Qianyu faced two—a jonin and a tokubetsu jonin.
This was his first real fight against shinobi of this caliber.
The one he'd beheaded earlier? Probably just as strong.
From the way Oyuro had dodged his Second Form: Rice Spirit, the man's speed was inferior, but his combat experience was sharp. He had weaved through three slashes. The fourth was unavoidable, but he'd still managed a desperate half-step back, taking only a shallow cut across his chest.
Oyuro shot Atui a glance. It was all that was needed. Atui understood.
Oyuro's hands blurred through seals. Arcs of lightning crackled to life around him. "Cloud-Style Rapid Slash!"
Qianyu had been running lightning-natured chakra through his body since the fight began. The ambient electricity snapped toward him as if drawn by a magnet.
At the same time, Oyuro charged, sword held high.
Qianyu dispersed the incoming bolts with a wave of his own chakra and raised his katana to guard.
Clang! Clang! CLANG!
Three massive strikes rained down. The force drove Qianyu back several steps.
As he retreated, Atui flashed behind him with a Body Flicker. His blade cut air—and then mud.
Qianyu's body dissolved into wet earth.
Atui's eyes widened. An earth clone! When did he weave the signs?!
"Atui, move!" Oyuro roared.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
Qianyu reappeared on Atui's right. Snakes shot from his sleeve. They wrapped around Atui's body, fangs sinking deep.
Qianyu's katana followed, aiming for the neck.
"Damn it! Shadow Lightning Thrust!"
Lightning erupted from Oyuro's body. His muscles screamed with newfound speed as he lunged.
The katana was a hair's breadth from Atui's throat when Oyuro's blade severed the snakes. He tackled Atui, rolling them both clear.
The katana's tip only grazed Atui's shoulder.
Qianyu's eyes narrowed. Just as I thought. Cloud jonin use lightning chakra to stimulate their cells, too. But his speed didn't jump much. He focused on raw power.
Oyuro pulled Atui to his feet. "This brat's dangerous," he warned. "Don't let your guard down."
He studied Qianyu with grim focus. He'd recognized the jutsu. One of the Sannin's signatures.
Qianyu formed seals and took a deep breath.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A tidal wave of flame roared from his mouth, swallowing the space between them.
"Dodge!"
Oyuro ducked and weaved around the inferno, closing the distance.
"Lightning Style: Scattered Shock!"
He channeled crackling lightning into his sword. The energy built, then exploded toward Qianyu in a jagged blast.
"Oh? A move like mine. Let's see whose lightning is stronger."
Qianyu pointed his katana.
"Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"
A searing, jagged arc of electricity erupted from his blade.
The two lightning attacks collided.
Light flooded the dark woods. A deafening crackle of energy filled the air.
For a moment, neither gave ground.
Oyuro's mind raced. How does this kid have so much chakra? And his mastery of shape and nature transformation… it surpasses mine. A genius?
A veteran of the Second Great Ninja War, he'd seen plenty of geniuses. Kids younger than this one, trading blows with seasoned jonin—even beating them. Next to them, he felt like a fraud. Twenty-seven, and only recently promoted.
His killing intent sharpened. Taking this Sharingan brat alive was impossible now. He had to die here. If he grew up… he'd be a nightmare for the Hidden Cloud.
Oyuro broke the stalemate, rolling away from the Heat Lightning's path.
A Body Flicker brought him inches from Qianyu.
"Cloud-Style: Flying Blade!"
His lightning-charged sword swung down.
Qianyu met it head-on. His own katana flashed with blue light.
CLANG!
The force of the impact—even with Oyuro's enhanced strength—sent the jonin staggering back.
Just as Qianyu predicted, the move had a follow-up.
As Oyuro retreated, a blade of pure lightning shot from his sword.
It struck Qianyu's katana and exploded into a web of electricity, engulfing him.
"Now, Atui!"
To Oyuro, Qianyu was paralyzed. A perfect opening.
But Atui didn't appear.
Oyuro glanced over. His blood ran cold.
Atui lay on the ground, half his body scorched by fire. His limbs twitched uncontrollably.
"What?!"
Atui should have dodged that Great Fire Annihilation. How…?
"Heh. Taking effect, I see."
Qianyu flashed to Atui's side. He grabbed the man's hair and hauled him up.
His Sharingan, cold and red, locked onto Oyuro. "Why did you think your lightning would paralyze me? You think the chakra on my body is for show?"
Only then did Oyuro notice the blackened veins under Atui's skin. His face paled. "The snakes…?"
The snakes from Hidden Shadow Snake Hands were venomous. They'd injected their poison while binding him. Slowed by the toxin, Atui couldn't fully evade the flames. The convulsions were the poison working its way through his system.
Qianyu pressed his katana's tip against Atui's throat. He offered Oyuro a smile. "Don't worry. You're next."
He drove the blade through.
Atui twitched once in his grasp, then went still.
Oyuro stared, eyes wide with rage.
Qianyu chuckled softly. "Why that look? The moment you laid hands on Kushina, this was always going to be a fight to the death."