Chapter 161: Thunder's Roar

Some moments before...

"Where did you patrol tonight?"

A moment of hesitation.

Invisible to anyone else.

But not to him.

"To the southern district," the ninja replied. "Routine."

Shōgeki nodded slowly.

"Did you see anything unusual?"

The ninja remained impassive.

"Nothing."

Shōgeki didn't respond.He observed him. Analyzed him.Then, he simply turned and walked away.

But inside, his mind was already at work.

"Are you an infiltrator? Or are you just scared?"

He had to find out.

He didn't follow immediately. He waited. He let him act for a few hours.

He watched how he moved and who he met.

He saw that he wasn't himself.

Then, when the ninja finally left the residential area, Shōgeki followed him.

The ninja wasn't fleeing. He didn't move like a man on the run, but he didn't seem to be on patrol either.

He was going somewhere.

And that made him even more suspicious.

Shōgeki kept his distance, he waited for him to reach the isolated area of the port, then he started closing the gap.

The ninja never turned around,not once.

Not even when a distant noise broke the silence.

Why don't you check?, Why don't you care?

The answer was simple.

Because he knew someone was following him.

And yet… he kept walking.

Shōgeki tensed slightly.

You're good, but not good enough.

The ninja entered an abandoned warehouse.

Why here?

Too isolated. Too risky.

No one but a desperate man would take refuge in such a place.

And yet, he didn't seem desperate.

Shōgeki waited outside for several minutes. He didn't enter immediately.

He waited. He tested the air. He tested the silence.

Then he took a step inside.

Inside, the ninja stood still, back turned.

Too still.

Shōgeki didn't speak.

Silence was a sharper blade than any word.

The ninja turned around slowly.

And in that instant, Shōgeki understood.

It was a trap.

But it was already too late.

A shadow moved behind him.

A barely audible breath.

A blade aimed at his side.

Shōgeki reacted instantly. He spun around, blocking the strike with his kodachi.

But he wasn't alone.

A second attack came from the other side.

Hokujin.

A blade of water. Liquid, fast.

Shōgeki dodged by a hair's breadth.

But Kagerō was already there.

A blade of lava descended in a sharp arc.

Shōgeki threw himself to the side, but the heat scorched the air next to him.

"Too fast, Too many."

And that was when he felt something behind him.

A cold shadow. Silent. Precise.

Borei.

The blow struck the base of his neck.

Shōgeki collapsed to his knees.

The Fatal Mistake

Silence.

Borei observed him, impassive. Kagerō raised his sword for the final strike. Hokujin remained alert, ready to intervene.

Shōgeki said nothing.

Then…

A sound.

A roar of chakra.

The air filled with electricity.

BOOM.

A wave of Raiton exploded from his body.

The ANBU were pushed back.

Shōgeki slowly got up.

His eyes now incandescent. His smile, sharp as a blade.

"Did you think it would be that easy?"

The storm wasn't over. It had just begun.

- - -

The night exploded in bluish sparks and sharp gusts of wind.

The ground trembled under the blows as shadows danced between the lightning of Raiton and the red glow of lava.

Shōgeki didn't retreat a step.

He was wounded, yes.

But not defeated.

The Lightning Storm

In a flash, Shōgeki dashed to the side.

Lightning chakra surged through his short blades, illuminating his body like a menacing silhouette.

Then he struck.

His right sword sliced through the air, charged with Raiton: Raijin Shinken (雷神震剣, "Blade of the Thunder God").

Kagerō raised his lava-infused blade to block the strike.

But it wasn't enough.

As soon as their weapons touched, an electric surge exploded on impact.

CRACK!

Kagerō staggered backward, his arm numb from the shock.

Shōgeki didn't give him time to recover.

He spun, slashing with his second kodachi, aiming for Kagerō's side.

But another blade intervened.

Hokujin.

Their swords clashed, but instead of a solid impact, Hokujin's blade dissolved into water.

A false block.

Shōgeki realized the deception immediately and jumped back.

But in that instant…

BANG!

A Wind Bullet grazed his face, leaving a thin cut on his cheek.

Shōgeki didn't have time to think.

Another Wind Bullet followed, aimed at his chest.

"Damn it!"

He dashed to the side just before impact.

But the moment he dodged the strike, Kagerō was already on him.

Kekkei Genkai: Lava and Liquefaction

Kagerō thrust his sword forward.

The air filled with heat, and the blade melted into a stream of liquid lava.

Shōgeki raised an arm to shield himself.

The lava splattered away, but a few drops burned into his side.

Tsk.

Before he could react, Hokujin struck his back.

The blow seemed lethal.

But instead of piercing him, Shōgeki transformed into electricity for a split second.

Raiton: Hageshii Dengeki (激しい電撃, "Lighting: Violent Shock").

A blue flash erupted from his body, blasting Hokujin away, forcing him to roll back.

Hokujin landed, breathing heavily.

His body had absorbed part of the shock.

Shōgeki turned to finish him.

But…

BANG!

Another Wind Bullet shot straight at him.

Shōgeki deflected it with his sword.

But another came immediately after.

And then another.

And another.

He was forced onto the defensive, the Battle Wasn't Over Yet.

Shōgeki paused for a moment.

He finally understood.

Borei had no intention of fighting him directly. He wasn't letting him breathe.

Every time he tried to strike Kagerō or Hokujin, the Wind Bullets interrupted him.

They weren't defeating him with strength. They were wearing him down.

Shōgeki gritted his teeth.

"You..."

He turned toward Borei.

"You're the one keeping this fight going."

Borei remained impassive.

"No."

He slowly spun his wind-infused blade between his fingers.

"You're the one prolonging it."

Shōgeki exhaled through his nose.Anger boiled inside his chest.

 - - - a few minutes later - - -

The Air Was Heavy with Chakra and Tension

The ground was scorched by electric discharges.

The battle seemed almost over.

Shōgeki was injured.

But not defeated.

No.

Not yet.

Activation of the Secret Seals: Raiton - Kami no Kiba

(雷遁・神の牙, "Fangs of the Thunder God")

Shōgeki clasped his hands in a seal.

Suddenly, six black symbols on his body began to glow with electric blue light.

His muscles tightened. His pupils dilated. The air around him trembled.

Kagerō and Hokujin tensed.

"What is this feeling?"

Borei did not move.

But he watched.

Carefully.

Then—

Shōgeki vanished.

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