Chapter 194

"It's time to end this war," Hui declared as he charged toward Gengetsu Hozuki with lightning speed. 

His movements were so fast that he seemed to vanish entirely, leaving the ordinary shinobi unable to track his position. 

Even Gengetsu could only catch glimpses of blurred afterimages, unable to discern Hui's exact movements.

This unparalleled speed sent a chill through Gengetsu. However, as a seasoned Kage-level ninja, he relied on his extensive experience to narrowly evade Hui's attacks despite the fleeting visibility.

But no one could defend indefinitely. Soon, Hui's blade grazed Gengetsu's body.

Hydrification Technique!

Gengetsu instantly activated his technique to neutralize the damage, his body liquefying to avoid the sword's impact. 

However, this time Hui had no intention of letting him escape so easily. He struck with the intent to kill swiftly.

"Naïve," Hui said calmly as his body surged with natural energy. 

Lightning erupted around him, forming sharp tendrils that pierced directly into Gengetsu's liquefied body.

It was Chidori Stream, a technique refined from Kakashi Hatake's original Chidori, tailored for combat against such defenses. 

Silver lightning crackled as the sound of birdsong filled the air.

"Ahh!" A cry of pain escaped Gengetsu as he was forcibly expelled from his hydrified state. He stumbled backward into the safety of the Kirigakure forces, panting heavily.

Hui did not pursue but looked at the Mizukage with a calm expression. "The Hydrification Technique is fascinating, but its weakness against Lightning Release is still fatal."

Gengetsu's heart sank. Hui's understanding of his technique's vulnerabilities was complete.

"All units, attack!" Gengetsu commanded without hesitation, calling for the Kirigakure shinobi to converge on Hui. 

At the same time, he ordered the giant clam to release its mist, creating a mirage that cloaked the battlefield.

Alone, Gengetsu knew he would fall to Hui. But with the overwhelming numbers of his forces, they might stand a chance—especially if they could take a hostage.

"Be cautious! These could be mirages! Focus on defense and do not attack recklessly!" Danzo Shimura shouted, warning the Konoha shinobi. 

Having faced Gengetsu before, Danzo was well aware of the danger posed by his illusions.

The Konoha forces, numbering only about twenty, stood no chance against the more than a hundred Kirigakure shinobi if they attacked blindly. 

They held their positions defensively, awaiting an opportunity.

…

Hui's gaze turned cold as he observed the advancing illusions and the Kirigakure shinobi charging toward Tsunade and the others. 

While the mirages had no effect on him due to his sensory abilities, they posed a significant threat to the Konoha forces.

Without hesitation, Hui moved again. The sheer force of his acceleration cracked the ground beneath his feet as he shot toward the giant clam.

In an instant, Hui reached the clam's shell. Gathering chakra into his foot, he stomped down hard.

Crack!

The shell fractured audibly, and fissures spread across its surface. Gengetsu's expression darkened as he watched helplessly. 

He wanted to intervene but dared not approach Hui directly. He could only watch as Hui stomped down again.

CRACK!

The shell shattered entirely, and the clam dissolved into a puff of white smoke, vanishing from the battlefield. 

With the clam's disappearance, the mirages dissipated, revealing the positions of the Kirigakure shinobi to the Konoha forces.

The Kirigakure shinobi were already too close for the Konoha forces to cast defensive ninjutsu. 

Close combat was inevitable.

But before they could act, Hui's Shadow Avatar stepped forward, unleashing a massive fire technique.

Sage Art: Fire Release—Majestic Destroyer Flame!

A sea of flames erupted, engulfing the closest group of Kirigakure shinobi. 

Screams filled the air as ten or more were consumed by fire. The remaining shinobi froze in terror, scrambling to form hand seals as quickly as they could.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Over twenty Kirigakure shinobi cast water walls simultaneously, creating a powerful barrier that held back the flames. 

The intense heat, however, was unbearable even at a distance, leaving many with scorched skin.

"You only need to hold a defensive formation," Hui's Shadow Avatar instructed the Konoha forces as the flames subsided. 

Returning to Tsunade's side, he prepared to support them as needed. For now, the Kirigakure shinobi were no longer his concern—the real Hui was already handling them.

The collision of fire and water had filled the battlefield with thick steam, obstructing the vision of ordinary shinobi.

But for Hui, who possessed the Celestial Eye and exceptional sensory abilities, the steam posed no hindrance.

Hui shifted his focus away from Gengetsu temporarily, diving into the midst of the Kirigakure shinobi. His blade flashed silently through the steam, each stroke claiming another life.

By the time the steam cleared enough for the shinobi to see, over thirty Kirigakure ninjas lay dead. The survivors' faces turned pale with fear.

"Protect me at all costs!" Gengetsu barked, his voice trembling with anger and desperation as he called the remaining Kirigakure forces to his side. 

Creating a water clone in the form of a child, Gengetsu activated Steaming Danger Tyranny.

The child-like water clone charged at Hui, its movements unnaturally swift. At the same time, Gengetsu issued a command: "Retreat!"

His true intent became clear—he planned to use the explosive water clone to delay Hui while orchestrating an escape for himself and the remaining forces.

Hui paused, momentarily caught off guard by Gengetsu's maneuver. But his lips curled into a faint smile.

"Trying to escape? heh," he muttered.

Hui sidestepped the charging water clone, allowing his second Shadow Avatar to engage it, while his main body pursued Gengetsu without pause.

"Leaving this explosive thing to me? Doesn't the main body think I might mess up?" the second Shadow Avatar grumbled. Still, its expression grew serious as it prepared to handle the water clone.

Steaming Danger Tyranny was indeed a troublesome technique. 

The clone could continually detonate and reform, making it a persistent and a dangerous foe. If not neutralized correctly, the Konoha forces nearby could also be at risk.

But Hui's Shadow Avatar had a simple solution: if the water clone's power increased with its size, then the best approach was to ensure it never grew larger.

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