Chapter 72: The Final Strike


    <span style="font-weight:400">As Hui sprinted through the dense forest, he pushed his speed to the limit, appearing as though he was desperately fleeing for his life.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Behind him, Kamizuru Ishigawa, filled with rage over the loss of so many of his men, pursued him with equal determination.


    <span style="font-weight:400">But a small smirk tugged at the corner of Hui''s mouth. This was exactly what he wanted—Kamizuru Ishigawa to chase him relentlessly, exerting every ounce of his strength.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Once Kamizuru was caught in this cycle of exhausting himself, Hui would have the opportunity to either escape or, if fortune favoured him, turn the tables and defeat him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hui’s mind briefly shed back to an incident years ago, when he had used his near-unlimited stamina to oust a Kirigakure Jonin, eventually wearing him down before delivering a lethal strike.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Now, with a simr situation unfolding, his ambitions soared.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Why stop at just escaping?" Hui thought. "What if I could make sure Kamizuru Ishigawa never leaves the Land of Fog?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">The two sped through the forest, their movements swift and precise, with Kamizuru steadily closing the distance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hui’s heart sank slightly. Kamizuru was adapting to the darkness faster than expected, and as a Kage-level ninja, especially one who led the Iwagakure Anbu, he had no weaknesses.


    <span style="font-weight:400">His stamina was exceptional, and if this continued, Hui feared he would be caught before Kamizuru’s energy was drained.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"I need another n," Hui thought, his mind racing as he cleared a small hill. Then, his eyes widened, and his body tensed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ahead of him, the environment changed dramatically.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Beyond the hill, the trees thinned out, leaving only a few scattered saplings.


    <span style="font-weight:400">An open clearingy ahead, with patches of grass dotting the ground. And at the far end of that clearing... a vast ravine stretched out.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"The Abyss Crossing!" Hui immediately recognized the location.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He had seen it on the map of the Land of Fog during one of his studies.


    <span style="font-weight:400">During his earlier sprint through the forest, he hadn''t been able to confirm his exact location, but now he realized where he had ended up.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The Abyss Crossing was a massive ravine within the Land of Fog, stretching several kilometres across at its widest point.


    <span style="font-weight:400">On average, it was around 300 meters wide, with some areas reaching depths close to a thousand meters. The ravine was straight, cutting through thendscape like a scar.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Several Legends surrounded the Abyss Crossing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Some said it was a natural formation, while others believed it was created by the Sage of Six Paths or the result of a battle between ancient deities. But Hui knew better.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">This is no natural formation,</i><span style="font-weight:400"> he thought.<i><span style="font-weight:400"> It must have been left behind by one of the Otsutsuki battles, either during Kaguya’s war or the conflict between the Sage’s sons</i><span style="font-weight:400">.


    <span style="font-weight:400">But none of that mattered now. What mattered was that he was trapped—an endless ravine in front of him, and a Kage-level opponent behind him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Looks like you’ve run out of options!" Kamizuru Ishigawa’s voice rang out, filled with glee.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Under the moonlight, Kamizuru could see Hui’s small figure standing at the edge of the ravine.


    <span style="font-weight:400">A grin spread across the Iwagakuremander’s face. Fortune had finally turned in his favour.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"To think the one who killed so many of my men would be so small," Kamizuru mocked as he approached.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"No wonder you’ve been so good at hiding. It must be easy with a body like that, But now I’m curious—what’s under that mask of yours? Is it the face of a dwarf? Or perhaps a child? No matter. Tonight, you’re not going anywhere."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kamizuru’s voice was filled with cold confidence as he closed in on Hui.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hui said nothing in response. Instead, he tightened his grip on his sword and dashed toward Kamizuru.


    <span style="font-weight:400">There was no escape now. If the only way forward was to fight, then he would face this Kage-level opponent head-on.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kamizuru sneered at Hui’s charge. He drew his kunai, prepared to end the fight swiftly.


    <b>ng! ng! ng!</b>


    <span style="font-weight:400">In an instant, their weapons shed in a flurry of strikes. Sparks flew as Hui’s de met Kamizuru’s kunai, the sound of metal against metal ringing out in the night.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As they exchanged blows, bothbatants analyzing the other.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kamizuru had the advantage in physical strength, speed, and experience. Even their reaction times were nearly equal, but in every fundamental aspect, Hui was at a disadvantage.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kamizuru Ishigawa truly lived up to his reputation as the Iwagakure Anbumander and a Kage-level ninja.


    <span style="font-weight:400">However, Hui had one advantage—his endurance and ability to heal quickly. If he could avoid being overwhelmed early, the longer the fight dragged on, the better his chances of survival.


    <b>ng! ng!</b>


    <span style="font-weight:400">The two continued their fierce exchange of strikes, but Hui was mostly on the defensive, with few opportunities tounch a counterattack. When he did manage to strike, it had little effect.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Still, Hui remained patient, biding his time as he searched for the perfect opening.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Minutes passed, and under the pale moonlight, Kamizuru’s eyes fully adapted to the darkness, making his attacks even more precise.


    <b>sh!</b>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hui grimaced as Kamizuru’s kunai grazed his arm.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was a shallow cut, but blood began to seep from the wound, affecting his movements slightly. The more they fought, the clearer it became that the difference in strength was putting Hui in greater danger.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"You’re nothing special under the light," Kamizuru sneered, his confidence growing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He could feel that victory was within his grasp. Still, he remained cautious. Both were shinobi, after all, and neither had yet employed their full arsenal of ninjutsu.


    <b>sh!</b>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Another strike from Kamizurunded, adding another wound to Hui’s body.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The situation was growing more precarious for Hui. Kamizuru had already familiarized himself with Hui’s sword techniques and was able to predict each strike with eerie precision.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Every time Hui attacked, Kamizuru’s eyes locked onto his de, reading his movements before they even happened.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Then, just as Hui swung his sword again, he noticed Kamizuru’s eyes narrowing, tracking the sword’s trajectory. This was the moment Hui had been waiting for.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Light Release: sh!"


    <span style="font-weight:400">A blinding white light exploded from Hui’s sword just as it descended, stunning Kamizuru.


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