Fierce Fight
Alone, Senyu faced off against a Jonin and a Special Jonin.
This was Senyu's first battle against ninja of such caliber.
The shinobi he had ambushed and beheaded earlier wasn't weak either.
Judging from how Ouyouluo dodged and blocked his Second Form: Rice Soul earlier, Ouyouluo's speed was slightly inferior to Senyu's, but his combat experience was far superior.
Using that experience, Ouyouluo evaded three slashes flawlessly.
The fourth slash was unavoidable—but Senyu managed to pull back a step at the last moment, taking only a shallow cut across his chest.
Ouyouluo glanced at Atu Yi, and years of unspoken understanding passed between them.
"Cloud Style: Swift Slash!"
Ouyouluo formed hand seals swiftly, summoning lightning that crackled around him.
Senyu had been channeling Lightning Release chakra into his body to enhance himself throughout the fight, so Ouyouluo's lightning strikes were magnetically drawn to Senyu's energized form.
At the same time, Ouyouluo gripped his ninja sword with both hands, slashing toward Senyu with lethal precision.
Senyu deftly guided and dissipated the incoming lightning while raising his sword horizontally to block the strike.
Ouyouluo unleashed three consecutive powerful slashes, each carrying tremendous force that pushed Senyu back several steps.
As Senyu retreated, Atu Yi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him, swinging his sword in a surprise attack.
When the blade connected, Senyu's body shifted color—muddy and fluid—melting into a puddle of mud.
Atu Yi's pupils constricted sharply.
Earth Replacement?
When had Senyu formed the hand seals?!
Ouyouluo shouted, "Atu Yi, dodge—now!"
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Senyu appeared to Atu Yi's right, releasing several snakes from his sleeve that shot forward, coiling tightly around Atu Yi.
The snakes bit fiercely, injecting venom as they constricted him.
Simultaneously, Senyu's katana slashed toward Atu Yi's neck.
"Damn it! Shadow Lightning Thrust!"
Ouyouluo's body crackled with lightning as he surged forward, slicing through the snakes wrapped around Atu Yi.
He tackled Atu Yi and rolled twice to break free.
Atu Yi suffered only a graze on his shoulder from Senyu's sword.
Senyu's eyes narrowed.
As expected, the Jonin from the Cloud Hidden Village used Lightning Release chakra to activate their bodies—boosting speed and strength by at least one level.
But Ouyouluo's speed hadn't increased much; his strength was the true focus.
After saving Atu Yi, Ouyouluo warned sharply, "Atu Yi, this brat is dangerous. Don't let your guard down!"
Ouyouluo fixed a serious gaze on Senyu.
He recognized that move—the Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation—a signature jutsu of Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
Senyu formed hand seals and took a deep breath.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
He expelled a massive wave of roaring flames, engulfing the area like a sea of fire.
"Dodge!" Ouyouluo barked, narrowly evading the inferno.
After dodging the flames, he charged straight at Senyu.
"Lightning Release: Scattered Blows of Muretto!"
Ouyouluo concentrated Lightning Release chakra into his sword, causing lightning to flicker rapidly over its blade.
Once fully charged, the sword erupted with lightning, bombarding Senyu with a relentless barrage.
"Oh? Our moves are similar—let's see whose lightning is stronger!"
Senyu's katana pointed directly at Ouyouluo.
"Breath of Lightning, Fifth Form: Heat Haze Lightning!"
Blades of intense heat and crackling lightning erupted from Senyu's katana, raining down on Ouyouluo.
Lightning clashed violently—Ouyouluo's attack met Senyu's with a blinding explosion, illuminating the dark forest.
The lightning locked in a deadlock.
Ouyouluo was stunned.
How did this kid have so much chakra?
Moreover, Senyu's mastery over Lightning Release's shape and nature transformations surpassed his own.
A genius?
Ouyouluo had fought in the Second Shinobi World War and seen many prodigies.
Those kids often matched or even outperformed battle-hardened Jonin.
Compared to them, Ouyouluo felt mediocre.
At 27, he'd only just been promoted to Jonin.
His killing intent toward Senyu deepened.
He couldn't let this Sharingan-wielding brat live.
If left alive, Senyu would one day become a grave threat to the Cloud Hidden Village.
Ouyouluo gave up trying to confront Senyu's Heat Haze Lightning and rolled to evade the attack.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he closed the distance rapidly.
"Cloud Style: Flying Blade!"
His lightning-imbued sword flashed as it slashed toward Senyu.
Senyu countered with his katana, also charged with lightning.
The clash of blades rang sharply through the air.
Enhanced by Lightning Release chakra focusing on raw power, Ouyouluo was actually pushed back by Senyu's strike.
But as Senyu expected, Ouyouluo had a follow-up.
While retreating, Ouyouluo formed a lightning blade on his sword, slashing fiercely at Senyu.
The lightning blade collided with Senyu's katana, enveloping Senyu's body in electricity, sending a painful shock through him.
"Now's the chance! Atu Yi!"
Ouyouluo thought Senyu was paralyzed by the shock, the perfect moment to strike.
But Atu Yi didn't appear.
Turning his head, Ouyouluo's eyes widened in shock.
Atu Yi lay on the ground, half his body scorched by flames, twitching uncontrollably.
"What happened?!"
Atu Yi's speed should have been enough to dodge Senyu's Great Fire Annihilation. Why was he hit?
"Heh, it worked."
Senyu appeared beside Atu Yi with the Body Flicker Technique, grabbing him by the hair.
His cold Sharingan eyes locked on Ouyouluo, mocking: "Why would you think your lightning could paralyze me? Do you treat the lightning on my body like decoration?"
Only then did Ouyouluo notice Atu Yi's blood vessels darkening—his face drained of color.
"The snakes? That venomous snake from earlier?"
The snakes Senyu summoned with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands were venomous. As they bit Atu Yi, poison seeped into his body.
Because Atu Yi was poisoned, he couldn't fully dodge Senyu's Great Fire Annihilation and was knocked down, twitching.
Senyu pointed his katana at Atu Yi's neck, flashing a cruel smile at Ouyouluo.
"Don't worry... your turn is next."
Senyu mercilessly drove his katana through Atu Yi's neck.
Atu Yi twitched a few more times before going still.
Ouyouluo glared at Senyu, eyes wide with disbelief.
Senyu chuckled darkly, "Why are you looking at me like that? When you kidnapped Jiu Xinnai, didn't we already agree on endless hostility?"