The starlight brightened, the dappling dots shining brightly in the deep pools of the darkness. The trees rose in the forest, deeper oak and mahogany. The forest creaked and crackled, snapping twigs' sounds echoing in the depths of the forest. Water pooled beneath the trees, reflecting the stars in miniature. Flames rose through the forest, deep and bright and hot against the dark backdrop of the trees. In the distance, silver flame sparked across the forest, rising into the trees bright in the sky.
The spiders skittered back from the hand emerging through the earth, like a corpse rising from the earth.
Nōtō gripped Jōren's leg tightly, his glasses glinting. He tightened his grip on the appendage.
"How!? Can humans truly survive being stabbed through the heart?!" Jōren roared, shocked by the turn of events. He spun, clattering sideways around the pinned leg. However, he could not force himself to move sideways.
The villagers threw their arms into the air, cheering. Grasping their flaming torches, they charged into the spiders with a new fervor.
Kōju frowned. Well, I don't fully understand what just happened either. However, I suppose that's not especially important. Her small fist rose in the air. Grinning, she threw her fist upward. "Yes!" she shouted, cheering loudly. "Nōtō-sensei got him!"
Nōtō grasped tightly onto Jōren's leg. His lips curled upward. Of course I didn't just survive getting stabbed through the heart. Even someone as skilled as I am couldn't survive if I were pierced through the heart. What just happened occurred through an unusual principle of the creation of earth clones. Simply put, it's possible to create an earth shadow clone within the earth itself. The same is, naturally, true of the other elemental clones. It's just that an earthen clone can be concealed. So first, when I activated the summoning, I also created the clone in the ground. Then following that, of course, I used the substitution technique, replacing my body with the clone. Well, it fit in. I could accomplish that much, even with limited ninjutsu skills. I can win from here. Blood dripped down from his hand.
Jōren chuckled. The laughter echoed through the twisting forest path. "I got you, anyway. Even if you can survive, you can't keep a grip on my leg. Blood is famously slippery. You can't keep your grip like that." One free leg rose, repositioning itself in a place to aim toward the visible hand.
"Heh." Nōtō smirked. He slammed his palm against Jōren's leg.
"Eh?!" Jōren's eyes widened. The eyes reflected the image of the hand, pressing downward.
"Summoning Technique!" Nōtō shouted, his palm falling downward. An open wound crossed the hand.
A puff of smoke rose from Jōren's leg. The summoning seal rushed upward across the leg.
Jōren's eyes widened in shock, the crimson eyes staring at the seal. "Eh? What?!"
A massive, shaking black bear rose across the leg, roaring. The bear's head rushed forward, tearing into Jōren's chitin shell.
Jōren yelled, screaming with agony. The blood sprayed into the eyes.
"Heh." Nōtō rose up through the ground, his expression mildly amused. "I guess from here, the village can take care of the rest of these bandits."
"Sensei!" Kōju shouted, her expression cheery. Of course he won! Why should I be surprised!
Jōren's eyes blazed. Blood rushed out of the wound, spraying across the surface of the eyes. This man has spit on our competition twice already. This man has denied our freedom. This man is spitting on tradition and fairness. This man is not worthy of being called a warrior! His body glowed, chakra spilling outward from his legs. I didn't plan to use this ability. It certainly doesn't suit a battle between warriors, but if he insists!
Nōtō's eyes widened.
"Golden Spider Style: Lightning of the Heavens!" Jōren roared. Lightning crackled off Jōren's body, golden sparks flying off the body.
The bear puffed into smoke.
Nōtō turned slowly, his palms lifted. Heavenly Maiden Entry won't serve. What the hell is this creature doing? His glasses glinted as he stared at the body.
A mass of golden chakra spread across the sight of the glasses.
Nōtō's hands rose. "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!" he shouted, his hands weaving together rapidly into a series of signs.
A water dragon rose behind Nōtō, the water droplets gathering together into the form of the dragon. The water droplets shone in the reflection of the starlight, shining brightly.
If I can disrupt the lightning around his body, Jōren will be damaged. Perhaps it's enough to deal with this opponent. Nōtō's eyes narrowed. This isn't going to be enough, but it's something. He spat out the water rapidly.
A bullet of white water blasted forward, driving into Jōren's body.
Jōren's lightning built up, the energy gathering around the legs. Lightning coruscated across the surface of the plates. Jōren's plates rose, releasing the extending pressure.
Nōtō gritted his teeth.
Jōren's leg snapped outward, lightning-quick.
The villagers fell silent, a hush falling over their bodies. Their torches lowered.
The spiders, too, remained silent, but they advanced on the others, pressing their advantage.
Lightning crackled across Nōtō's body. His flesh darkened. His hands clenched, lightning crackling along the fingers rapidly.
Jōren's leg extended. "You are going to die."
The water crackled with lightning, sparks flying from the leg. Lightning sparks flew from the extended leg, bursting into the surface of the bushes and brambles. Flames rose from the darkness, started by the lightning.
"But I need to be quite sure. You humans have survived a great deal more than I imagined. You disturb me. The heart is most significant, and removing it should quite easily have killed you." Jōren's leg crackled with more energy. The energy extended from the blade leg.
Kōju sat motionless, her eyes wide. The image of Shukaku, the One-Tail, momentarily recurred, the image of the same demon emerging in her mind. Was she afraid? Did she feel fear?
Nōtō's face became serene. A strange look crossed his face. The glasses cracked, glass shooting out of the round spectacles. Shaking, his body collapsed after a moment.