Chương 48: The Battle Continues
Fumori Masaki felt a wave of relief wash over him as the Third Raikage was not among those pursuing them. Now that the immediate danger had passed, he was ready to regroup with his companions. In his heightened state of perception, he could see the ripples of others in the "water" of his sensory field, even through trees and other obstructions.
During the fight with the Third Raikage, Fumori Masaki found this state of perception incredibly beneficial, but now, with the battle over, it seemed to have intensified. His pupils quivered as the ripples of not just his allies but also the swaying branches and leaves formed complex patterns across his vision. The clarity was almost overwhelming.
Time appeared to stand still, and the world around him seemed to vanish, leaving only the ripples of his enhanced perception. Every tree, every branch, every leaf, and even the stones on the ground became part of his sensory field.
Fumori Masaki felt as if his consciousness was about to be engulfed by this intense perception. Amidst the dimness, Rimi's voice pierced through the fog, growing louder and clearer.
"Masaki, Masaki, Masaki!"
The final call felt like a jolt to his mind, pulling him out of the overwhelming state. Everything around him returned to normal, and he saw Rimi, looking at him with concern.
"Masaki, are you okay? Why haven't you said anything?" Rimi asked, her voice filled with worry.
"It's nothing," Fumori Masaki replied, realizing how dangerous his heightened perception had been. He didn't want Rimi to worry further and tried to hide his unease, though he couldn't stop pondering its cause.
This peculiar form of perception seemed to be a side effect of his Sage Mode, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly why it had become so intense. He wondered if it was a result of his unique use of Sage techniques.
"You really don't look okay," Rimi said, frowning. Having been with him for years, she was perceptive of his inner turmoil.
"It's nothing serious, but what about you? Are you injured?" Fumori Masaki asked, shifting the focus to Rimi's condition.
"No, I'm fine. Those enemies were caught off guard. It's a miracle they managed to survive, and few of them could fight back," Rimi explained.
"Well, it seems like you managed to handle them well," Danzo interjected as he arrived, "I killed two myself. How many did you manage to defeat, Masaki?"
"To my shame, none," Fumori Masaki admitted with a wry smile. "When facing someone so powerful, my Wind Release could only pierce his armor."
Danzo raised an eyebrow, surprised. He knew Fumori Masaki's Wind Release was formidable, but for it to only penetrate armor was remarkable.
'Even if i had used my most powerful Wind Release, I doubt it would have been enough to cause fatal damage,' Fumori Masaki mused. 'The Third Raikage's Thunder Armor is incredibly resilient. Even a Rasenshuriken would only weaken him, not incapacitate him.'
'Indeed. With my current level of Wind Release, it's unlikely to surpass Naruto Uzumaki's Rasenshuriken, especially since the Third Raikage is not at his peak strength. Though not fatal, it would still have a significant impact,'
"I believe if we want to subdue him effectively, we should fight together," Fumori Masaki suggested, believing it was the safest approach.
Danzo frowned, recognizing the truth in Fumori Masaki's assessment. It was clear that even other ninja villages had powerful experts.
"Listening to you, it seems our retreat was wise," Danzo said, though his voice was tinged with frustration.
Senju Tōka, having overheard their conversation, turned to face them. "What should we do next?"
"Hyūga Kei, what are their movements?" Senju Tōka asked, turning to the Hyūga clan member.
"They are retreating. Additionally, two Kumo ninja squads are showing signs of regrouping. The remaining squads are likely doing the same," Hyuga Kei reported.
"It seems they are preparing for an attack," Senju Tōka concluded. "We will use this opportunity to regroup and implement our previous combat plan. We need to delay their advance and deal with the samurai forces effectively."
The samurai, unlike ninjas, required large armies for combat, and their individual combat prowess was not on par with ninjas. The current samurai forces relied heavily on their organization.
As Kumo ninja squads regrouped, Senju Tōka assembled the third unit and used large-scale illusions and limited force to engage the Kumo troops. Despite the assembly of the enemy forces, the situation remained largely unchanged.
"Damn it, how come those Konoha ninjas always seem to anticipate our movements?" Han fumed as he was forced to retreat again. His frustration was evident, though his extensive experience allowed him to maintain control.
"They must have superior reconnaissance abilities," he said calmly. "Their timing and scale of ninjutsu suggest they were well-prepared."
Sora, Han's junior, spoke up. "I think I saw someone with very light eyes, almost white. Could that be a member of the Hyūga clan?"
"The Hyūga clan?" Han mused, intrigued. "Their reputed insight is remarkable. But seeing it firsthand is different. I'm now more aware of their abilities."
"Perhaps Kumogakure will also has members of the Hyūga clan," Han thought, contemplating the implications.
For now, Han continued to lead his forces, encouraging them to press on despite the setbacks. The third unit faced increasing difficulty in halting their advance, forcing Senju Tōka to adjust the combat strategy accordingly.
The clash between the third unit and the kumo ninja forces entered a new phase of intense frontal combat.
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