ALL NOVEL Chapter 7: 7
Chapter 11
Naruto vs Kazuo
Naruto stood with his blades crossed before him, their dark sheen reflecting Kazuo's confident smirk.
"Two blades, huh?" Kazuo chuckled, spinning his custom revolver on his finger. "You think a fancy weapon can match this?" He tapped the barrel, a low hum emanating from the gun as it charged with crackling energy.
Naruto remained calm, the shadows around his feet rippling unnaturally. "Well, I figured I'd try and make this entertaining for both of us."
Without warning, Kazuo raised his gun and fired. A bullet laced with glowing energy shot forth, leaving a streak of light in its wake.
Naruto was already gone.
Kazuo's smirk faltered as Naruto reappeared behind him, the air splitting with the sudden displacement. Before he could react, Naruto thrusted two fingers into Kazuo's back using a technique called Tsukiyubi. The force sent Kazuo hurtling forward, slamming into the ground with a cloud of dust.
Kazuo rolled to his feet, coughing but unfazed. "Fast. I'll give you that." He aimed again, firing three shots in rapid succession.
Naruto twisted his blades, spinning them in synchronized arcs. Bushōgoma. The bullets were intercepted by the swirling wind, the attack forming a growing tornado that surged toward Kazuo.
"A tornado huh?" Kazuo growled, leaping back. He fired a charged shot, the impact splitting the tornado but failing to dissipate the lingering force. Caught by the residual winds, Kazuo staggered, his footing faltering.
Naruto pressed the advantage, stepping into the shadows cast by a nearby rock and vanishing.
Kazuo snapped his head around, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "Hiding? You're gonna have to do better than that!"
A voice echoed from all directions. "Who said I was hiding?"
Kazuo's shadow stretched unnaturally. He looked down just as a blade pierced up from beneath him. He twisted out of the way, narrowly avoiding the strike.
"Kageoni," Naruto's voice whispered again. Kazuo found himself spinning, evading shadowy tendrils that lashed at him from all sides. Each step he took felt more precarious as the shadows seemed to follow him, shrinking his safe space.
"Enough of this!" Kazuo roared, throwing a small cylindrical device to the ground. It exploded in a burst of light, dispelling the shadows for a moment.
Naruto reappeared, standing on a nearby ledge. He rested one of his scimitars on his shoulder, looking unimpressed. "You're not bad at keeping your cool."
Kazuo smirked, pulling out another weapon, this one a sleek, rifle-like gun. "You're quick, but let's see how you handle this."
The rifle emitted a low hum before firing a concentrated energy beam. Naruto leapt high, dodging the initial blast, but Kazuo anticipated the move. He adjusted his aim mid-fire, sweeping the beam toward Naruto in midair.
Naruto spun, his blades glowing faintly as he activated Zangerin. A massive wave of energy erupted from his swords, colliding with the beam and splitting it in two. The resulting explosion sent both combatants flying in opposite directions.
---
As the dust settled, Naruto pushed himself to his feet, his breathing steady despite the strain. "You're full of surprises," he admitted, brushing off debris from his coat.
"You are full of surprises yourself" Kazuo
"Let's end this" Naruto
Kazuo raised his gun, eyes narrowing. "Finally, some enthusiasm."
Naruto stood still, his blades crossed in front of him. Shadows danced around him as he took a deep breath, the battlefield quieting.
"Daruma-san ga Koronda," he declared softly, his voice carrying an ominous weight.
Kazuo frowned, gripping his broken rifle tighter. "What kind of game is this?" he muttered, eyes darting around as the world seemed to shift unnaturally. Trails of Reiatsu snaked through the air, their glow eerily illuminating the battlefield.
Naruto began to move, his steps deliberate as he followed the path of energy left behind by the powerful Zangerin. Each step brought him closer to Kazuo, yet his form seemed to flicker, blending with the shadows around him.
Kazuo's instincts screamed at him. He aimed his weapon wildly, scanning the shifting shadows for any sign of Naruto. "Show yourself!" he growled, the tension in his voice betraying his unease.
The Reiatsu trail glimmered brighter as Naruto approached, his movements precise and soundless. Kazuo finally caught a glimpse of him, his silhouette emerging briefly from the shadows as he closed the distance.
"There you are!" Kazuo shouted, turning his head sharply to fix his gaze on Naruto.
The moment Kazuo's eyes locked onto Naruto's moving form, everything stopped.
Kazuo froze mid-breath, his body stiffening as an invisible force gripped him. His gun clattered to the ground as his eyes widened in realization.
"No... what...?" he gasped, his voice cracking.
Naruto's steps halted as he lowered his blades, standing just a few feet away from the paralyzed man. The air around them seemed heavier, oppressive.
"Game over," Naruto said softly, his tone lacking malice but carrying an air of finality.
(Rules of the game: if Naruto's opponent sees him approaching they die)
Kazuo's body trembled, his knees buckling as he fell to the ground. His breathing grew shallow, and then stopped altogether. The light in his eyes dimmed as his body slumped forward, lifeless.
Naruto exhaled and sheathed his blades. "A shame. You were a good player," he murmured, his voice almost regretful.
The battlefield grew still once more, the remnants of the Reiatsu trail fading into the ether as Naruto turned and walked away. The game had ended, and the victor was clear.
---
Chapter 12: Guy vs. Ryuji
Ryuji cracked his knuckles, each pop like a thunderclap in the tense atmosphere. He stood tall, his towering frame exuding raw power as he grinned wickedly. His eyes locked onto Guy, who stretched in preparation, the light in his eyes burning with youthful determination.
"Finally, someone who might actually give me a challenge!" Ryuji exclaimed, his voice brimming with anticipation.
Guy returned the grin, his pearly-white teeth gleaming. "I hope you're ready, my youthful opponent. Let us test the limits of our strength!"
Without warning, Ryuji lunged forward, the ground beneath him exploding from the sheer force of his takeoff. His fist swung down like a hammer, aiming to crush Guy in one blow. But Guy sidestepped with ease.
"Fast," Ryuji noted, his grin widening.
Guy didn't respond. Instead, he countered with a high-speed kick aimed at Ryuji's ribs. Ryuji raised his forearm just in time.
Trees swayed and leaves scattered as the two combatants exchanged blows, each strike carrying immense power.
Ryuji roared, a burst of chakra erupting from his body, creating a shockwave that forced Guy to leap back. The ground where Guy had been standing moments ago cracked and splintered.
"Not bad, but can you keep up?" Ryuji taunted, his fists glowing faintly as he focused chakra into them.
Guy landed gracefully, his expression calm but focused. "Youth burns brightest under pressure. Let's see how brightly you shine!"
Ryuji charged again, his skin shimmering as he activated his chakra-hardening technique. Each strike he threw felt like being hit with a sledgehammer, forcing Guy to stay on the defensive. Guy blocked and dodged with extraordinary agility, but the sheer force of Ryuji's attacks began to leave cracks in the ground and fissures in nearby boulders.
"Your taijutsu is impressive," Guy admitted as he backflipped to create some distance.
"And yours is just as good as they said, 'Green Beast,'" Ryuji replied, his grin never faltering.
Deciding it was time to turn the tide, Guy crossed his arms and focused his chakra. The air around him shifted as he activated the First Gate, then the Second, his body radiating an intense energy.
"Allow me to demonstrate the power of youth!" Guy shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
Ryuji's eyes narrowed as Guy disappeared from his sight. Before Ryuji could react, a devastating kick slammed into his side, sending him hurtling through several trees. He recovered quickly, rolling to his feet and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Ryuji bellowed, slamming his fists together, creating a burst of energy that leveled the surrounding trees.
The two warriors collided once more, their speed and power creating shockwaves that shook the earth. Guy's movements became more erratic and unpredictable as he unleashed the Morning Peacock(Asakujaku).
Ryuji weathered the storm, his hardened skin absorbing most of the damage. He countered with a devastating uppercut, chakra-enhanced to create a localized explosion. Guy twisted midair, avoiding the full brunt of the attack, and retaliated with a spinning kick to Ryuji's head, staggering the larger man.
Frustrated but exhilarated, Ryuji slammed his fists into the ground, channeling his chakra to create a massive shockwave that radiated outward. Guy leapt high into the air, avoiding the blast entirely.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Guy called out from above.
Ryuji smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that."
He propelled himself upward with a burst of chakra, meeting Guy midair. Their fists clashed, creating a deafening boom that sent both men flying back. Guy landed in a crouch, skidding to a stop, while Ryuji crashed into a boulder, shattering it.
Realizing that brute strength alone wouldn't be enough, Ryuji focused his chakra entirely into his fists, his arms glowing with an intense light. He charged at Guy one final time, each step shaking the ground.
Guy, now glowing with the power of the Fixth Gate, planted his feet firmly. He waited until Ryuji was mere inches away before unleashing the Morning Peacock once again, his fiery strikes overwhelming Ryuji's chakra-fueled assault.
As the barrage of punches landed, Ryuji's hardened skin began to crack, and his movements slowed. With one final shout, Guy delivered a spinning kick to Ryuji's chest, sending him flying backward. Ryuji crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater, and lay still.
Guy stood over his defeated opponent, his breathing heavy but controlled. He gazed down at Ryuji, who coughed weakly, a grin still on his battered face.
"You're... strong, Green Beast," Ryuji admitted, his voice hoarse. "I'll admit defeat... but that was the most fun I've had in years."
With a smile, Guy gave him a thumbs-up. "Your strength is undeniable, my youthful friend. But remember, true strength is not just in power, but in spirit."
Ryuji chuckled weakly before slipping into unconsciousness.
Guy turned, his usual exuberance dimmed slightly as he rejoined the others, ready to assist in the next phase of the battle. Despite his victory, he knew the fight was far from over.
Tbc