บท 69: Chapter 69: Into the Shadows

Deep in the pitch-black forest, Hui's shadow clone smiled faintly at Hunter's words.

Even though Hunter had already slipped into unconsciousness, Hui still murmured softly to the figure on his back, "It's okay, rest now. I've got this."

Meanwhile, Hui's main body, having failed to execute his sneak attack, swiftly retreated.

As he had anticipated, once Kamizuru Ishigawa sensed three Jonin-level chakra signatures, he immediately led the majority of his forces in hot pursuit.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

At a critical moment, Hui regrouped with Lightning and Hatake Sakumo.

The two synchronized their hand signs, unleashing a combination of fire and wind jutsu.

The wind-fed flames roared through the forest, forming a massive fireball that surged towards the Iwagakure Anbu pursuing them.

The jutsu's expansive range forced the pursuers to halt and defend themselves with earth-style barriers.

Amidst the chaos, Hui and his team took advantage of their pursuer's delay, sprinting towards the trap-filled area they had prepared earlier.

When the flames finally dissipated, and the Iwagakure Anbu saw the distance between them and the Konoha trio widening, their anxiety grew, and they pressed forward with urgency.

Not long after, Kamizuru Ishigawa and his elites arrived on the scene. "Continue the pursuit!" he commanded.

Having been outmanoeuvred by this Konoha squad once already, Kamizuru Ishigawa was determined to capture them himself.

The losses he had suffered—eight entire Anbu squads—burned like a brand in his mind, making his heart twist with anger.

That was forty trained Anbu operatives, each representing countless hours of training and significant resources.

And they had all been cut down in a flash by this Konoha squad. The loss was a wound that he could not let heal, a wound that demanded retribution.

The chase resumed. At a certain point, Hui glanced back at his comrades, exchanging a knowing look with them.

He then slowed his pace, allowing Lightning and Hatake Sakumo to continue ahead. They were nearing the trap-laden zone, and it was time for Hui to take his stand.

Kamizuru Ishigawa's Anbu force quickly entered the trap zone, moving swiftly under the cover of night.

Suddenly, Kamizuru Ishigawa's foot brushed against something, and his instincts flared to life. "Careful, traps!" he shouted.

His years of experience as a seasoned ninja kicked in, even before his mind fully registered the sensation underfoot. This was pure reflex—an instinct honed by countless battles.

If it had been daylight, the traps might have been more obvious. But under the darkness of the dense forest canopy, the moonlight and starlight were barely more than shadows.

Their flashlights cast narrow beams, but many areas remained cloaked in blackness. In such an environment, even the sharpest senses were dulled.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Kunai flew from every direction, slicing through the night. Their speed and the darkness made them nearly impossible to see—only the faint whistle of their flight hinted at their presence.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

Earthen walls shot up, surrounding the Iwagakure Anbu and blocking the hail of kunai.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Kunai struck the earth barriers with dull thuds, their momentum absorbed. As expected, the traps were halted.

Hui had anticipated this, knowing that his initial traps would likely be countered.

But the aim of these traps wasn't to kill—it was to drain their chakra and buy time for Lightning and Hatake Sakumo to get further away.

"Keep moving!" Kamizuru Ishigawa shouted. Emerging from behind the crumbling walls, he led the Anbu onward.

But they had barely made it a few steps when one of the Elite Chunin suddenly stumbled, his foot plunging into a concealed pit. Inside, sharp kunai pierced through his leg.

"Argh!!"

His scream echoed through the trees, sending a wave of dread through the remaining Anbu, slowing their steps to a cautious pace.

Trap after trap sprang up along their path, inflicting injuries though none were fatal. But two or three more of the Iwagakure forces were severely hurt.

Kamizuru Ishigawa frowned, sensing the trap-riddled terrain. He activated his sensory jutsu, pinpointing a lone figure not far ahead, while the other two signatures were already a considerable distance away.

"So, you intend to slow us down and let your allies escape, do you? Foolish! All of the Elite Chunin, stay behind. Jonin, come with me!"

With his plan set, Kamizuru Ishigawa led his Jonin forward, confident in his ability to deal with one opponent.

After all, their side boasted one Kage-level ninja and four Jonin against just one Jonin and two other escapees. Even without the Chunin, they were more than capable of taking down their prey.

The relieved Elite Chunin remained behind, thankful not to plunge headlong into more traps. As for the Jonin, they pressed forward, experienced enough to handle the lurking traps.

Hui, observing Kamizuru Ishigawa's response, couldn't help but admire the man's decisiveness and tactical mind. "Worthy of being the Anbu Commander of Iwagakure," he thought.

But did Ishigawa truly think that was enough to break through?

Hui's eyes narrowed as he suppressed his chakra completely, turning every bit into light energy. Then, his presence seemed to vanish, melting seamlessly into the dark forest around him.

As Kamizuru Ishigawa led his Jonin deeper into the woods, he froze, he strained his senses.

"He just vanished? How is that possible?" He scanned ahead with his sensory jutsu but found nothing—no trace of the enemy he had been tracking, only the distant presence of two others further away.

"Commander, what's happenig?" One of the Jonin asked, noticing Kamizuru Ishigawa's hesitation. The others slowed, confusion on their faces.

In that moment, Hui struck.

From his hiding spot among the low shrubs, he lunged forward, striking with a kunai. The blade found its mark in the back of the rearmost Jonin, piercing deep. Hui wasted no time, retreating back into the shadows just as swiftly.

"Who's there?!"

The faint sound of Hui's attack reached the ears of the remaining Jonin, and their flashlights swung around, beams slicing through the darkness.

But they caught only a fleeting glimpse of Hui's silhouette before it vanished into the night.

"Urgh…" The injured Jonin gasped, blood dripping from his mouth as he staggered, pain twisting his features.

Without immediate aid, he wouldn't survive.

"Damn it!" Kamizuru Ishigawa cursed, his voice a low growl as his eyes scanned the shadows, desperately searching for any sign of the enemy. But all he saw was the unforgiving darkness.

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