Hui mind was filled with internal conflict at Lightning's words. He fully understood Wind and Bear's intentions, but to abandon his comrade and flee?
He knew that decision would weigh on him for the rest of his life.
In his past life, Hui had been an ordinary person, and one who had died young at that. Now, after living just over six years in this world of shinobi, his heart was still growing and learning to navigate these harsh realities.
If he were someone with a cold and detached nature, perhaps he could have made the rational decision to flee alone without a second thought. But that wasn't who Hui was.
As long as there was even the smallest chance of success, he wouldn't give up. He refused to leave Lightning behind if there was a way for both of them to survive.
"I'm going to live, Lightning. Tsunade is still waiting for me to grow up and marry her," Hui declared firmly, his tone resolute. He paused briefly before continuing, "From the moment we started running until now, we've been pushing ourselves without a break, which is why your body has reached its limit.
"But the enemies chasing us? They haven't had any rest either. Their stamina must be nearly spent too.
"Lightning, I have a plan. If it works, we can both make it out of here alive."
As Hui looked at Lightning, who was clearly drained from the restless sprint, he realized this was the opportunity.
If they had been facing a fully rested team of three Jonin and twenty-four Chunin, there would've been no hope. It would've been suicide to even think about fighting.
Courage alone couldn't replace common sense.
But now? They were up against eight Chunin who were likely just as exhausted, and a Jonin who had also pushed his body to the limit. Hui realized this was their moment—a chance created by the sacrifices of his teammates.
Wind had bought them time, stretching what should've been a brief pursuit into a long, grueling chase. Bear's decision to split off had drawn away two-thirds of their enemies, drastically weakening the remaining group.
And now, with Lightning's stamina depleted, it was clear to Hui that the time had come to act.
What remained was to test his luck—and his skill.
"A plan?" Lightning asked, puzzled.
"Lightning, right now, in your state, you're only able to use maybe thirty percent of your strength. A regular Genin could kill you easily. And if I wanted to, I could end your life more easily than hunting a wild animal.
"But here's the thing—the enemies chasing us? They're in the same condition as you."
Hui's words caused Lightning's eyes to light up with sudden hope.
But then, Lightning furrowed his brow. "But what about the Jonin…?"
"We'll gamble. If that Jonin happens to be a taijutsu specialist, and he's still got plenty of stamina, then I'll retreat immediately. But if he's not? Lightning, do you trust me?" Hui asked, his voice steady, his gaze unwavering as he looked directly into Lightning's eyes.
There was confidence there. A deep, unshakeable certainty.
"Alright!" Lightning agreed, nodding firmly. "But if he's a taijutsu Jonin, don't hesitate. I'll stay behind to give you time to escape."
He had no choice but to trust Hui now. Even in his current state, he knew that if he fought Hui at full strength, he wouldn't last more than ten seconds.
This was their best chance.
"They're almost here," Hui warned. "Lightning, your role in this plan is to simply hide. Stay hidden for as long as possible. That way, I'll have the time I need to take them out, one by one."
His expression darkened slightly as he added, "But… if that Jonin is a taijutsu specialist…"
"Understood. I'll be ready," Lightning said, his voice grim. He knew what Hui was implying.
With that, Hui disappeared into the shadows, vanishing silently among the trees.
It was the perfect night for stealth. The rain, the fog, the darkness—they all worked in Hui's favor, providing cover that allowed him to move undetected.
The constant crack of thunder would drown out any small sounds, masking his movements as he prepared to strike from the darkness.
And with their exhaustion, the enemy's senses and reflexes would be dulled, giving Hui an even greater advantage.
Everything was in his favor—time, terrain, and the enemy's fatigue.
Now, the only thing left to gamble on was whether or not that Jonin was a taijutsu specialist.
If Hui's luck held, this gamble could turn everything around.
Footsteps splashing through puddles broke the silence. The Mist ninja had arrived.
"Hah… hah… Captain, the… the trail… it ends here!" gasped one of the Chunin, barely able to catch his breath.
At those words, the entire group came to a halt, each of them leaning against trees, panting heavily.
Their faces were pale, the signs of oxygen deprivation evident from their strained breathing and shaky legs. They were clearly exhausted from the long pursuit.
Under normal circumstances, no seasoned ninja would allow themselves to be pushed to such a dangerous state.
But they were sure that the Konoha ninja they were chasing was in just as bad a condition as they were.
Once they finished him off, they could rest. After all, it wasn't like a few ninjas would affect the success of the overall mission.
"We've got him now," the Jonin captain sneered, though his breath came in gasps. "Search the area."
He ordered his men to fan out. In his mind, their target was as good as dead.
There was no way someone could effectively hide in this environment, not from Mist ninja. They were experts in tracking prey through fog and rain.
Besides, they had already closed the distance. Their prey couldn't be far.
What the Jonin didn't know, however, was that they weren't just hunting one person—they were hunting two.
And in the darkness, a pair of eyes locked onto him, gleaming with murderous intent.
I won the gamble, Hui thought to himself, his resolve hardening as he prepared to strike.
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