Chương 109: Hikari's Confrontation with the Kirigakure's Jinchuriki (1)

After Hikari's pivotal victory over two of the Swordsmen of the Mist, the morale among Konoha's forces on that part of the front surged dramatically.

Hikari's reputation soared both among his own troops and in the eyes of his enemies.

The loss severely damaged the morale of the Kirigakure forces and visibly shifted the momentum of the conflict.

In the following months, bolstered by their newfound confidence, Konoha's shinobi pressed forward, steadily pushing the frontline deeper into the continental territory of the Land of Water.

Hikari, now a figure of significant renown and fear, exploited the enemy's disarray, catching numerous Kirigakure squadrons off guard.

His tactics were ruthless and effective, decimating entire enemy units single-handedly and cementing his fearsome reputation.

This relentless advance continued, with Konoha gaining ground and putting the Kirigakure forces on a persistent backfoot.

However, despite these successes, the tide of war was about to take an unexpected turn.

Everything shifted dramatically when Kirigakure, feeling the sting of their earlier defeats, decided to deploy their two Jinchuriki to this area of the front.

The presence of these formidable forces changed the dynamics of the conflict. These Jinchuriki, utilizing their partial transformations, exhibited remarkable speed and agility, swiftly breaking through Konoha's formations.

They targeted and annihilated entire squadrons with devastating efficiency, retreating before Konoha could muster sufficient forces to encircle and counter them.

Despite being easily detectable due to their immense chakra signatures, their incredible speed meant they completed their destructive tasks and withdrew long before Konoha could effectively respond.

This new strategy by Kirigakure began to push back against Konoha's advances, causing significant disruption to their previously gained momentum. After a few more months, everything completely returned to the previous state, effectively erasing all of Konoha's gains so far.

As the Jinchuriki wreaked havoc on Konoha's forces over time, Hikari initially refrained from confronting them directly, recognizing the disadvantage of facing the two together. He still valued his own life above everything else, including his side's war campaign success.

Instead, he experimented with tactics at first—setting traps and organizing ambushes—but all attempts proved futile against the Jinchuriki's swift and destructive assaults over time.

During this period, Hikari, eventually turning 14 years old, continued to refine his mastery over external control of natural energy, making significant strides in his training while managing his forces from a distance.

Months passed, and with the relentless damage inflicted by the Jinchuriki threatening to tilt the war in Kirigakure's favor way too much, beyond the point of return, and Hikari's own strength growing as the massive training paid off, Hikari realized he could no longer remain on the sidelines.

Although not yet confident in his ability to match a mid-Kage level, he estimated he needed to win over the two of them at the same time, as they were both around the Early-Kage level individually. In his estimates, his continuous training had brought him close to that level.

Therefore, saw engaging the Jinchuriki as a necessary risk, potentially even as the catalyst needed for his breakthrough to that level during the battle.

With the situation growing dire, Hikari decided it was time to act. Sealing his chakra points to minimize his presence, he now lay in wait in the dense jungle.

Alongside him, selected squadrons acted as bait, drawing the Jinchuriki into his meticulously planned ambush.

This moment culminated months of preparation and growth, a calculated risk Hikari was now ready to take to turn the tide of the war.

Hidden in the dense undergrowth, Hikari currently braced himself and mentally prepared for the upcoming battle, recognizing the gravity of the challenge ahead.

The confrontation with the Jinchuriki represented not just a crucial moment in the war but the biggest test of his growth and capabilities so far, his hardest battle up until this point.

Facing even the two "imperfect" Jinchuriki—beings whose power dwarfed that of even the most elite shinobi—underscored both how much he had evolved and the lengths he still needed to go to handle potential threats, in the future, that he was perfectly aware existed both external and internal kinds.

Hikari's relentless training regimen, which continued even while being mobilized on this front, was fueled by more than just ambition; it was driven by a deep-seated fear of defeat that haunted him even in his sleep.

Nightmares of potential defeat turned into motivation, pushing him to train with even greater intensity each day, no matter how far he already got as a shinobi and no matter the location.

The dense jungle suddenly resonated with the approach of formidable chakra signatures. Hikari's Byakugan sharpened as he saw two figures break through the tree line, their bodies cloaked in the eerie chakra of their respective tailed beasts.

The first was the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, his form surrounded by a bubbling, aqueous chakra cloak that hinted at the beast's aquatic nature.

Beside him, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki emitted a noxious, pale chakra cloud reflective of the slug-like beast sealed within him.

Both Jinchuriki had already transformed into their partial Version 1 forms, showcasing their readiness for battle.

Their chakra cloaks pulsed rhythmically, a visual testament to the raw power at their command.

As they surveyed their surroundings, their eyes were sharp and calculating, ready to engage at the slightest hint of an enemy.

Hikari, hidden in his ambush position, watched them closely, analyzing their movements and preparing for the right moment to strike.

As Hikari then released his chakra points swiftly and expertly, a burst of energy surged through him, enhancing his reflexes and strength to their peak.

With a swift motion, he launched two of his Rotation Spheres, compact orbs of spinning chakra that flew with lethal precision toward Isobu and Saiken.

By this point, the rest of the 'bait' shinobi present on the scene also tactically moved back to observe and wait for the right moment to try and help Hikari later, as they were instructed.

Simultaneously, Hikari propelled himself forward with a burst of Wind Release under his feet, enhancing his already impressive speed.

His form blurred as he dashed through the jungle terrain, leaves and debris swirling in the wake of his rapid movement.

His eyes, sharp with the clarity of the Byakugan, focused intently on the Jinchuriki, calculating the best angles and timings for his strikes.

Additionally, the previously thrown Rotation Spheres erupted into full-blown Wind Rotations, on the ground, throwing debris and disorienting his targets, Hikari capitalized on that precise moment of confusion.

His form blurred into action, surrounded by a whirling aura of chakra — his Rotation Armor, a necessary shield against the overwhelming chakra of the Jinchuriki.

Hikari knew that he had to leave this 'Armor' constantly on him for protection from the beginning, or else risk being physically destroyed with their overwhelming tangible Tailed Beast's potent and boiling-hot kind of chakra even in their Version 1.

Without hesitation, Hikari launched his newest and most potent 'ordinary' technique so far, 'Wind Release: Rotation Drill,' which didn't involve natural energy manipulation in any way.

His arm transformed into a deadly drill, spiraling with intense speed and compact wind chakra.

The technique was not just a testament to his mastery of the Wind Release but also a fusion with the Hyuga's Gentle Fist, aimed to penetrate defenses that were impervious to conventional chakra disruption techniques.

This was Hikari's answer to the overwhelming chakra of the Jinchuriki—a direct, piercing strike designed to bypass the monstrous energy that made sealing their chakra points impossible.

His Twin Lion Fist, though formidable, was inadequate against foes of this caliber. He couldn't possibly try to seal or steal chakra of that level of potency; he knew that from the beginning.

Thus, he had developed the Rotation Drill, fine-tuning it over months of relentless training and preparation, specifically for this confrontation.

As he closed the distance, the drill whirred with lethal intent, aiming to bore through the defenses of the nearest Jinchuriki.

The sharp, rotating chakra was like a beacon of his resolve, cutting through the air and aiming to end the battle quickly with a decisive blow.

However, Hikari was taken aback as his attack halted against the sudden, formidable defense of Isobu's host, who purposefully placed himself in front of his comrade due to his better defense capability.

The Jinchuriki had 'partially transformed' himself and formed a gray, shell-like barrier from a giant tail, robust enough to slow down the piercing motion of his attack considerably. So Hikari found his drill was still gaining ground and piercing the hard shell-like material, albeit very slowly.

Moreover, the Isobu's host, now in his full three-tailed Version 1 form, threatened with large, elongated, translucent chakra claws swiping at him from the other side.

The Saiken's host, also in his full Version 1 form, mirrored this aggression, extending formidable chakra claws toward him, creating a pincer attack that left little room for evasion.

With a burst of speed, Hikari retreated as he realized his situation, using his Byakugan to navigate through the dense jungle. His mind raced as he understood the challenge ahead.

'Damn, the coordination between them is impeccable. Their timing is flawless—it's almost like they've trained for this scenario too... The way they switched places to position Isobu's Jinchuriki in front of my strike... And their 'base speed' even in Version 1 is exceptional...',

He thought, frustration momentarily clouding his usual calm, 'That first 'surprise strike' was supposed to at least dent their morale or chip away some of their vitality and damage them in some way for the rest of the battle.',

'But that shell—it's like striking a mountain. I guess it is because essentially, this could be seen as some kind of a projection of Isobu's true body in a much smaller form, making it similarly sturdy to a certain extent.',

'It seems that I must be ready to retreat at a moment's notice during this battle. The various cooperation and barrier jutsu prepared by my 'bait' team here should at least buy me some time If I choose to escape next.',

He glanced around, noting the positions of his forces hidden within the foliage, each ready to enact their part of the escape plan.

From the beginning, he was ready to sacrifice them first if needed to escape; otherwise, he wouldn't have come here in the first place without that confidence.

With this same assurance, he now also chose to remain in the fray to assess his capabilities against such formidable opponents, gain further valuable combat experience, and refine his newly developed skills in manipulating natural energy in real combat for the first time ever.

This encounter also presented a chance to possibly ascend to a new level of shinobi power.