Chapter 119: Hinata’s Resolve

This was no battle—it was a desperate struggle for survival.

Though Hinata’s team of three fought with all their might, they could only barely carve out a sliver of breathing room against the relentless onslaught of the Steel Man.

Thanks to Hinata’s timely activation of the Byakugan Echo, her perception sharpened dramatically, allowing her to react swiftly just moments before her two comrades were struck by fatal blows, pulling them to safety. The edges of her white eyes were already bloodshot, a testament to her constant vigilance and unwillingness to show the slightest lapse in attention.

Even so, the trio was relentlessly pushed back by the raging flames and furious winds, their space to survive steadily shrinking. Akamaru let out faint whimpers through his nose, his body trembling slightly—no matter how well-trained, even this ninja dog could not withstand such overwhelming pressure.

Kiba tightly held Akamaru in his arms, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. With a trembling voice, he exclaimed, “Where the hell did this guy come from?! How can he be so strong? What are we supposed to do?!”

At that moment, his heart was filled with fear and helplessness. The enemy before them was so powerful that despair threatened to consume him. For some reason, Kiba recalled a scene he once saw—a ninja cat toyingly playing with a mouse—and he felt that the three of them were exactly like that mouse, helpless prey to the cruel amusement of this monstrous foe.

Hinata moved with swift decisiveness, grabbing Shino Aburame by the collar and yanking her back just in time to narrowly evade a wind-attribute chakra blade. That razor-thin edge nearly severed Shino’s neck.

“Hold on a little longer!” Hinata shouted, her voice firm and resolute. “Hold on! Our reinforcements are coming!”

Once timid and insecure, Hinata had undergone a complete transformation under this immense pressure, becoming strong and resolute.

Just as she finished speaking, a flurry of urgent shouts came from behind: “Three genin over there! Get out of the way! We’re opening a path for you!”

Finally, eight Anbu black ops ninjas trailing behind Sarutobi Wato arrived at the scene.

Though Sarutobi Wato’s assault lasted only three minutes, to Hinata and her two comrades it felt like an eternity of three hours. Every second was saturated with terror and despair, their nerves stretched taut, time dilated unbearably.

Seeing the three genin under attack, the Anbu acted without hesitation, immediately deciding to break the siege around Hinata’s team. Years of teamwork forged an unspoken understanding between them; without much communication, they simultaneously formed hand signs in perfect synchrony.

“Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!” shouted a squad of four, their hands moving swiftly through the seals. Instantly, a powerful water jutsu was unleashed: a surging torrent roared forth like a raging dragon, striving to suppress Sarutobi Wato’s fiery onslaught. The entire forest was suddenly submerged, a breathtaking flood sweeping through like a tide of gold and jade. The surrounding searing flames were extinguished in an instant under the relentless rush of water, only wisps of smoke lingering in the air.

At the same time, another group of four Anbu formed hand signs and unleashed an earth-style jutsu. “Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!” they shouted, as a massive wall of solid earth erupted from the ground, firm and thick, separating Sarutobi Wato and the three genin.

With the coordinated support of the Anbu, Hinata and her team seized the opportunity to desperately flee beyond the reach of the fiery storm. Their steps were unsteady and hurried, hearts swelling with gratitude toward the black ops ninjas.

“Go, now!” the Anbu bellowed. “Leave the Death Forest and return to the village!”

“This Chunin exam is over!” another Anbu declared solemnly. “This is an order from the Hokage!”

“The Hokage himself is on his way! This situation is beyond what you genin can handle!”

Hearing this, the three dared not hesitate, sprinting toward the village without looking back. They knew their strength was insignificant in the face of this crisis; only by following the Anbu’s instructions could they ensure their safety.

They ran blindly, hearts pounding with fear and exhaustion.

At the forest’s edge, the trembling earth still pulsed beneath their feet, as if the whole world was shaking. Shino’s face was pale as paper, his breath ragged and uneven. As he ran, he couldn’t help but glance back at the flames rekindling within the forest. The roaring fire, like demonic claws, danced before his eyes, plunging his mind into a terrifying blank. His heart brimmed with dread and uncertainty—what horrors might come next?

Kiba clutched Akamaru tightly, as if the dog were his last lifeline. Muttering incessantly, “Run, run, we have to survive,” his voice trembled with raw fear. Akamaru sensed his master’s tension and nestled quietly, fearful to make even the slightest sound.

At the edge of the forest, Hinata suddenly halted, her gaze steady and resolute.

“You two go back to the village,” she said calmly and firmly. “I can’t enter the village. That guy is after me.”

In her mind, she vividly recalled the red glow that erupted from that man’s eyes when he saw her Byakugan—an ominous light that sent chills down her spine.

She understood all too well that this disguised enemy was terrifyingly powerful, far beyond what the Anbu could handle. She knew that if he pursued her into the village, he would unleash chaos without hesitation, slaughtering freely.

“I not only can’t go into the village,” Hinata’s voice quickened with urgency, “I have to lead him somewhere with fewer people.”

“You two return to the village. Inform every ninja you meet where I’m headed. If I don’t come back, don’t look for me. I won’t let you die for me.”

“What?” Kiba and Shino froze at Hinata’s words. Since the beginning of the chaos, fear had clouded their minds, and they hadn’t fully absorbed her rapid speech.

Looking back, the deafening roar from the forest had ceased. Hinata clapped each of their shoulders with urgency. “Go back! Go! Don’t come after me!” she urged, then vanished like lightning in an instant.

The two could only watch as Hinata’s figure sped away, moving quickly in the opposite direction from the village until she disappeared from sight.

“Hinata!” Kiba and Shino’s noses tingled, tears welling in their eyes. They gritted their teeth and clenched their fists, overwhelmed by helplessness and pain. In the end, they turned and ran toward the village, reporting everything that had just occurred to every ninja they encountered.

They cursed themselves silently, “A coward who can only watch his comrades die!” Their hearts ached with weakness and failure. They despised their inability to face the danger alongside Hinata, forced to watch helplessly as she confronted that formidable enemy alone. Their guilt and remorse were suffocating, the pain almost unbearable.