A Difficult Road Home 4

The rain fell harder, mixing with the blood soaking the ground.

Tetsuma adjusted his stance, feeling the sharp ache in his ribs. He exhaled, steadying his grip on Kusanagi, its blade crackling with blue lightning.

Ebizo, bleeding from the shallow cut across his chest, grinned beneath his mask.

"You Senju are dangerous up close." He raised his hand, the air around him beginning to swirl. "But let's see how you handle the wind."

Without hesitation, Tetsuma charged.

His Chidori-enhanced Kusanagi blurred as he slashed downward—but Ebizo was already moving.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"

A thin, invisible arc of wind chakra shot out from Ebizo's hand, clashing against Tetsuma's sword mid-strike. A deafening screech filled the air as lightning and wind violently repelled each other.

Tetsuma gritted his teeth as he felt his blade get knocked slightly off course. Before he could recover, Ebizo retaliated.

"Wind Release: Rising Cyclone!"

A whirlwind erupted at Tetsuma's feet.

With an explosive burst, Tetsuma was hurled into the air.

Damn it! He spun midair, barely managing to twist his body as shuriken laced with wind chakra came flying toward him.

He reacted instantly.

"Chidori Nagashi!"

A wave of lightning burst outward from his body, frying the incoming shuriken and repelling the wind currents keeping him airborne.

Tetsuma flipped midair and slammed his palm together.

"Chidori: Raijin Howl!"

From his extended hand, a concentrated blast of lightning in the shape of a wolf's head roared toward Ebizo.

Ebizo's eyes flashed with recognition.

Too late.

The moment he leaped away—the lightning wolf exploded, sending arcs of electricity scattering in every direction.

Ebizo grunted as his armor sparked violently, the static locking his muscles for a split second.

A second too long.

Tetsuma was already there.

A downward slash—faster than a thunderbolt.

Ebizo barely had time to react.

With a desperate move, he crossed his arms, focusing his chakra.

"Wind Release: Air Wall!"

A dome of compressed air erupted around him just in time—but Kusanagi's Chidori-clad edge tore through, shattering the defense like glass.

The blade sliced deep into Ebizo's shoulder, drawing a spray of blood.

Ebizo grunted but twisted with the momentum, driving his knee into Tetsuma's injured ribs.

Crack!

Pain lanced through Tetsuma's body, but he refused to give Ebizo an opening.

Before Ebizo could push the attack, Tetsuma grabbed his arm—electricity surging through his grip.

"Chidori Pulse!"

The moment his palm made contact, a powerful electric discharge shot through Ebizo's body.

Ebizo's muscles locked up for a brief second, his body twitching as electricity ran through his system.

Tetsuma pulled back, panting, but already forming more seals.

Time to end this.

But Ebizo—despite the burns, the deep cut, and the paralyzed muscles—grinned.

Tetsuma's eyes widened. Why the hell is he smiling?

Then he saw it.

The wind had changed.

Shit.

Ebizo's fingers barely twitched—but that was enough.

"Wind Release: Heaven's Guillotine."

The very air around Tetsuma turned into a spiraling vacuum.

Invisible wind condensed into a single, massive blade above him, forming a crescent of compressed air.

No time to dodge.

Tetsuma clenched his teeth.

Fine. I'll cut through it.

He raised Kusanagi high, Chidori coursing through it once more—but this time, something changed.

The lightning flared brighter. The very air trembled.

For the first time this battle—Ebizo's grin faltered.

"Chidori: Raijin's Edge!"

Tetsuma swung his sword.

A blinding arc of lightning erupted, splitting the falling wind blade in half.

The battlefield erupted in a violent explosion of wind and electricity, sending shockwaves in all directions.

Tetsuma landed in a crouch, his breathing ragged.

Across from him, Ebizo staggered backward, his body covered in cuts and burns.

The two shinobi locked eyes.

Both warriors were battered, bloody, and drained—but neither willing to back down.

Then, for the first time in the battle—Ebizo spoke with genuine admiration.

"You're a monster, Senju."

Tetsuma smirked, despite the pain. "Right back at you, Ebizo."

The storm raged on. The battle was far from over.