Chen Xing swiftly formed a series of hand seals. In the next instant, a roaring hurricane sphere took shape before his mouth. With a sharp exhale, he unleashed it — and under the driving force of the wind, a ten-meter-wide Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique) erupted forward. The fireball merged with the gale, transforming into a blazing sea of flames that swept toward Shallow Well with terrifying speed.
"BOOM!!!"
Smoke and sparks filled the air as the violent inferno lit up the sky. The temperature surged sharply, and a shockwave of scorching air spread outward, burning everything in its path.
"Even if I die today, I'll drag you down with me!"
A furious, hate-filled roar came from within the sea of fire.
Sensing danger, Chen Xing's expression shifted. He leapt back swiftly and formed another sequence of seals. With a burst of chakra, a pair of crimson-violet wings of pure energy unfolded from his back, lifting him into the air.
"Whrrr!!!"
Suddenly, sharp earthen spikes — Doton: Doryūsō (Earth Style: Earth Spear Technique) — erupted from the ground, covering the battlefield in a deadly forest of stone thorns. The entire field became a trap of jagged spears, gleaming coldly in the fiery light.
"Hmph, an Earth Release trap?"
Chen Xing observed calmly, recognizing the pattern.
He had seen similar techniques during his past hunts against Iwagakure shinobi — though the scale here was larger, the principle was the same.
Gradually, the sea of flames began to shrink, smoke dispersing to reveal a half-spherical Earth Dome (Doton: Doryōheki), about four meters wide. Its surface was blackened and cracked from the intense heat, but still mostly intact.
"Crack…"
A fissure spread across the dome. The scorched earth collapsed, revealing Shallow Well inside — his armor charred and his body trembling. Even with Earth Release for protection, he had been badly burned by the combined force of wind and fire.
Then—
"Chidori!!!"
The cry of a thousand birds filled the air. Lightning erupted from Chen Xing's hand as he dove from above, his wings propelling him forward like a thunderbolt. His speed was so great that only an afterimage trailed behind.
"What—?!"
Shallow Well's eyes widened. He hastily performed hand seals.
"Doton: Doryūheki!"
The ground rumbled, and a thick earth wall — over two meters wide — rose up just in time to shield him. But it was clear he was already at his limit.
"Too slow."
Chen Xing's eyes flashed coldly. The lightning in his right hand flared brighter, and he drove his arm forward.
"BOOM!!!"
The Chidori tore through the earth wall like paper, lightning arcs scattering in all directions. Before Shallow Well could even react, Chen Xing's strike pierced through his chest.
"—!"
The expression of fear froze on Shallow Well's face. His eyes dimmed, and his tall frame collapsed with a dull thud, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
Chen Xing exhaled lightly, retracting the lightning around his arm. He crouched, checked the body for traps, and retrieved a scroll from Shallow Well's pouch. After confirming it was secure, he took out a spatial sealing scroll, and sealed the body inside.
Just as he was placing the scroll back into his gear pouch—
A chill ran down his spine. He froze, eyes narrowing toward the distance.
A group was rapidly approaching — their chakra signatures strong and distinct.
When Chen Xing focused his vision, his pupils constricted sharply.
Ignoring the three smaller chakra presences, his gaze locked on the towering figure at the front — a dark-skinned man with seven-sword holsters strapped to his back, a red rope around his waist, and the forehead protector of Kumogakure gleaming on his brow protector.
"That chakra... overwhelming. His skin, his attire... he can only be the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki — Killer B of Kumogakure."
Chen Xing's heartbeat quickened, though his face remained calm.
So even he's come... I didn't expect his chakra to feel this immense in person.
Killer B approached swiftly, followed by three others — his apprentices:
Karui, with her fiery red hair; Samui, the calm blonde kunoichi; and Omoi, the white-haired boy of about twelve.
The four landed, surrounding the scene. Karui's eyes immediately fell on the charred corpse lying beside Chen Xing.
"The shinobi from our village — Shallow Well — was killed by this guy? But he's so young…"
The three apprentices exchanged shocked looks. Chen Xing seemed barely older than Omoi, yet the body at his feet told the story clearly.
"Don't underestimate him," Killer B said with a grin, rapping his knuckles together. "Yo~ He's the Peacock King, yeah~ that rogue with wings that sting~!"
His strange rhymes nearly made Chen Xing laugh despite himself. He's exactly as the rumors say — ridiculous, but deadly.
"You… you're that guy?" Samui murmured, narrowing her eyes.
Chen Xing folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "Why are you here? Tracking your comrade's body, I assume?"
At his calm tone, the three genin glanced toward their sensei.
Killer B's grin widened. "Yo~, young man~. Hand us the body, we'll take it back to the village~ yeah~!"
"That's impossible," Chen Xing replied flatly. "He's my trophy."
Although he knew Killer B's strength was immense, Chen Xing's confidence didn't waver. Even if he wasn't an even match, with his speed and flight, not even the Fourth Raikage could easily catch him.
Karui frowned, snapping, "That 'trophy' is a Kumogakure ninja! You killed him here, in the Land of Lightning! His body belongs to us!"
Chen Xing didn't bother replying to her — his sharp gaze remained on Killer B, whose expression turned from playful to serious.
For the first time, both men's chakra flared subtly — a quiet but unmistakable tension filled the air.
"I see... guess there's no talking it out," B said, cracking his neck and taking a stance. "If you want to keep the body, you gotta earn it, yo~! Let's make it a duel of souls and steel, YEAH~!"
He turned his head and called to his students, "Yo~, step back, little bros — this fight's gonna blow!"
"Yes, sir!"
Samui, Karui, and Omoi immediately retreated to a safe distance, knowing all too well what their teacher was capable of.
Chen Xing smiled faintly. So that's how it is... perfect chance to test the gap between us.
The air crackled with anticipation.
B's grin widened. "Yo~, let's heat it up, kid!"
"Agreed," Chen Xing replied, his tone calm but eyes sharp.
"Let's see if the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki can keep up."
Without another word, Chen Xing blurred — lightning flickered at his feet as his body became a streak of violet light.
"Whrrr!!!"
In a flash, he appeared before Killer B, his hand wreathed in lightning.
The battle between Chen Xing and the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki had begun.
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