As Aiko rushed to assist the others in the fight, the sight that greeted her forced her respect.
"No point in trying. I wouldn't last a minute…" she thought, quickly retreating.
Clad in black, a man wielding a short katana was locked in a fierce battle with Natsumi, the jonin leading the team.
Without a word, he lunged at Natsumi, his body moving with spectral fluidity, the blade's tip aiming for her throat in a silver flash.
Natsumi dodged by a hair, the katana grazing her shoulder with a menacing hiss. She countered immediately, her kunai slicing in a glowing arc toward the attacker's chest.
*Cling! Cling! Cling!*
Steel met steel in a strident clash, sparks flying. Seeing Natsumi block his attack without pause, he retaliated with a backswing, aiming to pierce her ribs.
In a graceful pirouette, Natsumi pivoted and stomped on his wrist.
*Hmm!*
A sinister crack echoed, but the man didn't falter, his leather mask concealing any pain.
He slipped away with macabre elegance, his blade carving deadly circles in the air. His kenjutsu was incredible—if Takeshi were here, he'd almost be in awe.
Natsumi parried swiftly, the blade's impact against her kunai radiating up her arm, before countering with a knee to the stomach.
The man grunted, bent under the blow, but in a desperate surge, he thrust his weapon toward her thigh. Natsumi leaped back, too late—the tip grazed her skin, a drop of blood pearling, red and bright under the moon.
"You'll pay for that," she murmured coldly.
Meanwhile, near the carriage.
"Stay inside for your safety!" Mei tried to convince him.
"You're all useless!" the man screamed, categorically refusing the girl's advice. "I want to see the woman in charge of my escort right now."
Waving his hands angrily, the VIP they were tasked with escorting—an elderly man with graying hair, his face etched with the weight of time—descended from the carriage.
He was making an unbearable ruckus. It was as if he wanted to reveal his position to the enemy himself.
"Eh… old man," Mei spat, losing all patience.
"How dare you! You know…"
Before he could finish, a hand grabbed his collar.
"Wh-what?!"
"Listen up, you decrepit fool. I don't care who you are. You'll shut your mouth and get back into that carriage, or I'll be happy to eliminate you myself…"
Seeing the gleaming blade and the cold expression on the girl's face, the man weakly swallowed and immediately calmed down, climbing back into the carriage without a word.
"What a tough cookie… I'm impressed!"
A voice echoed as a man casually stepped out of the shadows. His massive silhouette blocked the little light piercing through the trees.
Mei turned, eyeing the newcomer, seeming unsurprised. At the start of the battle, Takeshi and Natsumi tried to hold off the enemies while she and Aiko secured the VIP. On the way, Aiko was attacked by Daiki, leaving Mei alone.
"I was hoping for more of a reaction…" he continued, feigning sadness. His skin, hardened and scarred from years of brutal training, glistened with sweat. His eyes, small and gleaming with malice, fixed on Mei.
"You're disgusting…" Mei said nonchalantly.
A lewd smirk stretched his face, his voice oozing arrogance. "They all say that at first, but then they beg. You won't be any different."
His narcissism dripped from every word, each one tinged with perverse joy.
Mei curled her lips but didn't waste her breath responding. Guys like this—only blows could communicate with them.
Dog, cat, rabbit…
Mei struck first, her hands tracing seals with expert speed.
"Fūton: Wind Blade Rain!"
A storm of sharp gusts erupted, slicing through the air toward the man. The blades shredded the ground, reducing leaves to tatters and sending bark flying in splinters.
The man, unperturbed, charged through, his hardened skin deflecting the lighter blows. Blood trickled from superficial scratches, but he chuckled, savoring the pain. "That all you got, girl?" he taunted, closing the distance.
Mei dodged a fist wrapped in a chakra vortex slamming toward her. "Kid, I'm Gorou, the Flesh Wall,"
*Boom!*
The air roared, carving a crater where she'd stood.
"Just accept your fate, and maybe I'll spare you."
"Hey, four-eyes… shut your mouth!"
Mei countered, slipping close to him, her elbow smashing into his ribs. The impact shook her arm, surprising Mei—since he'd charged through her technique, she'd felt this guy wasn't normal, but his body seemed made of iron.
Still, her blow wasn't insignificant. She felt a crack. Gorou grunted, his massive hand reaching for her throat. Mei contorted,
"Body Replacement Technique!"
A log exploded, splinters flying, as she reappeared behind him, her breath steady.
"I'll just coat my kunai with chakra…" she thought, channeling chakra into her kunai. They weren't great conductors, but it was enough to end this fight.
A blue glow suddenly covered the kunai in her hands, reminiscent of Asuma's technique from the original work.
"Come on, you bastard!" Mei smiled, eyeing the man before her.