"Captain, can he really be Tensei's opponent?" Akahana looked up nervously, worry filling her chest.
"In my memory, one-on-one, aside from Natsu and Hotaru in the village, none of the opponents he's faced could ever beat him." Tenma spoke, clenching his fists tightly. If he had the ability, he would've already dealt with this arrogant and self-important guy.
That guy only knows how to blame others, never reflecting on why no one trusts him. Isn't it just because of his strange and selfish temper?
"Then what do we do? Judging from this, Tensei seems to be pouring all the power of Kujaku Myōhō (Peacock Secret Art) into that kid. What if something happens to him? He'll be in danger!" Akahana said anxiously, unable to stay calm.
Everyone stared tensely at the sky. Shigeo remained calm as he faced Tensei. His hand seals were steady and unhurried, as if he hadn't put him in his eyes at all.
"Brat, today I'll show you my true power! I'll make you taste fear so deep your very soul will tremble until death!" Tensei roared, then shouted loudly:
"Kujaku Myōhō, Gō (Combination)!"
Behind him, the chakra wings shaped like a peacock suddenly merged together…
"That jutsu! Boy, be careful!" Akahana cried out in worry when she saw it.
At that moment, Tensei had gathered all his chakra into a concentrated attack with Kujaku Myōhō and unleashed a deadly strike at Shigeo.
If Tensei's earlier chakra blast at the Kairo had been the size of a giant jar, now it was as big as a house several dozen square meters wide.
It was more than ten times stronger than before! Could that kid really withstand it?
The massive chakra wave rushed forward like a wild beast, seemingly ready to devour Shigeo whole!
At that instant, colorful chakra patterns appeared over Shigeo's eyelids, and all the natural energy between heaven and earth surged into his body. His hands formed a seal:
"Senpō — Ōdama Rasengan! (Sage Art — Big Ball Rasengan!)"
Dozens of Rasengan, each as big as a fist, appeared at once!
Everyone who saw it came to one conclusion in their hearts: the boy would lose!
Dozens of small Rasengan versus Tensei's combined Kujaku Myōhō. Just looking at the difference in chakra size, the smaller one would definitely lose!
After all, he was still just a child. The fact he had held out this long already made him stronger than most.
On the Kairo, Tenma thought grimly that once Tensei crushed this kid, he'd attack everyone present.
By then, Tenma would just return to the village to report that they had all died in the mission. He'd remain alive, while the others would become sacrifices to his narrow heart.
But the fight raged on.
In the sky, the two chakra-laden jutsu collided like clashing bombs—one massive, one small. They met with dazzling light and a deafening sound…
"Kid…" Kimaru shouted in worry.
Everyone clenched their fists in suspense. The blinding light left them unable to see what was happening.
"Ahhhh!"
Suddenly, a scream rang out from the sky. "It hurts! It hurts!!"
That whiny voice could only belong to one person—Tensei.
He had lost.
His Kujaku Myōhō was destroyed by Shigeo's Senpō — Ōdama Rasengan, and two of his ribs had been shattered by the impact!
Realizing what had happened, Akahana leapt up in joy:
"He won! Shigeo won!"
She shouted and laughed, clutching Tenma's arm tightly, eyes brimming with excitement.
As the light faded, the boy floated in the sky spotless, the colorful markings gone from his eyelids. His gaze was cold as he stared at the one still screaming in pain.
"Akahana, are you with the Hoshigakure or the enemy? How dare you cheer for him?!" Tensei shouted angrily, clutching his chest.
"You just tried to kill all of us, and now you want to play friends? Don't think everyone's a fool but you!" Akahana shot back furiously.
Tenma sneered as well.
"Tensei, so that was your plan. I was wondering why you insisted on joining this sea mission. Now I see—you just wanted to settle your petty grudges. You're truly the most small-minded of men. Boy, even if you kill him, Hoshigakure won't blame you. Please, just do it!"
Even Tenma, normally quiet, raised his voice in scorn.
The other crew members joined in, shouting:
"Kill him! Kill him!"
Even one of the hidden pirates in the mist yelled:
"Kill him! He nearly ruined our haul with his stupidity!"
If he had destroyed the Kairo, their trip would've been wasted.
Shigeo turned to look at Tensei with a faint smile.
"This is what they call: 'Those who commit too many evils bring about their own destruction.'"
In a flash, he appeared before Tensei, grabbing him by the collar. The desperate man summoned the last of his Kujaku Myōhō, his fingers forming claws as he thrust at Shigeo's chest.
He poured every last drop of chakra into that strike, determined to kill him in one move.
Because of him, everything had failed. Because of him, he had become everyone's target, everyone's laughingstock…
"Ahhh…" Akahana gasped, covering her mouth in horror as Tensei's hand appeared to pierce through the boy's chest.
From every angle, it looked like he had ripped out his heart.
But then—Shigeo stood unharmed. As if nothing happened, he lifted a finger and pressed it against Tensei's forehead, shoving him straight into the sea.
Exhausted of chakra, Tensei could no longer use Kujaku Myōhō. He couldn't fly.
He plummeted into the waves, his mind swirling with unanswered questions: Why? He had pierced his heart—so why hadn't it worked? Who was he? What kind of power did he have?
The sea beasts below surged at the falling prey like mad.
"Save me! I was wrong! I don't want to die! Get away—AHHH!"
The moment he hit the water, one beast tore off his arm. His screams filled the sea—desperate, terrified—until they were drowned out by the frenzy of the monsters.
(End of Chapter)
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