"Where do you think you're going, Akatsuki?"
Nyx turned around, coming face-to-face with Temari, the girl she had observed earlier. Temari's spiky blonde hair gleamed under the fading sun, framing her determined features. The confidence in her emerald green eyes was unmistakable, a sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere between them.
"Ah, Lady Temari. That's how they refer to you in the village, correct?" Nyx said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she leaned casually against a nearby pillar, her posture relaxed.
"Save it," Temari replied, her tone firm as she pointed her large fan at Nyx, the metal gleaming ominously. "Tell me, you were there during the meeting, correct? You heard everything."
"Of course," Nyx responded, her icy blue eyes locking onto Temari's with a mixture of curiosity and indifference. "But what will you do about it? Are you confident you can take me on alone? I see the confidence in your eyes, but does that confidence reflect your strength?"
Temari bristled at the condescending tone, her grip on her fan tightening as she took a step closer, undeterred by the evident disparity in their abilities. "I'm not afraid of you just because you're part of the Akatsuki. I may not be as strong as you, but I won't back down from a fight."
Nyx chuckled softly, the sound cold and almost mocking. "A brave sentiment, Temari. But bravery alone won't protect you. I could end this before it even starts." Her voice dripped with confidence, the words laced with a casual dismissiveness that made it clear she wasn't taking the confrontation seriously.
Temari narrowed her eyes, refusing to be intimidated. "Strength isn't just about power, you know. It's also about determination and the will to protect what matters. I won't let you leave with that information without a fight."
"Such conviction," Nyx mused, genuinely impressed by Temari's tenacity. "But you're not ready for this battle. You may have the heart, but heart alone won't bring you victory against me."
Before Nyx could turn to leave, Temari snapped her fan open with a fierce determination, summoning a gust of wind that whipped through the air, sending sand swirling around them. "I won't let you escape so easily!"
Nyx's demeanor shifted as she sidestepped the gust with graceful ease, her ice-blue eyes glimmering with challenge. "Is that so?"
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a blade of ice that formed in her hand, its edge shimmering dangerously. "Then let's see what you can do."
Temari charged forward, her fan slicing through the air as she unleashed a barrage of wind-infused attacks. Each strike aimed to push Nyx back, but Nyx moved with fluidity, dodging effortlessly, her movements like a phantom gliding through the chaos.
"Your techniques are impressive," Nyx said, a smirk playing on her lips. "But you'll have to do better than that." She leaped backward, summoning a wall of ice that sprang up between them, halting the wind-based assault.
Temari skidded to a stop, eyes narrowing. "I won't let you hide behind that!"
With a swift motion, she swung her fan, releasing a powerful gust that shattered the ice barrier, sending shards flying in all directions. Nyx, however, was already on the move, encasing the incoming shards in a thin layer of frost, causing them to fall harmlessly to the ground.
"You're quick on your feet," Nyx noted, her tone still teasing. "But remember, I have ice on my side."
With that, she unleashed a wave of icy projectiles that shot towards Temari, who expertly dodged and countered with another blast of wind, the two forces colliding in a dazzling display of power.
Nyx chuckled, clearly enjoying the challenge. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But persistence alone won't win you this fight."
As they clashed, a mix of ice and wind filled the air, each fighter testing the other's limits. Temari's resolve pushed her forward, but Nyx's overwhelming skill left her feeling like she was battling a ghost, a chilling phantom who danced just out of reach.
"You might want to rethink your strategy, Temari," Nyx taunted, flicking her wrist to freeze the ground beneath them, making it slippery. Temari stumbled slightly but quickly regained her footing, using her fan to stabilize herself.
"This isn't over!" Temari shouted defiantly, readying herself for another attack, her grip tightening on her fan as she prepared for another strike.
Nyx raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Are you sure this isn't over? Look at the difference between us—our positions, our condition." Her voice was calm, almost bored.
Temari paused for a moment, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. She glanced at Nyx, who stood effortlessly, not a bead of sweat on her, her posture relaxed as if she hadn't even exerted herself. In stark contrast, Temari was drenched in sweat, her body already feeling the weight of exhaustion after relentless attacks.
Her heart sank as she realized Nyx hadn't even moved from her spot, effortlessly fending off her strikes while Temari had been pushing herself to the limit.
"You're fighting hard," Nyx continued, her tone icy and dismissive, "but I haven't even had to try. You're already tiring yourself out, while I'm just getting started." She took a step forward, the ground beneath her freezing with a crackle, as if to emphasize her dominance.
Temari gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling beneath her controlled demeanor. She knew Nyx was right, but retreat wasn't an option. "You won't escape!" she shouted, forcing herself to sound defiant, but the fatigue gripping her limbs and the sweat soaking her clothes betrayed her struggle. Nyx, on the other hand, stood as cold and untouched as ever, not a hair out of place, completely unbothered by Temari's attempts.
Nyx's icy blue eyes flickered with amusement. "Escape?" she echoed softly, her voice tinged with condescension. "Look at you, drenched in sweat, while I haven't even had to lift a finger. Tell me, how does it feel knowing that no matter how hard you try, you can't even make me move?"
Temari's grip tightened on her fan, but before she could respond, two familiar voices cut through the air.
"You won't fight her alone," a calm, deep voice echoed.
Temari's heart lifted in recognition, and she turned toward the source. Relief flooded her when she saw Gaara and Kankuro approaching, their eyes fixed on the confrontation unfolding before them.
"Gaara! Kankuro!" Temari called, her voice slightly shaky but infused with newfound hope.
Gaara's piercing green eyes settled on Nyx, his expression unreadable. He stood there with his usual stoic calm, the gourd of sand slung over his shoulder, while Kankuro, clad in black and war paint, strode confidently beside him. The puppet master's expression was cocky, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Are you alright, Temari?" Gaara asked, his voice soft but laced with concern.
Temari nodded, though the weariness in her body betrayed her words. "I'm fine," she said, trying to sound convincing. But the truth was clear—she had pushed herself to her limit, and Nyx hadn't even broken a sweat.
Nyx's gaze flickered over to the new arrivals, assessing them with a detached calm. "So, these are the reinforcements?" she said, her voice tinged with cold indifference. Her eyes locked with Gaara's for a moment, unflinching. "You think they'll fare any better?"
Kankuro stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "You're pretty full of yourself for someone who's outnumbered."
Nyx chuckled, a soft, almost mocking sound. "Outnumbered? Don't confuse quantity with quality." She didn't even bother shifting her stance, remaining completely at ease despite the reinforcements.
Gaara's gaze remained sharp, focused entirely on Nyx. "You've infiltrated our village. You're not leaving here."
Nyx's lips curled into a faint, icy smile. "If that's what you believe, then by all means… try to stop me."
The air between them crackled with tension. Gaara's hand twitched slightly, and the sand from his gourd began to flow like water, swirling protectively around him and his siblings. Kankuro reached for the scrolls on his back, and Temari, though exhausted, shifted her weight, readying herself to support her brothers if necessary.
But Nyx was unimpressed. She took a single step forward, and as her foot touched the ground, a thin layer of frost began to spread outward from her position. The frost crept across the sandy floor of the desert, freezing the grains beneath her. The temperature around them dropped, causing mist to rise from the ground as the moisture in the air crystallized.
Gaara narrowed his eyes. "Sand Coffin," he whispered, raising his hand. In an instant, his sand surged forward, forming a barrier between Nyx and his siblings, shielding them from the cold.
Nyx's smile didn't falter. "Interesting…" she murmured, watching the sand meet her frost. The ice spread across the surface of the sand, battling for control as the two forces collided. Mist swirled around them as the cold clashed with the heat of the desert.
"Futile," Nyx added quietly, her voice cutting through the icy mist.
Kankuro smirked, his confidence returning. "Let's see how tough you are when you're wrapped up by my puppets."
In a fluid motion, he released one of his scrolls, summoning his puppet, Karasu. The black, grotesque figure shot forward, its limbs moving with frightening speed as it aimed for Nyx.
But Nyx didn't move. She stood completely still, watching the puppet approach, her face calm, almost disinterested. As Karasu reached her, she raised her hand ever so slightly, and in that instant, frost exploded from her fingertips, encasing the puppet in a thick layer of ice. The puppet's movements slowed, the joints stiffening as the ice spread rapidly across its body.
Kankuro's smirk faltered. "What the—?"
"You'll have to try harder than that," Nyx said, her tone sharp and cutting. With a flick of her wrist, the ice shattered Karasu into pieces, scattering frozen shards across the ground.
Kankuro stared in shock. "You... you destroyed my puppet that easily?"
Temari, watching the scene unfold, felt a knot tighten in her chest. This wasn't an opponent she could match—not with their current strength. But retreat was still not an option.
Gaara's eyes narrowed, and his sand began to swirl faster, rising around him like a storm. "This ends now."
Without a word, Gaara raised both hands, commanding his sand to attack. Waves of it surged toward Nyx, moving like a tidal wave ready to engulf her.
Nyx's icy eyes glowed as her Kōrimeigan activated. In an instant, she could see the flow of chakra coursing through Gaara's sand. With a swift, fluid movement, she extended her hand, and frost erupted from her palm, colliding with Gaara's sand. The temperature dropped again, the frost rapidly freezing the grains of sand in midair.
Gaara's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes as he watched the ice stop his attack cold—literally.
Nyx stepped forward, the ground freezing beneath her feet as she walked. "The difference in our power is clear," she said, her voice echoing through the cold mist. "You're not strong enough to stop me. None of you are."
Kankuro glanced at Gaara, frustration etched across his face. "What do we do, Gaara?"
Gaara remained silent for a moment, his eyes locked on Nyx. The ice continued to spread, creeping toward them as Nyx advanced. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Retreat, for now. We can't win this battle as we are."
Temari's eyes widened. "But Gaara—"
He silenced her with a sharp glance. "We'll fight another day, Temari. This isn't over."
Nyx's amused chuckle echoed through the tense air. "Oh? Now you want to retreat? That's not how this works. You started something… let's see if you can finish it."
Before any of them could react, Nyx vanished in a blur. Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari all tensed, their eyes widening as they lost track of her in an instant. Nyx's presence disappeared entirely, as if she had melted into the shadows. The silence that followed was suffocating, and panic flickered briefly in their eyes as they frantically searched for any sign of her.
"Where is she?" Kankuro hissed, his puppet already poised for an attack.
"Stay alert," Gaara muttered, his sand swirling protectively around them.
Suddenly, a sharp intake of breath—"Ah!" Temari's gasp pierced the quiet. Nyx had reappeared behind her, as if from thin air. Her short blade was now pressed dangerously against Temari's neck, cold steel lightly grazing her skin, sending a shiver down Temari's spine.
The air around Nyx seemed to grow colder, an icy chill radiating from her as if she was the embodiment of winter itself. The faint mist formed with each breath she took, and the ground beneath her feet was cracking under a thin layer of frost. Nyx's eyes gleamed with a dangerous, icy light, her gaze sharp and unyielding.
"If either of you makes a sudden move," Nyx's voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet the lethal intent behind it was unmistakable. "I won't hesitate to end her life right here, right now."
Gaara's eyes narrowed in silent rage, his sand hovering ominously, but he didn't dare move. The tension was thick, like a coiled spring ready to snap at any second. Kankuro gritted his teeth, his fists clenched at his sides, struggling to hold back the overwhelming urge to act. They were strong, but in this moment, Nyx had the upper hand—and they knew it.
Temari remained still, her breathing shallow as she felt the sharp edge of Nyx's blade against her skin. She wasn't afraid, not exactly, but she knew one wrong move could seal her fate. Her emerald green eyes remained locked on Nyx, refusing to show any weakness.
"Quite the situation you've gotten yourselves into," Nyx said with a hint of a smirk, not moving a muscle. "Tell me, is this what you had in mind when you decided to challenge me?"
Kankuro growled under his breath, his body trembling with frustration. "You—let her go!"
Nyx raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly, still keeping her blade pressed firmly against Temari's neck. "I could, but where's the fun in that? Besides…" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a cold whisper that only Temari could hear. "I haven't even broken a sweat yet."
Temari's eyes flickered with a mix of fury and helplessness. She knew Nyx wasn't lying. Despite all her attacks and efforts, Nyx hadn't moved from her position once, effortlessly dodging everything thrown at her. The difference in their strength was becoming painfully obvious.
"Gaara," Temari's voice was steady, despite the blade at her throat. "Don't move. I'll handle this."
Gaara remained still, his eyes locked on Nyx. He knew that with one command, his sand could react faster than anyone could see, but even then, Nyx was unpredictable. Her control over ice and her precision made her an opponent unlike anyone they had faced.
Nyx's smirk widened slightly. "Smart choice. You're learning, Temari." She lowered her blade just a fraction but didn't release her hold completely. "Now, let's see how much longer you can keep this confidence of yours."
Suddenly, Nyx reached into Temari's shirt, her fingers lightly grazing against her stomach, causing a small tremble to run through the Sand kunoichi's body. Temari stiffened at the unexpected touch, her breath hitching as Nyx's hands roamed, searching with a calm, deliberate focus. Each movement was precise, her icy fingers brushing Temari's skin in a way that sent involuntary shivers up her spine.
Gaara's expression darkened. "Let go of her this instant."
Nyx didn't even glance his way. A cold, mocking laugh escaped her lips. "If you move, she dies."
Gaara tensed, his sand swirling in agitation but still holding back, watching carefully. Kankuro clenched his fists, his anger boiling, but he didn't dare make a move either.
Finally, Nyx found what she was searching for. With a swift, practiced motion, she snatched a folded piece of paper hidden inside Temari's clothing and then casually pushed her away. Temari stumbled forward, gasping, caught off guard by the sudden release. She spun around, glaring at Nyx, her chest heaving from both exhaustion and shock.
Nyx, however, seemed completely unfazed, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she observed Temari's flushed face. A soft giggle escaped her, mocking the situation. "You're cute when you're flustered," Nyx teased, twirling the paper between her fingers.
Suddenly, Temari's giant fan came swinging at Nyx, aiming to strike her down in one powerful sweep. But in the blink of an eye, Nyx vanished, leaving only a shimmer of frost in the air where she had been standing. She reappeared a few feet away, calm and composed, as though nothing had happened. The ice beneath her feet spread, cracking the ground in jagged lines that formed a web of frost around her.
Nyx crossed her arms, her icy blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Is that all you've got? Really? You still think you can keep up with me?"
Temari's eyes burned with frustration, but her body was betraying her—drenched in sweat, muscles aching, and her breath ragged from exhaustion. She could barely stand, while Nyx looked as calm and collected as ever, not even a hint of strain visible.
Gaara, his expression unreadable, glanced between Nyx and his sister. He knew the truth: they couldn't win this fight. Not now. He slowly lowered his hands, the swirling sand calming. "We'll fight another day," he said, his voice quiet but resolute.
Nyx's smirk softened into something colder, more calculating. "You say that as if you'll have the choice." She turned her back on them, beginning to walk away. "Next time, bring something worth my time. And watch yourself, Jinchūriki." Without another word, Nyx disappeared once more, leaving behind only the fading chill of her icy presence.
Temari stood there, breathing heavily, glaring at where Nyx had vanished. "This isn't over," she muttered, but deep down, she knew she had a long way to go before she could match someone like Nyx.
As Nyx walked away, several thoughts crossed her mind. But the main one being what just happened.
"Am I becoming like Konan?"