It wasn't just him and Hui here—there were also the three young shinobi he had considered a lucky bonus earlier.
From their interactions, it was clear that they were close, and the blonde girl was especially significant—Hui's girlfriend.
What better hostages could there be?
If he managed to capture any one of them, Hui would be forced to tread carefully, unable to act recklessly. With this plan in mind, Gengetsu Hozuki quickly formed hand seals.
Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!
A massive torrent of water surged toward Hui, crashing down to obscure his vision and create an opening.
Simultaneously, Gengetsu darted toward the trio, targeting Tsunade as his primary objective.
Before he could reach her though, his eyes widened in shock. A shadowy figure, moving even faster than him, was already closing in on the trio.
It was Hui's Shadow Avatar, dispatched earlier when Gengetsu's gaze lingered on Tsunade and her companions.
Hui had predicted Gengetsu's plan and sent the Avater to protect them. Meanwhile, Hui's main body also moved, his chakra-charged sword slicing through the air as he closed the distance.
The pattern in Hui's eyes shimmered faintly as Celestial Eye was activated, allowing him to pinpoint Gengetsu's every move with perfect clarity.
Hearing the sound of slicing wind behind him, Gengetsu realized that Hui had split himself into a Avatar and his real body.
Pivoting defensively, he raised his kunai, but it was sliced cleanly in two by the razor-sharp energy emanating from Hui's blade.
The attack passed through him harmlessly, dissipating as it met the effects of his Hydrification Technique.
Hui wasn't surprised. He hadn't intended to defeat Gengetsu with this strike—it was simply a distraction, meant to stall him until the reinforcements arrived.
Hui's strategy was clear: he wanted to eliminate Gengetsu in front of the incoming Kirigakure forces.
Doing so would deliver a psychological blow to their morale, potentially ending the war on the spot.
For Hui, today was the perfect opportunity to decisively conclude this conflict.
"Your swordsmanship is truly terrifying," Gengetsu remarked with a wry smile, realizing that Hui's relentless pursuit had foiled his plan.
His mind raced, trying to discern Hui's ultimate goal.
One thing puzzled him greatly; Hui hadn't used Lightning Release yet, despite Gengetsu's well-known vulnerability to it.
"Why haven't you used your Lightning Release?" Gengetsu asked, voicing his confusion. Hui's avoidance of such an obvious advantage was unnerving.
Hui didn't answer immediately. Instead, his eyes flickered to the Kirigakure forces in the distance.
Sensing Gengetsu's unease, Hui finally spoke, his tone calm and unhurried.
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting?" Gengetsu asked, puzzled by the cryptic reply.
"Yes," Hui confirmed.
"I'm waiting for all the Kirigakure shinobi to gather. Once they're here, I'll deal with you in front of them. Watching their Mizukage fall will shatter their morale and bring an end to this war."
Gengetsu frowned, his unease growing.
Hui's confidence was unshakable, the kind that didn't require lies. He suspected that Hui might truly have defeated the forces in the Land of Rain, as he had claimed.
"If that's your plan, then I'll wait as well," Gengetsu said, masking his nerves with a calm facade.
He reasoned that the numerical advantage of Kirigakure's forces might turn the tide in his favor once they arrived.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the now-conscious Orochimaru exchanged uneasy glances. Jiraiya finally broke the silence.
"Hui… is it true? Did you really resolve the conflict in the Land of Rain?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Hui's Shadow Avatar confirmed. "The forces of Iwagakure and Sunagakure have surrendered, and reinforcements from Konoha are already en route."
Hearing this, the trio was stunned. Their shock quickly gave way to elation as the news sank in.
Growing bored, Gengetsu finally spoke again. "You said you resolved the war in the Land of Rain. How exactly did you accomplish that?"
Hui, still exuding calm confidence, answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "It wasn't much. I used a single technique to wipe out four or five thousand of their shinobi. Then I killed their Kage in front of their forces, and just like that, the war was over."
Gengetsu's expression darkened. Hui's casual recounting of such an extraordinary feat felt almost insulting.
"A single technique to kill thousands? That's ridiculous!" Gengetsu retorted, trying to dismiss Hui's claim as mere bravado.
Hui simply smiled. "Don't worry. You'll meet the same fate soon enough."
"Ridiculous brat, really," Gengetsu muttered, his frustration mounting. "And where are those slowpoke Kirigakure shinobi? Have they forgotten about their Mizukage entirely?"
Hui chuckled at the remark. "Seems like they don't value you much, doesn't it?"
Gengetsu scowled. Hui's taunts were without break, and his smug demeanor only added to the effectiveness of the taunt.
The Kirigakure reinforcements were finally closing in.
Among them was the elite Jonin who had ambushed Tsunade's team earlier.
He shouted to his comrades, "There they are! Capture those three brats, especially the blonde girl. Taking her will guarantee us a victory in this war!"
Meanwhile, the Konoha reinforcements, led by Danzo Shimura, were also closing the distance.
Aware of the situation and the danger faced by Tsunade's team, Danzo had assembled several squads to intervene.
The battlefield was about to become even more chaotic.
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