Yes, it was Jiraiya himself who had carelessly mentioned their mission objective, giving the masked ninja the opportunity to set a trap.
As Jiraiya thought about it, a wave of guilt washed over him.
"And Konoha has fallen so low that even kids like you can graduate? You can't even smell the blood in the air."
The masked Anbu continued his taunts. Though hidden behind a mask, Jiraiya could almost see the mocking expression in his eyes.
"Oh, and by the way, why don't you stop hiding your hand behind your back? I bet you were signaling your idiot friend here to run for help, right? Not that it matters. He's too dumb to have noticed."
The ninja's words not only intensified Jiraiya's guilt but also stoked a rising fury within him.
Hui, unfazed by the taunts, calmly withdrew his hand and addressed Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, I'll hold him off. You should go get help."
Before Jiraiya could respond, the masked ninja burst into laughter again.
"Hold me off? You're dreaming. Maybe you would have had a chance if you weren't injured. But now? There's no way you're getting out of here alive."
The ninja then turned to Jiraiya, adding, "You're quite the lucky charm for me, kid. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to deal with you two this easily."
These words only deepened Jiraiya's guilt and ignited his anger.
"You bastard! Hui, you go get help! I'll hold him off!"
Jiraiya shouted, charging toward the masked ninja with nothing but his bare fists.
"Jiraya!" Hui called out.
And then...
Thud!
The ninja effortlessly kicked Jiraiya, sending him flying through the air. Hui quickly caught him mid-flight, preventing a harsh fall.
"Jiraiya, only I can hold him off. You're not strong enough," Hui said, setting Jiraiya down gently. He stepped forward, standing between Jiraiya and the attacker, his back still bleeding.
"Go get help, now!" Hui ordered before dashing forward to engage the ninja, kunai in hand.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hui and the masked ninja exchanged rapid blows, their kunai clashing and sparking with each impact.
"Damn it! How is this brat so strong?!" the masked ninja grumbled, clearly not expecting Hui to put up such a fight. "I guess it's lucky you're already wounded. Today, the so-called genius of Konoha dies here!"
Hui fought back fiercely, blood still pouring from the cuts on his body.
"Jiraiya, go find Sarutobi-sensei! My survival depends on you!" Hui shouted, his voice strained as the battle wore on.
From a distance, Jiraiya trembled. He wanted to rush forward and help his friend, but a voice of reason echoed in his head. If I jump in now, I'll just be a burden.
I'm too weak...
"Just wait for me! I'll be back!" Jiraiya screamed, tears in his eyes as he forced his battered body to rise and sprint toward the main road, seeking help.
"Damn it!" he cursed, hearing faint angry shouts from behind as he ran.
As Jiraiya disappeared into the distance, Hui and the masked ninja paused their fight.
"By the way, does this make me the toughest Shadow Clone in the ninja world after taking so many kunai to the body?" the masked ninja asked.
"Talking to yourself again? Good thing I heal fast, or I wouldn't have dared to pull off such an act. If Jiraiya doesn't change after this, all of this will have been for nothing," Hui muttered, wincing as he felt the sting from his injuries.
After all, all of the wounds were real.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the truth, Jiraiya ran as fast as he could, his mind in turmoil. He suppressed all his chaotic emotions—fear, guilt, frustration—and focused only on one thing: finding Sarutobi-sensei.
"Sarutobi-sensei! Where are you?!"
Jiraiya shouted with all his strength as he ran, his voice trembling. He had never felt such desperation in his life.
The teacher who always seemed to hover nearby was nowhere to be found now when he needed him most.
Jiraiya's emotions—fear, guilt, frustration, and anger—swirled together, overwhelming him.
At long last, what felt like an eternity later, he heard a response.
"Jiraiya, what's wrong?"
The voice came from a distance, but it was like music to Jiraiya's ears. He turned around and sprinted toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
In his frantic rush, he stumbled, falling hard on the ground. His hands and knees scraped, but he felt no pain.
"Sensei! Hurry! Hui's holding off an enemy! He's buying us time!" Jiraiya blurted out in a panic.
Sarutobi's face grew serious. He quickly pulled Jiraiya up. "Where? Lead me to him, now!"
Meanwhile, back in the forest, Hui sensed Sarutobi and Jiraiya approaching. He immediately resumed the act with his Shadow Clone, engaging in another intense battle.
The two clashed fiercely once again, right as Sarutobi and Jiraiya arrived. They saw Hui, bloodied and pale, barely holding on as he fought.
Seeing Sarutobi's arrival, the masked ninja immediately fled, vanishing into the forest.
Sarutobi quickly spoke, "Jiraiya, take Hui to the hospital. I'll chase down the enemy!"
Without waiting for a response, Sarutobi sprinted after the fleeing ninja.
Jiraiya hurried to Hui's side, catching him just as he collapsed.
Hui, now utterly exhausted, weakly gazed at Jiraiya and spoke in a barely audible voice, "Jiraiya, do you remember the graduation exam five years ago? I told you that if you could keep that same will you showed then, I would acknowledge you…"
He coughed, his voice faltering. "Since that day… I've always looked forward to fighting by your side. But as time went on, you disappointed me, and I thought… I had been wrong about you.
"But today… I see that you still have that same will deep inside you.
"If you channel that will into your training… I will acknowledge you once more."
Hui's voice grew weaker and weaker, his strength fading.
"But it's a shame… we may never… fight together… again…"
With those final words, Hui's body went limp as he collapsed into Jiraiya's arms.
"Huuiii!" Jiraiya screamed in despair, his voice echoing through the forest.
Lying in Jiraiya's arms, Hui feigned unconsciousness, thinking to himself, Looks like everything went according to plan.
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