Boom!
Kise was sent flying by Ketsu's massive rock fist. However, when Ketsu looked around, he saw his clansmen dead; none survived.
Ketsu frowned, "You bastards!"
He weaved hand signs, targeting a group of three Hosai clansmen.
"Earth Release: Crushing Chasm!"
A massive chasm formed and engulfed the three ninjas, killing them in a single blow, alongside their weapons.
Swish
Another Hosai clansman attacked from behind Ketsu, attempting to assassinate him. However, Ketsu quickly ducked, turned around, and kicked the man.
"Earth Release: Earth and Stone Bamboo Shoot!"
Three stone spikes grew from the ground, killing the man.
The Hosai clansmen were about to attack again, when a voice stopped them, "Enough. You can't beat him."
Ketsu turned around and scoffed, "And you can, Kise?"
Kise didn't answer. He flickered from his spot and appeared behind Ketsu, pulling back his sword and swinging a horizontal slash. Ketsu narrowly avoided it and attempted to counter with a kick, but Kise stepped back, seized Ketsu by the ankles, and hurled him into a nearby house.
Boom!
Not waiting for Ketsu to recover, Kise dashed toward him and performed slashes unseen by normal eyes.
Ketsu tried to dodge while trying to regain his balance, but he couldn't.
Kise slashed, aiming for the head, but Ketsu tilted his head, and using the opportunity, he kicked Kise and performed a backflip, creating distance between the two.
Ketsu performed a jutsu, but then he saw Kise throwing a kunai at him, then suddenly, Kise used the seal of confrontation.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!"
The kunai emitted a bright light, momentarily blinding Ketsu. On the other side, Kise took the opportunity and performed hand seals while running toward Ketsu.
He placed his palms on Ketsu's chest and smirked, "Chain Release: Chakra Bind."
Suddenly, starting from the chest, an X-shaped flame covered his torso all the way to the back. The flame wasn't hot; in fact, it didn't release any heat.
Ketsu regained his sight and leaped backward. He looked at his chest and asked, "What the hell is this?"
Kise only smiled, and one of the Hosai clansmen asked, "What is that? I've never seen that jutsu before…"
Enka chuckled, "That's Chain Release, Kise's kekkei genkai."
The clansman turned to Enka in shock, "He has a kekkei genkai?! Since when?!"
Enka explained, "Since he was a teen. It's called Chain Release, and currently, it only has two abilities. The first one is called Chakra Bind. Once someone is chained by the fire, they won't be able to use chakra. And if they even try, the flame will use it as fuel and grow, sucking two times the amount you used. The more you use chakra, the more you cook yourself."
Enka looked at the shocked faces of his clansmen and chuckled, "That's not all. His second ability is called Conductive Flames. When someone fully uses their chakra on the flames and it kills them, the chain can be released and travel to the nearest person, and go from person to person. So the more people there are, the more the chain spreads. What's more, it doesn't even use his chakra; it uses the dead person's chakra and all new hosts."
The clansman stared at Kise and whispered, "It's like a parasite."
Enka chuckled, "Yeah, perfect for Kise… who mastered kenjutsu. Because in a one-on-one, no one can beat him."
Ketsu's mind raced as he thought of a solution. He didn't know what the flames were about, but the look Kise was giving him made him believe it was something dangerous.
Kise just stood there, waiting in amusement to see what Ketsu would do next. Ketsu, believing he found an opening, performed a jutsu.
"Earth Release: Flying Thrown Stones!"
Ketsu slammed his hands on the ground, sending a multitude of rocks from the ground to fly at Kise. In response, Kise performed another sword slash. All stones were soon cut into pieces, while Ketsu noticed something.
Huff
Huff
He widened his eyes and asked, "Why am I almost out of chakra? That jutsu shouldn't have cost—"
Before he could finish, he saw the flames getting brighter and bigger. And signs of heat were coming from it.
"So that's how it is…" thought Ketsu.
He picked up the short sword he dropped earlier and took his stance.
Kise laughed, "No way you think you can beat me without those stones of yours."
Feeling offended, Ketsu rushed toward Kise and unleashed a barrage of sword strikes. However, to his disappointment, Kise dodged and parried his sword strikes.
Kise dodged one of the slashes and ducked. While Ketsu was out of position, he stabbed his sword in Ketsu's stomach, twisting it for more pain.
Ketsu screamed in pain, but he endured it and tried to stab Kise's back. However, Kise let go of the sword and moved to the side and struck Ketsu's face, sending him flying to the ground.
Ketsu trembled in pain and could no longer get up. He tried once more, but agony flared through his stomach, forcing a scream from his throat.
Kise walked toward him and planted his foot on Ketsu's head, pressing it into the ground. He scoffed as he pulled his sword from Ketsu's stomach, then ordered the others, "Take him prisoner. He'll be useful in the negotiations. The rest of you—secure this place and tell the reinforcements to get here fast, before they send another wave."
Everyone nodded and did as they were told to. Ketsu laughed as he was getting tied up, "You really think Father will care if I was taken?"
Kise glanced at him and scoffed, "And you think he'll still be alive? He'll be dead by dawn."