Conflict Confrontation

This time, the Mist Ninja approached the Fourth Unit with greater caution, having learned from their previous mistake. Although their investigative techniques weren't as advanced as Konoha's, they were still effective enough to avoid falling into traps blindly. Even so, Konoha's Shinobi, led by Masaki and Hyūga Masato, remained vigilant.

Konoha had no intention of using the same tactics again. While compound ninjutsu was undoubtedly powerful, expending vast amounts of chakra to eliminate just one or two scouting Mist Ninjas wasn't worthwhile. Instead, they prioritized conserving chakra for more significant confrontations.

The Hyūga Clan, with their superior Byakugan, detected the Mist Ninja's movements from afar. They observed that the Mist Ninjas had halted just out of range—a careful distance where both sides could observe each other but not engage in close combat. The Hyūga Clan quickly relayed this information to Masaki and Hyūga Masato.

"Are they trying to exhaust us with a long-range ninjutsu duel?" Hyūga Masato wondered aloud. "If we were near a river, that might make sense, but here, it's an odd strategy."

In the shinobi world, nature transformation is vital in jutsu. While powerful ninjutsu demands considerable chakra, utilizing the surrounding environment can significantly reduce this cost. For example, near a water source, one could perform a water-style jutsu with minimal chakra. This efficiency is not as feasible for fire or lightning styles, which generally require substantial chakra regardless of the surroundings.

Among the five main nature transformations, water-style jutsu is the most chakra-intensive when there's no nearby water source. Since the Mist Ninja were not near a river, their decision to engage in long-range combat seemed questionable.

"There must be a tactic behind this," Masaki said, his voice steady. Although he suspected a deeper strategy, he refrained from launching an attack prematurely. He needed to wait and see what the Mist Ninja had planned.

After a short while, the Hyūga Clan reported a significant buildup of chakra in front of them, indicating an imminent water-style attack. Recognizing the threat, Hyūga Masato ordered Konoha to counter with compound ninjutsu.

Suddenly, massive water dragons surged from the Mist Ninja's position. The sheer scale of the jutsu indicated the heavy chakra cost, especially given the lack of a natural water source. Fortunately, Konoha's compound ninjutsu, designed around the principle of elemental synergy, managed to neutralize the water dragons, turning them into thick white steam.

"Steam? No… that's not steam; it's fog," Masaki realized as the mist rapidly spread toward their position. "This must be the Hidden Mist Technique!"

"So that's their play," Hyūga Masato muttered, understanding the Mist Ninja's strategy. The Mist Ninja knew that Konoha's superior reconnaissance skills would nullify any surprise attack. To counter this, they used the water dragons as a diversion to shroud the battlefield in a dense fog, weakening Konoha's detection abilities. The Hidden Mist Technique now enveloped Konoha's forces, making it impossible to disperse the fog from a distance.

Masaki recalled that Zabuza Momochi was notorious for his Silent Killing technique, which thrived in the concealment of the Hidden Mist Technique. The Hidden Mist Village was renowned for its shrouded landscapes, making this an ideal battlefield for their shinobi.

However, Masaki wasn't without options. While the Byakugan might struggle in the mist, the Inuzuka Clan's keen sense of smell and the Aburame Clan's insects could still track enemies. Though the situation demanded close combat, Konoha's ninjas could adapt.

"Using such a large-scale Hidden Mist Technique must have drained their chakra reserves," Masaki observed, narrowing his eyes. Using his unique perception abilities, he spotted the Mist Ninja's movements despite the fog. "Hyūga-dono, I suggest forming teams of Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyūga members. Together, they can support our jutsu users and ensure we maintain our combat efficiency."

"A coordinated effort between the three clans?" Hyūga Masato nodded thoughtfully. "That could work. Let's implement it immediately."

Konoha's ninjas swiftly reorganized and prepared to counter the advancing Mist Ninja. With the element of surprise now neutralized, the battle would come down to raw strength and strategy.

"Hyūga-dono, I leave the battlefield to you," Masaki said, his gaze fixed in a specific direction within the mist. "I'm going to take down Kaguya Nobunaga."

Without waiting for a response, Masaki dashed into the fog. Hyūga Masato noticed that Masaki was heading straight for Kaguya Nobunaga. He was surprised, Masaki had pinpointed Nobunaga's location without assistance.

"So, that's how he managed to sever the Silver Horn's arm," Hyūga Masato mused with a faint smile, redirecting his focus to the battlefield. If Masaki was handling the strongest opponent, he needed to ensure the rest of the Konoha forces held their ground.

Kaguya Nobunaga, a fierce warrior of the Kaguya Clan, was already searching for Hyūga Masato, eager for a duel with the strongest opponent. The Kaguya Clan thrived on battle, and Nobunaga believed that defeating Masato would turn the tide in their favor. However, before he could reach Masato, he was intercepted by Masaki.

Masaki struck with precision, targeting a spot where Nobunaga's bones did not protect him. Nobunaga reacted quickly, twisting his body to block the attack with bone spurs. But before he could counter, a powerful burst of wind chakra exploded from Masaki's blade, launching him like a cannonball.

As Nobunaga regained his footing, he spotted Masaki chasing after him. Realizing that Masaki had deliberately pushed him away from the main battlefield, Nobunaga understood that his opponent wanted to avoid collateral damage.

"Who are you?" Nobunaga demanded, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and curiosity.

"The one who's going to kill you," Masaki replied coldly, appearing behind Nobunaga. Nobunaga spun around, blocking another strike with his bone spurs. But before he could retaliate, Masaki vanished again, reappearing in another blind spot.

Nobunaga's eyes widened in shock. This speed… how is he this fast?