Bab 68: Chapter 68: Instant Kill, and rescue
Deep within the pitch-black forest, the dim glow of a dozen torches pushed back the darkness, casting flickering light across a small clearing.
That light fell upon Hunter, who was bound to a tree, his face as pale as death.
He appeared to be on the brink of collapse, barely clinging to life, as if a breath of wind might extinguish him entirely.
But he was still alive—because Kamizuru Ishigawa wouldn't allow him to die.
"Such a stubborn spirit, to endure this long. But what good does it do you? It only prolongs your suffering," Kamizuru Ishigawa remarked, standing before Hunter. His tone was laced with a mockery of pity as he studied the young face before him.
"Continue," he ordered coldly, after noting that Hunter didn't respond.
Those words caused Hunter's body to shudder involuntarily. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
And so, a new wave of torture began.
Meanwhile, Hui had returned to this scene, hiding himself in the shadows behind a tree, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
He steadied his breathing, forcing himself to calm his emotions.
Then, without hesitation, he made his move.
His hands flew through a series of seals with lightning speed. Inhaling deeply, he gathered his chakra and released it in a powerful breath.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball erupted from the depths of the forest, surging towards the clearing where Hunter was tied.
"Who's there?!" Kamizuru Ishigawa's sharp voice rang out, cutting through the night as the fireball's glow lit up the surrounding darkness.
The sudden blaze was impossible to miss, and every one of the Iwagakure Anbu immediately spotted it.
Kamizuru Ishigawa's hands blurred as he rapidly formed seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
An earthen barrier sprang up in the fireball's path, absorbing its impact. Flames clashed against the barrier, bursting into a dazzling display of sparks—like a massive flower blooming in the night.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Kunai flew from Hui's hand, slicing through the air toward the top of the earth wall. Just as they neared the barrier, Hui launched another volley, striking the first kunai mid-flight.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The kunai collided, altering their trajectory in mid-air, angling towards a blind spot—right where Hunter was bound to the tree.
The Iwagakure Anbu Jonin closest to Hunter's position saw this and reacted instantly, leaping forward with his own kunai to deflect the projectiles.
He managed to knock away two of them, but the third one slipped past.
With a grimace, the Jonin gritted his teeth and blocked the kunai with his forearm.
Thud!
The blade buried itself in his arm, and he sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth.
Ignoring the pain, he quickly positioned himself in front of Hunter, shielding him from further attacks.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Seeing that both attacks had been thwarted, Hui didn't hesitate. He turned and bolted into the forest, moving swiftly through the darkness.
Four other Anbu Jonin roared in anger and immediately gave chase, leading their teams after him, determined to bring him down.
Kamizuru Ishigawa activated his sensory jutsu, focusing on the fleeing figure. He quickly detected the chakra signature—enough to identify the runaway as a Jonin-level opponent.
And in the same moment, he sensed two other chakra signatures approaching—both Jonin level as well.
That meant…
These three were all Jonin!
It's that infamous elite squad from Konoha's Anbu.
And the captive Konoha Anbu member must know crucial information for them to act like this!
Kamizuru Ishigawa's mind raced, piecing everything together with stunning accuracy, matching Hui's predictions exactly.
"Night Bird, take Squad Six and escort the prisoner back to the main base! All other units, follow me!" Kamizuru Ishigawa barked his orders, launching himself after Hui.
In mere moments, the clearing was left with just four figures behind.
Among them was Night Bird—the Jonin who had taken the kunai to the arm. The other three were his subordinates: two Elite Chunin and one regular Chunin.
"It seems the Commander has sensed all the members of that Konoha elite squad. But to be safe, we should head back immediately," Night Bird mused, quickly cutting the ropes that held Hunter.
"Captain, your arm—" one of the Elite Chunin said, his face full of concern.
"It's fine. The kunai wasn't poisoned, I'll just bandage it up. Grab the prisoner. We're moving out—destination: the main base."
Night Bird gave the order, directing his subordinates to carry Hunter as they swiftly departed.
What they failed to notice, however, was the shadowy figure trailing them from behind—a figure moving as silently as a ghost.
It was Hui's Shadow Clone—a clone undetectable by Kamizuru Ishigawa's sensory jutsu.
This was a clone unlike any other—created using a technique of Hui's own invention, the Light Shadow Clone. While traditional Shadow Clones were formed from chakra, Hui's Light Shadow Clone was forged from light energy and mental energy.
As such, Kamizuru Ishigawa, who could only sense chakra, couldn't detect this unique clone.
Everything was unfolding just as Hui had predicted. Kamizuru Ishigawa had taken the bulk of his forces to pursue, leaving Hunter alive and opting to take him back for further interrogation instead of ending his life outright.
Hui had anticipated everyone's reactions perfectly.
And the reason his clone hadn't struck immediately after Kamizuru Ishigawa's departure was simple—Hui had wanted to wait until they were further away, increasing his chances of success.
After traveling about a kilometer towards the Iwagakure base, Hui's clone made its move.
It leapt from the trees, sword in hand, and lunged at Night Bird.
Even though the Iwagakure Jonin was injured, he remained a Jonin-level threat—Hui's priority target.
"Who's there?!"
The sound of wind rustling through the trees reached Night Bird's ears, and he spun around, raising his kunai defensively.
By the faint torchlight, he caught sight of a figure descending upon him, sword flashing in the darkness.
There was no time for jutsu—Night Bird had to rely on pure reflexes. He gritted his teeth, eyes locked onto the blade, kunai raised to parry.
But that was exactly what Hui's clone wanted.
Light Burst!
In an instant, a blinding flare of light exploded from the clone's blade, filling the air with searing brightness.
Night Bird, who was staring directly at the sword, felt a sharp pain in his eyes. Instinctively, he squeezed them shut.
The flash was too intense and too sudden, turning his vision into a blank, white haze.
Slash!
The sound of a blade slicing through flesh and bone filled the air, followed by a gush of blood.
Hui's clone's sword had cleaved through Night Bird's neck, sending a crimson arc spraying through the night.
"Captain!!"
Night Bird's three subordinates reeled back in shock, their faces pale as their leader's headless body fell to the ground.
But Hui's clone didn't hesitate. It lunged forward, unleashing a blindingly fast slash—Silver Moon—that cut down one of the charging Elite Chunin in an instant.
The next moment, he struck down the second Elite Chunin with a powerful Mountain Cleave, cutting through him with ease.
In the blink of an eye, the Iwagakure Anbu squad lay dead, save for the last remaining Chunin, who was still carrying Hunter. The man's face turned deathly white, paralyzed with fear at the massacre.
Without mercy, Hui's clone swung its blade, severing the Chunin's throat with a single stroke.
In just a few seconds, Hui's ambush had decimated the entire Iwagakure squad.
Tossing aside the dead Chunin's body, Hui's clone hoisted the unconscious Hunter onto its back.
Hunter, draped over Hui's small frame, seemed to sense who was carrying him.
Struggling to open his eyes, his voice came out as a raspy whisper.
"Captain… I… didn't… reveal… any secrets."
With those words, he slipped back into unconsciousness.
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