Facing Mochizuki Hui across the battlefield, Mu felt a heavy weight pressing on him. If he had any choice, he would have avoided confronting the young shinobi.
This was not because Hui looked young and inexperienced, but because of the number of Kage-level ninja that had already fallen to him, including the Second Raikage of Kumogakure, a shinobi equal to Mu in strength.
But Mu had no choice. If no one stepped forward, the morale of the entire Iwa-Suna Alliance would crumble completely.
Suppressing his emotions, Mu took deliberate steps forward, entering the empty space between the two armies.
It was a duel—one-on-one.
The Second Tsuchikage of Iwagakure versus Konoha's Anbu Commander, Mochizuki Hui.
….
As Mu advanced, his sharp instincts picked up something amiss beneath his feet.
Acting on reflex, he leaped high into the air, avoiding what turned out to be a series of sharp earth spikes rising from the ground.
"A sealess jutsu? Truly impossible to guard against," Mu said, his tone tinged with lingering fear.
Had it not been for the survival instincts honed from countless life-or-death battles, he might have been seriously injured.
"Instincts honed by experience? What a fascinating thing," Hui commented, genuinely impressed.
He had carefully gathered natural energy and launched a surprise attack, certain it would hit. Yet Mu's instinctive reaction had thwarted it.
But Hui found the challenge exhilarating.
Without hesitation, he unfolded a pair of ethereal wings glowing in shifting hues of blue and white, propelling himself into the air and rushing toward Mu.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World!"
Facing an opponent of Hui's caliber, Mu didn't hold back. He unleashed his strongest attack.
But as devastating as it was, it still needed to hit its target.
Hui effortlessly dodged the beam with a single flap of his wings, maneuvering midair with precision.
At the same time, a streak of lightning shot from Hui's palm, sharp and fast like a laser beam.
This was Lightning Release: Laser Ray, a technique Hui had developed.
It bore similarities to Sasuke's Chidori Sharp Spear and Madara's Sage art: Storm Release Light Fang.
At their level, such techniques were designed purely for efficiency, with simplicity and lethality as their core principles.
Mu dodged the lightning as swiftly as he could, his body tensing in response to the deadly attack.
…
Below, the watching ninja were shocked once more.
"Another jutsu without hand seals?!"
"This is a world of hand seals—how is he using so many jutsu without them?!"
Despair crept into their hearts. How could someone operate on such a level?
Unbeknownst to them, in the origins of the shinobi world, techniques were all seal-less. However it made them hard to mater for ordinari people.
It was only later that Indra invented hand seals, simplifying the process for ordinary shinobi to harness chakra and perform ninjutsu.
…
The battle in the sky continued with intensity.
Dust Release beams and Laser Rays crisscrossed the battlefield, each attack leaving destruction in its wake.
Craters formed where the attacks struck the ground, leaving those below in awe of the sheer power.
Once again, Hui evaded Mu's Dust Release, his wings carrying him deftly through the air. But as he launched another Lightning Ray, he descended back to the ground.
The wings, still in their experimental phase, lacked the agility to give him the aerial dominance he desired. Remaining airborne would only leave him at a disadvantage.
"Is that all there is to Mochizuki Hui, the so-called God of Shinobi in the making?" Mu taunted, his voice echoing over the battlefield.
The Alliance ninja, hearing their leader's words, felt a flicker of hope. It seemed as though Mu had the upper hand. Perhaps Hui wasn't invincible after all.
But Hui didn't rise to the bait. Instead, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Is that so?" Hui said calmly, standing motionless. But in the next moment, his body disappeared, moving with such speed that Mu barely had time to react.
Mu's pupils shrank as he instinctively dodged.
Hui's fist narrowly missed him, the force of the attack sending a shockwave through the air.
Yet Mu had no time to relax—shuriken and kunai followed, forcing him to halt his Dust Release and defend against the incoming projectiles.
He created a small cube of Dust Release, disintegrating the weapons mid-flight. But just as he finished, a streak of Lightning Ray shot toward him.
Mu tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Zzzt!
The lightning pierced his arm, paralyzing him momentarily as the electricity coursed through his body.
"Not good!" Mu thought, his eyes widening as he saw Hui preparing his next attack.
A massive fireball formed in Hui's mouth, hurtling toward him with deadly intent.
At the last moment, another Dust Release beam intercepted the fireball, neutralizing it.
It was Onoki, who had been watching intently. Moved by his master's earlier selflessness, Onoki had stepped in to save Mu.
As Hui's momentum carried him downward, a barrage of kunai, shuriken, wind blades, and earth spikes surged toward him.
It was the Alliance ninja, seizing the rare opportunity to strike while he was midair.
There was no honor here—only the desperation to kill Hui by any means necessary.
The one-on-one duel? haha this was the shinobi world!
But Hui remained unflustered. Before he could react, a familiar figure appeared at his side.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
Tobirama Senju transported Hui away in an instant, bringing him safely back to Konoha's ranks.
Hui, unscathed, glanced at Tobirama, noticing the Flying Thunder God marking on the bracelet he wore.
Tobirama's voice carried the same quiet care he always showed. "It's something I prepare for everyone I value."
Hui smiled slightly, accepting Tobirama's concern without protest. He might have been able to avoid the attacks himself, but he saw no need to reject Tobirama's assistance.
….
"So, you don't want a duel anymore? If that's the case, then let's make it war!" Tobirama declared, his voice filled with authority.
Konoha's shinobi roared in unison, their voices filled with anger and defiance.
The betrayal of the duel by the Alliance ninja had ignited a fire within them.
The battle was far from over, and now, Konoha was ready to fight back with full force.
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