"Again!"Moonlight Gekkō's eyes blazed with excitement as he lunged at Natsume Yō once more.
Clang!Steel clashed in a storm of sparks. Both fighters grunted, their blades grinding against each other. Yō slipped back, yanking three kunai from his pouch and hurling them in a blur.
Forced to defend, Gekkō whipped his sword up, knocking the kunai aside. Yō seized the opening, surging forward in a blur, short blade stabbing straight for his chest without giving him a breath to react.
"What—!?"Gekkō's eyes widened, retreating fast, barely avoiding the strike. But Yō's gaze flashed cold light.
"Wind Body Flicker!"
He vanished, reappearing behind Gekkō. His short blade hissed like a viper, lunging for the kill. Every hair on Gekkō's body stood on end.
"Secret Sword—Moon Shadow!"
Gekkō's form blurred, his sword aura turning icy. In a heartbeat he was gone, replaced by a phantom streaking past Yō.
Shhk!Cold light slashed across Yō's shoulder, blood spraying. His pupils shrank as pain jolted through him, forcing a grunt from his throat.
But before Gekkō could celebrate, he froze.
Because in that split second of passing—Yō had spun, blade already pressed against Gekkō's neck. Just one step more, and it would've ended him.
"Moonlight Gekkō," Yō said flatly, pulling back, "looks like a draw. Let's end it here."
"Tch. So this is all you've got? I expected more." Gekkō sneered, sheathing his blade. "Fine. I'll call it a draw—for now."
His tone dripped contempt. "Back then, you managed to defeat Uchiha Yūsuke. And now? You can only scrape by with me—wounded. That's the difference between someone like me, born into a clan, and a nobody like you."
He shot Yō a pitying glance, smugness radiating from every word. "Train harder, Natsume Yō. Maybe, in a few years, you'll still be able to see my back."
"…Heh." Yō's smile was faint but sharp. "Relax, you don't need to worry about me, Moonlight Gekkō. You're right—you had a head start. But I believe effort can surpass talent. I'll break past the limits of so-called genius, and I'll become a shinobi greater than you could ever dream of."
"Hmph. Keep clinging to that hot-blooded nonsense. We'll see if your words amount to anything."With a final cold snort, Gekkō turned and left. Hyūga Setsuna and Hyūga Tenshin gave Yō one last glance before following him out.
"…Your strength was enough to beat him outright."From behind, Mizuki Chinatsu finally spoke. She'd seen Yō's true ability before, and his deliberate restraint baffled her.
"Why hold back? Why take the injury just to end in a draw?"
Yō exhaled softly, eyes steady. "Because in this world, you keep some cards hidden, or you don't live long. Unlike Gekkō or the Hyūga, I don't have a clan backing me. If I show everything, I won't last. Better to stay underestimated, and live to fight another day."