Aoki's body had not yet recovered when that dark figure shot forward like lightning ready to tear the sky apart.
"Kenjutsu: Raizume no Issen (Kenjutsu: Lightning Claw Slash)!"
The air trembled. The wind seemed to stop blowing. In a nearly invisible step, the wolf-masked man was in front of Aoki—his sword swung three times with the speed of a lightning flash. Three arcs of light curved through the air, each resembling a terrifying, blazing claw—shaped like lightning, echoing with the roar of electricity with every slash.
The flashes reflected in Aoki's eyes. His body trembled, his breath came heavy and ragged like someone just pulled from the depths of the sea. Aoki's muscles seized, and his face turned pale. He knew the attack was coming; he saw it—but his body refused to obey his will.
"Aaarrgh... Move...!" Aoki muttered hoarsely, as if he were praying to his own body.
But time was too short.
The first lightning claw slashed across Aoki's chest. From his right shoulder, it descended diagonally to the lower left. The sound of torn flesh and cracking bones was clear. The next two claws ripped through Aoki's arms. The sound of sharp metal piercing skin, the sound of blood spraying like a bursting pipe, filled the night air with wild, hot red splatters.
"AARRGHHKKK!!"
Aoki's scream shattered the air. His breath was cut off, his chest heaving wildly, and his body was pushed back a few steps before his knees buckled, nearly collapsing. Blood gushed from Aoki's wounds—staining the ground, soaking the grass, and slowly dripping from his trembling fingers.
Blood also flowed from Aoki's mouth. Warm, bitter, and felt like a blaze scorching his throat. He coughed violently, spewing dark red liquid onto the ground. Aoki's vision began to blur. The world spun, and the sounds around him turned into a rolling echo as if from the ocean's depths.
But Aoki could not fall.
"I'm not done yet..." Aoki murmured, almost inaudibly.
The Sealed Body—Aoki's rare inherited power that allowed him to recover faster than an ordinary human—began to work slowly. But even with that... the pain was too real. Too sharp. Too deep. And there was something far more disturbing than physical wounds—a feeling of discomfort, suspicion, and pressure that slowly gnawed at Aoki's mind.
Why is there still one more Root ninja...?
Aoki's eyes narrowed. His breath sounded rough. Sweat dripped from his temples, mingling with blood. His thoughts continued to swirl amidst the pain crashing down like storm waves.
Mei Terumi... what is really happening?
Why are they hunting Mei? And how could the Root ninjas know Mei?
These questions haunted him, forming a fog in Aoki's mind. But Aoki pushed them all away—shattering them with a single breath.
What mattered now was only one thing. To strike back. To destroy. To finish.
Aoki gripped the hilt of his sword tighter. His fingers were bloodied, but his grip was steady.
"Mizu no Kokyu: San no kata: Ryūryū mai (Water Breathing: Third Form: Flowing Dance)!"
Aoki moved.
And the world moved with Aoki.
Aoki's steps appeared light—like a leaf falling on the surface of water. But behind that softness lay a cold, sharp, and deadly intent to kill. Aoki's sword glided, weaving like a wave of water embracing its prey. The sound of rushing accompanied each swing—as if the river was singing along.
Aoki's face was flat. But his eyes sharpened. His breath was calm, rhythmic, like a dancer entering the final stage.
The masked man tried to hold his ground. The wolf-masked man moved quickly—jumping back, spinning his sword, exploiting every angle and gap.
Yet Aoki's movements were like the shadow of water—unhittable, unpredictable. One swing pierced the wolf-masked man's defenses, slashing his shoulder. Blood sprayed, staining his white mask. Another cut across his waist, causing the wolf-masked man to stagger.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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