Chapter XXXVIII: A Cracked Stone
"There's one... two... three... and four," a brown-haired shinobi whispers under his breath, his voice barely audible. His long bangs nearly obscure his eyes, and the rest of his hair is tied into a short ponytail. A headband from the Hidden Stone Village is wrapped tightly around his bare left shoulder, the metal gleaming in the sunlight. His attire is standard for a Hidden Stone shinobi—a red tunic with one sleeve and mesh armor around his legs, offering a blend of practicality and mobility.
On the outskirts of the Hidden Stone Village, a pair of shinobi are on lookout duty. The brown-haired man is focused through a pair of binoculars, scanning the horizon, while his female partner lies beside him, nestled in a patch of grass.
"Are you sure? Let me see," she says, brushing her long orange locks behind her ear with a swift motion. Her tone is tense, her focus sharpening as she takes the binoculars from him. Without hesitation, she switches places, settling into his spot, her body low to the ground for better cover.
She peers through the lenses, her sharp eyes quickly catching sight of several figures in the distance. Their torn black cloaks flap in the wind as they move in their direction. She grits her teeth, beads of sweat beginning to glisten on her forehead. Her pulse quickens as she recognizes the faces—the Osore. And there, in the front, is their leader, Gyatsō.
"That's them, without a doubt," she mutters, her voice tight with urgency. "Hey, Daisuke, the white-haired guy in the front is their leader, right?"
"Yeah, and neither of us is strong enough to take him down," Daisuke replies, his expression darkening as he lowers the binoculars, still scanning the horizon for movement.
"Damnit!" she exclaims, frustration rising in her chest. "We can't let the Osore get any closer to the village. Lord Tsuchikage hasn't returned yet!"
Daisuke places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Madako. Lady Kaori is moving into position. She's going to ambush them with her blood jutsu. We'll back her up as much as we can, got it?"
Madako exhales sharply, her tension easing slightly at the mention of their powerful ally. "If it's Lady Kaori with us, then of course," she says, her voice more confident now, a flicker of hope cutting through the anxiety.
Daisuke offers her a small, reassuring smile before standing up. He swiftly performs a series of hand signs. "Reiji just went to alert the higher-ups that these bastards are finally here. Quickly, Madako. Let's get into position."
"Right behind you," she responds, already moving, her body coiled with readiness.
Meanwhile, Sebbech yawns lightly as he bounds forward, his green hair whipping around his face. He jumps on top of a large rock to gain a higher vantage point, squinting into the distance. The Hidden Stone Village is now clearly visible, and his lips curl into a smirk.
"This is it," the green-haired ninja mutters to himself, his eyes narrowing as he surveys the landscape.
"Sebbech!"
The sudden shout cuts through the air, a sharp warning. Before Sebbech can react, a line of blood wraps around his body with terrifying speed, solidifying into an unbreakable chain that locks his limbs in place. His eyes widen in shock as the blood hardens with a cruel finality, paralyzing him below the neck.
Frantically, he tries to struggle, but before he can even make a move, a powerful kick knocks him off the rock. He crashes violently into the ground, the impact stealing the breath from his lungs. The blood that had bound him now spreads, expanding over his body until it engulfs him completely, trapping him in an inescapable prison.
A red-haired woman steps into view, her presence commanding immediate attention. She wears a flowing pink kimono, its delicate fabric contrasting sharply with the fierce determination in her eyes. Her arms rest on her hips as she glares at Gyatsō, who barely spares her a glance, even after she effortlessly immobilizes one of his strongest subordinates. Her confidence is palpable, her stance radiating both strength and defiance.
"Hmm, so you're the Gyatsō Mataba everyone's so afraid of," she says, her voice dripping with disdain. "Very not nice to meet you. I'm Kaori Kuraiya. You better not take me lightly as you did my father." Her words hang in the air, heavy with implication.
Sebbech's eyes widen in shock, his body straining against the hardened blood that now constricts him. "Kuraiya?! Wait, this bitch is Ketsueki's daughter?!" he growls, his voice laced with fury. "Makes sense," he mutters through gritted teeth, his struggles growing more frantic as the blood tightens around him.
Hikari, standing nearby, observes the woman with a calm, analytical gaze. "She seems proficient with her Red Wing jutsu, just like Ketsueki himself," he remarks, his tone thoughtful. He offers her a weak smile, but Kaori—her name now clear—responds with nothing but an angry glare.
"Tell me, woman," Hikari continues. "Are you here to avenge your father?"
"Not at all," Kaori replies sharply, her voice cold and bitter. "Ketsueki abandoned us after I was born." She spits out her father's name as if it's a curse, her hatred for him evident in every word. "I'm honestly disappointed you people didn't kill him. Then again, he's a Kuraiya, so there isn't too much shock," she adds, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Hikari scoffs, his expression darkening as he glances over at Gyatsō. "Lord Gyatsō, I'll take down Ketsueki's daughter. Preserve your strength for fighting the Tsuchikage," he says, his voice firm and resolute. Gyatsō nods silently, taking a few steps back to observe the impending confrontation. Hide and Zuko follow suit, their movements deliberate as they give Kaori the space for what they consider a fair fight.
Kaori's eyes flicker between Gyatsō and Hikari, her jaw tightening as she begins to perform a rapid series of hand sign. Her mind races, calculating her next move.I can't count on those three to just stay there and be idle forever... especially Gyatsō, she thinks. I'll have to finish this as fast as I can.
Hikari steps forward, his demeanor calm but his eyes sharp with focus. He unzips the top of his cloak, revealing the intricate patterns of his battle attire. "I am Hikari Notori of the Osore," he declares, his voice carrying an air of finality. "You're in the way of our goals, so you will fall here. Your defeat will be in an instant."
"Actually, it's the other way around," Kaori retorts. In one swift motion, she pulls out a small blade and drags it across her thumb, drawing a thin line of blood. Without hesitation, she presses her bleeding thumb to the ground, her chakra surging as she activates her jutsu. "Red Wing: Spike Trap!" she shouts. Instantly, large, jagged spikes of hardened blood erupt from the ground, shooting toward Hikari with deadly precision.
Hikari watches the barrage of blood spikes approach, his expression calm but unimpressed. He shakes his head slowly, a faint sigh escaping his lips. "I take it back," he says, his tone dripping with disappointment. "Your use of the Red Wing is mediocre compared to your father's."
Before the spikes can reach him, Hikari's body flickers with a faint yellow aura. He takes a single step forward, his movements so fast they're almost imperceptible. "Speed Style... Flash Step," he murmurs. In the blink of an eye, he vanishes from his original position, reappearing behind Kaori with his hand resting casually on his hip. The air around him crackles with energy as his aura intensifies, a loud, thunderous roar echoing across the battlefield.
The sudden shockwave from his movement slams into Kaori, sending her flying backward through the air. Her eyes widen in surprise, but the shock quickly gives way to anger as she struggles to regain her balance. She twists her body, trying to right herself, but Hikari is already one step ahead. Before she can react, he's in front of her, hovering in the air with his hands moving in a blur as he performs a series of hand signs.
"Speed Style... Tiger Sonic Wave," Hikari announces, his voice calm but carrying an edge of menace. Kaori gasps as a flurry of invisible blows strikes her body with blinding speed. Though Hikari's fists appear motionless, the faint yellow aura surrounding him betrays the sheer velocity of his attacks. Each strike lands with brutal force, the impact reverberating through her body as she's pummeled relentlessly.
The assault ends as quickly as it began, and Kaori is sent hurtling toward the ground. Her body crashes into the rocky terrain, skidding across the jagged surface before coming to a stop. Dust and debris scatter around her as she lies there, battered and bruised.
Hikari lands gracefully a short distance away, his expression one of mild disdain as he looks down at her. He lets out a disappointed sigh, his hands already moving through another set of hand seals as he begins to walk toward her. "I was hoping for a more intense battle," he says, his voice tinged with boredom. "But I guess I am the one who said your defeat would be instantaneous." A smirk plays on his lips as he adds, "This is the end. I will relay to your father that I murdered his baby girl."
Gyatsō chuckles softly to himself, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. He's unsurprisingly pleased with Hikari's statement. The thought of Ketsueki suffering—both physically and mentally—brings him a twisted sense of joy. After all, inflicting pain has always been part of his grand design for the redheaded ninja.
"I'm talking to you, woman," Hikari says, his voice cold and commanding as he kneels over Kaori. He grabs her face roughly, forcing her to meet his gaze. Their eyes lock, and for a brief moment, Hikari's confident demeanor falters. He gasps lightly, his expression shifting to one of surprise.
In an instant, multiple threads of blood shoot out from Kaori's body, wrapping tightly around Hikari's limbs and torso. Kaori smirks, her face a mask of defiance as she springs up from beneath him. Blood drips from the numerous cuts on her arms and legs—the very wounds Hikari inflicted moments ago. She's turned her own pain into a weapon, using her blood to ensnare her opponent.
"So, you're using the damage from my Speed Style to attack me back," Hikari remarks, his tone calm despite the blood threads hardening around his body, immobilising him just as they did to Sebbech earlier. He stands perfectly still, his smirk never wavering, as if the situation doesn't faze him in the slightest.
"Arrogance is a germ," Kaori says, her voice dripping with venom as she holds her bloodied hand in front of Hikari's face. "And it just got you killed." Her confidence is palpable, but Hikari's reaction is anything but expected.
Hikari slowly closes his eyes, his smirk still firmly in place. "Speed Style: Teleportation," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.
Suddenly, his body is engulfed in a bright yellow aura, and in the blink of an eye, he vanishes. Kaori gasps, her eyes widening in shock as she jumps back, frantically scanning the area for any sign of him. Her heart pounds in her chest, the adrenaline surging through her veins as she realises she's lost sight of her opponent.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Hikari reappears at her side, a thin, gleaming sword in his hand. His left arm remains casually tucked into his cloak, as if he's completely relaxed. With a single, fluid motion, he swings the sword, the blade slicing through the air viciously. The sharp edge meets Kaori's right arm, cleanly severing it from her body.
Kaori's blood-curdling scream pierces the air, a sound so raw and visceral that it sends a shiver down the spines of everyone present. Her detached arm falls to the ground with a sickening thud, blood gushing from the wound. She drops to her knees, clutching the stump where her arm once was, tears streaming down her face as the pain overwhelms her.
Gyatsō watches the scene unfold, his smirk widening into a grin. He revels in Kaori's suffering, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. For him, this is more than just a battle—it's a spectacle, a demonstration of his minion's dominance.
Hikari stands over Kaori, his expression calm and composed, as if he's merely finished a routine task. The thin sword in his hand glistens with her blood, and he flicks it lightly, sending a few droplets scattering to the ground. "Arrogance," he says quietly, his voice carrying a hint of irony, "is indeed a germ. But it seems you were the one infected."
"Lady Kaoriiii!" a deep, masculine voice roars from the shadows, cutting through the scene like a blade. Daisuke bursts into view, lunging at Hikari. His fist connects with a loud crack, sending Hikari sprawling to the ground. Before anyone can react, Madako appears at Kaori's side, her hands already glowing with healing chakra as she assesses the severity of her ally's injury.
"No, you don't," Zuko says coldly, his Shaolin activating as he dashes toward Daisuke with lightning speed. The brown-haired shinobi grits his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he reaches into his ninja tool pouch and pulls out two kunai. With a flick of his wrist, he hurls one of the knives toward Zuko, the blade spinning through the air with deadly precision.
Zuko catches the kunai effortlessly between two fingers. He twirls the knife around his index finger before gripping it firmly, his eyes locked on Daisuke. As he closes the distance, Daisuke swings his remaining kunai in a wide arc, aiming for Zuko's neck. But Zuko blocks the strike with his own blade, the clash of metal ringing out as sparks fly. The two shinobi engage in a rapid exchange of blows, their weapons clashing again and again in a blur of motion.
Meanwhile, Hide slithers into view, his slitted eyes fixed on Kaori and Madako. Without warning, he drives his knee into Madako's chin, the force of the impact sending her flying backward. She crashes into a large rock in the distance, the sound of the collision echoing across the battlefield. Hide's tongue flicks out like a snake's as he turns his gaze to Kaori, his expression twisted with malice.
"Don't worry, dear," he sneers, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'll leave Hikari to deal with you. Your little friend over there, though? She's mine to play with." His cackling grows louder as he dashes toward Madako, his movements unnervingly fast. He slams into her with full force, the rock behind them cracking under the impact before shattering into fragments that rain down around them.
Hikari stands up slowly, brushing himself off with an annoyed expression. He glares at Kaori, his eyes narrowing as he takes in her condition. Thanks to her kekkei genkai, the bleeding from her severed arm has stopped, but the pain is still etched across her face. She struggles to her feet, her body trembling as she clutches the stump where her arm used to be. The agony is unlike anything she's ever felt, but her eyes burn with defiance.
"Bastard... you bastard!" she screams, her voice raw with anger and pain.
Hikari smirks, his tone mocking as he takes a step closer. "Oh... you don't possess that strange Curse Mark your father has, do you? So, there's no healing that, right?" he taunts, his words cutting even deeper than his blade did.
Kaori glares at him, her teeth clenched as she fights through the pain. "I'll pay you back soon, you understand me?!" she growls, her voice trembling but resolute. With a single hand sign, her body is suddenly surrounded by a swirl of small leaves. In an instant, she vanishes without a trace, leaving Hikari standing alone.
Hikari sighs, his smirk fading into a look of mild irritation. "That vanishing act has gotten annoying already," he mutters to himself. "Oh well. With an injury like that, she won't come back like Ketsueki." He pulls his cloak back up, adjusting it with a flick of his wrist, before turning to look at Zuko, who is walking back with a fresh slash across the bridge of his nose.
"You're already done with that guy, Zuko?" Hikari asks, his tone casual as he glances at the black-haired shinobi. Zuko nods, his Shaolin already deactivated. Hide returns as well, his movements smooth and unhurried, his body unscathed. Behind them, the lifeless bodies of Daisuke and Madako lie sprawled on the ground, their forms still and silent.
Gyatsō steps forward, his gaze fixed on the village in the distance. The sun glints off the rooftops, casting long shadows across the landscape. His voice is low and commanding as he speaks. "You three have had your fun, but now is the time to get down to business. That village is mine," he declares, his words carrying an air of finality. His subordinates nod in unison, and without hesitation, they all begin dashing toward the village, their movements swift and purposeful.
A wide smirk spreads across Gyatsō's face as he watches them go, his mind already calculating the next steps of his plan. But after a few moments, his first-level Shaolin suddenly deactivates, the energy dissipating like smoke. He clutches his eye, a sharp, searing pain shooting through it. His pace slows, and he grits his teeth, trying to push through the discomfort. When Zuko and the others notice and begin to slow down as well, Gyatsō barks at them, "Continue without me!" His voice is sharp, leaving no room for argument.
The pain in his eye intensifies, forcing him to stop completely. He tries to use his medical ninjutsu to heal the injury, his hands glowing faintly with chakra, but the effort does little to alleviate the agony. Frustration bubbles beneath the surface as he slowly removes his hand from his eye, waiting for his vision to return to normal. The world around him is a blur, and he curses under his breath.
"Greetings, Gyatsō Mataba," a masculine voice calls out from above. Gyatsō's head snaps up, his eye widening as he takes in the figure floating in the air before him. The man is small in stature, his presence nonetheless imposing. A green cloth is wrapped around his eyes, obscuring them from view, and atop his head sits the unmistakable hat of the Tsuchikage. In his hands, a glowing structure pulses with energy, its light casting an eerie glow across the battlefield.
Gyatsō's mind races as he recognizes the technique. The Particle Style?! Damnit, I can't do anything right now! His body tenses, but before he can react, the Tsuchikage speaks again, his voice calm and final.
"And farewell."