"How many enemies are left?" Hagumi Genshin asked.
His earlier bait operation hadn't been completely in vain — he had pulled off part of the enemy force — now he only hoped the pursuers still on their tail weren't too numerous.
"The ones still chasing us are about even with our number, roughly fifteen," the clan shinobi who'd answered earlier replied.
Being chased by an enemy of roughly equal size wasn't inherently unreasonable. On one hand, the enemy's average strength and stamina were higher and they could get reinforcements faster; on the other hand… Hagumi Genshin shook his head inwardly as his gaze swept over his people, and saw visible exhaustion and weakness on every face. In truth they no longer had the capacity for sustained combat — lambs being led to slaughter was not an unfair description.
Don't even talk about fighting; they couldn't even keep running properly.
"At least I managed to draw some of them off. Look on the bright side — at least we won't be flanked. In a few hours, the force we'll face will most likely be these fifteen." Hagumi Genshin thought for a moment, then sighed: "To maximize the chance of survival, we'll continue with diversionary tactics — have a few people draw the enemy away as much as possible."
Though he looked young, the clan trusted him. First, it had been his plan that had kept them alive so far; second, as clan chief he had already volunteered as bait once before — effectively risking his life for the clan — so there was no doubt about his commitment. He had ability, and he led by example. Even if his commands drove them into a desperate path, no one complained. He had done what had to be done; if their strength was so poor that they'd come to this, so be it.
"Chief, I'm still in decent shape. I'll take the bait this time," the shinobi who'd spoken earlier said immediately.
"Count me in, Chief," another stepped forward almost at the same time.
Two young men in their twenties stepped up, one after the other. Their names were Hagumi Isagawa and Hagumi Ryunosuke.
"Alright. The three of us will handle the diversion," Hagumi Genshin said without hesitation — he had little room for ceremony. He knew the two were among the stronger fighters left in the clan.
"Chief…"
"No more words. It's decided."
What they called a diversion mission sounded nicer than what it really was: a suicide mission. Genshin had already taken such a role once; there was no reason to insist on taking it again. Still, he stopped his clansmen from arguing.
This was not the time for sentimentality.
"Listen to my orders: for the next two hours, everyone recovers chakra. After two hours we move. Don't worry too much — I'm fairly confident in the plan."
No one believed the last sentence; it came across as little more than empty reassurance. In any case, they all found places to sit and began to prioritize chakra recovery as best they could.
Hagumi Genshin climbed onto a thick horizontal branch of a large tree and kept watch, scanning the surroundings and standing guard for the others.
One against fifteen was of course hopeless for him now, but one against five might be feasible. He wouldn't overestimate himself — until that day he had been an ordinary shinobi. Besides the Shadow Clone technique, he only knew a couple of low-rank fire jutsu; with that level of skill trying to face many enemies was a fantasy.
But circumstances had changed.
Genshin considered the coming fight. He "Zetsu-fied" his right hand and forearm, then lightly swung his arm. The bizarre happened: his arm seemed to pass cleanly through the trunk of the tree beside him.
This wasn't a space-time ninjutsu — it was Zetsu's "Ephemeral Technique" (Mayfly Technique).
Most White Zetsu active in the shinobi world at this stage aren't front-line fighters; they function as reconnaissance and intelligence assets, specialized for those roles. Individually they're relatively weak, but that doesn't mean they lack lethality. In fact, Zetsu's assassination capabilities were unparalleled — almost perverse. Perfect stealth, flaw-free transformation, soundless movement: Zetsu possessed abilities every shinobi secretly coveted.
Hagumi Genshin believed the name "White Zetsu Hero" would not be undeserved.
Two hours passed quickly. Genshin returned to the group and said, "Everyone, come shake hands with me one by one… Isagawa and Ryunosuke, stay for last… then listen."
They didn't know what he intended, but they obeyed and stepped forward.
As Genshin clasped each person's hand he spoke:
"From our encounters so far, compared to the beginning, the enemy's pursuit has grown less disciplined. When chasing broken remnants like us, they're taking on a cat-and-mouse, taunting attitude.
"So if we continue splitting up to lure them, they have a high probability of splitting as well to chase each group down and wipe us out piecemeal.
"They have tracking nin and they know none of us are scouts — we can use that against them…"
Genshin paused. At that moment the others weren't really listening to his words — every shinobi who had shaken his hand wore a strange expression.
When it came to Isagawa and Ryunosuke, Genshin took their hands in his left and right respectively. The instant their palms touched, both felt a sudden surge of chakra flood into them.
"What… is this?"
It was Zetsu's Spore Technique. With this jutsu he could absorb others' chakra and either use it himself or transfer it to a third party. What Genshin was doing was absorbing his clansmen's chakra and redistributing it evenly to the two who'd act as bait: Isagawa and Ryunosuke.
There wasn't time to explain the ability now.
"Here's the plan. Isagawa, Ryunosuke, and I will not hide; we'll split and draw the pursuers in three directions. Given the state we're in, the enemy is very likely to pursue separately — that gives us an opportunity to defeat them one group at a time.
"Isagawa, head to three o'clock. Ryunosuke, head to six o'clock. I'll take nine o'clock. Release your chakra fully — provoke but don't get into a drawn-out fight. Run. Run as hard as you can. Understood?"
"Yes, Chief." Both agreed without hesitation.
"Once I deal with the enemies in my sector I'll come support you, so don't act rashly."
Concentrating the chakra of a dozen-plus shinobi into two people would sustain them for a while. If Genshin acted fast enough and luck leaned their way, they might survive.
"The rest of you, hide deeper in the woods and don't reveal yourselves until the fighting is over."
After he said this, several people looked like they wanted to speak but fell silent. What could they say now? Ask, "How will the chief beat five enemies at full strength?" — no one could ask that.
They lived to seek life in death; all they could do was try their best and leave the rest to fate. That's what most of them thought.
Only Hagumi Genshin knew his diversion was not a simple death sentence.
They could not simply resign themselves to dying. He'd just drawn most of the clan's chakra into those two fighters — in the short term, the others would be defenseless. If the enemy discovered them prematurely, there would be a one-sided slaughter.
"Any more questions?" he asked finally.
Heads shook. Whatever happened next, they were mentally prepared.
"Good. Then…"
"Move out."