Kyle looked toward the forest.
"Should we push forward?"
Saito tightened his grip on his sword.
He glanced at Makuto, who was already watching the path ahead.
Saito nodded.
"Yeah."
"Let's finish this."
Kyle grinned.
"Finally."
The three of them immediately rushed into the forest.
WHOOSH!
Branches shook as they disappeared between the trees.
Makuto moved ahead, following the trail left by Kaito.
Saito stayed close behind.
"Keep your eyes open."
Kyle smirked.
"Don't worry."
"I'll spot him before you do."
Saito glanced at him.
"Keep dreaming."
Behind them, Fanny stepped forward and cracked her knuckles.
"Alright!"
"Looks like we're handling the rest."
Alya raised her mechanical arm.
"Works for me."
Bomb lifted his modified pistol.
"Then let's finish these guys."
Fanny grinned.
"Let's go!"
The three turned back toward the remaining ninjas.
Meanwhile, deeper inside the forest...
Saito, Kyle, and Makuto continued charging forward.
The sound of fighting slowly faded behind them.
Saito narrowed his eyes.
"He's close."
Makuto nodded.
"Very close."
Kyle rested his hand on his sword.
"Then let's see what kind of man is behind all this."
The three disappeared deeper into the forest.
Deep inside the forest, Karen swung her knife and struck down another ninja.
SHING!
"One more!"
Before she could turn around—
BAM!
Rin appeared behind her and knocked another ninja aside.
"There's too many of them!"
Karen glanced around.
"They just keep coming!"
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The ground trembled.
A massive samurai stepped out from between the trees, wearing heavy armor and carrying an enormous katana.
Rin's eyes widened.
"Whoa..."
The samurai swung his massive blade.
CLANG!
Rin raised his weapon and blocked the attack.
The sheer force pushed him backward.
"NGH!"
His feet dragged across the ground until—
CRASH!
Rin slammed into a tree.
Karen looked at him.
"Rin!"
The armored samurai stepped forward.
"Move."
"The new leader is already moving."
Before Rin could respond, another figure walked out from behind him.
The man from the restaurant.
His armor covered most of his body, but Rin immediately recognized him.
Rin's eyes widened.
"You again..."
"Jerk."
The man smirked.
"Never thought I'd see you again."
He looked around.
"Where's your captain?"
"Hiding?"
"Scared he'll get beaten by me again?"
Rin's expression darkened.
"How dare you!"
He immediately lunged.
But the massive samurai moved faster.
GRAB!
His hand wrapped around Rin's throat and lifted him off the ground.
"GH—!"
Karen quickly threw a knife.
WHOOSH!
But another ninja suddenly tackled her from behind.
THUD!
Karen hit the ground, struggling against the ninja holding her down.
The armored man laughed.
"Heh."
"So he sent you two here?"
"He must really be hiding behind all of you."
Rin struggled against the samurai's grip.
"Don't..."
"Talk..."
"Crap about Saito!"
The armored man paused.
"Saito?"
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"So that's his name."
He reached for his sword.
"Good."
"Now I know what to call the man..."
"...whose head I'm going to cut off."
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!
A knife flew straight toward the armored man.
He quickly tilted his head.
SHING!
The knife passed inches from his face and embedded itself into a tree behind him.
The man narrowed his eyes.
"You..."
"The assassin."
Kaito stepped out from the shadows.
"Hello there."
His expression remained cold.
"It's time for me to return the favor."
"After all..."
"You beat Saito."
The armored man smirked.
"Then come and try me."
Kaito suddenly disappeared.
WHOOSH!
He reappeared beside the man and swung his leg toward his head.
BAM!
The man raised his arm and casually blocked the kick.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
The man grinned.
"Too predictable."
But Kaito had already vanished again.
WHOOSH!
He appeared behind him.
"Not quite."
BAM!
Kaito's kick struck the man's back.
The armored man staggered forward and fell to one knee.
THUD!
He slowly looked over his shoulder.
"...Wow."
A grin appeared beneath his helmet.
"Looks like I underestimated you..."
"Eight Noctarion."
Kaito calmly stood behind him.
"You did."
He tightened his grip on his knife.
"And I'm not finished yet."
Kaito suddenly disappeared.
WHOOSH!
The armored man immediately turned his head.
"Where—"
Kaito reappeared beside him.
But this time, the man was ready.
His eyes suddenly changed.
A blue katana appeared in his pupil, surrounded by a deep blue glow.
SHIN-KEN.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"...A God Eye user."
The man's auris suddenly surged toward his sword.
FWOOM!
The blade became surrounded by powerful blue energy.
He swung.
WHOOSH!
Kaito immediately jumped aside.
BOOM!
The sword sliced through the tree behind him.
CRAAACK!
The entire tree was cut cleanly in half and crashed to the ground.
Kaito landed several meters away.
He stared at the enormous cut.
"...That's some serious power."
The armored man slowly raised his sword again.
"Now..."
"Let's see if the Eight Noctarion can keep up."
Kaito tightened his grip on his knives.
His expression remained calm.
"You're going to need more than that."
Kaito suddenly lunged forward.
WHOOSH!
But the armored man reacted instantly.
He stepped forward and slammed his shoulder into Kaito.
BAM!
Kaito was knocked off his feet and crashed onto the ground.
Before he could recover—
SHING!
The armored man's sword was already descending toward Kaito's neck.
Kaito's eyes widened.
"!"
CLANG!
Another sword suddenly intercepted the strike.
The force of the collision sent both blades trembling.
Everyone froze.
Kaito looked up.
Rin stared in disbelief.
Karen's eyes widened.
Even the massive samurai stepped backward.
The armored man slowly lowered his sword.
"...What?"
Standing between them was Hashima.
He calmly held his sword against the enemy's blade.
Hashima sighed.
"Enough."
His voice was quiet.
But the entire forest seemed to fall silent.
Kaito slowly got back onto his feet.
"Lord Hashima..."
Rin stared at him.
"How did you even get here?"
Hashima didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the armored man.
"You've caused enough trouble in my territory."
The armored man tightened his grip.
"Hashima..."
Hashima's expression hardened.
"Now..."
"Put your sword down."
The armored man slowly lowered his sword.
A smirk appeared beneath his helmet.
"So..."
"You're finally here."
His grip tightened around his weapon.
"Now it'll be easy."
"I'll kill you and take the throne for myself."
Hashima stared at him calmly.
"Senju."
The man's smile widened.
"Finally..."
"You remembered me."
He raised his sword.
"Then let's fight!"
Hashima didn't even draw his blade.
"I'm not here to fight."
He took a step forward.
"I'm here to give you a way out."
Senju's expression twisted.
"A way out?"
Hashima nodded.
"Stop this rebellion."
"Return to your men."
"And keep your head attached to your body."
The forest went silent.
Senju stared at him for a moment.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"You're still giving me a choice?"
Hashima's eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
"Because once you refuse..."
"There won't be another."
Senju tightened his grip around his katana.
"Then stop me, gangster."
Hashima's expression remained calm.
For a moment, neither man moved.
Then Hashima slowly shifted his stance.
His feet planted firmly against the ground.
One hand rested near the hilt of his sword.
Senju lowered his body into a fighting stance as well.
The massive samurai behind him stepped back.
Kaito, Rin, and Karen watched silently.
Even the surrounding ninjas stopped moving.
The forest became completely still.
Hashima and Senju stared directly at each other.
No words.
No threats.
Just two leaders standing face-to-face.
Senju's Shin-Ken began glowing with a deep blue aura.
Hashima's eyes narrowed.
"Last chance, Senju."
Senju smirked.
"Come and take it."
WHOOSH!
Their auris suddenly erupted.
Leaves exploded from the trees around them.
Kaito shielded his face from the sudden pressure.
Rin grinned nervously.
"Now that's a fight..."
Hashima slowly drew his sword.
SHING!
Senju raised his katana.
The two remained motionless for one final second.
Then—
BOOM!
They lunged at each other.