As the music started again, Shunsui happily flash stepped to the new glowing circle that had appeared on the battlefield.
He moved with smooth and quick steps, reaching the safe spot easily before the others could react. His lazy smile stayed on his face the whole time.
Mukai who was bleeding still could not figure out how he had been slashed. He had not felt the attack until it had cut his shoulder deeply. Blood continued to flow from the wound, making his arm feel weaker.
All he could tell was that Shunsui's chakra was spread throughout the battlefield like a thin blanket covering everything.
Mukai used his byakugan to search for clues, but the source of the cuts remained hidden. He felt frustrated because the injury had come without any visible blade or strike.
Kisame too looked perplexed so Mukai was sure it was nothing to do with him. Both of them stared at Shunsui as he went to another glowing circle while the music played on.
They both looked at Shunsui going to another glowing circle as the music started. Mukai had a theory which he decided to test and before Kisame could react, he rushed towards the other circle with all his speed.
And as the music ended, it was Kisame's turn who was outside the circle to have a bleeding thigh. A deep cut appeared on his leg suddenly, causing him to grunt in pain.
Then the music started again, its tune picking up slightly as if encouraging them to keep moving.
Mukai finally realised what was happening even though how absurd it sounded. They were somehow playing musical chairs.
In the game there are always one fewer safe zones than players. 'The two circles to our three participants.' Mukai thought carefully about the rules.
'When the music stops, the last person is eliminated from the game but it seems in this version of game the person to not reach safe zone receives a slash to their limb.' Mukai thought this idea through step by step.
Kisame too seemed to have gotten on the same conclusion. He nodded to himself as he understood the pattern.
"But what kind of ability is this....is this his...kekkei genkai." Mukai mumbled while looking at Shunsui. He wondered if this strange power came from some special bloodline ability that Shunsui possessed. Mukai had never seen anything like it before, and it made him more cautious.
Mukai rushed at another safe zone as the music continued. Shunsui who was always faster with his flash step reached his safe zone first so they had to compete against each other for the last safe spot.
Kisame and Mukai fought against one another, trying to force the other out of the glowing circle.
Kisame could not help but ask Shunsui, "What is...your ability really?"
"Now now, you don't expect me to just reveal my ability. I might look stupid but I am not. You must be mistaking me for Obito that you beat in the previous round." Shunsui said with a playful tone.
Somewhere in the hospital, Obito sneezed loudly without knowing why, as if the mention of his name had reached him.
Kisame said, "Did not you say that you would be fighting us 2 on 1?" He reminded Shunsui of his earlier promise to take on both of them directly. Kisame felt that the game was making it harder for them to attack together.
"I am but it's not my problem if you want to fight each other for the safe circle instead of taking it from me." Shunsui said with a smile.
True, both Kisame and Mukai were fighting against each other instead of Shunsui because they knew Shunsui was a tougher opponent who had many tricks up his sleeve.
They knew that it would be more difficult to push him out of the circle than to fight one another for the remaining spot. They had to focus on surviving the game first before they could team up properly.
Mukai seeing that Kisame had been more injured, he decided that if he wanted the freedom from the Hyuga clan, he had to do much more than what he was currently doing.
He needed to show his true strength and break away from the limits others placed on him. Mukai adopted the gentle fist stance and looked at Kisame who was in the circle.
Over his palms, a lion head made of chakra formed on each of them.
"Secret Art: Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists." Mukai announced the name of the technique as he prepared to strike.
In the crowd, the Hyuga clan heir Hiashi could not believe his eyes. The Hyuga secret art and a very high level technique that even in the main branch only a couple people could use was being used by a child that was not even a part of their clan.
The other Hyuga members whispered among themselves in surprise and disbelief.
But Mukai was not done yet. "I am not a Hyuga.....so I am not restrained like them." Mukai said this to explain his next action.
He believed that because he was not bound by the strict rules of the main clan, he could improve the technique in new ways. In fact, he had already done so.
The lion's heads which were made of chakra turned orange as now fire chakra burned in them. Flames danced around the chakra lions, making them hotter and more powerful.
"Secret Art: Fiery Twin Lion Fists." Mukai had just added a chakra nature into the Hyuga art. Something that was thought to be impossible or never seen before.
The flaming lion heads roared with energy as Mukai charged forward. Even Shunsui could not help but look in surprise at that. "Yare Yare, even...I did not expect this. This game just become a lot more interesting." Shunsui said these words with genuine amazement in his voice.
-------Author Notes--------
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