Mutual Destruction

Squeak... squeak... squeak...

It sounded as if a thousand birds were chirping, rising in pitch from low to high, as silk-like lightning transformed into thick strands the size of a pinky finger, swirling and shooting violently through the air around Yuji. After a moment, a faint burnt smell filled the air.

The sharp stinging sensation that spread across his body made Yuji furrow his brow. He quickly realized that the lightning chakra he was emitting was too powerful, even burning his cells and skin. He immediately tried to reduce the chakra output, causing the thick lightning strands to slowly shrink back into silk-thin threads. They continued to stimulate his cells, but no longer burned him due to the excess energy.

The lingering smell of burning air made Darui realize something. He stared at the lightning threads wrapping around Yuji's body, identical to his own, and his eyes widened in shock.

Using chakra nature transformation to convert it into lightning to stimulate high-speed cellular division and activate the body—this was a skill not everyone could master. Even among the skilled lightning users of Kumogakure, only a select few could wield such a technique proficiently. Among them, the most talented was, of course, the Raikage.

However, the young Konoha ninja had only observed the technique briefly, and was already able to use it? This reality was almost too unbelievable to accept. But the burning scent in the air forced Darui to acknowledge it.

In just a short span of ten breaths, Yuji had tried and successfully utilized the technique, even correcting mistakes and nearly perfecting it in such a short time. It was terrifying.

As this thought crossed his mind, Darui's killing intent surged. Such a terrifying younger opponent would no doubt grow into a formidable enemy in the future. Now, however, this might be the only opportunity to easily kill him.

Stimulating cellular division can indeed increase speed, but it consumes a large amount of chakra. At most, he's just a kid, so his chakra supply must be limited. Even if I can't kill him with a fast attack, I can still wear him down by depleting his chakra.

Darui thought to himself, now viewing Yuji as an equal opponent and taking the battle more seriously. He knew reinforcements from Konoha were likely on their way, and he couldn't afford to delay any longer. With a flash of movement, he appeared directly in front of Yuji, a short blade wrapped in lightning poised to strike at his face.

Yuji saw the blade coming and immediately reacted, sidestepping it just in time.

Darui, seemingly having predicted this move, rotated the hilt of his blade as it missed, bringing the sharp edge toward Yuji's neck, attempting to cut horizontally.

Before the blade reached him, the cutting wind of the blade already brushed against Yuji's neck.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the cold gleam of the blade, and Yuji suddenly ducked his head to avoid the slash aimed at his throat. Then, with a quick movement, he sent a kunai aimed at Darui's wrist. Darui quickly reacted, kicking Yuji's wrist away and spinning around. With a twist of his waist, he swung his blade at Yuji's side, seemingly aiming to cleave him diagonally from his shoulder.

The strike was powerful and heavy.

Yuji, reacting quickly, adjusted his posture just in time and brought his arm up, using the kunai to block the blade. However, the force of the blow was immense, and Yuji's wrist instantly felt the pain from the impact.

Yuji frowned, realizing for the first time the difference between kunai and proper weapons. If he had a blade like Darui's, even with less skill, he could have defended himself better, relying on his superior reaction speed and coordination to hold off an enemy skilled in swordsmanship.

But now, despite successfully defending against every attack, the strain on his wrist was beginning to accumulate.

Even if my body can keep up with the reactions, I still can't win against him, can I?

The feeling of helplessness quickly faded as Yuji forcefully pushed Darui's blade away. As soon as Darui's short sword was deflected, it shot back toward Yuji's face with even greater speed.

Yuji's expression shifted. His feet pushed against the ground, his head tilting slightly backward as he quickly retreated with a swift step.

Shlick!

Blood splattered!

A deep wound appeared across Yuji's chest and abdomen.

Though his response and dodge were swift, he still couldn't avoid the strike.

The smell of blood filled the quiet night air, and Yuji, gritting his teeth in pain, staggered backward. The injury from the strike was enough to overwhelm him in the next series of attacks.

How can I win? How can I win?

His eyes burned with a frantic intensity as he focused on Darui and his bloodstained short blade. In the face of being utterly outmatched, how could he still win?

No, there was no chance of victory. None.

The only option left... was to take both of them down together.

Is this really all I can do...?

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Yuji's lips, his eyes growing more and more frantic, the madness within them fueled by a powerful unwillingness to give in.

I've won.

Darui coldly observed the deep, long gash on Yuji's chest, and he sighed in relief. Then, his gaze flickered with surprise. It was at that moment that he realized he had actually relaxed for a split second after landing a decisive blow, against a child, no less...

He raised his head slightly, taking a deep breath. With only a short blade in hand, he had walked over countless defeated enemies. But never had he felt such a fleeting, unsettling feeling. It almost felt like a hallucination.

No matter what, just kill him.

After a brief pause, Darui's body crackled with lightning, and the threads of lightning around his short blade became even thicker.

Shlick!

The faint sound of sizzling air echoed.

In an instant, Darui's figure vanished, reappearing right in front of Yuji. This was the speed borne from using up the last of his chakra. He didn't believe that, after being so heavily wounded, Yuji would be able to avoid him now. But he didn't know that, this time, Yuji had no intention of dodging.

The blue lightning was as bright as day, piercing through Yuji's eyes filled with madness. The short blade, wrapped in lightning, easily pierced his left chest. That was where his heart was.

The sensation of the blade slicing through his body sent a shiver down Darui's spine. He was almost pressed against Yuji's body, a cruel smile curling on his lips.

Go to hell.

His cold whisper reached Yuji's ears. Yuji's expression twisted slightly, and his lips trembled.

You... will go to hell...

Thrust!

Darui's satisfied expression froze, and an unbearable pain shot through his chest. For a moment, he was filled with disbelief and fear.

There was no time to think, and he let out a scream as he kicked out at Yuji with all his remaining strength.

Yuji flew backward, the blade pulled from his chest causing more damage as it was wrenched out. The intense pain caused him to scream even as he was airborne. Despite the agony, he kept holding onto the kunai that had slid out of Darui's heart.

Bang!

His battered body crashed into a tree, and after a brief moment of stillness, he slid down to the ground, leaving a thick trail of fresh blood on the bark.

How... could this happen?!

All the strength left Darui's body, the blood gushing from his chest. As darkness began to close in, his eyes locked on Yuji, who was slumped against the tree, holding onto the kunai with his head lowered.

I… in a situation where victory was certain, I was dragged down to hell by a child?

His confusion froze for a moment, and his bulky body crashed heavily to the ground. In a few moments, his crimson blood stained the green grass.

Yuji lowered his head and lifted his eyes to look ahead. He could clearly see the look of unwillingness and confusion on Darui's face as he died, and couldn't help but silently smile.

My heart isn't on the left side... I've won.

Blood poured from his wounds, and such injuries would undoubtedly kill him, even with his strong constitution.

In the end, he had won. But now, he had to face death.

As his strength faded and his body grew weaker, he could almost feel the hopelessness of his cells and the loss of his life force.

Yuji's face was filled with deep sorrow…

I don't want to die. I can't die, I can't die...

The air seemed to grow heavier with death closing in, and each breath became more difficult.

His will to survive consumed his mind entirely.

I can't die, I can't die, I can't die…

Slowly, Yuji raised the bloodied kunai, looking at his arm. His eyes flashed with the last remaining hope.

He had to try.

Minutes later, Minato and Kushina arrived.

As they saw Yuji leaning against a tree, they both felt a sense of relief.

It was then that Yuji's head, which had been lowered, suddenly tilted to the side.

Seeing this, Minato and Kushina immediately grew tense again.

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