Just as Hui was about to finish off Ōnoki, an unexpected change occurred.
Ōnoki, lying on the ground, abruptly turned, and a burst of white light erupted from his hands.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
It was the Dust Release, aimed directly at the nearby Hui.
However, Hui seemed to have anticipated it. He swiftly retreated, dodging the attack. This gave Ōnoki a very brief window of opportunity. Despite the excruciating pain ravaging his body, he used the last of his chakra to rise into the air and fled without looking back.
Seeing this, Hui did not pursue him.
"Captain, should we chase after him? He's so badly injured, he won't get far!" one of the Konoha Anbu members, who had been watching the epic battle from afar, finally dared to approach, his face filled with excitement and exhilaration.
The recent battle had been a spectacle, leaving them all awestruck and boiling with adrenaline.
But Hui shook his head, refusing the suggestion.
"No, I never intended to kill him this time. Otherwise, that last sword strike would have pierced his heart," Hui explained, noticing the confused expressions on his subordinates' faces.
"Ōnoki is different from Ishigawa. He is the grandson of the First Tsuchikage and the inheritor of the Second Tsuchikage's Dust Release. He holds immense influence in Iwagakure and is almost certain to become the next Tsuchikage. He is far too important to Iwagakure. If I were to kill him here, there's a 90% chance that Iwagakure would declare war on Konoha.
"Although Konoha does not fear war, starting a conflict over someone like Ōnoki is not worth it. Besides, if Iwagakure were to declare war, who knows if the other villages would join in?
"Konoha has only had peace for five years. We are in a period of rapid development, and I don't want to see Konoha dragged back into the vortex of war."
After hearing this, the Anbu members finally understood, nodding in agreement.
It was true—plunging Konoha into war over Ōnoki, especially during this crucial time of growth, would be a massive loss for them.
"Let's move on and continue with our mission."
"Yes, Captain!" they replied in unison, their voices filled with respect.
Witnessing Hui defeat Ōnoki had left them in awe, and their admiration for his long-term vision only deepened.
Although Hui was just over eleven years old, it didn't stop him from being a leader they respected wholeheartedly.
On the other side, as Ōnoki realized that Hui wasn't pursuing him, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He forced his body to keep flying, even though pain continuously wracked him. The sword still embedded in his body was something he didn't dare pull out—doing so would surely kill him.
This battle had ended in a devastating loss for him. He didn't want to think about it any longer, just hoping to find a safe place to land.
Spotting Iwagakure's Anbu rushing towards the battlefield below, Ōnoki felt a sense of relief. His body relaxed, and he began to fall from the sky.
His injuries were far too severe, and the flight had used up nearly all his remaining chakra. He was on the verge of death—if he didn't get treatment soon, he would likely perish.
The Iwagakure Anbu below noticed Ōnoki's falling form, their expressions changing dramatically.
One of them quickly leaped into the air, catching Ōnoki's body and bringing him safely to the ground.
"Commander?!"
Seeing the sword lodged in Ōnoki and feeling the wet blood staining their hands, the Anbu member's face turned pale. But he received no response, as Ōnoki had already passed out.
"Quick, get the medics!"
...
When Ōnoki finally woke up three days later, it was from a nightmare. He jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
"Ghost!!!"
The memory of Hui piercing his heart with a sword in the dream left him gritting his teeth in anger, but there was a hint of fear in his eyes.
It had been over a decade since Ōnoki had last felt such terror.
He hadn't been this close to death in a long, long time. The last time he felt this way was when he faced that man from Konoha—Uchiha Madara!
This time, he had entered the Anbu battlefield full of rage and confidence, determined to kill Hui and avenge Ishigawa.
But after a one-on-one confrontation, he had been utterly crushed, nearly losing his life. From start to finish, Hui had completely overwhelmed him.
And now, as his thoughts cleared, Ōnoki realized the reason he was still alive—it was because Hui had chosen not to kill him. After all, that sword could have pierced his heart.
Hui's words after Ōnoki fell made it clear. If it weren't for the desire to avoid war, Ōnoki would already be dead.
This realization left a deep psychological impact on Ōnoki, casting a shadow over his mind.
While Ōnoki was dealing with this mental blow, Hui had already moved on to the Land of Mushrooms, beginning another mission—one filled with even more bloodshed.
Though Hui's heart rejected these kinds of missions, he carried them out with unwavering commitment. If Konoha were to avoid being stabbed in the back in the next great war, which would inevitably happen, these smaller rebelling villages had to be wiped out.
As far as Hui was concerned, every life had value, and all lives were equal. However, in his heart, the lives of Konoha's people were more important. Therefore, those other lives had to be sacrificed.
Perhaps out of a sense of guilt or compassion, Hui always made his kills quick and clean, ending lives in a single strike before they even realized what was happening. It was the only kindness he could offer these innocents.
Along the way, Hui also encountered Anbu from Kumogakure, but they were no match for him and were easily wiped out.
This was the battlefield of the Anbu. When it came to enemies from other villages, Hui showed no mercy.
Of course, he also knew how not to push things too far, avoiding actions that could spark a full-scale war between the villages.
Still, Hui's return to the Anbu battlefield quickly became known throughout the ninja world, reaching the ears of all the major hidden villages.
The name "Konoha's Ghost" resounded once more, as Hui walked in the shadows, continuously claiming the lives of Anbu from other villages.
As for the battle between Hui and Ōnoki, it remained largely under wraps. Iwagakure felt too ashamed of the outcome and saw no reason to publicize it.
Why reveal Hui's true strength? It was better to let other villages clash with him.
On Konoha's side, Hui wasn't one to brag. After all, it was just the not-in-his-prime Ōnoki—what was there to talk about? If he had defeated the Second Tsuchikage, now, that would be worth bragging about.
Time marched on. Hui continued to shine on the Anbu battlefield, cutting down any opposition in his path.
The name "Konoha's Ghost" echoed throughout the ninja world—an unstoppable force in the dark.
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