"Bind!"
Even with death breathing down his neck, Natsume Yō's mind felt razor-sharp. His hands blurred through seals, and he snapped out a paralysis jutsu at Yūgyō.
"Die already!"
But the effect barely lasted a heartbeat before it shattered.
Slash!
The cleaver split Yō clean in half—only for the body to burst into splinters. Substitution. The real Yō was already ten meters behind his foe.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter!"
His seals finished, Yō unleashed a blade of wind that screamed toward Yūgyō.
"Shit—!"
The rogue-nin spun, cleaver raised in desperation.
Clang!
The wind blade smashed into steel, the impact ringing sharp as Yūgyō staggered back several steps, his face tight.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Yō was already on him, spinning in with a whip kick that cracked against his chest.
Thud—crack!
Blood sprayed as Yūgyō was hurled backward, shock flashing in his one good eye. He hadn't expected such ruthless timing from a kid.
"Explosive Tag!"
Yō's eyes lit cold. He slapped a tag onto a kunai, hurled it—and detonated before it even reached.
BOOM!
The night ripped open in fire and thunder. Earth shook, smoke churned.
"It's over, Yūgyō-san."
Yō darted through the haze, kunai aimed for the man's throat—
—but a sudden gleam filled his vision.
Too close—!
Steel ripped through his chest, hot blood bursting as the cleaver skewered him.
"I… let my guard down…!"
Pain roared, but Yō forced his hands through seals anyway. His voice rasped: "Bind!"
Yūgyō froze just long enough for Yō to wrench himself free, staggering back ten meters before collapsing to one knee.
Guh—! Blood splattered from his mouth, his face pale as paper. The blade had missed his heart by a hair's breadth—but he was fading fast, body trembling, every breath heavier than the last.
"Heh… brat, I admit it—you're tougher than I thought."
Yūgyō stumbled out of the flames, burned, bloodied, eyes glowing red with killing intent. He looked like a demon crawling from hell. Step by step, he raised his cleaver high, looming over the kneeling Yō.
"But this ends now."
The blade fell—
"System! Exchange: Holy Healing Shield!!"
Shing!
A radiant shield of light erupted from Yō's battered body, intercepting the killing blow with a deafening crash. Sparks of divine energy rippled out, forcing Yūgyō back in shock.
"What—!?"
He hadn't expected another trump card. His face twisted as he stumbled away.
"Exchange: Holy Healing Potion!"
The shield faded, and Yō immediately materialized a glowing vial. He downed it in one gulp, warmth flooding his veins. His ragged breathing steadied.
He exhaled, lips curling into a bitter grin. "One gold coin left… tsk. Almost paid with my life for being broke."