LIGHTNOVELONLINE 102. Combat by the River: Hikari’s Escape Maneuvers
Before making his escape, Hikari swiftly employed a special sealing scroll to secure the body of the Hozuki Patriarch.
He planned to hand it over to intelligence specialists within his division later, as extracting information from the patriarch's brain was a primary objective of the mission.
Given the patriarch's high-ranking position within Kirigakure, his knowledge could provide critical insights into enemy operations and strategies, alongside Kirigakure's overall top-secret information possibly.
However, realizing that by now a clean escape was no longer an option as the enemy rapidly closed in, Hikari assessed his situation with a calm urgency.
Three Kirigakure jonins had positioned themselves on one side of the river, effectively cutting off several potential exit routes and cornering him.
Another trio appeared on the opposite bank, starting to weave hand signs and vocally demanding the whereabouts of their Hozuki Patriarch, their tone aggressive and demanding.
Faced with encirclement, Hikari quickly formulated a strategy. He understood that focusing his efforts on one group could create a necessary opening for his escape.
With a swift decision made, he surged towards the selected trio which were on the side of his escape route back to their part of the frontline. His plan was not just to engage but to swiftly overpower and decapitate this group to break through.
As Hikari made his move towards one side of the river, the three Kirigakure shinobi on that flank were quick to respond. They immediately capitalized on their environmental advantage, the abundant water providing a perfect medium for their Water Release techniques.
The first Jonin executed the Water Release: Water Fang Bullet. He skillfully manipulated the river water, forming several tightly compressed projectiles beneath the surface. These water fangs, highly pressurized due to their compactness, were launched with deadly precision and speed, spinning as they hurtled toward Hikari.
Simultaneously, the second Jonin used Water Release: Rising Water Slicer. With a swift hand gesture, he summoned a sharp, linear wave of water that surged from the riverbed. This blade of water shot forward with tremendous force, capable of slicing through solid rock, aimed directly at cutting Hikari off from his intended path.
The third Jonin opted for Water Release: Water Whip. Molding his chakra, he created a large, flexible whip made of water, which he wielded with expert control. The whip cracked through the air, designed to entangle or severely strike Hikari, further complicating his escape efforts.
These coordinated attacks showcased the tactical synergy of the Kirigakure shinobi, each using their mastery of Water Release to create a multifaceted assault.
The combination of high-speed projectiles, slicing waves, and entangling whips created a lethal barrier, severely restricting Hikari's movement and increasing the difficulty of his planned breakout.
In the face of the intense and coordinated Water Release attacks, Hikari knew he had to respond with equal force. Drawing deeply from his chakra reserves, he executed the most potent possible version technique, the Wind Release: Rotation, but with 15 meters in radius.
The powerful gusts of wind he conjured formed a protective barrier around him, spinning at high velocity to effectively deflect the incoming water jutsu.
With the immediate threats neutralized, Hikari quickly adapted his strategy to take the offensive. He dived into the river, using the water to mask his movements, alongside his tenketsu chakra control masking his chakra aura, and repositioned himself unexpectedly.
In a swift, fluid motion, he emerged from the water right in front of one of the Kirigakure jonins. Without hesitation, Hikari unleashed a barrage of Gentle Fist strikes, targeting the shinobi's chakra points with pinpoint accuracy.
As he delivered the strikes, he simultaneously applied micro Juinjutsu symbols that immobilized his opponent's chakra flow, effectively rendering him defenseless in mere moments.
Seizing the opportunity, Hikari enhanced his hand with Wind Release chakra, transforming it into a sharp, blade-like weapon. With a swift chopping motion, he decapitated the immobilized Jonin, eliminating him from the fight in a decisive, lethal blow.
Not wasting a moment, Hikari then turned his attention to another nearby enemy. Combining his Vacuum Blasts with Yin Release to weave a tai-genjutsu, he cast a binding illusion over the second Jonin, from the distance immobilizing him with a powerful force that disrupted his ability to perceive and react.
Springing forward with enhanced speed, Hikari closed the distance to the second immobilized Jonin. With another precise, Wind Release-enhanced chop, he swiftly executed the second opponent, mirroring the fate of the first.
With only one remaining opponent visibly rattled by the swift demise of his comrades, on this side, Hikari was determined to clear his path for escape.
He swiftly conjured two Celestial Rotation spheres, one in each hand. These spheres, dense with chakra and potent in their destructive capacity, were hurled simultaneously to both sides of the remaining Kirigakure jonin.
Upon impact with the ground near the shocked opponent, the spheres expanded dramatically, unfolding into full-blown Rotations. The powerful, spinning force of the Wind Release technique enveloped the area, shredding the last Jonin completely to pieces.
With the immediate threats neutralized, Hikari wasted no time. He activated his Byakugan to gauge the situation, spotting the remaining three jonins from the opposing bank launching their jutsu in a desperate attempt to stop him.
Despite the escalating danger, Hikari turned and sprinted towards Konoha's front lines. His chakra reserves were significantly depleted; by his estimate, only 30-40% remained.
This limited reserve meant he had just enough energy to make a narrow escape if he managed his resources wisely and avoided further confrontations.
Pushing his physical and chakra limits, Hikari used his fastest speed, weaving through the terrain with practiced ease, sounds of Kiri shinobi techniques and shouting eventually fading.
His mind was focused, calculating each step and breath, ensuring that every ounce of his remaining chakra was spent judiciously to maximize his speed and distance.
As Hikari raced towards the safety of Konoha's front lines, he mentally reviewed his performance in the skirmish with the three Jonins, in the end, 'grading' himself well.
His approach was methodical and calculated, reflecting his robotic efficiency and discipline in combat situations, alongside lightning logical thinking and movement speed and agility.
He critically assessed each decision made during the encounter, considering how he had managed his resources and tactics under pressure, did he chose the most optimal route.
Hikari acknowledged that he had expended a significant amount of chakra, opting for powerful, but high-cost attacks to resolve the confrontation as swiftly as possible.
This strategic choice, while draining, was based on a logical assessment of the situation: quick resolution minimized the risk of additional enemy reinforcements and lessened the overall duration of his exposure to danger and unforeseen circumstances in enemy territory.
He also reflected on his use of a diverse arsenal of abilities, which played a crucial role in securing his victory in his assessment. Hikari's combat style incorporated a broad range of techniques, from advanced taijutsu to complex ninjutsu and even elements of genjutsu.
This versatility was instrumental in outmaneuvering his opponents, who also had zero knowledge of the breadth of his skills, nor knew that they were even 'possible' in general probably, and thus could not even begin to anticipate his next moves. His first war, or even shinobi mission at all, in this life, was therefore generally considered a success in his opinion.
The only downside was that the enemy forces in general would now somewhat learn about his identity and skillset and could deduce many things about that if they were smart.
And it was not like he had any time to spare with dealing against the other three shinobi present there, nor disposing of the bodies of the shinobi he killed at that time, to prevent leaking info. But, Hikari knew that it was eventually bound to happen simply due to his strength as a shinobi. That was the fate that also followed nearly all the powerful shinobi.
