The serenity of Akari's chamber shattered like glass when the door slammed open. The heavy thud of boots echoed as a figure strode into the room. Towering and clad in ornate armor, he carried a weapon unlike any Itachi had ever seen—a massive spear shaped like a tuning fork, its polished prongs gleaming menacingly under the dim light. His presence was suffocating, his expression cold and calculating.
"General Kenji," Akari gasped, her face draining of color.
Itachi instinctively stepped in front of her, hand on the hilt of his sword. He had heard whispers of this man—a warrior renowned for his mastery of sound manipulation and the First Division Commander of the Aquora Kingdom. Kenji's weapon, Echofang, was said to amplify soundwaves to devastating levels.
Kenji's voice was deep and resonant, carrying an eerie calm. "Princess Akari, step aside. This intruder will answer for his crimes."
Akari's lips quivered, but she stood her ground. "Kenji, stop! He's not an intruder—"
Kenji raised a gauntleted hand, silencing her with a mere flick of his fingers. A faint hum emanated from Echofang as he turned his piercing gaze to Itachi.
"Speak, trespasser. Why are you here?"
Itachi smirked, masking the tension that coiled within him. "What can I say? I like the view."
Kenji's expression hardened. Without warning, he thrust Echofang forward. A thunderous BOOM erupted as the spear's prongs vibrated, sending a concussive blast through the air. Itachi barely had time to react, throwing himself out of the window as the force obliterated Akari's room.
The Fight Begins
Itachi landed in the courtyard below, rolling to soften the impact. Dust and debris rained down as Kenji followed, leaping from the shattered window with his spear poised. The General's landing was flawless, his movements precise and deliberate.
"Intruding on the princess's quarters?" Kenji growled. "You'll wish for a swift death."
Itachi unsheathed his blade, water swirling around the steel in a mesmerizing dance. "I'd say it's you who should be worried. Let's see what you've got, General."
Kenji didn't waste time with words. With a swift motion, he spun Echofang in a wide arc. The weapon hummed, and a deafening CLANG resonated as it collided with Itachi's blade. The sheer force of the vibration sent Itachi skidding backward, his hands trembling from the impact.
Kenji's Assault
Kenji charged forward, his attacks relentless. Every swing of Echofang created shockwaves that shattered the stone tiles beneath their feet.
"Resonant Blast!" Kenji bellowed, thrusting his spear forward. A concentrated soundwave shot out, ripping through the air. Itachi leaped to the side, but the wave grazed his arm, tearing through his sleeve and leaving a painful bruise.
Kenji didn't let up. "Echo Barrage!" He spun his spear, unleashing a flurry of sonic pulses that exploded on impact. Each blast forced Itachi to dodge and weave, the vibrations disorienting him.
"Not bad," Itachi muttered, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. "But let's see how you handle this."
Itachi's Counterattack
Itachi raised his sword, the water around it intensifying. With a sharp slash, he called out, "Tidal Fang!" A crescent-shaped wave of water shot toward Kenji, slicing through the air.
Kenji twirled Echofang, deflecting the attack with a soundwave. "Is that all you've got?"
Itachi smirked. "Hardly." He thrust his palm forward, channeling water into his fist. The liquid began to swirl, forming a concentrated vortex around his hand.
"Let me introduce you to my new technique: Aqua Surge!" Itachi launched himself at Kenji, his movements fluid and unpredictable. His water-infused fists struck with the force of a torrent, each blow creating ripples that disrupted Kenji's balance.
For a moment, Kenji seemed caught off guard, but he quickly adapted. With a guttural shout, he slammed Echofang into the ground. "Sonic Quake!" The ground trembled as a powerful vibration radiated outward, throwing Itachi off his feet.
Kenji's Dominance
Kenji advanced, his spear humming ominously. He thrust the weapon toward Itachi, and the vibrations resonated through the air. "Resonance Strike!" The attack hit like a hammer, sending Itachi sprawling.
Blood dripped from Itachi's lips as he staggered to his feet. His vision blurred, but he refused to back down. "You're tougher than I expected," he admitted, wiping the blood from his chin. "Guess I'll have to take this up a notch."
Kenji sneered. "You're barely standing. Spare yourself the humiliation."
Itachi's Evolution
Itachi closed his eyes, centering himself. He focused on the water around him—not just the physical element, but its essence: fluidity, adaptability, and relentless persistence. His breathing steadied, and a faint aura of water enveloped him.
When he opened his eyes, they glowed with determination. His movements became a blur as he flowed around Kenji's attacks, his body moving like water itself.
Kenji's eyes narrowed. "What is this?"
Itachi grinned. "This is Liquid Form, my newest ability. Let's see how you handle it."
With his newfound speed, Itachi closed the distance between them in an instant. He dodged a thrust from Echofang and countered with a spinning kick, his foot surrounded by swirling water. The impact sent Kenji staggering back.
"Not done yet," Itachi said, charging forward. "Hydro Barrage!" He unleashed a series of rapid punches, each one infused with water. The blows connected, pushing Kenji onto the defensive.
The Turning Point
Kenji roared in frustration, slamming Echofang into the ground once more. "Sonic Devastation!" A massive shockwave erupted, the sheer force of it cracking the ground and sending debris flying.
Itachi was caught in the blast, his body thrown against a stone pillar. He gasped for breath, his vision darkening as pain wracked his body.
Kenji loomed over him, his spear raised for the final blow. "This ends now."
But Itachi wasn't done yet. Summoning the last of his strength, he pushed himself up, water swirling around him with renewed vigor. "You're fast, Kenji," he said, his voice steady despite his injuries. "But let's see how you handle someone faster than sound."
In a burst of energy, Itachi activated Liquid Velocity, a technique that allowed him to move at supersonic speeds. The air around him shimmered as he blurred out of sight, reappearing behind Kenji.
"What—" Kenji barely had time to react before Itachi struck. "Aqua Tempest!" A powerful, spinning attack infused with water slammed into Kenji, shattering his guard and sending him crashing to the ground.
The Final Blow
Kenji struggled to rise, but Itachi was already upon him. He infused his fist with the full power of his water abilities, creating a vortex of liquid energy.
"This is for breaking the princess's room," Itachi said with a smirk. "Torrent Breaker!" His fist connected with Kenji's chest, the force of the blow amplified by the swirling water. Kenji was sent flying, his weapon clattering to the ground.
The General lay motionless, his armor dented and his pride shattered. Itachi stood over him, breathing heavily but victorious.
Aftermath
Akari rushed to the courtyard, her face pale with worry. "Itachi! Are you all right?"
He turned to her, offering a weak smile. "I've had worse."
Her eyes filled with tears as she embraced him, relief washing over her. "I thought you were…"
"It's going to take more than that to take me down," he said, his voice light despite his exhaustion.
As the palace guards approached, Itachi glanced at Kenji, who was still conscious but too weak to fight. "Tell your king I'm not done yet," he said, turning to leave.
Before disappearing into the shadows, Itachi looked back at Akari. "Remember our promise."
She nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "I'll hold you to it."
With that, Itachi vanished into the night, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. The battle had pushed him to his limits, but it had also awakened something within him—a resolve to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As he made his way to the rendezvous point to reunite with Shusui and Hana, one thought lingered in his mind: This is just the beginning.