"Damn it... is this the end?"
In the silent forest, Hyuga Toma lay on the ground, covered in wounds.
Around him lay several fallen Konoha Ninja. In stark contrast to them was Ayane, with just a bit of smoke and dust on her body.
"It's really a pity, Senior Toma, I didn't originally want to kill you. But with you clinging like this, it seems I have no choice."
Ayane played with a kunai in her hand, slowly approaching Toma.
"Why are you doing this... Lord Hiashi trusted you so much..."
Toma could not understand, coughing up blood as if he were about to breathe his last.
His headband slipped off, revealing the Caged Bird Seal.
"At first, it might have been for freedom, but then, I'm not so sure anymore."
"It was to protect..."
Smack!
Without mercy, Ayane plunged the kunai through Toma's throat and twisted it.
"I've had enough of you people's excuses. Ever since I was born, it's been constant nagging. Aren't you annoyed? Can't you come up with something I might actually accept?"
Ayane pulled out the kunai, stained with the blood of her own kin, shook her black hair, and continued onward into the dark forest.
◎
The amount of water increased, forming a massive lake in the forest, even starting to spread towards the village.
The waves surged forward, rushing straight towards Torifu.
The massive figure of Baku descended, pushing back the waves and giving Torifu a chance to catch his breath.
Hiruzen also arrived at this moment, extending the Mind Stick Adamantine Staff, and brought it down hard on the partially submerged giant serpent's head.
With a splash, the giant serpent submerged, disappearing from sight.
The Mind Stick Adamantine Staff struck the water, causing waves to splash.
Suddenly, lightning surged across the surface of the water.
Baku and the Konoha ninja were all paralyzed by this sudden burst of electricity.
The menacing shadow of the giant serpent reappeared beneath everyone's feet.
With a roar, all the Konoha Ninja within the attack range were blown away, and even Baku staggered and rolled on the water's surface.
"Damn it!"
Danzo gritted his teeth.
Water Style combining with Lightning Style, quite a troublesome adversary.
The giant serpent opened its massive maw and lunged upwards, stirring the water, making it extremely difficult for the Anbu and Jonin just to stand their ground.
Hiruzen used the Mind Stick Adamantine Staff to hold open the serpent's mouth, preventing it from snapping shut.
Hanging in mid-air, he grasped the staff tightly.
Within the vacuum water sphere at the serpent's head, Hakushi met Hiruzen's gaze through the serpent's transparent water-made flesh, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"This posture of yours is quite unsightly, Doctor."
The voice penetrated unhindered.
Hiruzen's eyes were filled with anger, and his grip on the staff immediately summoned lightning, coiling down along the staff towards the serpent's body.
However, the lightning didn't last long before it disappeared, swallowed by the serpent.
Can it absorb ninja techniques? It seems I'll have to fight using Taijutsu. Hiruzen's mood was extremely grave.
"Seems this is the end..."
Hakushi murmured to himself.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
A loud shout erupted, surprising everyone.
Instinctively, Hakushi turned his head, and the serpent did too, getting kicked hard by a foot.
Splash!
The serpent couldn't withstand such a terrible impact, rolling over on the water's surface, even the vacuum water ball at its head becoming unstable, rippling.
The figure of the person was aflame with blue steam, a beastly aura emanating violently from his body, the veins at his temples bulging, and the contours protruding from the skin surface clearly visible.
With his arrival, not only Hakushi and others but even the Konoha Ninja were shocked, both those who knew him and those Jonin and Anbu who didn't were equally surprised.
"Who is this guy?"
Hakushi glanced at him, wearing a green tight suit, with a funny hairstyle and thick eyebrows. Is there anyone like him among Konoha Jonin?
But that kick that sent the giant serpent flying... no ordinary Konoha Jonin could manage that.
"Might Duy, the father of my student Might Guy."
Ruri also opened her mouth to reveal his identity.
"I don't recall any Jonin like this guy."
Hakushi frowned.
Is he a hidden powerhouse among Konoha Jonin?
"He's a Genin."
After Ruri said that, Hakushi looked at her strangely.
Even Raidenmaru and the Heavenly Feather Girl couldn't help but turn their heads.
This kind of strength... is a Konoha Genin?
What kind of joke is this?
Even as a Jonin, only the very elite could deliver an attack like that.
Furthermore, that seemed to be a pure Taijutsu attack, so the serpent couldn't absorb it.
"He is indeed a Genin. And because of his weak strength, he is often mocked as the 'Eternal Genin'."
"..."
Hakushi was speechless.
If he didn't know Ruri's character, he'd think she was joking.
A Genin... even mocked as the 'Eternal Genin' waste...
Konoha Genin are truly terrifying.
"Sorry, Hokage-sama, I've disobeyed orders. But I just couldn't stand by any longer. However, you've only ordered the Chunin to retreat, and I'm a Genin, so it's permissible for me to ignore that order, right?"
The Konoha Genin named Might Duy spoke fervently.
"Is that so? Then you're allowed to join the battle."
Hiruzen took a deep breath, permitting Might Duy to fight alongside them.
"Thank you very much."
The Konoha Genin Might Duy turned his gaze towards Ruri in the serpent's head.
"Why are you doing such a thing? Guy respects and idolizes you so much, he says you taught him many ways to become stronger."