Jinpachi gripped his Executioner's Blade, a powerful aura radiating from him. Natsuhi stood her ground, her hands flying through seals. Seeing this, Jinpachi sneered, "Not even moving? Are you in such a hurry to die?"
But as Natsuhi was about to attack, Jinpachi's gaze suddenly shifted to Kusuo, specifically to the sword on his back. His expression changed drastically. "How do you have that sword? Did you kill him?" he demanded, his eyes locked on Kusuo.
Kusuo, however, remained unfazed.
"Your opponent is here!" Natsuhi roared. In an instant, a sword forged from the Peacock Method shot forward.
"What?" Jinpachi was momentarily stunned by the chakra blade but quickly recovered, swinging his own massive sword to counter. "Die!"
The Executioner's Blade clashed with Natsuhi's chakra sword.
Clang!
A powerful shockwave of chakra erupted from the impact.
Crack!
Jinpachi's Executioner's Blade shattered.
"Aaargh!" Natsuhi screamed, her chakra blade continuing its path, unstoppably aiming for Jinpachi's chest. He hastily raised the broken remnant of his sword to block. Just as Natsuhi's blade was about to strike him, the broken sword intercepted the attack.
"Explosive Tag! Detonate!"
Seeing her attack fail, Natsuhi immediately slapped a modified explosive tag onto Jinpachi's face and retreated to Kusuo's side. "Lord Kusuo." She bowed respectfully, not looking nearly as battered as before.
Kusuo glanced at her and nodded in satisfaction. "It looks like it's not over yet."
Natsuhi looked up, surprised, and turned her gaze back to the heavily injured Jinpachi. As the smoke from the explosion cleared, a figure stood within.
"Heh, not bad. It's been a long time since I've had such an interesting opponent," Jinpachi said, wiping blood from his lips. The moment the explosion occurred, the healing power of the chakra thread had kicked in. After a moment's effort, he stood up straight. "Now I'll be sure to take your head!" he roared, charging at Natsuhi.
Though Natsuhi had the Peacock Method, her combat experience was no match for his. In their first exchange, his blade left a deep cut on her. As her blood dripped onto the Executioner's Blade, something unexpected happened. The broken sword began to absorb her blood, and the blade started to regenerate.
"How is this possible?" Natsuhi stared in shock and immediately fell back. But Jinpachi gave her no room to retreat.
"Woman, your reactions are too slow," he taunted, his blade relentlessly hacking at her, each strike aimed to kill.
"Peacock Method! Defend!" A shield of chakra instantly formed around her. At the same time, she found an opening to retreat further. "Fire Style! Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball shot from her mouth towards Jinpachi, engulfing him in flames.
"Water Style! Water Wall!"
Hearing the jutsu name from within the inferno, Kuroko, who was fighting in the distance, frowned. Even from far away, he could sense the powerful water-style jutsu being cast. A tall wall of water rose to block Natsuhi's attack. She quickly formed new seals.
"Fire Style! Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!" A volley of smaller fireballs curved around the water wall, continuing towards Jinpachi.
"Hyaa!" Jinpachi roared, bursting out of the flames, swinging his Executioner's Blade.
Natsuhi immediately formed a seal. "Peacock Method!" Chakra condensed behind her, forming two massive wings. Her body instantly took to the air.
"That woman..." Kuroko watched in absolute shock. "How can she..."
"She can do far more than you can imagine," Kusuo said calmly.
This was the first time Kuroko had seen the Peacock Method. "To be able to condense chakra into a fixed form..." His eyes were wide with amazement. All of his previous condescension towards Natsuhi vanished, replaced by respect and shock.
Natsuhi showed no signs of retreating. Jinpachi's Executioner's Blade was already swinging towards her.
"Lord Kusuo, should I go and help her?" Kuroko asked.