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(One side of the battle)
At some point, Chen Xing had silently appeared beneath a massive tree. He raised one hand, and a dazzling arc of lightning crackled around his fingers — Chidori roared to life in his palm, its chirping sound echoing in the still forest.
Drip…
Chen Xing frowned. The liquid dripping from above wasn't blood, but plain water, falling from the branches.
"A Water Release user?" he muttered.
In the next instant, Chen Xing's legs tensed, and he leapt upward.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)
A colossal dragon-shaped torrent of water surged toward him from between the trees, jaws open wide to swallow him mid-air.
"Katon: Karyū Endan!" (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet)
Without hesitation, Chen Xing's hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals. A massive fire dragon roared forth, colliding with the water dragon at tremendous speed.
BOOM!!!
"Suiton: Suiryūha!" (Water Release: Water Formation Wall)
As the two dragons clashed, the explosive impact filled the forest with dense steam. The mist thickened rapidly, reducing visibility to barely five meters — even Chen Xing's sharp eyes could only see his immediate surroundings.
Clang!
Reacting instantly, Chen Xing's Raijin no Ken (Sword of Thunder) flashed into his hand, arcs of violet lightning dancing along the blade as he blocked a serrated blade that struck from behind.
"Hmph."
With a cold glare, Chen Xing channeled lightning chakra along the opponent's weapon. Sparks crackled violently.
Takada's hands went numb from the electric shock, nearly losing his grip on his sword. His heart skipped a beat.
He's using Lightning Release through his weapon?!
Chen Xing wasn't about to give him another chance. Lightning surged from his blade in a blinding flash, forcing Takada to retreat into the concealing fog.
But the man had forgotten — a sword is made of metal, and metal conducts electricity.
Zzzap!
The powerful current surged through Takada's weapon into his body, seizing his muscles. Chen Xing, standing close, was unaffected — his chakra control insulated him from the shock.
Yet in the next moment, Takada's body dissolved into a splash of water.
"A Mizu Bunshin?" Chen Xing narrowed his eyes. "Then… Fūton: Kaze no Yaiba!" (Wind Release: Blade of Wind)
He spun with the Sword of Thunder raised overhead, generating a fierce gust that condensed into razor-sharp wind blades. The slicing air shredded through the fog, forcing Takada to leap back.
Slash!
A crimson droplet fell to the forest floor, staining the leaves. Takada had been cut — his retreat too slow to avoid every blade. Though his large sword blocked most of the wind strikes, several slashes marked his body, the pain nearly making him stagger.
Chen Xing pressed forward, his body becoming a violet blur. The Sword of Thunder's lightning crackled with such intensity that Takada didn't dare make direct contact. He kept retreating, his expression shifting from defiance to fear.
Chidori Nagashi… no, this chakra flow is different… Takada thought, feeling the static in the air. This kid's control over Lightning Release is absurd!
Chen Xing's lightning flared brighter, bathing the misty forest in an electric glow. Then, with a burst of speed, he closed the distance.
"Raiton: Ikazuchi no Kiba!" (Lightning Release: Fang of Lightning)
The blinding strike tore into Takada. His scream echoed through the forest, filled with rage and unwillingness. When the light faded, his body was covered in charred wounds, blood flowing freely. His eyes, burning with hatred, slowly dimmed.
"I'd better store this quickly…" Chen Xing thought. Confirming the man was dead, he sealed the body into a storage scroll.
Clap clap clap…
The sudden sound of applause made Chen Xing stiffen. He spun toward the noise.
From the mist emerged a slender figure wearing a fox mask and a black ANBU uniform. Her long brown hair was tied tightly at the back, and the mask revealed only a pair of striking green eyes — sharp, confident, and undeniably captivating.
"You're… ANBU from Kirigakure?" Chen Xing asked warily. His instincts told him she was dangerous — and beautiful. If she could approach undetected, her skills were no less than elite.
"Oh? So you're the 'Peacock King' I've heard about. Impressive," she said with a playful lilt.
Chen Xing didn't answer, taking her words as confirmation of her identity.
Without hesitation, the woman stepped closer, slipping the storage scroll from her own belt. "Little brother, could you hand over Takada's body to me?"
"This is my trophy," Chen Xing replied firmly. "No deal."
Her smile didn't fade, but her tone grew sharper. "Then I suppose I'll just have to take it by force."
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