A kunai shot out from an unseen angle.
Neiki tilted his head slightly, letting it pass by his cheek.
That single exchange marked the beginning of a new round of bloodshed.
"Lightning Sword Technique: Lightning Strike!"
Lightning crackled violently along Neiki's blade as he charged straight toward Nara Suzaku, without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing the two collide head-on, Ao's eyes gleamed. Without a word, he signaled his subordinates to retreat.
Let Neiki grind down Konoha's strength first.Then Kirigakure would reap the harvest.
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
Suzaku's shadow stretched forward like a living vine, racing toward Neiki.
Neiki neither retreated nor changed expression.
Instead, he flicked his wrist and threw two kunai—each engraved with time-space marks—toward Suzaku.
"Tch," Suzaku clicked his tongue, calmly memorizing their positions while maintaining control over his shadow.
Just as Neiki was about to touch the edge of the shadow—
He vanished.
"Suzaku!" Yamanaka Masao shouted.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio had once served directly under Minato Namikaze. They had long prepared countermeasures against the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Their coordination was flawless.
Suzaku instantly altered the shape of his shadow, splitting it into two tendrils that silently coiled around the two marked kunai.
Masao formed his hands into a heart-shaped seal, chakra ready for Mind Transfer Technique.
Akimichi Sidō positioned himself slightly behind, muscles tensed—prepared to deliver the finishing blow.
If Neiki appeared near either kunai, he would be caught in a three-layered ambush.
It was crude.
But effective.
They tracked every marked location in the area, waiting for the instant Neiki reappeared.
However—
Neiki did not appear.
An unnatural silence spread across the battlefield.
Even Ao frowned and activated his Byakugan, scanning the surroundings carefully.
Then—
Screams erupted from Kirigakure's rear lines.
Agonized cries echoed one after another.
Ao's face darkened as he saw Neiki carving his way through Kirigakure's formation, bodies collapsing wherever the black sword passed.
"This bastard…" Ao snarled.
He immediately led his men forward.
Meanwhile, the Konoha forces watched in stunned confusion.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio exchanged looks.
"…Is he helping us?"
"Clearly not," Suzaku replied grimly."It looks like he intends to kill everyone."
Neiki's position was far beyond the range of Suzaku's shadow—and even if it weren't, Kirigakure wouldn't welcome Konoha's 'assistance'.
Watching Neiki rampage through the mist with his black sword, Akimichi Sidō swallowed.
"So… what do we do? Just stand here?"
No one could answer.
Why was Neiki attacking Kirigakure?
Bloodlust?Hatred?Or something else entirely?
"Let them exhaust each other," Suzaku decided at last."No matter what his goal is, this benefits Konoha."
"He's gotten stronger."
The voice came from Hayate Shirakumo, who had just disengaged from Samehada and now watched Neiki closely.
Years ago, Neiki had sought him out for swordsmanship advice.
Back then, the Twin Stars of Konoha had only just risen to prominence. Neiki, newly promoted to Chūnin, had asked about merging Gentle Fist with swordsmanship.
Shirakumo had considered it a waste of the Hyuga's perfect taijutsu—but he had been impressed by Neiki's resolve.
In the end, he secretly taught Neiki for a few days, letting him experience the fundamental differences between Gentle Fist and the sword.
Not long after, Neiki claimed he had abandoned swordsmanship.
Shirakumo had felt conflicted—relieved that Neiki wouldn't clash with Hiashi Hyuga, yet regretful that such potential might be wasted.
After Neiki's rebellion—and after Hayate Gekkō's death—those feelings had turned into grief and anger.
Now, watching Neiki move—
The truth was undeniable.
Neiki had never given it up.
His swordsmanship was refined, lethal, and elegant—clearly honed through long, secret practice.
He had succeeded where even Shirakumo once doubted.
Byakugan and swordsmanship, perfectly fused.
"…And someone like that defected from Konoha," Shirakumo muttered bitterly.
Ahead, Kirigakure's formation collapsed under Neiki's assault.
They weren't incapable of fighting back—but fear restrained them. Any counterattack risked cutting down their own comrades.
Neiki moved like a graceful, deadly bee, his black blade flashing with ruthless precision.
Kirigakure ninja—unused to such a weapon—fell like wheat beneath a scythe.
Only when Ao and Samehada joined the fight did Kirigakure finally regain some footing.
Outside the inner circle, Konoha and Kirigakure continued their chaotic battle.
But at the center—
The real battlefield revolved around Neiki.
A man who had nearly single-handedly ignited the Fourth Great Ninja War.
A severed Kirigakure arm tumbled across the ground and landed at Akimichi Sidō's feet.
"This fight is insane…" Sidō muttered.
Suddenly—
Nara Suzaku and Hayate Shirakumo both went pale.
"That arm—!"
"The force behind that strike—wrong direction!"
Before they could finish—
Neiki appeared beside the severed arm.
Smiling faintly, he drove his black sword straight into Akimichi Sidō's abdomen.
Sidō's eyes widened.
Blood spilled.
Neiki turned his head slightly, meeting Suzaku's gaze at close range.
With calm amusement, he asked:
"How's my combat awareness?"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789