at Fifth Gate speed wasn’t enough to suppress him.

So, Guy chose to open the Sixth Gate.

The mere shockwave generated by opening the Sixth Gate caused Darui’s thrust toward Guy’s back to hesitate for a split second, giving Darui an immediate sense of foreboding. Sure enough, his kunai missed its target—Guy had disappeared from his sight.

"Even faster!"

Darui’s face grew serious.

Having missed his strike, Darui didn’t hesitate to retreat. In that instant, a fierce wind swept behind him, and though he barely dodged the direct punch, the mere graze on his back sent waves of pain through him. If he had been slower, his spine might have been shattered.

But while Darui could dodge Guy’s counterattack, his subordinates weren’t so lucky.

*Konoha Bad Rock Ascension!*

Guy’s elbow strike, powerful enough to shatter large rocks, landed heavily on one of the Cloud ninjas. The sound of bones breaking echoed as the ninja flew like a ragdoll, spewing blood mid-air before falling lifeless to the ground.

"That’s the first one."

Guy whispered softly, then charged toward the next target.

In the Sixth Gate state, Guy's body was surrounded by a visible green energy. Just moving at high speed created shockwaves, tearing up the ground. His speed and power were overwhelming for these Special Jonin.

In just five or six seconds, Guy had already counted to "four."

Darui could barely keep up with Guy’s speed, let alone stop him from picking off his subordinates one by one. Seeing his men fall repeatedly fueled Darui's growing rage. Despite his typically laid-back nature, he couldn’t stop the burning anger within him, boiling like lava.

At just under seventeen years old, Darui couldn’t yet remain indifferent to sacrificing his subordinates' lives to wear down the enemy’s chakra and stamina.

The fiery impulsiveness of youth was hard to avoid.

"I'm not the only one with a weakness. Let's see what you’ll do." Darui gave up on chasing Guy, his eyes filled with killing intent as he turned toward the wounded Hizashi sitting under the tree.

Ignoring his pain, Darui quickly formed hand signs.

*Storm Release: Laser Circus!*

The technique’s name was difficult to pronounce, but its power was undeniable. A white circular energy form appeared in Darui's hands, from which countless lasers shot out, all aimed at the immobilized Hizashi.

Hizashi watched the blinding lasers fill his vision and closed his eyes.

If I die, I die.

But instead of feeling the pain of being pierced, Hizashi felt like he was flying. Opening his eyes, he found himself hoisted onto Guy’s back, being carried at high speed through the forest. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Guy came to a sudden halt. Lasers curved from above, narrowly missing them and burning a circular hole in the branches.

Hizashi's face twitched as he looked at the hole.

If Guy had been a bit slower, that hole would be in both of them.

"Storm Release lasers can curve and change direction," Hizashi explained to the puzzled Guy. "Guy, put me down! Storm Release has a wide attack range and incredible speed. You won’t be able to last much longer carrying me, and your Eight Gates can’t—"

But before he could finish,

The ground began to shake.

Even Hizashi, carried on Guy's back, could feel the tremors. At the same time, he noticed an enormous chakra presence glowing in the distance, as bright as the moon against the night sky. His gaze locked onto the figure of the Two-Tailed Beast, shrouded in blue flames.

"Two-Tails!!"

Hizashi gasped in shock.

Before he could feel despair, another giant figure rose. A green Susanoo stood tall in the forest, clad in tengu armor, wielding a massive spiral sword, confronting the two-tailed beast.

"Th-this... Susanoo?"

Hizashi’s eyes widened, his head spinning, overwhelmed with confusion..

(End of chapter)