Kagura reached behind his back and untied Hiramekarei, the twin blades resting heavily in his hands.
Opposite him, Chōjūrō bent down and picked up Kabutowari, the massive axe-and-hammer still stained with blood. The chain rattled softly as he lifted it.
They walked toward each other through the thinning mist.
Chōjūrō's eyes carried regret—deep and unhidden.
Kagura's gaze, however, was cold, sharpened by a murderous resolve that left no room for doubt.
Nearby, Hebiichigo and Buntan Kurosuki shifted uneasily. One of their companions had already fallen. Instinctively, they wanted to move.
"Don't interfere."
Kagura spoke without turning back.
"This is between him and me."
Behind them, Shizuma Hoshigaki smiled faintly and raised a hand, signaling the others to stop.
"Let him," Shizuma said. "This is what he chose."
Buntan frowned. "The Mizukage's reinforcements will arrive soon."
Shizuma's grin widened. "If Chōjūrō dies here, who will dare raise a blade against us?"
Silence followed.
On the battlefield, steel clashed.
Kagura struck first.
Hiramekarei descended in a heavy arc, chakra surging through the blades. Chōjūrō blocked with Kabutowari's axe, sparks bursting as the weapons collided.
Most of Kagura's swordsmanship had been taught by Chōjūrō himself.
That was why Chōjūrō could read him.
The chain snapped outward, wrapping toward Hiramekarei, attempting to bind the twin blades mid-swing.
"Drink—!"
Kagura roared, chakra flooding Hiramekarei. The blades split apart, chakra forming a massive cleaving edge that tore straight toward Chōjūrō.
Chōjūrō spun Kabutowari's hammer end, absorbing the chakra slash with brute force while advancing relentlessly.
Kabutowari was cumbersome—but in Chōjūrō's hands, it was precise.
Strike. Withdraw. Chain snapped. Thrust.
Again and again.
Kagura was forced on the defensive, blocking with Hiramekarei as Chōjūrō's attacks began slipping through—his calf, shoulder, abdomen, dangerously close to the heart.
Gritting his teeth, Kagura expanded Hiramekarei with chakra.
Chōjūrō moved instantly, stepping inside the swing.
The hammer crashed down toward Kagura's leg.
Kagura stabbed Hiramekarei into the ground, halting the blow. The chain whipped toward his waist—
Blocked.
Metal rang across the battlefield, neither yielding.
Then—
Kabutowari's axe slid past Kagura's side.
An opening.
Kagura seized the chain barehanded, chakra reinforcing his grip.
Water bullets erupted.
Puff—!
Blood splattered as the bullets tore into Kagura's arm.
He didn't let go.
With a violent yank, Kagura dragged Kabutowari toward himself while swinging Hiramekarei with his free hand.
Chōjūrō's eyes widened slightly.
So he released it.
The hammer end flew.
Kagura braced, Hiramekarei raised again—
Boom!
The impact echoed like a bell tolling across the mist.
The moment Kabutowari left his hands, Chōjūrō formed seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A roaring cascade crashed down.
Kagura stood firm, Hiramekarei planted into the stone, holding against the flood.
Then—
Threads pierced through the mist.
Hebiichigo moved.
Her black filaments wrapped around Chōjūrō's torso, piercing muscle and flesh, suspending him midair.
Lightning followed.
Buntan Kurosuki slammed Kiba into the ground, electricity surging upward.
Chōjūrō grimaced, forcing seals with difficulty.
"Water Release—Waterspout!"
A spiraling column of water erupted, tearing the threads free and dragging the lightning skyward.
Chōjūrō dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
Chakra was running dangerously low.
That was when a massive blade cleaved through the waterspout.
Kubikiribōchō.
Chōjūrō barely escaped—only to hear footsteps behind him.
A figure loomed, raising Bakutō: Shibuki, explosive tags lining the blade.
"Die, Mizukage."
The ground split.
Explosions followed.
Boom—!!
Chōjūrō sealed himself into a water sphere at the last instant, but the blast still sent him flying, blood spraying as he slammed into the stone.
Shibuki came down again—
Another explosion.
When the smoke cleared, a crater remained.
Nobody.
"Did he die?" Hebiichigo whispered.
A cough answered.
Chōjūrō lay broken not far away, blood staining the ground beneath him.
Then—
A figure appeared beside him.
Purple hair. Calm eyes.
A kunoichi from Konoha.
Before anyone could react, she grabbed Chōjūrō by the collar.
"Summoning Technique… Nue."
The sky split with a roar.
A massive shadow erupted above, devouring the remaining mist as Nue descended, its crimson eyes blazing.
Hebiichigo froze.
A tail lashed out—
She was sent flying.
Sumire didn't even look at them.
She turned, pulling Chōjūrō away.
From the shadows, a man watched quietly.
"…Interesting," Deepa murmured. "This might not end as cleanly as I thought."
The battlefield trembled.
And the war had only just begun.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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