CHAPTER 99
The enemy ship was incredibly fast.
Even though Guy and the others had already turned around and begun retreating, the distance between the two vessels continued shrinking at an alarming rate.
Hyuga Yukian kept his Byakugan focused on the rear.
On the opposing ship, aside from Ao, the Hozuki Clan youth, and the red-haired girl, the Chakra signature belonging to the figure wrapped inside the cabin was weak.
It was only around the level of an ordinary Chunin.
"It's a decoy."
Hyuga Yukian's heart sank slightly.
At the same time, however, he felt fortunate that he had listened to Guy's warning and had not recklessly pursued deeper into the reef zone.
At least now they remained within a range where the situation was still somewhat manageable.
In terms of combat strength, the enemy clearly held the advantage.
One Jonin, Ao.
Two young shinobi with unknown capabilities, both possessing at least Chunin-level combat strength.
And one Chunin acting as bait.
On their side, only Hyuga Yukian was a Jonin.
Although Guy, Ebisu, and Genma possessed rich battlefield experience from Mount Kikyo, they were still only one Chunin and two Genin.
"Full retreat!"
Hyuga Yukian shouted.
Working together with Guy to control the sails, he attempted to use the complicated reef formations to widen the gap between the two ships.
At that moment, the silver-haired youth suddenly leaped into the sea.
The instant his body touched the water, it dissolved into liquid.
Hydrification Technique.
His entire body transformed into a swift current that wrapped itself around the bottom of the Kirigakure vessel.
The enemy ship's speed immediately surged.
It broke through the waves like an arrow and rapidly closed the distance.
"Hydrification Technique... as expected, he's from the Hozuki Clan."
Hyuga Yukian's pupils contracted.
The enemy clearly had no intention of allowing them to escape.
The distance between the two ships quickly shrank to less than thirty meters.
Ao stood at the bow.
His gray-white hair fluttered in the sea breeze.
His gaze pierced through the mist and settled directly upon Hyuga Yukian's pale Byakugan.
"Konoha's Hyuga Clan."
"I've heard much about you."
Hyuga Yukian's expression remained solemn.
He did not answer.
Instead, he silently gathered Chakra into his palms and assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist.
The enemy's objective was already obvious.
Their actions were decisive.
This operation had clearly been planned for a long time.
Guy silently stepped to the front of the ship.
His right hand rested upon the alloy nunchaku hanging at his waist.
Ao's calm voice drifted through the fog.
"Hyuga Clan member."
"Would you be interested in making a deal?"
"A deal?"
Hyuga Yukian frowned.
Ao smiled faintly.
Then he spoke directly.
"Hand over your Byakugan."
"And I'll allow you and your three teammates to leave safely."
A cold light flashed through Hyuga Yukian's white eyes.
His answer came without hesitation.
"The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan."
"We would rather die than surrender it."
"Foolish Main House pride."
Ao shook his head slightly.
It was as though he had expected this answer all along.
He casually waved his hand.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss."
"Attack."
The Kirigakure ship accelerated once more.
Ao was the first to leap into the air.
He charged directly toward Hyuga Yukian.
The Kirigakure Chunin behind him immediately followed.
"Guy! Ebisu! Genma!"
Hyuga Yukian roared.
In that instant, his voice became exceptionally clear and decisive.
"I'll hold them off."
"You three immediately disperse and break through."
"Take the intelligence back."
"That is an order!"
Before his words had fully fallen, he had already leaped high into the air.
His palms cut through the wind with sharp whistling sounds as he rushed directly toward Ao.
He was prepared to fight to the death here.
Prepared to use his life to create even the slightest chance of escape for his teammates.
However...
Guy had no intention of obeying that particular order.
Just as Hyuga Yukian and Ao were about to collide...
Guy suddenly pulled a signal flare from his ninja tool pouch.
He aimed it toward the fog-covered sky and pulled the ignition cord.
Whoosh!
Bang!!!
The flare screamed upward.
Then it exploded high above the sea.
Ao's movements paused ever so slightly.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the crimson light erupting in the sky.
A trace of surprise flashed across his face.
It quickly turned into open ridicule.
"A normal signal flare?"
"In this fog?"
"Ridiculous."
"Do Konoha's Genin not even possess this much common sense?"
Ao sneered openly.
In his eyes, this was nothing more than the desperate struggle of a dying man.
After all, the reason he had selected Mist Island was precisely because of its environment.
The thick fog isolated the area from outside observation.
It was the perfect hunting ground.
However, before Ao could finish mocking them...
Boom!!!
The flare exploded again.
This time the sound was even louder.
The crimson light that should have quickly faded instead expanded dramatically.
A bloody red glow illuminated vast sections of the surrounding mist.
It was as though a giant wound had been torn across the gray sky.
The crimson light illuminated nearly half the surrounding sea.
It could be seen from dozens of nautical miles away.
Ao's expression changed immediately.
"Emergency signal flare?!"
"You brought something like that on a reconnaissance mission?!"
"Are you insane?!"
This made no sense.
Emergency signal flares were usually distributed only to large military formations or high-risk operations.
A small reconnaissance squad should never possess one.
Guy lowered the short launcher in his hand.
He glanced toward Ao.
Then calmly replied:
"I simply tied ten normal signal flares together."
"And made a few modifications."
That was correct.
This was a special signal flare Guy had prepared beforehand.
He already knew Mist Island possessed unique environmental conditions.
The effectiveness of ordinary signal flares would be greatly reduced.
That was why he had specially prepared this oversized enhanced flare.
Although it could not compare with a genuine military emergency signal flare, its effect was more than sufficient under the current circumstances.
"They'll definitely see it outside."
Guy turned toward Hyuga Yukian.
The captain had also been briefly distracted by the flare's display.
Guy's voice was firm.
"Captain."
"Reinforcements may already be on their way."
"Hold on."
"We don't necessarily have to die here."
"Don't try to carry everything yourself."
Hyuga Yukian's body trembled slightly.
He looked deeply at Guy.
Within his pale eyes was surprise.
But even more than surprise...
There was a rapidly growing fighting spirit.
He nodded heavily.
The resolve to die that had previously filled his eyes disappeared.
In its place rose a powerful desire to survive and continue fighting.
"Good!"
"Then we'll fight our way out together!"
Ao's face darkened completely.
Killing intent filled his eyes.
"Cheap tricks."
"Even if someone sees it, reinforcements still need time to arrive."
"Then we'll finish everything before they get here."
"Take the Byakugan and leave."
Without another word, he launched his attack alongside the Kirigakure Chunin.
The Chakra of the Gentle Fist collided violently against torrents of Water Release.
The narrow bow of the ship became a battlefield.
Waves of force erupted continuously.
On the other side, the silver-haired Hozuki youth and the red-haired girl also landed aboard the Konoha vessel.
Ebisu had already completed his Fire Release hand seals.
Genma's senbon were poised and ready.
Yet before either of them could move...
Guy was already rushing forward.
"Ebisu! Genma!"
"The swordsman is yours!"
The green figure flashed past.
Only his hurried command remained behind.
The alloy nunchaku whistled through the air.
It traced a sharp golden arc.
Directly intercepting the red-haired girl who had just stepped onto the deck.
Guy's gaze locked onto her.
The future Fifth Mizukage.
Terumi Mei.
The nunchaku spun steadily within his palm.
He assumed his stance.
Then, staring directly at her, he spoke calmly.
"Your opponent..."
"...is me."
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