Two elite Kiri Ninja squads were present, one of them concealed underwater.
Without hesitation, Noboru Hyuga launched a signal flare to alert their allies.
This flare was part of an agreement with the Uchiha Clan; upon seeing it, they would immediately dispatch reinforcements.
Given the Uchiha's speed, they could arrive swiftly after the signal was sent.
They had previously collaborated to kill a squad of Hidden Kiri Ninja.
But as soon as the signal flare was launched, several water bullets shot through the air and intercepted it.
Within seconds, the Hidden Kiri Ninja sprang into action.
"Defend and retreat!" Noboru Hyuga ordered decisively.
Although they numbered eight, their opponents were not only elite Kirigakure forces but also included members of the Hozuki Clan.
The Hozuki Clan's unique abilities made them impossible to counter.
Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
A colossal wave surged from the sea, its crests moving with lightning speed.
The wave alone would have been manageable, but the true danger lay hidden within it-the chakra signatures of Hozuki Clan members.
"Be careful!" Noboru Hyuga shouted, leading the branch family members into a retreat.
Though everyone possessed the Byakugan, he couldn't risk anyone losing focus.
But the warning should have been directed at himself.
Ao had targeted him from the start.
As Sowa fled, four figures materialized from the water, transforming into human forms.
Three of them used water as a medium, conjuring water bullets to attack the seven Hyuga clan members.
The remaining one formed hand seals, and judging by the seals and chakra flow, it was likely the Water Prison Technique...
'I can't get caught in that!'
Boom!
Noboru Hyuga spun rapidly, chakra erupting from his body to form a protective barrier.
But the Hozuki Clan showed no fear.
Upon being struck, they instantly transformed into liquid, their water droplets merging seamlessly into the surging waves of the Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
"Lord Sowa!"
The branch family members' eyes were filled with urgency.
Four Hozuki clan members.
These Hozuki clan members had mastered the Water Transformation Technique, rendering them immune to pressure point strikes.
The moment a strike landed, they would instantly liquefy to evade the attack.
The only way to counter them was to strike them down in an instant.
But that was easier said than done.
In water, the Kirigakure reigned supreme.
Who could possibly withstand their onslaught?
"Move!"
Noboru Hyuga moved with lightning speed and undeniable skill.
Even as the massive wave crashed over him, he used the power of his Eight Trigrams: Heavenly Rotation to hold back the water for a moment.
Then, with a powerful palm strike, he blasted through the surface and broke free.
Noboru Hyuga's skills were formidable, but unfortunately, his opponents had anticipated his every move.
As Noboru Hyuga emerged from the water, waves of chakra-infused water surged upward, trapping him within a watery prison.
"Excellent! Retreat!" Ao exclaimed, his face lighting up with triumph.
Capturing Noboru Hyuga, a member of the Hyuga main family, had been their primary objective.
Whether alive or dead, securing him or his Byakugan was all that mattered.
Capturing him alive was, of course, the ideal outcome.
Had Noboru Hyuga known the Hozuki Clan was involved, he would never have let his guard down so carelessly.
But upon reflection, he realized his own negligence had led to this predicament.
'If only I hadn't been so careless... No! I can't let my Byakugan fall into enemy hands.'
He unleashed a torrent of chakra, employing the Hyuga Main Family's secret technique: Eight Trigrams: Heavenly Rotation.
While the Water Prison Technique could restrain ordinary individuals, it proved no match for this defensive maneuver.
The surging chakra shattered the watery prison once more.
The remaining Hyuga members fired signal flares.
Boom!
As the signal flares erupted, the Hyuga forces panicked, scrambling to rescue Noboru Hyuga while scanning their surroundings.
The moment the signal flares appeared, four "Uchiha" materialized within their Byakugan's vision.
Just as Noboru Hyuga began to rejoice...
"They're from the Kirigakure!" Noboru Hyuga shouted, bursting through the waves.
Branch family members rushed forward to intercept the Hozuki clan members, willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the main family-the very purpose of the branch family's existence.
How tragic.
Yet Noboru Hyuga, stepping over the corpses of his "comrades," managed to break free from the Hozuki clan's encirclement.
"Kill me!"
After escaping, Sowa immediately ordered the branch family members to protect
him. His Chakra was completely depleted, and he couldn't even maintain his Byakugan.
Ao and his group closed in, nearly surrounding them.
But just then... Boom!
Raj leaped into the air, his body rapidly expanding to colossal size.
"Who's that?"
Ao looked up, his gaze piercing through the dense mist to discern the massive black silhouette blotting out the sky.
Even through the fog, the colossal beast was unmistakably clear.
"What?"
Noboru Hyuga stared upward in astonishment.
A cat?
In Konoha, the Uchiha Clan had a cooperative relationship with Ninja Cats, but they hadn't formed any formal contracts.
Apart from those Ninja Cats, only one remained in Konoha... But how could that single Ninja Cat possess such immense power?
The Hyuga members were stunned into silence.
Fortunately, one or two remained clear-headed and immediately dragged the main family's idiot away.
"Lord Sowa, we must retreat now!"
But at that moment, the water below erupted.
Countless seawater surged upward, coalescing into a colossal water monster.
Noboru Hyuga, trapped inside with his Chakra depleted, was unable to perform a third Heavenly Rotation.
"Withdraw," a voice boomed from within the water monster, as it swallowed Noboru Hyuga whole.
Raj slammed its paw down with a deafening boom, shattering the water monster and sending Noboru Hyuga crashing to the ground.
Though the water cushioned his fall, his condition looked hopeless...
At that moment, Water Dragon Bullets, Water Bullet Techniques, and a barrage of shuriken and kunai rained down.
Below, four members of the Hozuki Clan lurked.
A normal "giant beast" would have been overwhelmed by such a relentless assault.
Even Raj would have been brought to its knees by this onslaught.
In the blink of an eye, it canceled the Expansion Jutsu, reverting to its original size.
Only its tail remained enlarged, sweeping across the battlefield after dodging the Water Dragon Bullets and Water Bullet Techniques.
Needle Jizo, cat hair needles, and Raj's lightning-fast reflexes allowed it to obliterate the three Kiri Ninja at the front lines in an instant.
Ao managed to evade the strike, but only by fleeing the area entirely.
The Hyuga Clan Branch Family members dragged Sowa out, only to freeze in horror at the sight.
"This is too gruesome!"
Sowa's Chakra was completely drained, and Raj's blow had shattered most of his bones.