Chapter 106
<span style="font-weight:400">Since the Four-Fingered Hell Stab didn’t work on the barrier, Ai decided to increase the attack''s precision and pration power.
<span style="font-weight:400">This time, he raised his hand with only one finger extended.
<span style="font-weight:400">With a surge of chakra, an even more intense blue glow radiated from his fingertip, enveloping his entire body in ayer of crackling energy.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Swoosh!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">The sound of slicing through the air echoed as Aiunched himself forward, his speed so blinding that he seemed like a bolt of lightning streaking towards the barrier.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Crack!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">This time, even more cracks splintered across the barrier’s surface, spreading out like a massive spiderweb that stretched skyward.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Break already!” Ai roared, pushing his finger forward with all his might. But despite his efforts, the barrier held, still intact though strained.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Damn it!” Ai muttered in frustration as he stepped back, watching the barrier gradually begin to repair itself.
<span style="font-weight:400">Inside Uzushiogakure, the Uzumaki shinobi erupted in cheers. The barrier had saved them once again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just wait until the Leaf’s reinforcements arrive, Ai! Then we’ll see what you do!” an Uzumaki elder shouted confidently, seeing Ai forced to retreat.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cowards hiding behind a turtle shell! you think you’re so safe, huh?!” Ai snarled, before taking another stab at the barrier, so fast it startled the Uzumaki elder into retreat.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Keep trying if you want; your boasts mean nothing to me!” the elder retorted, annoyed.
<span style="font-weight:400">He left, but not without a lingering sense of unease—the Cloud ninja attacking their barrier looked like anything but human.
<span style="font-weight:400">“If this ‘Konoha''s Ghost’ from the Leaf is here, why hasn’t he shown himself?” Ai called out, hoping his voice would provoke someone within the vige intoing out to fight him directly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Come inside by yourself if you want to meet him! Or are you too scared to break down the barrier?” the elder shouted back, pausing briefly before retreating.
<span style="font-weight:400">The exchange only aggravated Ai further. No matter how much he pushed, it was clear the barrier wouldn’t yield to him alone. He took a deep breath, his mind racing.
<span style="font-weight:400">A few momentster, he saw a figure descending rapidly from the sky—ōnoki. He’d encountered simr difficulties on his side of the barrier.
<span style="font-weight:400">Even his Dust Release hadn’t been enough to break through the defenses of Uzushiogakure.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Having trouble too, huh?” Aimented as ōnokinded beside him. As much as Ai didn’t want to admit it, ōnoki’s Dust Release was arguably the most destructive attack in their group.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The Uzumaki’s barrier is more powerful than we anticipated. If we don’t do this together, we’ll be just wasting time,” ōnoki said, looking seriously at Ai.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fine, we’ll break this turtle shell together,” Ai replied, putting his irritation aside in favor of pragmatism. For the moment, he knew he needed to cooperate.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Come on, let’s join the others,” ōnoki said as he floated back up, and Ai followed along below.
<span style="font-weight:400">Before long, their forces were assembled. The Third Tsuchikage-to-be ōnoki, the Third Raikage Ai, the Third Kazekage, the Third Mizukage, Sunagakure’s senior advisor Chiyo, and the future leader of Takigakure all stood together, ready to break the barrier.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing this massive gathering of powerful shinobi, Uzumaki Suihei immediately summoned more n members to help reinforce the barrier, taking his ce at its core.
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, Hui remained at a distance, apanied by the Fourth Unit of the White Fang.
<span style="font-weight:400">Even from afar, ōnoki recognized him immediately.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Konoha''s Ghost… Hui,” ōnoki muttered with a hint of bitterness.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s been a while, ōnoki,” Hui replied, sizing up the group assembled outside the barrier. The sight took him by surprise—so many shinobi, each bound to be legendary figures in the future.
<span style="font-weight:400">No wonder theirbined chakra was so overwhelming.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is this the so-called Ghost of the Leaf? Doesn’t look like much—he’s just a kid,” the Third Kazekage sneered, eying Hui with disinterest.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now that Hui was here, their attention shifted from attacking the barrier to facing him. They had all heard tales of him and had studied hisbat record.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hui met the Third Kazekage’s gaze, arching a brow.
<span style="font-weight:400">This man, the so-called “strongest Kazekage,” would one day end up as nothing more than a puppet in the hands of Sasori—a tragic fate for any shinobi.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s with that look?” the Kazekage demanded, sensing an unsettling mix of amusement and… pity?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, nothing,” Hui replied, shaking his head as if lost in thought. “I was just thinking about certain people’s fates. It’s… well, not great.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The Kazekage’s eye twitched in irritation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Predicting our futures now, are we? How amusing,” the Mizukage chimed in. “Perhaps you should worry about your own future. As of today, you won’t be having one.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Hui nced over at the Mizukage, feeling a sense of curiosity.
<span style="font-weight:400">This man’s story in the original lore was sparse—almost nonexistentpared to the others. Yet here he was, standing alongside some of the most powerful ninja in the world.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re mistaken,” Hui retorted, keeping his tone calm. “My future couldn’t be brighter. It’s you who might want to be thinking about what lies ahead.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bold words, kid,” Ai replied with a scoff, his eyes zing with excitement.
<span style="font-weight:400">He wasn’t one for careful observation, but he could sense the strength radiating from Hui, and it fueled his eagerness to fight.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cloud ninja, am I right?” Hui responded, lips curving in a slight smile. “Well, you’re right about one thing—I intend to take all four of you down.”
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