Chapter 55: The Outcome

Chapter 55: The Outcome

"Aargh!"

A painful scream echoed across the surface of the sea. A Cloud ninja, caught in mid-air, was pierced directly through the abdomen by a pillar of water. He screamed as he fell. The other Cloud ninja, however, used a Wind Release jutsu to move through the air, avoiding the water pillar's attack.

Before, it was four against one. Now, it was two against one!

"This guy..." The Cloud Jonin, Shū, stared at Genichi, who had appeared on the surface of the sea from underwater. "The genjutsu just now had no effect on him. Instead, he used it to his advantage. Damn brat..."

Forming hand seals with both hands, the Jonin, Shū, once again cast the vision-sealing genjutsu, Lightning Release: Thunder Light Pillar (Raiton: Raikōchū).

Genichi closed his eyes and simultaneously formed the Tiger seal.

Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Genjutsu: Kokuangyō no Jutsu)! This time, he sealed the vision of the two enemies.

Splash, splash, splash~

The sound of feet running on the water's surface echoed in his ears. Genichi realized that one of the Cloud ninja was rushing towards him, while the other—the genjutsu user, Shū—was circling around him.

He formed seals with both hands again. Water Release: Water Formation Wall (Suiton: Suijinheki)!

Pillars of water rose up around him, rotating around Genichi. Only then did he open his eyes. The light from the Thunder Light Pillar was still there, shimmering on the water. The Jonin, Shū, was maintaining the jutsu, while his other self charged towards the battlefield behind Genichi.

At the same time, the other sword-wielding Cloud ninja had been freed from the Bringer-of-Darkness and was now leaping down from the air.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

A volley of shuriken was fired from the hands of the descending Cloud ninja.

Genichi's figure flickered to dodge, then he leaped up, drawing both his swords with his left and right hands simultaneously. At this moment, the rotating water wall began to collapse as it was no longer under his control.

Clang!

Sparks flew. The two clashed in mid-air. The Cloud ninja held his sword vertically, blocking Genichi's dual sword slash. After a momentary stalemate, Genichi's figure fell downwards, while the Cloud ninja used the powerful force of Genichi's attack to launch himself up again.

The Cloud ninja immediately caught his own blade in his mouth and his hands flew through a series of seals.

Wind Release!

The descending Genichi made his judgment. He immediately sheathed his swords, and the moment his feet touched the surface of the sea, he clapped his hands together with a slap. The water that had not yet completely fallen was once again controlled by Genichi, and it converged above his head, forming a defense.

Just in time, the strong wind spat from the Cloud ninja's mouth slammed into it.

Boom!

Water splashed everywhere.

Splash!

The Cloud ninja landed, then immediately charged forward with his sword. At the same time, the Jonin, Shū, circled around behind Genichi, a kunai in hand, ready to strike.

Genichi wielded his dual swords, responding to the continuous attacks from the two Cloud ninja.

He was on the defensive. The two Cloud ninja pressed their close-range assault, not giving him any opportunity to form hand seals.

And just at that moment, the large Water Formation Wall that had been standing in the rear suddenly collapsed with a roar. Then, several figures rapidly retreated, with Sakumo and his team in hot pursuit.

"Ryūun, retreat!" the Jonin, Shū, who was besieging Genichi, shouted.

The sword-wielding Cloud ninja immediately retreated. The Jonin, Shū, fell back a step, formed hand seals, and cast the Thunder Light Pillar genjutsu. But the next moment, his body was sliced in two, and then it exploded into a puff of smoke with a poof.

Hatake Sakumo appeared in front of Genichi. "Genichi, are you alright?"

Genichi was panting slightly. There was a bloody gash on his left arm and right leg, and droplets of blood fell onto the surface of the sea. "I'm fine, just minor injuries." Facing an assault from two people, even if one of them was a clone, was not easy. The Cloud ninja were by no means weak.

After sheathing his swords, Genichi immediately performed the Art of Pyo. The bleeding on his wounds stopped, and they began to heal rapidly. His eyes were fixed on the enemy opposite them.

Killer Bee was being carried by A as they retreated. There was a wound on his chest and abdomen, and another on his neck. Blood stained his chest, but Genichi also noticed that his wounds were healing at a rapid pace. Even though he wasn't a sensory ninja, he could feel a unique power emerging from Killer Bee's body.

The chakra of the Eight-Tails!

Looking again at the future Fourth Raikage, A, there was also a deep sword wound on his chest, but no blood was flowing out. At this moment, A's hair was standing on end, and his Lightning Release Chakra Mode (Raiton Chakura Mōdo) was clearly at its maximum output. However, the current A was definitely not as strong as he would be during the Third War. The wound on his chest was clearly inflicted by his master, Sakumo.

"As expected of Konoha's White Fang!" A said, unwilling to concede defeat. He then retreated again with all his men, even taking the bodies of their fallen comrades floating on the sea.

Six of them had come. Now, only three were left standing. Two dead, and Killer Bee seriously injured.

Seeing the Cloud ninja about to return to their ship, Namiichi was a bit reluctant. "Captain..."

Sakumo shook his head. "There's no need to fight anymore. Let's go back."

Hidemi and Mui immediately sighed in relief. They didn't want to fight anymore. Especially Hidemi; although he was a Jonin, the gap between him and Sakumo, as well as A, was too great. Even Killer Bee was no worse than him. If not for Sakumo, he suspected he would have been instantly killed by that powerful Cloud ninja.

If they fought again, a powerhouse like Sakumo naturally had nothing to fear. Namiichi wasn't afraid either, because Sakumo would save his own subordinates first. But he and Mui were different. If someone had to die, it would certainly be them first.

...

No one paid any attention to the thoughts of the Grass ninja. Hearing Namiichi's voice, Genichi turned to look and saw a gruesome wound on his right cheek. The flesh was turned outwards, and it had missed his eye by a hair's breadth.

"Get back on the boat, quickly. I'll treat your wound," Genichi said hurriedly.

The group returned to their boat. The two ships began to move away from each other, one heading south, the other east.

On the boat, Genichi treated Namiichi's wound. It wasn't actually that serious, but it was inevitable that it would leave a scar.

Sitting beside them, En hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Captain, that guy..."

Sakumo said, "That guy... he must be a Jinchuriki of a Tailed Beast!"

"A Jinchuriki!" Hidemi exclaimed in shock, while Mui looked completely bewildered.

Namiichi, at this moment, couldn't help but have a moment of realization. "So that's how it was." He naturally sensed that there was something different about Killer Bee. He had caught him in his genjutsu, but he had broken out of it too quickly. The wound on his face was from that moment. If he hadn't been so vigilant and reacted quickly, that blow might have slit his throat.

As for the wound on Killer Bee's neck, that wasn't from him, but from Sakumo. A had been wounded in the chest by Sakumo while trying to save Bee. However, the defense of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode was extremely strong. That blow had only cut through the flesh and was not fatal.

"Also, that guy named A is likely the son of the Third Raikage," Sakumo said. "A very formidable young man. His Lightning Release Chakra Mode is already very refined."

His own sword strike had only broken through his defense and had not seriously injured him, which showed how powerful he was. Even in a one-on-one fight, he probably wouldn't be able to defeat A.

This time, it was Genichi who had created a good opportunity, and Killer Bee's injury had put A at a disadvantage. This was also why Sakumo hadn't pursued them. If they had released the Tailed Beast, plus A, their own side would have likely suffered several casualties.

After discussing the Cloud ninja, Sakumo turned to look at Genichi, his eyes full of smiles.

This disciple of his was becoming more and more outstanding.

(End of Chapter)

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