Sarutobi Asuma glanced at the fading silhouettes of Uchiha Itachi and Pakura as they departed. "No, our target this time is Fujiwara Kirito. The other two seem to be from the same organization, their identities unclear, but their chakra levels and abilities are dangerous. Let them go for now."
"Then, it seems we only need to deal with Fujiwara Kirito," Might Guy nodded solemnly.
Kirito smirked, his left hand casually resting in his pocket. "Deal with me? That's amusing."
"Funny, is it?" Might Guy narrowed his eyes.
"Not exactly," Kirito said lightly. "But you all are here not out of personal hatred, but because of your duty to Konoha. None of you—except perhaps Asuma—hold true resentment towards me. That lack of conviction will ensure you won't even touch the hem of my cloak."
"You think hatred is all it takes?" Morino Ibiki, standing nearby, scowled. "You've committed heinous crimes against Konoha. It's far too late to plead for mercy."
"Mercy?" Kirito chuckled softly. "You misunderstand. I'm simply pointing out that without hatred driving your actions, you're doomed to fail."
"Then what about me?" Asuma Sarutobi interjected, his voice trembling with barely suppressed fury. His eyes burned with rage as he gripped his twin chakra blades.
Kirito's calm gaze met Asuma's. "You? You have the hatred, but unfortunately, hatred without strength is meaningless. You were defeated once already. Shall I remind you of how I castrated you and your nephew Konohamaru right in front of you? Or how I left you wallowing in humiliation as I fed you your shame?"
"You bastard!" Asuma roared, his wind-chakra-infused blades elongating into deadly arcs.
"Ah, the famed chakra blades. They remind me of your late brother. He tried a similar technique on me once," Kirito mused, his words slicing through Asuma's composure like knives.
Asuma could no longer restrain himself. With a cry of rage, he lunged forward, his blades gleaming with deadly wind chakra.
The clash was instantaneous. Sparks flew as Kirito blocked the attack with his Zanpakutō, holding Asuma's twin blades at bay with one hand. The force of their clash sent a shockwave through the area, rustling nearby trees.
From the shadows, Kakashi observed with his Sharingan active, astonished. "He's matching Asuma's wind-chakra blades with sheer physical strength alone. His technique is flawless... and his chakra flow is terrifying."
Kirito pushed Asuma's blades aside with ease, pressing his own sword closer to his opponent's shoulder. "You're strong, Asuma, but rushing at me like this is reckless. Did you really think you could defeat me with anger alone?"
Asuma gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. "At least you're not hiding behind illusions this time!"
Kirito raised his left hand, still in his pocket, and mockingly gestured as if blocking an incoming blow. "Oh, I see. Then, allow me to admire your bravery for charging headfirst into certain defeat."
Suddenly, Might Guy's voice boomed across the battlefield, "Konoha Dynamic Entry!"
A blur of motion followed as Guy delivered a spinning back kick aimed at Kirito's head. Kirito raised his free arm, catching the kick with an audible crack. The ground beneath him fractured slightly from the impact, but Kirito remained unmoved.
"You caught it?!" Might Guy gasped, stunned by Kirito's unyielding defense.
"Interesting," Kirito said with a smirk. "But I expected more from the famed Blue Beast of Konoha."
"Now, Gale!" Asuma shouted.
From the shadows, Moonlight Gale appeared, forming hand seals and creating two shadow clones. The three figures moved in perfect synchrony, executing the Konoha-style Sword Technique: Crescent Moon Dance. All three aimed their blades at Kirito's vitals, attacking from three angles at once.
The attack seemed inevitable, but just as the blades were about to connect, Kirito vanished. In a blur of movement, three flashes of light illuminated the battlefield. When Kirito reappeared, he stood behind Moonlight Gale, his Zanpakutō dripping blood.
"Impressive timing, Gale," Kirito remarked coolly. "Against most opponents, this would have been a killing blow. But unfortunately, you're not fighting just anyone."
Moonlight Gale's two clones dissipated as his real body fell to the ground, blood pouring from a long gash on his back.
"Gale!" Asuma shouted, running to his comrade's side.
"He'll live," Kirito said nonchalantly. "I don't kill without cause. Consider that a parting gift, but don't think I'll allow you to open any of those Eight Gates, Guy."
Before Might Guy could react, Kirito appeared behind him like a phantom, his Zanpakutō piercing through Guy's side. "You were already under my illusion the moment I caught your kick."
Might Guy staggered, his vision blurring. "An illusion...? When?"
Kirito tilted his head slightly, his voice calm yet mocking. "When? That's the wrong question, Guy. The real question is... when did you think I wasn't using one?"
Asuma, now consumed with rage, charged at Kirito once more, unleashing his Fire Style: Ash Burning Jutsu. A ball of hot ash erupted from his mouth, enveloping Kirito in flames.
For a moment, it seemed as though Asuma's attack had landed. But as the flames dissipated, cherry blossom petals floated in the air where Kirito once stood, his figure dissolving into the illusion.
(End of this chapter)
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