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Chapter 73: Your Name?
If Hisoka really managed to kill him, taking his head to Chrollo would likely earn him a seat as a guest of honor. Joining the Troupe would be easily approved. The Troupe was currently missing not just member #4, but #11 as well.
Unfortunately, Hisoka was destined for disappointment.
Ronin's aura shifted into Ken. He reached behind his back and drew the short sword. Since he was in disguise, he was committed to the bit. The young Kakashi was excellent with a ninja blade—after all, his father, the White Fang of the Leaf, was a master swordsman.
Hisoka's gaze sharpened. With a flick of his wrist, the playing card shot toward Ronin.
Ronin's Sharingan clearly saw the pink aura connected to the card. Hisoka had used In to conceal the Bungee Gum connecting the card to his hand, and Shu to enhance the card's sharpness.
It seemed this guy's mastery of the basics of Nen had reached perfection.
Ronin made a split-second judgment. Coating his short sword in Shu, he slashed, easily slicing the card in two.
However, in the process, the blade made contact with Hisoka's aura.
Hisoka's finger twitched slightly. He yanked the long strand of aura, attempting to snatch the sword right out of Ronin's hand.
Bungee Gum—Hisoka's Transmutation ability. It gave his aura the properties of both rubber and gum.
"Hmm?" Hisoka made a sound of confusion.
Despite pulling on the aura, the sword didn't leave Ronin's hand. It didn't even budge.
He saw through my trick!
Just as the thought rose in Hisoka's mind, Ronin moved.
Explosive power, far greater than Hisoka's pull, erupted from Ronin's arm. Simultaneously, Ronin's free hand cocked back at his waist, gathering energy.
It was the starting stance of the Big Bang Impact. This signature move of Uvogin's was incredibly practical, and after Uvogin's death, it had effectively become Ronin's exclusive technique.
Driven by the immense force of the pull, Hisoka's body was dragged rapidly toward Ronin.
He didn't choose to cut the aura connection? He must have another plan.
Ronin's gaze locked onto Hisoka's fist, which was also cocked at his side, gathering power.
A head-on collision?
The Sharingan's insight allowed him to see Hisoka's aura flowing toward his fist. In Ronin's eyes, this was clearly an unwise move on Hisoka's part.
The moment they closed the distance, both fists launched!
BOOM!
Accompanied by the faint sound of cracking bone, Hisoka was sent flying backward. However, Ronin's body was pulled forward, following the airborne magician.
There was a layer of pink aura on the fist Ronin had used to clash with Hisoka!
It was Bungee Gum.
At the same time, Ronin noticed the playing card he had sliced in half earlier bouncing up from the ground and shooting toward his back. It, too, had Hisoka's concealed aura attached to it.
Pitching forward, Ronin released the short sword and brushed his hand against the pouch at his waist.
In the next instant, two senbon needles shot out, striking the flying card fragments.
The senbon pierced the cards and pinned them to the wall behind him. The cards tried to continue forward, but stopped less than two meters from Ronin.
The senbon hadn't just pierced the cards; they had pierced the residue of Hisoka's aura.
The Bungee Gum was stuck to the needles, which were now anchored to the wall. The aura had excellent elasticity, but it had a limit. Being pinned to the wall and stretched two meters to Ronin's back was its breaking point.
A second later, the Bungee Gum snapped, and the cards shot forward again.
But by then, Ronin, stumbling forward, had already stomped his foot heavily onto the floor.
Tremendous power erupted from his sole. The floor of the building couldn't withstand the impact and shattered instantly.
Ronin fell through the hole. The cards struck the debris kicked up by the collapsing floor.
Hisoka, having slammed into the wall, flexed his arm and retracted his aching fist, intending to use the aura attached to it to yank the falling Ronin back up.
But his brow raised. The retracted aura snapped back to him empty.
He cut the connection to my fist the moment he fell! How?
Hisoka scanned the area. No short sword. The blade must have fallen with Ronin when the floor collapsed.
Hisoka's aura expanded rapidly—En. He sidestepped instantly. A short sword thrust up from the ground exactly where he had been standing.
If he had been a split second slower, that blade would have pierced his foot!
A ripe fruit. Interesting!
Hisoka retreated continuously, drawing more cards and flinging them in all directions.
The moment he stopped, he lifted his foot and, just like Ronin, stomped heavily. The floor shattered, and Hisoka dropped down.
As he fell, a short sword avoided the falling debris and thrust straight for his heart.
At the same time, a distinct BANG reached Hisoka's ears.
Hisoka clenched both hands tight in mid-air. His falling body came to an abrupt, momentary halt. Ronin's blade missed, barely grazing his body.
But blood sprayed from Hisoka's thigh.
It was a wound caused by an emitted Nen bullet—an attack Ronin had copied from Sidney, striking Hisoka's outer thigh.
Just as the blood flew, more debris and rocks shot erratically toward Ronin from above. Hidden behind the rocks were playing cards!
Ronin wielded his short sword, retreating rapidly. He felt the blade growing heavier; more and more of Hisoka's aura was sticking to it.
Even with the Sharingan's dynamic vision, some stones and cards managed to graze Ronin's retreating body. Although they only left small cuts on his arms and legs, Ronin's gaze grew serious.
He stopped his retreat at the stairwell.
He had already discarded the short sword. It was covered in too much of Hisoka's Bungee Gum. Even if he used Lightning Style chakra to vibrate it off, it would take time—he couldn't instantly purge it like he had with the aura on his fist by briefly entering Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Hisoka landed on the floor. He didn't press the attack. Instead, his gaze lingered on the "thread" that had been present on Ronin's left hand the entire time.
Hisoka hadn't used his full strength, and he suspected his opponent had held back trump cards as well.
"What's your name?" Hisoka brushed his hand over his fist; the swelling instantly subsided.
"Hatake Kakashi," Ronin gave the name of his disguise, then turned and leapt down the stairs.
Footsteps echoed from above—Mafia members, alerted by the fight, were rushing over.
Hisoka frowned slightly. He didn't stay, nor did he chase after Ronin.
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