At that instant, Kazuo's face reddened. Veins popped on his temples as an indigo aura engulfed him. He made the Chinmaya mudra and unsheathed Raijin. "K–Kagero!" he said, pointing his chokutō at the Shadow king. "You'll pay for what you did!"
Raijin: Rakurai (Raijin: Lightning Strike)!
"Kazuo! W–" Asuka tried stopping him but he disappeared with a lightning stream tracing his path.
In a split-second, Kazuo shortened the distance between him and the enemy. A clank followed as Raijin and Kajin's blades collided. Sparks dissipated from the Lightning chokutō and Kazuo locked eyes with Kagemaru. "Step aside..."
"I'm afraid," said Kagemaru, standing in front of Kagero. "I can't let you do that... Inazuma Kazuo."
Meanwhile, the Shadow king perspired. "Shit…" he muttered, wide-eyed. "Thank you, son. That could've been me." He wiped his face. "Finish him!"
Kagemaru's body moved on command and charged. A yellow aura surrounded him as he held the Agni mudra. Wasting no time, he swung.
Kajin: Moeru (Kajin: Blaze)!
Kazuo parried the flaming katana using Raijin. As the blades clashed, he pushed against Kagemaru and the latter pushed back. He's strong... Kazuo thought, tightening his grip on Raijin with both hands.
Kagemaru swung at Kazuo again, and the latter crouched. Kazuo's counter followed immediately and the Shadow prince blocked it with a single hand.
Meanwhile, Asuka and Kagero had also started fighting. Asuka attacked Kagero with her knuckle dusters, to which he drew two kunai for defense.
"Kazuo!" said Asuka, blocking Kagero's counter. "Remember what I said!" She dodged another and landed her first hit on the King's gut.
Don't worry, Asuka... Kazuo looked back at his senpai and nodded. "I got you!" he said, advancing with a charged blade. I won't let them get to me.
"Right!" At least he seems to be holding his own against Kagemaru. Asuka turned to her opponent. "What's wrong?" she teased him. "No staff today?"
"Tch…" Kagero spat on the floor. "You think I need my bō against a kunoichi like you, Asuka-chan?"
"You don't know me!" Asuka reddened as she raised her fists. "So don't call me that, you pervert!" She landed a hook to his face, followed by an uppercut that sent him flying. This is for Taka-sensei!
☯
A loud bell tolled, calling every Shadow and Lightning ninja out. The sound left most people puzzled, as everything appeared normal. One group of foot ninjas led by an assassin scoured the perimeter wall. They reached the main sewer opening and found broken iron bars. The assassin instructed them follow him to Kazutaka's school.
A few Battalion Corps had arrived on the scene. While Shin and Mikoto brought them up to speed, Shadow ninjas swarmed the yard. The Shadow group was fifty strong, outnumbering the Battalions by over thirty men. Only a miracle could save them.
"Damn it," Natsumi whispered just as Hideo and Takumi joined them. We're so screwed.
The two intellectuals who had defeated their opponents looked like they had seen better days. As they weighed their odds without Asuka and Kazuo. It was a suicide mission. At that instance, the Shadows scattered around and encircled them.
"Mina-san (Everyone)!" Hideo faced the Battalion Corps. "Remember our fallen comrades! What would Lord Kazutaka have done? Would he cower in fear? Absolutely not! For six months we have let these people do as they please and now it's time we showed them what we're made of! Lightning ninjas! Ready your weapons! FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!"
The Battalion Corps screamed. Hideo's message had riled them up as they took up defensive stances.
"Archers!" said Natsumi, drawing three arrows from her quiver and loading them on her bow. "Ready!"
Five other bowmen also took aim.
"Loose!"
Torrents of arrows rained on the Shadows, bringing their numbers down to the forties. When the surviving assassins and foot ninjas got close, the Battalion Corps advanced. The war had begun.
Natsumi and Hideo took charge with long-range attacks. She led the archers while he hurled explosives and they kept dropping foot ninjas like flies. After shooting her last arrow, an assassin swung at Natsumi and she blocked with her bow.
Mikoto used air conduction to weave through the enemy lines, taking them out with her tantō. Foot ninjas are fodder but they're just too many. The real problem, though, are those assassins! Huh? From her peripheral, she noticed one overpowering Natsumi and broke her a foot ninja's arm. Turning to her senpai, Mikoto made the Vayu mudra and launched her short sword flying in a swift air stream.
Blood splattered on Natsumi from her opponent's neck. She nodded at Mikoto and wiped her face. Afterwards, Natsumi took the assassin's katana and defended her archers, who had run out of arrows.
Meanwhile, Shin led a group of Battalion Corps ninjas wielding katanas as they faced off Shadow swordsmen in heated kenjutsu battles. Within some minutes, the Shadow and Lightning ninjas were reduced to nineteen and eight, respectively.
☯
Kagero realised it was already daybreak. He glanced at Kagemaru before shifting his gaze upward briefly.
What's he planning? Asuka thought, studying him.
The Shadow King jumped back, creating a space between him and Asuka. When Kagemaru did the same, Kagero tossed a smoke bomb on the ground.
A white cloud exploded. As the smoke dissipated, Asuka and Kazuo locked eyes before shifting their gazes to the ceiling. The Shadows were on the roof.
"Let's go!" said Asuka and they gave chase. She led Kazuo to the rooftop along a short flight of stairs.
On arrival, the gentle snowfall from the cloudy sky gave off a chilling breeze. Kagero and Kagemaru stood atop the flat surface, readying their weapons.
"It's time we ended this..." Kagero tossed his kasa and haori aside, revealing bandages on his torso. He turned to his son and whispered. "Kuroku suru!"
On command, Kagemaru grabbed Kagero by the shoulder. The latter's shadow materialised into a black fluid, covering his entire body. "Let's see if your tekkō can punch through my shield." He broke his staff and charged towards Asuka.
The Lightning kunoichi blocked most of his attacks but for the few that hit, the pain was excruciating. She leapt backward and tossed a spherical object at Kagero. When the bomb exploded, it left him unscathed. It would be a challenge to break through his shadow armour with normal means. Out here in the open... She held her arm as it throbbed. We're at a disadvantage with their long-range specialties.
"Don't worry, Asuka-chan..." said Kagero, closing the gap between them in seconds. "I'll put you out of your misery soon." He swung at her, charging relentlessly as she took on the defensive.
Meanwhile, the battle of the princes also got heated. Kagemaru had sheathed Kajin and switched from conduction to projection. Using his guided spear attack, he chased Kazuo around the rooftop. He made an Adi mudra and the weapon froze midair.
Kage no yari: Hari hyaku-pon!
(Shadow spear: One hundred needles)!
The spear broke into several small pieces that dispersed swiftly. A torrent of shadow needles rained on Kazuo and he fled. He dodged and blocked a few whilst some pierced through him. "Argh!" he groaned, unable to ignore the pain. Facing these head on is out of the question. But I can try that... He made the Chinmaya mudra and stopped running.
Raijin: Seidenki (Raijin: Static electricity)!
An invisible spark streaked from Kazuo's chokutō, charging the air around his immediate radius. He pointed at the black needles approaching him. As they entered his static shield, they froze midair. He took a quick breath and exhaled visible steam.
Raijin: Kanden!
White lightning streaks traced the static shield in a lattice. As sparks exploded, the needles dropped on the rooftop. For a moment, Kagemaru was unarmed. Now's my chance! Kazuo, taking advantage of the fact–dashed towards the Shadow Prince in a flash.
By instinct, Kagemaru drew the fire katana.
Kajin: Onibi (Kajin: Demon Fire)!
An orange inferno exploded from Kajin's blade. Kagemaru advanced, meeting Kazuo halfway.
Ngh! Shit! Sweat formed on Kazuo's temple as he approached the flames and he grinned. While holding Raijin, he made the Varuna mudra and unsheathed a second sword with his other hand.
Sūijin: Nagare (Sūijin: Flow)!