The creature's eyes locked with hers for a fraction of a second. Nanashi's lips curled into a knowing smirk, a challenge dancing in her gaze. Startled by her audacity, the beast released its grip and vanished into the shadowy undergrowth.
But Nanashi knew this was far from over. Her heightened senses tingled, alerting her to the imminent danger. From the corner of her eye, she spotted a flash of orange light erupting from the canopy above. A fireball hurtled towards her, its heat already singeing the air around her.
Lesser warriors might have ducked or fled. Not Nanashi. With a casual grace that belied the peril, she arched her back in an exaggerated yawn, as if bored by the spectacle. The fireball engulfed her, its flames licking at her skin.
"Yes, we did it!" A triumphant voice rang from the canopy above. Emerging from the foliage, a majestic two-tailed cat with fur that shimmered like starlight materialized. Kagome, for it was she who had unleashed the fireball, gazed down with eyes that glowed like twin moons.
"She is definitely a goner now," the emerald-furred kitsune said, wisps of wind swirling around her paws as she stepped from the shadows. This was Kaze, her very presence seeming to make the air dance.
Nanashi, untouched by the inferno, casually shook off the flames as if discarding an unwanted cloak. "I wouldn't be so sure about that," she drawled, her voice dripping with condescension.
Kagome's ears twitched in disbelief. "How...? I would have been disappointed if that was all it took to kill you."
"You don't say," Kaze muttered, her tails weaving intricate patterns in the air. "But it seems there's more to her than meets the eye, Kagome."
The celestial cat hissed, "Seriously, Kaze? We talked about this. Don't use our real names in front of the enemy!"
"But you just did," Kaze pointed out, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Nanashi, watching this exchange with growing amusement, couldn't resist interjecting. "Is your real name 'wind'?" she asked Kaze, her tone mockingly sweet.
"No," the kitsune replied, a gust of wind ruffling her fur.
Nanashi sighed heavily, shaking her head. "I swear, my enemies are getting dumber by the generation."
"What did you say?" Kagome growled, her twin tails lashing.
"Nothing," Nanashi replied with a smug look. "I just coughed in Hindi."
Kagome's eyes narrowed. "I really can't stand you fox creatures."
"Funny you should say that," Nanashi retorted, her voice sharp as a blade. "From what I can see, your friend over there is a fox creature just like me. I take it you're the type of creature I can't stand."
"And what type is that?" Kaze asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
Nanashi tapped her index finger on her lips, feigning deep thought. "You know, the type that says one thing and does another. What does one call them?"
"A two-faced snake?" Kaze offered, wind whistling through her fur.
"Correct, my kitsune sister!" Nanashi exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm. "A two-faced snake. Or in her case," she nodded towards Kagome, "a two-tailed cat."
"Ooh, burn," Kaze chuckled, a small whirlwind forming at her feet.
Kagome's fur bristled, starlight sparking along her tails. "Kaze, whose side are you on anyway? No matter, I'll end you. Watch this two-tailed cat rip you apart!" She made to pounce, but Kaze's wind barrier held her back.
"No, wait," Kaze cautioned, her eyes swirling with ancient wisdom. "That's what she wants. I felt something strange when I bit her earlier, as if I was being pulled into her. We should keep our distance, at least until Sasuke arrives."
Nanashi's laughter echoed through the forest, rich with arrogance. "How observant of you. I expected nothing less from a fellow creature of myth. But you're wrong about one thing," her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "The person you're counting on to rescue you? He won't show up. Not now, not ever."
"What do you mean"' Kaze asked, with a hint of confusion and concern in her voice.
Nanashi's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light as she spoke, her voice resonating with power that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of reality:
"Fools. Before I even set foot in this so-called paradise, my illusion spell was already in motion. But this is no amateur's trick, no mere veil cast over the scene."
She raised her hand, and the air around them shimmered, revealing glimpses of complex, arcane symbols etched into the very atmosphere.
"What I've woven is a tapestry of deception so intricate, it recreates time and space itself. Your precious sanctuary now exists in two realms simultaneously – the true world, and my simulacrum."
A cruel smile played on her lips as she continued, her words dripping with smug satisfaction:
"But that's not all. While you fumble in this false reality, I've shifted myself into a dimension beyond your reach. Your hero, your great hope? He'll charge in, blind and oblivious, trapped in a perfect simulation where his every heroic effort is nothing but a futile dance for my amusement."
"Well, that is perfect for us, now I have no excuse to hold back." Kagume replied.
"I was hoping you would say that."
"Lets do it sister." Kaze said looking at Kagume.
"Huh, you say it like you are actually going to win."
Kaze stepped forward, her emerald eyes flashing with determination. A tempest roared to life around her, leaves and branches swirling in a frenzied dance. The tornado engulfed her completely, its howling winds drowning out all other sounds. When it finally dissipated, a vision of breathtaking beauty stood in the kitsune's place.
Where once was fur now cascaded obsidian hair, flowing like liquid night down to her waist. A kimono of the deepest forest green hugged her lithe form, embroidered with patterns of wind and leaf that seemed to shift and move of their own accord. Her human visage was ethereal, with high cheekbones and lips curved in a knowing smile. Though her tails were hidden, the raw power of the wind still danced around her, hinting at the formidable yokai beneath this divine facade.
Not to be outdone, Kagome underwent her own transformation. The air shimmered with heat as her fur receded, revealing smooth skin that glowed with an inner light. Her feline features melted away, replaced by the visage of a warrior goddess. Cropped ebony hair framed a face of striking beauty, with eyes that retained their catlike shape - pools of golden fire that seemed to peer into one's very soul.
Her new form was athletic and powerful, draped in armour that gleamed like polished moonstone. Two tails, now seemingly crafted from living flame, lashed behind her with barely contained energy. In her right hand materialized a spear of celestial silver, its tip crackling with suppressed lightning.
Both women now stood as divine warriors, their beauty matched only by the aura of lethal grace that surrounded them. The forest itself seemed to bow in their presence, recognizing the manifestation of primal forces given human form.
Kaze and Kagome locked eyes with Nanashi, their expressions a mix of determination and barely restrained power. The true battle was about to begin, and the very air trembled in anticipation of the clash between these titanic beings.
"So, this is the grand transformation, uhmm, Nice work, kaize but as for kagome, your transfiguration needs some work, I mean if I were a guy that would be a major turn off, seriously." Nanashi said rolling her eyes.
"I am going rip her face off with my bare hands!" Kagome roared.
"NO!, did not listen to me earlier, there is something wired going on with her body."
Nanashi's eyes glinted with deadly precision as she spoke, her voice a low, menacing growl. "Heed your friend's warning. My touch isn't just 'wired'—it's a lethal current waiting to be unleashed. I've been dormant for far too long, itching for the thrill of hand to hand combat." She methodically rolled up her sleeves, each movement deliberate and threatening. "I'll restrain my true power... for now. But the moment you pose even a hint of a threat, you'll wish you'd never crossed my path."
With fluid grace that belied her deadly intent, Nanashi assumed her wing-chun stance. Her body coiled like a viper ready to strike, radiating an aura of imminent danger. A cold smile played on her lips as she added, "Go ahead, arm yourself. Weapons won't save you from what's coming."
"You dare insult us." Kaze said.
"Let show her." Kagome replied.
In a blur of motion, the forest erupted into chaos. Two assailants launched at Nanashi with lightning speed, their kicks slicing through the air like thunderbolts. One aimed for her head, the other her midsection – a deadly pincer attack.
But Nanashi was ready. With inhuman reflexes, she deflected both strikes. The impact resonated through the woods, a thunderclap that sent nearby trees swaying as if caught in a hurricane. Leaves whirled in the aftermath, nature itself recoiling from the raw power on display.
A wicked grin crossed Nanashi's face, savoring the challenge. In one fluid motion, she seized her attackers' legs, becoming a dervish of destruction. The world spun dizzyingly as she whirled, her opponents now helpless projectiles. With a final, brutal twist, she hurled them away like rag dolls before settling back into her stance, a predator awaiting the next strike.
Kagome, fury blazing in her eyes, charged again. Her fists became a tempest of blows, each one carrying enough force to shatter stone. Yet Nanashi danced through the onslaught, a phantom always a hairsbreadth from harm. In a heartbeat, she trapped Kagome's flailing arms and drove her forehead forward with bone-crushing force. The sound of the impact echoed through the forest like a gunshot.
As Nanashi prepared to strike again, Kagome made a desperate gambit. She inhaled sharply, drawing in the blood streaming from her battered nose, and spat the crimson mist directly into her opponent's eyes. Before Nanashi could react, Kagome unleashed a scream of such intensity it created a visible shockwave, blasting her foe backward.
Seizing the moment, Kazie surged forward, her blade singing through the air as it arced towards Nanashi's exposed neck. But even blinded, Nanashi's instincts were razor-sharp. She dropped low, the sword's lethal edge whistling mere millimeters above her skin. In a move that defied physics, she pivoted on one hand, her legs becoming a whirlwind of devastating kicks that battered Kazie's face mercilessly.
With a final, crushing axe kick, Nanashi slammed Kazie to the earth. But she wasn't done. Using her fallen opponent's face as a springboard, she launched herself skyward, twisting in mid-air to snatch Kagome by the face. With terrifying strength, she drove her enemy headfirst into the unforgiving ground, the impact sending tremors through the forest floor.
As dust settled around the carnage, Nanashi stood tall amidst her fallen foes, her breath barely quickened. The forest fell silent, as if holding its breath in awe of the devastating display of combat prowess it had just witnessed.
"Huh, you guys really think I was playing in China." She said, taking a few steps back 'Come on now, you guys cannot seriously be finished can you?'
The earth trembled beneath their feet, a primal force awakening. The sky above split with thunderous rage, while distant oceans churned and boiled as if sensing the impending clash of titans. From the rubble, Kagome and Kaze rose, their forms transcending mortal limits.
Kagome's transformation was breathtaking. Obsidian tiger stripes etched themselves across her face, framing eyes that now blazed with celestial fire. Divine armor materialized, each piece adorned with constellations that shifted and danced. Her spear elongated, morphing into a trident that crackled with barely contained cosmic energy.
Kaze's metamorphosis was equally awe-inspiring. Her raven locks bleached to a brilliant white, flowing like liquid starlight. Upon her brow, a crescent moon materialized, glowing with ethereal blue light. Her armor seemed forged from the very fabric of space-time, shimmering with otherworldly power.
Their combined presence was overwhelming, as if two goddesses had descended to wage war upon the mortal realm.
"Are you ready now?" Their voices resonated with newfound authority, shaking the very foundations of reality.
Nanashi's response was unexpected – a burst of maniacal laughter that echoed through the devastated landscape. Her eyes danced with wicked mirth as she addressed her adversaries.
"NOW we're talking, ladies!" She clapped her hands together in mock excitement. "I was starting to worry this would be boring. But playtime's over, isn't it?" Her tone sharpened, dripping with sarcasm. "Though I must say, I'm not fond of cheaters. It's a major red flag for me. Tsk, tsk."
Kagome's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Is that your excuse for weakness? How pathetic."
Nanashi's grin widened, a predator toying with its prey. "Oh, sweetie," she purred, her voice laden with condescension, "I'd mind that tongue if I were you. Allow me to demonstrate what true power looks like." She brought her hands together, eyes closing in mock prayer. "I was saving this little trick for a special occasion, but there's no time like the present, is there?"
"It's too late to pray to your god now," Kaze growled, readying her weapon.
Nanashi's eyes snapped open, burning with an intensity that made even the divine beings before her pause. Her voice carried the weight of eons, a being so far beyond them that their newfound divinity seemed laughable in comparison.
"Oh, my dears," she purred, the air around her beginning to distort, "I'm not praying to a god." Her smile became predatory, promising devastation beyond imagination. "I am the god you should be praying to."
The very fabric of reality seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the unleashing of a power that threatened to reshape existence itself.
As Nanashi's transformation began, the very fabric of reality seemed to tremble in anticipation. Twin bolts of lightning materialized beneath her eyes, crackling with barely contained power. Her hair, now a living inferno, danced and writhed around her head like the corona of a dark sun. One half of her body transmuted into obsidian darkness, a void that threatened to consume all light.
Suddenly, four spectral figures materialized around her – the Imori men, their forms pulsing with an otherworldly emerald radiance. They assumed prayer positions, their bodies conduits for an ancient, unfathomable magic. Beneath this unholy gathering, a golden circle blazed into existence, its arcane script whispering secrets of creation and destruction.
The earth convulsed violently, tectonic plates grinding against each other in agonized protest. The sky above split asunder, cosmic energies pouring through the wound in reality. Howling winds tore through the landscape, heralding the approach of something beyond mortal comprehension.
With a sound like the death throes of a universe, the very fabric of existence peeled away. It fell in massive, shimmering curtains, revealing a sight that defied sanity – a colossal golden gate, its surface etched with the history of all creation. Two titanic guardians, their swords crossed and embedded deep within the gate's structure, stood sentinel. Their faces were masks of eternal vigilance, straining against some primordial force desperate to break free.
A deafening cacophony of shattering chains reverberated through time and space as the massive doors began to part. Nanashi's voice, now imbued with the weight of countless eons, rang out.
"Behold, you who dare challenge me! Witness true weakness in the face of ultimate power! I bestow upon you a gift beyond your wildest nightmares – the ancestral father and king of all dragons, emperor of darkness and chaos incarnate, the Black Dragon of Apocalypse himself... HEI-LONG!"
The gates swung wide, releasing a torrent of golden mist that seemed to carry the whispers of forgotten ages. From within the swirling maelstrom, two colossal eyes blazed forth – orbs of molten gold that held the wisdom and fury of countless millennia.
In a heartbeat that seemed to last an eternity, a massive form erupted from the gate. Hei-long, in all his terrifying majesty, unfurled before them. His scales, blacker than the void between stars, reflected hints of deep indigo – as if entire galaxies were trapped within each plate of his armour. Massive claws, capable of rending planets, gleamed wickedly in the ethereal light. A mane and set of horns, forged from pure celestial gold, crowned the dragon's regal head.
Hei-long's wings spread wide, blotting out the sky and casting the world into shadow. With a roar that shook the very foundations of reality, he announced his presence to the cosmos. The sound was primal, a force of nature given voice, causing Kagome and Kaze to stagger as if struck by physical blows.
The air crackled with raw, untamed power as Hei-long descended, positioning himself behind Nanashi like the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The message was clear – the true battle was only just beginning, and the fate of existence itself hung in the balance. The air crackled with tension as Nanashi's eyes darted to Bunza, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. "Ahh, perhaps this was a miscalculation," she mused, her voice tinged with a hint of unease.
Bunza's reply dripped with sardonic humor. "Perhaps indeed."
Nanashi shrugged, her bravado returning. "We all err occasionally. After all, you only live once."
"And this might be our final act," Bunza quipped, his sarcasm a thin veil over the gravity of their situation.
Kagome's voice rang out, defiant in the face of overwhelming odds. "You think this dragon will intimidate us? We've faced far mightier foes."
Nanashi's laughter cut through the air like a knife. "Oh, spare me your bravado. It's painfully embarrassing." Her eyes narrowed, focusing on Kaze. "But fear not, the dragon isn't your concern. I'm far more interested in what secrets your nine-tailed friend is still hiding." She turned back to Kagome, her smile turning predatory. "As for you, I have an old friend who simply despises felines."
With a snap of her fingers, reality itself seemed to warp. From Kagome's very shadow, a nightmarish entity erupted – Snakey, Nanashi's most trusted servant. Its form was a writhing mass of darkness, eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence. Its maw gaped impossibly wide, large enough to swallow Kagome whole, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth that seemed to stretch into infinity.
Just as Snakey was about to engulf Kagome, Kaze intervened. Her sword cut through the air with preternatural speed, unleashing a gale-force wind that sent the shadowy monstrosity hurtling through the trees.
Nanashi clicked her tongue in mock disappointment. "My, my, you simply can't play fair, can you? I wager neither of you had friends growing up. How tragic!" She massaged her temples dramatically. "Ugh, you're giving me such a headache. Snakey, Hei-long, be dears and handle this mess. I'm in desperate need of tea."
As Nanashi settled onto the ground, conjuring a steaming cup from thin air, the combatants took their positions. Kaze ascended, her divine form radiating power as she faced the colossal dragon awaiting her in the heavens. Below, Kagome steeled herself, eyes darting warily as Snakey melted into the very shadows around her, its presence an ever-present threat.
The air grew thick with anticipation, the very elements holding their breath. Nanashi's voice cut through the silence, gleeful and terrifying in its nonchalance.
"One!" The earth trembled. "Two!" Lightning split the sky. "Three!" Reality itself seemed to warp.
"FIGHT!"
With that single word, all hell broke loose. Kaze and Hei-long collided in the sky, their battle shaking the heavens. On the ground, Kagome spun wildly, trying to predict from where Snakey's first strike would come.
Nanashi sipped her tea, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched the chaos unfold. The battle erupted with cataclysmic force as Kaze unleashed her opening salvo. Her blade sang through the air, releasing a crescent of pure destructive energy hurtling towards Hei-long. The dragon, ancient and terrible in his might, merely flicked a claw, shattering the attack as if it were made of glass.
Undeterred, Kaze's power surged. With a series of intricate movements, she conjured a spectacle both beautiful and terrifying. The very air around her coalesced into a multitude of whirlwinds, each one teeming with hundreds of ethereal weasels. Their forms shimmered with deadly intent, claws honed to impossible sharpness.
The tempest converged on Hei-long, merging into a colossal vortex that engulfed the dragon's massive form. It was as if the sky itself had become a giant, relentless blender, seeking to reduce the legendary beast to shreds.
Yet, against the unfathomable might of Hei-long, even this maelstrom of destruction proved futile. The weasels' claws, capable of rending mountains, barely tickled the dragon's impenetrable hide. A rumbling chuckle emanated from within the storm, a sound that shook the very foundations of reality.
"Ah, how foolish," Hei-long's voice boomed, tinged with amusement. "You wish to play? Then let us truly dance!"
With a movement that defied comprehension, the colossal dragon began to spin. His rotation, counter to the whirlwind's fury, generated forces that threatened to tear the fabric of space-time. Suddenly, like a god unleashing divine judgment, Hei-long's scales launched outward. Each one, harder than the strongest metal and sharper than any blade, became a projectile of unimaginable lethality.
The air filled with a storm of obsidian death. Weasels evaporated by the hundreds, their ethereal forms no match for the dragon's onslaught. The tornado, once a force of nature, was shredded to nothingness in mere seconds.
"Watch it!" Nanashi's shout cut through the chaos, her fist shaking in mock anger.
Hei-long's response dripped with sarcasm, his voice a low rumble that sent tremors through the earth. "My deepest apologies. Precision is rather challenging when one is spinning, you understand."
Seizing what she perceived as an opening, Kaze launched herself at the dragon. Her speed was breath taking, shattering the sound barrier and leaving reality itself struggling to keep up. Her sword, infused with divine power, aimed for Hei-long's heart.
Yet, in the instant before impact, the impossible occurred. Hei-long, a being of such immense size and power, simply vanished. No flash of light, no distortion of space – he was simply gone, as if he had never existed.
"Heh, seems like your trump card's taken off." she said, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she glanced down at Nanashi.
"Oh, no need to worry, my dear,' Nanashi replied, her gaze fixed on the man in ancient Chinese robes before them. 'He's right here, just indulging in a spot of this exquisite spicy chai. Quite the delightful little respite, wouldn't you say?"
Hei-long, his regal bearing and elegant features commanding attention, arched a brow. "I see, so this and green are your number ones, are they?' he mused, a touch of amusement in his voice. 'How curious, that two could be considered as one."
Nanashi's eyes twinkled with childlike amusement. 'Well, you know what they say – one plus one equals two, and yet, in the beginning, they are both number one.' She took a sip of her tea, unfazed by Hei-long's imposing presence.
Hei-long's lips curled in a faint smirk. 'You truly do have an answer for everything, don't you?' he murmured, a hint of begrudging respect in his tone.
Kaze's gaze hardened, her expression darkening. 'You both think me a weak, insignificant creature, unworthy of your attention,' she growled, the intensity in her voice belying the calm facade. 'Allow me to show you just how mistaken you are.'
Nanashi glanced up from her cup, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Ah, the impatience of this generation," she sighed, her gaze meeting Kaze's with a hint of pity. "They do so want everything immediately, don't they?"
But Kaze was not having any of it. A tempestuous surge of power erupted from within her, a verdant radiance that eclipsed the very light of the sky. Her form, once delicate and serene, writhed and contorted, as if birthing a being from the depths of an ancient, primordial sea. Her armor, once a symbol of protection, shattered into a thousand emerald shards, reforming into a second skin, pulsating with an ethereal green light.
Her skin, once pale and flawless, was etched with intricate patterns of verdant energy, like the veins of a living, breathing world. Her eyes, once a soft emerald hue, deepened to an abyssal black, their irises glowing with an otherworldly light. Her nails, once slender and delicate, elongated into razor-sharp talons, their tips shimmering with an iridescent sheen.
Her sword, a symbol of her warrior spirit, transformed before her very eyes, its blade elongating and curving into a deadly scythe, its edge shimmering with an otherworldly energy.
As the transformation reached its zenith, Kaze's form was enveloped in a blinding flash of emerald light. When the light subsided, she stood before them, a being of unparalleled power and beauty. Her hair, once a cascade of dark tresses, now flowed like a river of molten jade, each strand imbued with a life force of its own. Her eyes, once human, now held the wisdom of ages, the power of creation and destruction.
Her presence filled the room, a palpable force that demanded respect and reverence. She was no longer a mere mortal, but a divine entity, a being of unparalleled power and beauty.
Nanashi, spat out her tea, "There!, there!, it is, I knew you she could do it to, that form."
"What form." Hei-long asked.
"Bankai, a limit release, I want it." She said, her eyes burning with an unfathomable hunger.
Electricity crackled through the air as the two titans prepared to clash. Hei-long's eyes narrowed, a deadly determination etched upon his features. With a roar, he hurled his cup aside, the ceramic vessel shattering against the ground. Dusting off his hands, he steeled his focus, every muscle coiled and ready to spring into action.
In a blur of motion, Hei-long launched himself skyward, shattering the sound barrier with a deafening boom that reverberated through the very earth. The force of his take off sent shockwaves rippling outwards, kicking up clouds of dust and debris in his wake.
Kaze's divine form stood poised, her nine ethereal tails lashing the air with unbridled power. As Hei-long hurtled towards her, she swung her scythe in a vicious arc, the blade shimmering with an otherworldly radiance.
The moment the fist and the scythe collided, the resulting impact sent out a shockwave that shattered windows and cracked the very ground beneath them. The clash of these two titans echoed like thunderous gunfire, each blow ringing out with a deafening report that threatened to tear the very fabric of reality asunder.
Hei-long and Kaze traded blows at a dizzying pace, their forms blurring as they danced through the air in a deadly pas de deux. The sky itself seemed to tremble and part with the sheer force of their exchange, reality bending to the indomitable will of these two colossal figures.
Each strike was a testament to their unbridled power, a display of strength and skill that transcended the mortal realm. Bolts of energy crackled and arced between them, the very air ionized by the sheer intensity of their clash.
Kaze's scythe sliced through the atmosphere, carving jagged trails of devastation in its wake, while Hei-long's fists thundered against the blade, each impact sending out shockwaves that threatened to rend the heavens asunder.
"Aah, I am getting bored and I feel like I am missing out. Oi! Oi! Snakey, how are you doing over there?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of concern as she watched the giant serpent fire a chaotic ballet of hyper beams from the crystal embedded in its head. Its scales shimmered with raw power in a desperate attempt to fend off its impending doom.
"Oh dear, time is running out for you, my loyal servant. I better step in, or else you will be a goner," she murmured to herself. Swiftly rising from her seat, her movements fluid and graceful, she swept up her kettle and discarded cups. With a flick of her wrist, she carelessly tossed them into the depths of her endless storage, with a sound like a dying star's last gasp.
She bent down and curled her fingers around jagged stones, each brimming with latent power. She stared at Kagome for a moment, studying her movements and trying to predict the next. Then she hurled the stones at her. The first Kagome managed to dodge with inhuman reflexes, but the second found its mark, striking Snakey square in the head with a sickening crunch.
"Oops!" she said, with feigned remorse.
The third was a projectile of pure malice, missing Kagome completely and launching itself down Snakey's throat, eliciting a pained hiss from the serpent.
"Aai!" Nanashi moaned, putting her hands on her head in dismay. "The… the sun was in my eyes!" she shouted in an effort to justify her bad aim.
"Your tricks will neither save you nor your pet, Witch! Once I am done with it, you're next!" Kagome said.
Nanashi's lips curled into a sinister smile. "I would not be too sure about that. NOW!" she cried, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Snakey lunged at Kagome, its massive jaws opening wide in a silent scream, but Kagome was prepared this time. With a flick of her wrist, her spear extended, piercing the serpent's mouth and stopping its attack right in its tracks.
"Is that all you got?" Kagome taunted, turning her attention back to Nanashi, but she had vanished, leaving only a whisper of her shadow. Kagome whirled around, frantically searching for her foe.
"Here," came the reply, a bone-chilling whisper curling around her ears, coming from nowhere and everywhere.
"Where are you, demon?" Kagome hissed.
"I am right here," a voice rang from within the serpent's mouth. Kagome's blood ran cold as a figure emerged from within the darkness of the serpent's mouth, her long hair cascading around like tendrils of a demonic entity, a nightmare given flesh. In a fluid motion, she darted out and seized Kagome's face, her grip coiling around it, a twisted smile stretching across Nanashi's face.
"Welcome," she said, her voice resonating with the power of ten thousand lost souls. "To the infinite void." She absorbed Kagome in an instant.
"Kagome!" Kaze roared, her voice slicing through the air as sharply as her blade. With a powerful tornado slash, she sent Hei-long hurtling into the depths of the forest. "Now you will die!" she declared, her eyes blazing with fury.
Nanshai froze, her mind racing. "She could have escaped, ripped her own face from my hand and regenerated it instantly. Why would she just give up?" she pondered, watching as Kaze's relentless air slashes and hyper beams passed harmlessly through her, thanks to Hajimo's abilities.
Suddenly, Hei-long's voice boomed from the shadows. "Over here, child!" A beam of golden energy erupted from his mouth.
"I don't have time for you, old man. I'm sending you straight to the underworld." Kaze's blade turned black, her tattoos glowing ominously. In a flash, she appeared behind Hei-long, ready to cleave him in half. Sensing the imminent danger, Nanshai clapped her hands together, sending a supersonic blast that propelled Hei-long out of the fatal path.
As the tip of Kaze's scythe touched the earth, a portal to the underworld opened, revealing hundreds of tormented souls screaming in agony. "So it's a one-way ticket to the underworld," Nanshai whispered to herself.
Kaze continued her assault, her speed and deadly air slashes overwhelming Hei-long. Desperate, he took to the air, but much of the forest had already been sucked into the underworld. Seizing the moment, Nanshai decided to seal him once more. She opened the gates above him, and harbinger chains shot through his arms and legs, wrapping around his waist and pulling him in before Kaze could land her blow.
"Hei-long, you have become disappointingly weak. I am your opponent now," Nanshai announced.
Kaze's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You cannot match my speed. Your death will be slow, agonizing – just as Kagome suffered."
"But I ended her in an instant!" Nanashi protested, before a cruel smile played across her lips, "Anyway, how many fingers do you want?"
Confusion flickered across Kaze's face. "What?"
"How many fingers do you want?"
"I don't have time for this. Prepare to die."
"Five it is," Nanashi said, plasma blades materializing from her hands.
Kaze's eyes widened in horrified recognition. "That's Sanda's power! You didn't—"
"Oh, but I did," Nanashi purred.
"You'll pay for this with your life!" Kaze snarled, vanishing in a blur of impossible speed.
Their blades clashed in a cataclysmic explosion of power, reshaping the very landscape with each strike. Chunks of earth and sky alike were torn asunder, sucked into the ever-growing maw of the underworld. Yet as Kaze's rage grew, so did her recklessness.
Nanashi, seizing her moment, deactivated Hajimo's shield. Kaze, blinded by fury, saw only weakness and lunged forward for the killing blow. But as her blade passed harmlessly through Nanashi's form, she realized her fatal error.
Nanashi's arms snapped shut like a steel trap, ensnaring Kaze in an inescapable embrace.
Nanashi leaned in close, her whisper carrying the weight of ages. "Fury blinds, little one. Your rage has led you astray, now, embrace the void."
In that suspended moment, Kaze's eyes widened with dawning horror. Too late, she realized the trap she'd willingly walked into. Nanashi's form began to shimmer, her very essence seeming to unravel as she prepared to absorb her prey, With a serene yet powerful grace, she began to ascend into the sky, her eyes scanning for the elusive kirin. As she reached the heavens, ready to unleash her power, she glanced down and saw her target approaching her.
"So, you have chosen to seek me out?", her voice thundered from the heavens.
The air shimmered, and from the mists of time emerged a being of impossible beauty and ancient wisdom. The Kirin, a creature of legend made flesh, stood before her. Its form defied mortal comprehension—part deer, part dragon, wholly divine. Golden scales gleamed like captured starlight, each one a testament to millennia of existence. Its serpentine tail wove intricate patterns in the air, as if writing the secrets of the universe. Atop its noble head, antlers spiraled towards the heavens, not mere bone but the very branches of Yggdrasil, the World Tree itself.
When the Kirin spoke, its voice carried the weight of eons, yet held no malice. "Indeed, I have come."
Nanashi's tone softened, curiosity coloring her words. "Do you intend to challenge me?"
The Kirin's eyes, pools of liquid amber that had witnessed the birth and death of galaxies, gazed upon her with infinite compassion. It shook its head, a gesture both simple and profound.
"Why?" Nanashi descended from the sky and came before the majestic beast.
The Kirin's response resonated with the melancholy of countless lifetimes. "I have walked this earth since Izanagi's bath in the primordial waters, when yokai first sprang into being. I have seen empires rise and fall, witnessed the dance of creation and destruction. Now, weariness seeps into my very essence. The time has come for me to seek the peace that has long eluded me, to reunite with those I've lost along the eternal path."
With grace that belied its immense power, the Kirin approached Nanashi and bowed its head. She placed her hand upon its brow, a gesture of reverence and acceptance.
"Are you at peace with this end?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The Kirin's reply held both warning and promise. "I am. But know this—I may be the balm to soothe your affliction, or the spark that ignites your unmaking. The future remains shrouded, even to one such as I."
Nanashi's resolve was unwavering. "Then I shall embrace whatever fate awaits. You have my gratitude."
As the Kirin's form dissolved into motes of light, merging with Nanashi's being, the air crackled with raw, unbridled power. With a mere gesture, she reshaped reality—the war-torn forest knitted itself back together, erasing all traces of the battles that had raged. Time itself seemed to hold its breath, awaiting her next move.
A snap of her fingers echoed across dimensions. Sasuke found himself transported, standing once more where he had left Susane. But she was nowhere to be seen, and the world around him felt... altered. As if something fundamental had shifted while he was away.
As Nanashi turned to depart, a sudden, searing agony tore through her chest. Her skin ignited, not with ordinary flame, but with an otherworldly inferno that danced in every hue imaginable. The rainbow fire consumed her mortal form in an instant, leaving behind a silhouette of the deepest void.
Her new form was a canvas of midnight, speckled with pinpricks of starlight that swirled beneath her ethereal skin. The once-elegant kimono melded with her body, transforming Nanashi into a living slice of the cosmos. Her hair, once silken strands, now writhed like solar flares atop her head.
A scream erupted from Nanashi's throat, a sound so primal and haunting it seemed to rend reality itself. The cry amplified her newfound power, an insatiable hunger that devoured the life essence of everything within reach. Trees withered, grass turned to ash, and the very air seemed to grow thin and lifeless.
Overwhelmed by the transformation, Nanashi collapsed. Her form, now a swirling maelstrom of darkness and celestial light, trembled with barely contained power. Despair threatened to swallow her whole, the weight of her new existence crushing down upon her.
But then, cutting through the chaos like a beacon of hope, she heard a familiar voice. Her Sensei's call, distant yet clear, reached out to her. It was a lifeline in the storm of her metamorphosis, a reminder of who she once was.
As Nanashi struggled to regain control, the landscape around her bore witness to her internal battle. Reality itself seemed to warp and twist, caught in the gravitational pull of her newfound power. She had become a nexus of chaos and creation, destruction and rebirth—a force that could reshape the world or unmake it entirely.
Through the veil of chaos and destruction, a voice pierced the darkness—familiar, urgent, and filled with concern.
"Nanashi! Nanashi!"
At the sound of her name, Nanashi's gaze lifted. A surge of indescribable joy coursed through her transformed body, momentarily eclipsing the cosmic turmoil within.
"Sensei!" she cried out, her voice a mixture of relief and desperation. In that instant, she was no longer a being of celestial might, but a child reaching out for comfort. As she attempted to move towards him, her Sensei's commanding voice halted her advance.
"Wait! Do not come closer. Put this on!"
With fluid grace born of years of mastery, he transformed his walking stick into a bow. In a heartbeat, an arrow sailed through the air, a mask affixed to its shaft. It landed precisely at Nanashi's feet, a testament to his unerring aim even in this moment of crisis.
With trembling hands, Nanashi secured the mask to her face. The effect was immediate and profound. The cosmic fire that had raged beneath her skin began to subside, the stars within her flesh dimming to a quiet glow. As her form shifted back to its mortal guise, Nanashi's restraint crumbled.
She raced towards her Sensei, collapsing into his arms with a sob that seemed to carry the weight of worlds. Hajimo enveloped her in a protective embrace, his hand gently stroking her hair as he murmured words of comfort.
"I know... I know," he soothed, his voice a balm to her fractured spirit. Then, with quiet urgency, "Listen carefully. You must never remove this mask. It's the key to regulating your power. Do you understand?"
Words failed Nanashi, but she managed a nod against his chest, clinging to him as if he were an anchor in a storm-tossed sea.
"Good girl," Hajimo replied softly. He turned, presenting his back to her. "Come. Let's get you home before Sasuke arrives."
Wiping away her tears, Nanashi climbed onto her Sensei's back. As they began their journey, the weight of recent events settled over them like a heavy cloak. Yet beneath it all, a current of deep affection and trust flowed between master and student—a bond that had weathered this cosmic tempest and emerged, perhaps, even stronger.
The forest around them, once a battlefield and then a crucible of transformation, now stood silent witness to their departure. As Hajimo carried Nanashi towards home and an uncertain future