As Hui and Ōnoki exchanged words, the killing intent in the air became palpable. Ōnoki had come for revenge, filled with a burning desire to kill Hui.
Hui, sensing the murderous aura from Ōnoki, also became filled with a desire to eliminate him.
"That guy, Ishigawa, also had the surname 'Kmizuru' I wonder how he was related to you? If he was your friend, that's quite tragic. You'll never see him again, after all," Hui said with a smirk, his voice dripping with mockery as he gazed at Ōnoki.
He had already deduced that Ishigawa and Ōnoki were likely related, perhaps even by blood. These words were designed to provoke him.
Ōnoki's breath grew rough, and in an instant, his fury boiled over.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Ōnoki clasped his hands together, and a translucent, drop-shaped barrier materialized between his palms. It rapidly expanded, stretching into a sharp, spear-like light beam.
Zing!
With a piercing sound, the beam shot toward Hui. However, for Hui, this attack was far too slow. He swiftly leaped out of the way, simultaneously flinging several kunai upward toward Ōnoki.
His taunt was working wonders.
Swish, swish, swish!
Ōnoki easily dodged the kunai, his body floating gracefully in midair. But Hui had more in store.
The second wave of kunai collided with the first, altering their trajectories and sending them streaking directly toward Ōnoki's blind spots.
Hearing the whistling sound of the kunai behind him, Ōnoki immediately soared higher to evade. He then dived toward Hui, forming hand signs as he descended.
"Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique!"
In an instant, Ōnoki's fist was encased in solid rock, growing to an enormous size. He aimed the rock-encrusted fist at Hui and plummeted toward him, the weight of the stone accelerating his fall.
On the ground, Hui's eyes flickered with the mysterious patterns of his Heavenly Eye technique.
His keen dynamic vision allowed him to track Ōnoki's flight path with precision, calculating his attack range and the exact moment he would land.
Just as Ōnoki was about to strike, Hui shifted his feet, narrowly avoiding the blow. He immediately followed up with a sword slash aimed at Ōnoki's throat.
Ōnoki blocked the strike with his rock-covered fist, deflecting the blade with a metallic clink.
But Hui wasn't done. Ōnoki, seeing his attack fail, raised his hand again. A cubic, translucent barrier began forming between his palms.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Once again, Ōnoki unleashed Dust Release. This time, the cube rapidly expanded, attempting to envelop Hui and disintegrate him into atoms.
Hui, wary of this deadly technique, quickly retreated the moment he saw Ōnoki's hands move, escaping the range of the Dust Release barrier.
Hui began forming hand seals at an astonishing speed—about six seals per second, a remarkable feat considering he hadn't specialized in hand seal training.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from Hui's mouth, surging toward Ōnoki.
The blazing inferno was large enough to obscure Ōnoki's vision completely. However, the fireball barely touched the Dust Release barrier before being disintegrated into nothingness.
"Impressive as ever, Dust Release. If Ishigawa had possessed this power, it might've been me buried underground instead of him," Hui remarked casually as he advanced toward Ōnoki, sword in hand.
Ōnoki's breathing became even more labored. He too drew a kunai and charged at Hui, their blades clashing in the air.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sound of their blades colliding echoed through the battlefield. Hui moved with a fluid ease, while Ōnoki became increasingly frantic, forced into a defensive stance as Hui's relentless attacks kept coming. In close combat, Hui had the clear advantage.
"Trying to use ninjutsu while engaged in close combat? How naive," Hui taunted, continuing to suppress Ōnoki effortlessly. Despite the intensity of the fight, he even found the time to taunt his opponent.
Ōnoki, realizing he was no match for Hui in close quarters, sought an opening to create distance and cast his jutsu. However, every time he attempted to retreat, Hui pressed forward, keeping their distance close.
In this tight range, Ōnoki knew that if he attempted to weave signs for a jutsu, Hui's sword would be at his throat before he could finish.
Panic surged within Ōnoki. He had underestimated Hui's prowess in taijutsu and swordsmanship—skills that rivalled his ninjutsu. He had to break free from this suffocating rhythm he was trapped in.
In a desperate move, Ōnoki steeled himself, allowing Hui's sword to graze his arm. Enduring the pain, he seized Hui's arm with his free hand.
"Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!"
Instantly, Hui's body grew heavy, the ground beneath him sinking under the sudden weight.
Ōnoki, feeling a glimmer of hope, smirked and prepared to stab Hui with his kunai. But once again, he underestimated Hui. With a swift flick of his sword, Hui targeted Ōnoki's arm—the one gripping his wrist.
If Ōnoki continued his assault, he would lose his arm.
Realizing this, and knowing that stabbing Hui would not be a fatal blow, Ōnoki hesitated. In the end, he released Hui and leapt backward, retreating into the air.
"Not bad, but it seems you're still not ruthless enough," Hui commented, feeling the weight lift from his body. His taunt infuriating Oniki further.
Without giving Ōnoki any respite, he dashed forward again, ready to continue the assault.
This time, Ōnoki wasn't about to let Hui close the distance. He soared higher into the sky, out of sword range, and began firing Dust Release attacks from above.
However, Dust Release required time to form and aim. For someone with Hui's dynamic vision and quick reflexes, dodging the attacks was easy.
Despite Ōnoki's aerial advantage, Hui remained unharmed. But he knew he needed to find a way to strike back. Though he couldn't fly, an idea crossed his mind—there was a technique he could try.
A smile tugged at the corner of Hui's lips. "Maybe this will work…"
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