CHAPTER 107
The general offensive had begun.
Konoha's four-hundred-man assault force made no attempt to conceal its advance.
They marched directly toward the main island of the Land of Waves and launched a full-scale frontal landing operation.
Just as Homura Mitokado had predicted, Konoha's numerical advantage quickly became apparent.
Under the pressure of the fierce assault, the Hidden Mist defenders initially relied on their prepared fortifications to resist.
However, after a brief period of fighting, they began executing an orderly withdrawal.
Using the island's complex terrain, they attempted to divide, delay, and wear down Konoha's advancing forces.
Led by Hyuga Yukian, Team 9 was among the first wave of landing units.
They advanced alongside the main force while pursuing the retreating enemy.
Amid the chaos of battle, Yukian's remaining Byakugan suddenly captured a familiar figure in the distance.
Ao.
The Hidden Mist Jonin was indeed present among the enemy forces.
Across the battlefield, through drifting smoke and moving crowds, the two men's eyes met briefly.
In that instant, hatred and killing intent seemed almost tangible.
Yet neither side broke formation.
The battlefield situation was too chaotic for either party to act recklessly.
As the Hidden Mist retreat routes gradually split apart and the battlefield became increasingly fragmented, Konoha's various units also began dividing their pursuit according to the established operational plan.
Team 9 naturally followed one of those routes.
Under Hyuga Yukian's command, they pursued toward Reef Bay on the western side of the island.
The terrain there was rugged and filled with reefs.
They deliberately made no effort to conceal their movements.
Their pace was only slightly faster than the nearby allied units.
At the same time, they conveniently chose a route being used by a small number of retreating Hidden Mist shinobi.
Gradually, the presence of other Konoha squads around them became increasingly sparse.
The sounds of large-scale Ninjutsu clashes faded into the distance.
Replacing them was the crashing of waves against black reefs.
Through the long-range vision of the Byakugan, Hyuga Yukian clearly observed something.
Ao's unit had originally been retreating in a completely different direction.
Yet after noticing this seemingly isolated Konoha squad advancing deeper into the bay, their route subtly shifted.
Whether intentionally or not, they began moving toward Team 9's location.
The scene unfolded exactly according to Konoha's counter-bait operation.
At the same time, the atmosphere within Team 9 instantly became tense.
Ebisu tightened his grip around a Kunai.
The senbon in Genma's mouth stopped spinning.
Guy silently rested a hand on the alloy nunchaku hanging at his waist.
All three understood what this meant.
The battle ahead would likely be a fight to the death.
Finally, after pursuing the enemy into a remote bay filled with jagged black reefs and surging tides, Team 9 encountered a Hidden Mist rearguard squad composed of three Chunin.
The battle ended quickly.
The three Hidden Mist shinobi were eliminated.
But before anyone could relax, Hyuga Yukian's expression suddenly changed.
The veins around his left eye bulged slightly.
"They're here!"
The warning had barely left his mouth when five figures suddenly appeared from behind the reefs opposite the bay.
They moved swiftly and spread out.
In an instant, they blocked Team 9's route of retreat.
Ao.
Mei Terumī.
Hozuki Mangetsu.
And two Hidden Mist Chunin with cold expressions.
"It's you!"
Hyuga Yukian's expression changed dramatically.
His remaining Byakugan filled with rage.
At the same time, a perfectly timed trace of panic appeared in his eyes.
He stepped forward and subtly shielded Guy, Ebisu, and Genma behind him.
His gaze locked onto Ao.
His voice trembled with anger.
"Ao! You still haven't given up!"
"You've been coveting the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan this entire time!"
Ao stood atop a towering reef.
His grayish-white hair fluttered in the sea breeze.
His eyes slowly swept over Team 9.
The four Konoha shinobi appeared somewhat exhausted and disordered after their recent battle.
Without changing expression, Ao silently activated his sensory abilities.
He carefully checked the surrounding waters.
Other than the distant sounds of fighting from the main battlefield, there were no significant Chakra signatures nearby.
No ambush.
No reinforcements.
No hidden elite units.
At least, none that he could currently detect.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Truly isolated?"
"Or is there something else?"
For a brief moment, hesitation appeared in his mind.
At that moment, Hyuga Yukian seemed completely provoked by Ao's scrutiny.
Or perhaps concerned about the safety of his teammates.
His expression became a mixture of hatred, urgency, and determination.
Suddenly, he turned toward Guy and the others.
"Retreat!"
His voice was sharp.
"Send a signal flare immediately and call for reinforcements!"
At the same time, he glared fiercely at Ao.
That look clearly conveyed one message.
I won't fall for your tricks again.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand.
A signal flare shot into the sky.
Whoosh!
Bang!
The red flare exploded above the bay.
Even beneath the daylight sky, the signal was impossible to miss.
This was the standard emergency signal used during pursuit operations whenever powerful enemies or important targets were encountered.
The action itself was completely reasonable.
Yet this perfectly normal decision destroyed the final trace of caution within Ao's heart.
He saw Hyuga Yukian's reaction.
He saw the hurried request for support.
More importantly, he instantly calculated the distance.
Even if nearby Konoha forces saw the signal immediately, reaching this isolated bay would still require time.
And standing before him was Hyuga Yukian.
A Hyuga who had already lost one Byakugan.
A Jonin no longer at his peak.
Accompanied by three young subordinates whose strength he already understood.
An opportunity.
The perfect opportunity.
A chance to obtain the Byakugan.
If he let this moment pass, he might never again have a chance to acquire such a treasure.
The desire buried in his heart instantly overwhelmed every remaining doubt.
Cold killing intent flashed through Ao's eyes.
"Kill them!"
The order exploded from his mouth.
Before his voice had even finished echoing across the bay, one figure had already rushed forward.
Mei Terumī.
"This time..."
A smile appeared on her face.
"...I won't let you run away again."
She lightly licked her lips.
Excitement filled her eyes.
Her reddish-brown hair danced in the sea breeze.
At the same time, her hands rapidly formed seals.
Without hesitation, she charged directly toward Guy.
She had never forgotten the footprint he had left on her face during their previous encounter.
That humiliation remained vivid in her memory.
And today...
She intended to repay it with blood.
The battle erupted instantly.
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