There Would Surely Be an Echo (Part 1), exclusively sponsored by Deep-as-the-Sea Firefly Jade

By the time the five Heaven Shinobi returned safely from the Netherworld, evening had fallen on the final day of the Grand Martial Arts Tournament.

This tournament had certainly been full of twists and turns.

First, Kinshiki and Momoshiki had attacked, and all five Heaven Shinobi had been forced to leave for other reasons. Fortunately, the current Five Kage had shouldered the burden and, after a fierce battle, defeated Kinshiki, who had absorbed Momoshiki.

Then Urashiki had begun making his move, intending to ambush Kaguya as she slept on the moon.

Fortunately, Shikaku had spotted the signs and uncovered his plan in advance. Hinata and Neji had gone to the moon to assist Minato, and together they had subdued Urashiki.

With the five Heaven Shinobi safely back from the Netherworld, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and turned their attention back to the tournament.

Yes, the tournament's final duel was still deadlocked between Konohamaru and Suigetsu!

In terms of raw strength, Konohamaru, who had mastered senjutsu, was clearly superior.

But without an ability that countered it, the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification was practically impossible to deal with. Well aware of the gap in their strength, Suigetsu had opted for the ultimate evasive strategy: clones combined with Hydrification!

Konohamaru couldn't use Lightning Release, which had left him on the back foot for a while!

As time passed, he gradually began to struggle to keep going.

Watching splashes rise and fall across the cratered arena, Konohamaru thought, Normally, Mr. Suigetsu's chakra shouldn't have lasted this long while using so many clones. But he's managed it. It looks like he's had guidance from a great teacher, too...

That was indeed the case. Under the guidance of Tobirama, a grandmaster of Water Release, Suigetsu had learned to absorb energy from the moisture in the soil