Suikazan Fuguki's Escape Route

Like a mountain torrent, waves poured down Shigushan Mountain, washing away layers of forest. Suikazan Fuguki's "Raging Water Waves" had created a muddy, turbid lake at the foot of the mountain.

On the gentle slope below the summit, The water receded.

But it was now that Suikazan Fuguki was preparing to go all out. The immense chakra within him was mobilized, as if he were preparing to unleash high-level ninjutsu once more.

[Water Style: Raging Torrent]

[Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique]

[Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique]

Suikazan Fuguki's assault was relentless, showing no concern for chakra consumption. Like a turret, he continuously unleashed ninjutsu, outputting firepower.

However--

The results were minimal.

No matter what scale of assault he launched, no matter what novel techniques he employed, Hyuga Ritsu withstood them all. A single cast of [Eight Trigrams Palm: Revolving Heaven] had left Suikazan Fuguki completely demoralized.

From initial confidence to his current grim expression, Suikazan Fuguki's mood had plummeted drastically. Honestly, he felt like he'd never plummeted faster, not even off a cliff.

Just then, he heard an even more vexing shout.

"Shisui, let's team up!"

Hyuga Ritsu shouted loudly.

Playing the hero depended on the situation.

The targets he had boasted about handling were only ordinary Kirigakure Shinobi. Renowned experts like Suikazan Fuguki were certainly not included.

Moreover, these successive intense battles had given him a clearer understanding of his current abilities, achieving the goal he had set when boasting.

He could indeed be considered among the top experts of a village now, but he was "lame" – a top expert in defense.

The insight of the Byakugan and the absolute defense of Eight Trigrams Palm: Revolving Heaven could counter almost all physical attacks. The combination of Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku greatly enhanced his ability to react on the fly, allowing him to easily deal with sneak attacks from any angle.

But--

If defense was his strong leg, then offense was his "lame leg."

Both Gentle Fist and Shikotsumyaku possessed sufficient offensive power and lethality in close-quarters combat. Furthermore, the former was only adept at single-target attacks at medium and long range, with a complete void in area-of-effect attacks.

In his memory, Shikotsumyaku's "Dance of the Early Wither" was an area-of-effect ninjutsu. However, this technique was clearly a trump card similar to Gentle Fist's "Revolving Heaven," requiring both talent and hard work to master. He felt he had talent, but not enough time to put in the sweat, so he hadn't even touched the basics of this technique yet.

Against those nameless weaklings who weren't even qualified to report their names, he could easily take their lives with Gentle Fist and Shikotsumyaku.

But facing an expert like Suikazan Fuguki, who possessed seemingly bottomless chakra, was skilled in various Water Style jutsu, and was proficient in both offense and defense with almost no weaknesses, he deeply felt the flaw of his single offensive method and insufficient attack power.

In Hyuga Ritsu's opinion, there were three ways to deal with such an expert who had no obvious weaknesses: first, win by using unconventional techniques outside their scope of response; second, break through forcefully with a killing move of overwhelming attack power.

Hyuga Ritsu currently possessed neither of these methods.

Therefore, Only the third method remained—seeking help from others who possessed the ability to solve the problem, commonly known as calling for backup!

In conclusion, There was no need to continue playing the lone hero. The time for individual performance was over; now was the time for team coordination, concerted effort, and the display of "bonds"!

"Shisui, stop playing with Hozuki's Prodigy. Let's team up and take down Suikazan Fuguki first!" Hyuga Ritsu called out loudly.

Hearing the shout, Uchiha Shisui decisively abandoned Hozuki Suigetsu, who was as difficult to kill as a sticky candy. He unleashed his renowned Body Flicker Technique, not moving towards Hyuga Ritsu, but instantly charging towards Suikazan Fuguki.

The next second, The great sword Samehada in Suikazan Fuguki's hand seemed to come alive. Its barbed body twisted, wrapping around to push back the approaching Uchiha Shisui from behind.

But Uchiha Shisui instantly reappeared to Suikazan Fuguki's left. His hands formed a hand seal, and he directly unleashed a "Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique" towards Suikazan Fuguki. Suikazan Fuguki reacted quickly. The blade of his great sword, Samehada, instantly expanded, blocking the flames like a flat shield.

[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]

Hyuga Ritsu sprinted forward, seizing the opportunity created by Uchiha Shisui, and unleashed an Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm directly at the sideways-facing Suikazan Fuguki, accurately hitting his body.

With a "bang," Suikazan Fuguki dissolved into a cloud of milky white chakra smoke.

It was a Shadow Clone.

At this, Uchiha Shisui raised an eyebrow slightly.

Hyuga Ritsu's gaze shifted.

When did Suikazan Fuguki use a Shadow Clone? Where was his true body hidden? Hyuga Ritsu pushed his Byakugan's power to its limit, his gaze penetrating five meters underground, but he still couldn't find Suikazan Fuguki.

"Senior Ritsu, can't find him?"

Uchiha Shisui asked.

"No trace found."

Hyuga Ritsu replied.

Looking around, the only thing with chakra fluctuations nearby was the great sword, Samehada, that had fallen to the ground. Wait? Samehada?

"Shisui, that sword..."

But before Hyuga Ritsu could say anything, Samehada turned into smoke and disappeared. It wasn't the movement of a clone disappearing, but the fluctuation that occurs when a summoning jutsu is activated.

Hyuga Ritsu instantly widened and extended his field of vision, seeing Hozuki Mangetsu about a kilometer away, unrolling a scroll. On the scroll was Samehada, shrouded in chakra aversion.

Immediately after, Hozuki Mangetsu skillfully rolled up the scroll, slung Samehada over his shoulder, and sprinted down the mountain towards the Kirigakure Shinobi gathered below.

"Senior Ritsu, what's the situation?"

Uchiha Shisui approached, carrying his short sword.

"He got away."

"Got away? How did he get away?"

"Suikazan Fuguki was most likely hidden inside Samehada. Now Hozuki Mangetsu used a summoning jutsu to call Samehada away, and he's heading down the mountain. We won't be able to catch him."

"Hidden inside the sword? You can do that?"

Uchiha Shisui was surprised.

This was new intelligence that their village hadn't acquired.

"Samehada, that sword is quite famous... What a shame. I thought the two of us could take down Suikazan Fuguki together today. As expected, top-tier experts like him are hard to kill."

Hyuga Ritsu stared at the fleeing Hozuki Mangetsu, his mind already wandering. He desperately recalled the move that the last descendant of the Kaguya Clan had used just before dying, a move that had nearly killed the future Fifth Kazekage.