Earth Style — Great River!
Before the blue-skinned assassin could close in, Ryuuto slammed both palms onto the pavement. The ground buckled, then erupted into a roaring mudflow that surged straight at Nebula like an earthquake given teeth.
But she didn't stop.
Nebula launched herself upward, kicking off the cracked cement with cybernetic strength. Sparks snapped across her twin electrified batons as she flipped over the mudslide, descending on Ryuuto like a vengeful comet.
"You really are insane… fine. I'll cure that."
Snake-Hand Jutsu!
A serpent of chakra snapped from Ryuuto's arm, jaws wide, fangs glistening. Nebula barely crossed her batons in time—metal screeched, sparks flew.
BOOM.
The collision blasted both of them apart.
Nebula skid across the road, boots carving trenches through concrete. She rose with murder burning in her eyes, like she'd already engraved Ryuuto's name onto her kill list.
"Hey, blue psycho. Who the hell are you? And why are you after me?"
"The one who kills you," Nebula hissed.
Then she charged.
"Fantastic. Another maniac. Magneto didn't send you, did he?"
"You don't need to know. Jiang Li—no matter where you hide, you die today!"
More figures burst out from behind parked cars and alleyways—armed mutants, clearly her backup.
"Ah. So it's a whole circus."
Rasengan!
A Shadow Clone formed instantly at Ryuuto's flank, slamming a spiraling sphere of chakra straight through the first attacker. The man didn't even scream. He hit the ground with a hole clean through his chest.
Nebula's squad froze.
"W-what the hell is this guy…?"
"Trash," Nebula snapped coldly. "All of you go. Anyone who hesitates, I kill myself."
Her electric baton crackled as she lunged again.
"So majestic," Ryuuto said lightly, dodging her swing with minimal effort. "But you're out of your league."
"What was that!?" Nebula's voice cracked with fury. "Say it again and see if I don't rip out your tongue!"
Revolving Heaven!
Chakra blasted outward in a swirling dome. Nebula was launched like a rag doll, slamming into the ground, her batons sparking wildly.
"Take him! Kill him before he can breathe!"
The remaining mutants screamed and rushed in.
But—
fwshhhhhh—
Sand erupted like a living storm, swirling into a shield that blocked every attack effortlessly.
"What the—?!"
"Is he even human!?"
Ryuuto stepped forward, palm rising.
Sand Cocoons.
The sand wrapped each attacker, cocooning them instantly.
And then—
Funeral in the Sand.
BOOM.
The street trembled as every cocoon detonated into dust and red mist. Silence followed. Utter, final silence.
Nebula stared at the empty street where her comrades once stood.
"You… you killed them…!"
"Oh, sweetheart," Ryuuto said with a calm smile, "you came here to kill me first. Don't cry foul now."
Nebula shrieked, swinging both batons with enough voltage to melt steel. The concrete exploded under her strikes.
"Idiot. You think a few sparks count as lightning?"
Ryuuto's eyes sharpened.
"Let me show you what thunder truly looks like."
Lightning Style — Thunder Dog!
The chakra in his hands twisted into a snarling beast of lightning—fur made of sparks, jaws of crackling thunder. Sharingan patterns spun through it, amplifying the technique until the entire street glowed blue-white.
It lunged.
Nebula's eyes widened.
Her knees trembled.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"H-how—how is this possible…?"
She had no time to scream.
The Thunder Dog was already upon her.