Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

Just as the two shadow avatars were about to begin their assault, they were met with an overwhelming flash of lightning, forcing them to immediately call off their attack.

"Whoa!" they both muttered, wide-eyed. They found themselves surrounded by a storm of thunderous energy. 

Kumogakure's elite shinobi had been lying in wait, unleashing a barrage of coordinated Lightning Release attacks that merged to create a nearly inescapable sea of electricity.

Faced with this electrifying onslaught, the two clones had no choice but to disperse themselves, dissipating into the lightning storm. 

Hui, watching from above, couldn't help but sigh. This was the advantage of overwhelming numbers: even basic lightning techniques, when combined at this scale, could produce a powerful "ocean" of lightning.

"If my defenses were a little stronger, I'd charge right through and tear into their ranks," he thought. 

At that moment, the idea of creating a new defensive jutsu took root in his mind—a technique to greatly enhance his resistance against such attacks. 

He thought of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode used by the Raikage, the Tailed Beast Cloaks of the Jinchūriki, and the Uchiha clan's Susanoo. 

Yes, developing such a jutsu would be a priority—but only after this war.

"Lord Hui!!!"

"Konoha will prevail!"

A resounding cheer erupted behind him. Konoha's shinobi were in a frenzy of excitement, their voices echoing across the mountain.

Witnessing Hui's power firsthand had stirred their spirits, turning their admiration into awe. 

They knew of his accomplishments, but seeing him repel nearly ten thousand enemy ninja on his own was something else entirely.

Even the clan leaders, including the head of the Uchiha clan and other prominent families, looked on with expressions of shock and exhilaration. 

This young man could drive back entire armies—this young man, they were certain, was destined to become the next God of Shinobi.

Meanwhile, back at Kumogakure's retreating base camp, morale was at rock bottom. The nearly ten thousand shinobi who had set out with such confidence to crush Konoha had been halted at the first pass by a single teenage ninja. 

In one confrontation, Konoha had taken no losses, while Kumogakure had suffered over three hundred casualties and two hundred injuries. Even worse, both their Raikage had been seriously wounded in the encounter.

Though the losses seemed minor, the psychological blow was immense.

In the command tent, the Second Raikage sat grimly, his face shadowed with anger. Every inch of his body stung as if needles were pricking his skin.

"Mochizuki Hui!" he snarled, his voice full of bitterness and frustration.

"Lord Raikage, what should we do now?" a Kumogakure ninja asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. 

They all realized the how difficult of a task it would be to cross Moonfall Mountain with Hui defending it.

"This so-called 'Konoha's Ghost' can unleash massive-scale jutsu with terrifying ease, and that terrain makes it even harder to reach him," another ninja murmured, frustration evident in his tone.

The Second Raikage furrowed his brow, thinking carefully. Finally, he turned to his commanders.

"Our setback today was due to our lack of knowledge about Hui's abilities. His jutsu was beyond our expectations. But let's remember—he's still just one ninja, not the God of Shinobi. Now that we understand his techniques, we can form a counter-strategy.

"First, we'll extend the battle lines. While Moonfall Mountain's geography is unique, we can deploy several units by sea to bypass the mountain from a distance. 

"Mochizuki Hui may be formidable, but even with his shadow avatars, he can't be everywhere at once. With him unable to guard all fronts, we can break Konoha's defenses bit by bit, gradually surrounding Moonfall Mountain from all sides.

"Second, we'll deploy our elite shinobi to keep him pinned down. By engaging him directly, we'll prevent him from supporting the battlefield or using large-scale jutsu.

"And third, let's not forget that we have our own powerful techniques. Our Jinchūriki can use Tailed Beast Bombs to attack from a distance, wearing down Konoha's forces gradually.

"Remember, we're in a war. Our enemy isn't only Mochizuki Hui, but the entire Konoha force. Mochizuki Hui alone may be a difficult opponent, but with Konoha's army involved, he'll be stretched thin. In the end, victory will be ours!"

The Second Raikage's firm words rekindled the spirit in the Kumogakure forces. 

The shock of Hui's display had stunned them, but as their leader outlined their next steps, they understood the possibilities. Though Mochizuki Hui was formidable, Konoha's combined defenses were not invulnerable.

"Victory to Kumogakure!" they shouted, their voices rising in unison as their confidence returned.

"Because our supply lines are under strain, I plan to lead our elite units tomorrow in a concentrated effort to keep Mochizuki Hui occupied. Once he's tied down, the main forces can press forward and capture Moonfall Mountain in a decisive strike," the Second Raikage explained. 

They needed to break through the mountain swiftly to avoid a crippling drain on resources. If tomorrow's attempt failed, then they'd consider dividing their forces.

As the Raikage prepared his strategy, Hui was discussing Kumogakure's likely responses with his own commanders at the Konoha camp on Moonfall Mountain. 

He anticipated the Second Raikage's strategies and explained his own countermeasures, organizing a series of defensive positions.

"Once Kumogakure splits their forces, my shadow avatars and I won't be able to cover all fronts," Mochizuki Hui said, looking at each of his officers in turn. "This battle won't be won by me alone. To protect Konoha, we'll need every one of us to stand our ground."

Hui's sincerity struck the Konoha shinobi deeply.

"Rest assured, Lord Hui," vowed a clan leader. "As long as I live, no Kumogakure ninja will get past my line!"

"Konoha is not only yours, Lord Hui—it belongs to all of us. We all cherish it, and we'll give our lives to defend it if we must!"

"We'll hold the line!"

"In this battle—Konoha will prevail!" many voices shouted, fully committed. Despite the grueling fight that lay ahead, their belief in victory was unwavering.

Unbeknownst to most, Hui had another strategy in place. 

Out on the ocean, Kakashi Sakumo and several ANBU squads were en route toward the Land of Lightning. They were Hui's hidden contingency, with one clear mission: to sever Kumogakure's supply line.

He knew that with nearly ten thousand shinobi, Kumogakure's resources would be strained. Once those supplies were cut off, it would cripple the enemy's endurance. 

With their supplies dwindling, even the mightiest shinobi would weaken—unable to maintain their strength, morale, and fighting ability for long.

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