The night was as dark as ink, the clear moonlight spilling over the battlefield, illuminating the glints of cold steel flashing during the clashing of swords. The air was thick with the smell of blood and iron. Heavy breathing and the ringing of metal intertwined, composing a symphony of death.
Kazuki Hidehiro's long sword sliced through the night sky, its keen edge whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Hyogoro's throat. The head of the Kazuki clan had eyes as sharp as a hawk's; the blade gleamed with a soul-chilling cold light under the moon.
Hyogoro retreated half a step with practiced ease, his own long sword parrying precisely. The clash of steel sent out dazzling sparks, illuminating both men's grim faces.
"It's been a few years, but your swordsmanship has improved quite a bit," Hyogoro said gravely, a note of both appreciation and wariness in his voice. With a twist of his wrist, he deftly deflected the other's fierce attack. As a yakuza boss, Hyogoro's combat experience was extensive. His gaze was piercing, locked onto Kazuki Hidehiro's every subtle movement, searching for an opening.
Kazuki Hidehiro sneered, his blade tracing a graceful arc in the moonlight. "For the Kazuki family, I've been training every single day." Before the words faded, he suddenly changed his move. The blade stabbed toward Hyogoro's side with the cunning precision of a viper, vicious and exact.
Not far away, Denjiro was engaged with three Oniwabanshu members. His crimson pupils shimmered with a bizarre light in the dark. Holding his sword with both hands, he carved lethal arcs through the air. Denjiro's sword style was erratic and varied—sometimes a frenzied storm, other times like a lurking snake—making it impossible to guard against.
It was at that moment a flash of cold light streaked past. Taken completely by surprise, Kazuki Hidetada's neck spurted blood, dyeing the earth beneath his feet red. The eldest son of the Kazuki family didn't even have time to scream before he collapsed in a pool of blood.
"Big brother! Denjiro, you bastard!" Kazuki Hideaki's eyes nearly burst from their sockets, his roar of grief and fury echoing across the battlefield. The hand gripping his sword bulged with veins from the strain, his eyes burning with vengeful fire.
"Denjiro, do you even know what you're doing?!" Shimotsuki Toshiya demanded sharply, his own sword trembling slightly, betraying the shock and anger in his heart. As the head of the Shimotsuki family, he had never imagined Denjiro would betray them.
Denjiro licked the blood from the tip of his blade with a sickening relish, grinning savagely. "Of course. Getting rid of you worthless trash who betrayed your master." His smile looked particularly hideous in the moonlight, his eyes glinting with madness.
Kazuki Hidehiro, still locked in combat with Hyogoro, heard the noise and glanced back. Seeing his eldest son lying in a pool of blood, he let out a heart-rending roar. "Hidetada!" The usually composed clan head completely lost his composure, his eyes filled only with grief and rage.
Fortunately, Hyogoro, upholding the samurai code, did not take the opportunity to attack. He stood his ground, his brow furrowed, seemingly also shocked by the sudden turn of events.
However, it was then that Fukurokuju's blade flashed. A ghastly wound immediately opened on Kazuki Hidehiro's abdomen. Blood gushed from the cut, soaking his clothes. Had he not leapt back in time, he might have been cut in two. The leader of the Oniwabanshu struck with ruthless precision, allowing his opponent no chance to recover.
"Fukurokuju, what is the meaning of this?" Hyogoro demanded angrily, his voice laced with confusion and fury. As a yakuza boss, he understood the baseness of a sneak attack and couldn't comprehend why one would be made under these circumstances.
"Eliminating rebels to restore peace to Wano Country," Fukurokuju replied expressionlessly, his eyes as cold as frost. His tone held no emotion, as if he were merely stating a simple fact.
Hearing this, Hyogoro couldn't press further. He could only tighten his grip on his sword and warily observe the shifting tides of battle.
"Hideaki! Denjiro is the traitor! Avenge your brother!" Bearing the agonizing pain, Kazuki Hidehiro turned and charged at Fukurokuju. Though his injury slightly slowed his movements, the fire in his eyes burned fiercer than ever. The clan head now completely disregarded his own safety, thinking only of avenging his son.
"Give me back my brother's life!" Kazuki Hideaki's eyes were bloodshot as he swung his sword directly at Denjiro. His swordsmanship was fierce and frenzied, every move carrying lethal intent. The young samurai was consumed by hatred, his attacks wild and reckless, with no regard for defense.
"Hehe, your brother's blood tasted good. I wonder how yours will be," Denjiro said to Kazuki Hideaki, simultaneously bringing his long sword down in a slash. His voice was as shrill as a screech-owl, echoing across the battlefield, full of provocation and madness.
The night wind moaned, as if mourning this brutal battle. The clang of clashing swords was unending, the sparks from metal-on-metal collisions starkly visible in the dark. Blood glistened with an eerie sheen under the moonlight, dyeing the earth a dark crimson. Fallen samurai lay everywhere on the battlefield—some already dead, others still groaning in agony.
Different fires burned in each person's eyes—hatred, loyalty, conviction—colliding violently on this field of life and death.
Blood continued to seep from Kazuki Hidehiro's wound, but he gritted his teeth and persisted, his long sword whirling like the wind, swearing to cut down Fukurokuju. The clan head had already cast aside his own life, thinking only of revenge for his son.
Elsewhere, Kazuki Hideaki and Denjiro fought fiercely, their clashing blades sending sparks flying. Their duel had reached a white-hot stage, each strike aimed at a vital point. Though Kazuki Hideaki's swordplay was fierce, it lacked structure, while Denjiro appeared composed, even finding time to throw out taunts.
"Traitor, die!" Kazuki Hideaki roared, his attacks growing ever more ferocious, each blow driven by his resolve to avenge his brother. His eyes saw only Denjiro, completely ignoring the other enemies around them.
Denjiro gave a cold, sinister laugh, his crimson pupils flashing madly. "Stupid fool. You are destined to fail!" His voice, like a screech-owl's cry, echoed over the battlefield.
Hyogoro stood where he was, his brow deeply furrowed, his heart in turmoil. He had not wished to partake in this slaughter, but now that things had come to this, he could only resolve to end this group. He could not allow Wano Country to be plunged into war again.
Thinking this, Hyogoro directly raised his sword to face Shimotsuki Toshiya. As a yakuza boss, he knew that sometimes one had to make difficult choices.
Unlike Kazuki Hidehiro, Shimotsuki Toshiya hadn't seen real combat in a long time. While his physical conditioning might be decent compared to the average person, against the experienced Hyogoro, he was struggling to hold his own within just a few moves. This pampered daimyo had clearly underestimated the yakuza boss's strength.
"Bastard, Hyogoro... huff... you... you..." Shimotsuki Toshiya used all his strength to slash and force Hyogoro back, then panted heavily. "A mere yakuza boss, how dare you raise your hand against your superior!" His voice was full of rage and resentment, clearly unable to accept the fact that he was being suppressed by a yakuza chief.
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