"The difference Shigure makes… is simply too great."
Shikamaru looked at Haku and the others, his expression serious.
"How are you planning to take us out? Even if your people are outside drawing attention, with our current condition… escaping Konoha won't be easy."
Haku smiled faintly. "Don't worry. We've already prepared for this."
As he spoke, he gestured to the man standing behind him.
"Gekkō Hayate."
Hayate stepped forward calmly.
"He's one of Kirigakure's ninja who has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. He can also deploy a Flying Thunder God array to transport targets directly to Kirigakure."
Haku's voice remained steady.
"He alone is enough to get all of you out of Konoha."
Shikamaru and the others examined Hayate carefully.
His gaze was sharp, but the chakra fluctuations from his body did not feel particularly overwhelming.
This man… could really take all of them away?
"Alright, no more wasting time," Hayate said. "Once you arrive in Kirigakure, someone will explain everything."
"Line up. One person every three seconds. That's my limit."
Haku nodded, and Ringo Ameyuri began organizing the Konoha ninja into a line.
Shikamaru, however, kept his eyes on Hayate.
Then, in the very next second, the first Konoha ninja standing before him vanished instantly.
Shikamaru froze.
"This… a space-time ninjutsu?"
Hayate glanced at him. "That's right. Not just any space-time ninjutsu. This is the technique your Fourth Hokage became famous for, the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"The Flying Thunder God… how do you—"
Shikamaru suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Of course.
Shigure had taken the sealing scrolls. The records of the Flying Thunder God Technique would have been among them.
But still…
A forbidden technique like this, and Shigure had allowed Kirigakure ninja to learn it so freely?
Or perhaps… even Shigure couldn't master space-time ninjutsu?
No.
That didn't make sense either.
With Shigure's talent, there was no way he couldn't learn it.
—
"From the moment that man appeared, I knew something was off."
A cold voice suddenly echoed.
"How could someone suddenly show up here, talking about reincarnation, and dare to intrude alone?"
"Rats hiding in the shadows… it's time you came out."
Boom!
A violent explosion tore through the wall of the abandoned building.
Haku's expression changed instantly.
Not good.
In the next moment, an ice crystal wall rose, shielding everyone.
Zabuza Momochi immediately drew the Kubikiribōchō. "We've been discovered. No time for a slow transfer now."
"Hayate, speed it up. We'll hold them off."
With that, Zabuza raised his hand.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Dense mist erupted outward, rapidly engulfing the entire building.
In an instant, visibility dropped to near zero.
Zabuza dashed forward, activating his Silent Killing technique. His movements were swift and silent, his presence blending seamlessly into the mist.
The next moment, a torrent of water surged forward, transforming into a sharp, slicing wave that burst out of the building.
Outside, several Ōtsutsuki clan members raised their hands, releasing chakra simultaneously to block the attack.
Boom!
The impact echoed loudly.
Inside, Shikamaru's heart sank.
They had been found.
As expected, they had been found.
The Ōtsutsuki possessed Byakugan. They could see through obstacles with ease. If they conducted a thorough search of Konoha, no one could remain hidden forever.
And now…
They were facing them directly.
Shikamaru clenched his fists.
These enemies were terrifyingly strong. Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist might not be enough to—
Clang!
A sharp metallic collision interrupted his thoughts.
Outside, Zabuza swung the Kubikiribōchō, blocking simultaneous attacks from four Ōtsutsuki.
The blade turned in his hands as he unleashed a flowing, relentless sword style.
At this moment, the Demon of the Hidden Mist revealed his true power once more.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A series of rapid clashes rang out as Zabuza single-handedly held back five or six Ōtsutsuki.
But there were too many enemies.
Three more Ōtsutsuki circled behind him, launching a coordinated attack from his blind spot.
Suddenly—
A flash of lightning tore through the battlefield.
A violent surge of lightning suddenly exploded across the battlefield.
It struck the three Ōtsutsuki directly, thunder raging wildly as arcs of electricity spread through the air before gathering and condensing into a single figure.
Ringo Ameyuri emerged from the lightning, the Kiba blades crackling in her hands.
"These people's defenses are incredible," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Even taking my lightning head-on, they're barely injured."
At the same time, ice crystals spread rapidly.
In an instant, the entire building was frozen over, layers of ice forming a reinforced barrier around it.
Shikamaru looked out through the translucent ice, his eyes narrowing.
"This is… Ice Release."
Until now, he had believed that aside from Shigure, no one in this world could wield Ice Release at such a level.
But Haku had clearly reached that height.
And without a doubt, this was the result of Shigure's guidance.
—
Just then, Ino's voice rang out.
"I'm not leaving!"
Everyone turned.
"I'm staying here. I'm waiting for my father. He promised me… he said he would come back."
Her voice trembled, but her resolve was firm.
Hayate let out a quiet sigh. "The rest of you should leave immediately."
"Every second you delay, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen outside face greater danger."
The surrounding Konoha ninja fell silent, lowering their heads as they prepared to be teleported.
Shikamaru glanced at Kiba and the others.
They exchanged looks, then nodded.
They weren't leaving either.
There was no way they would abandon Ino here alone.
—
Outside, the battle intensified.
The Ōtsutsuki who had been engaging Kaguya Kuji were drawn by the disturbance and rushed over, reinforcing the siege against Zabuza, Ringo, and Haku.
Despite facing overwhelming numbers, the three of them showed no signs of falling into a disadvantage.
Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly.
Just three people… holding off hundreds?
Zabuza moved like a phantom within the mist, his Kubikiribōchō sweeping in wide arcs. His swordplay, now infused with Shigure's Water Breathing style, forced back groups of Ōtsutsuki with each strike.
Ringo's lightning was even more terrifying.
The electricity around her behaved as if alive, completely under her control. It surged, twisted, and struck with precision, like a tamed beast obeying her every command.
And Haku…
His mastery of Ice Release was nothing short of astonishing.
Offense and defense flowed seamlessly. Ice constructs formed and shifted at will, perfectly coordinated with the long blade he controlled at a distance, the Nuibari.
At one point, he nearly killed an Ōtsutsuki who failed to react in time.
The battlefield had become a storm of mist, lightning, and ice.
And at its center stood three shinobi, holding the line against an army.