Invisible, razor-sharp chakra threads sliced through the air, weaving an intricate web in every direction. They appeared from nowhere, their trajectories unpredictable, their connections unknown.
The masked man remained in his intangible state, letting the chakra threads phase through him. His Sharingan tracked their movement, revealing an overwhelming number of interwoven strands. Some of them effortlessly cut through massive boulders before twisting together into an intricate, ever-tightening net.
The longer he watched, the more alarmed he became.
If this continued, there would be no place left to stand.
And when his intangibility wore off—
He would be shredded.
Across from him, Sakiya still wore a playful smile, her hands slicing through the air as if she were toying with invisible strings. With every motion, the web around them thickened, tightening the noose.
Realizing the danger, the masked man didn't hesitate.
He pushed his teleportation technique to its limit, vanishing in an instant, darting toward the outskirts of the battlefield.
Sakiya wasn't about to let him escape so easily.
She raised her hands high—then brought them down with force.
The chakra threads shifted at her command, extending and twisting to pursue him.
Her playful demeanor faded, her voice sharp and determined.
"You're not getting away!"
The masked man could see it now—these chakra threads weren't static. They were adjusting, adapting, following him.
But they weren't fast enough.
As long as he kept moving, they wouldn't be able to trap him.
Sakiya saw the same flaw. The entire structure of the cutting web was too slow to shift with him.
So she changed tactics.
Lifting her hands slightly, she withdrew most of the threads, leaving behind only a smaller but far more concentrated cutting field. This new formation surged forward with renewed speed, catching up just as the masked man neared the outer edge of the trap.
For a brief moment, it looked like he was cornered.
But then—
He saw an opening.
A narrow gap where the web hadn't fully closed.
Without hesitation, he pushed chakra into his feet, body blurring as he shot forward like a shadow.
With a sharp burst of speed, he slipped through the gap—
And into the open air.
His hands moved in a blur, forming seals mid-flight.
Fire Release—Blazing Wind Dance!
A massive wave of fire erupted from his mouth, surging forward like a living inferno.
But he wasn't finished.
His Sharingan gleamed.
Space distorted.
His most dangerous technique was coming next.
The space in front of him warped violently, twisting flames into a spiraling inferno.
The fire surged forward, coiling like a burning serpent, rushing toward Sakiya at terrifying speed.
Some of the finer chakra threads couldn't withstand the heat—several snapped instantly.
But Sakiya didn't flinch.
She raised a hand high before bringing it down with force.
Five thick chakra threads shot from her fingers, twisting together into a reinforced strand before lashing down like a whip.
"Piercing Thread of Heaven and Earth!"
In a blink, the thread struck.
For a brief moment, everything seemed to pause—
Then—
The raging fire in front of her split cleanly in two, the heat scattering harmlessly to either side.
Even the ground beneath them didn't escape—the attack left behind a deep, bottomless scar in the earth.
Sakiya smirked, covering one eye with her hand while pointing at the masked man with the other.
"Checkmate!"
But he remained unfazed, simply pointing at the ground where the fire still smoldered. His voice was calm.
"I was only trying to burn your threads… but you went ahead and cut them all yourself."
"...What?"
Sakiya's triumphant expression froze.
The masked man spread his hands in mock helplessness.
"After all, those chakra threads you spent so much effort creating were a real problem for me."
His words hit like a dagger straight to the heart.
Sakiya's eye twitched.
He had tricked her into doing his work for him.
Sakiya clutched her chest, her expression twisted in mock pain as she trembled.
"Ugh… You… You really are a man who thrives on deception and disgrace!"
The masked man scratched his head, looking at the girl in front of him.
"I was just messing around… and she really went all out?"
He sighed. Forget it. Not my problem.
Without hesitation, he activated his ability, preparing to phase out and escape once more.
But just as he materialized for teleportation—
A massive club suddenly filled his vision.
Huh? What's this?
That was the last thought he had before—
BANG!
The club slammed into his head with brutal force!
With a loud crack, he was sent flying.
Sakiya now stood where he had been, resting the massive club on her shoulder. She shielded her eyes with one hand, watching his body sail through the air.
"Whoa~ That sent him flying pretty far."
From the shadows, a hidden figure observed. That was just a clone.
Sakiya's real body had left the battlefield the moment she shattered the flames.
And yet… her ability to suppress her presence was alarming—even he hadn't noticed her movements.
Her skill in concealment… it might even rival my own.
After tumbling for tens of meters, the masked man crashed to the ground, rolling several times before finally skidding to a stop.
A large lump began forming on his head.
For a few seconds, he lay dazed. Then, groaning, he slowly pushed himself up.
Just then, the air whistled—
Dozens of chakra threads streaked down from the sky, cutting through the wind like invisible blades.
He reacted instantly, activating his phasing ability.
The threads passed harmlessly through his body, embedding into the ground below.
Then—
A light step.
Sakiya danced through the air, stepping gracefully along invisible chakra threads as if they were solid platforms, her movements like a mischievous sprite.
Watching her, he instinctively touched the lump on his head.
"Tch… She actually got me with that? I'm not acting here—this is real."
Then he narrowed his eyes.
"But why not use a blade?"
His voice grew cold.
"You should've killed me when you had the chance. You'll regret it."
In an instant, he leaped backward. His Sharingan locked onto her midair figure, and a swirling vortex of space twisted into existence beside him.
A second later—
Several massive shurikens shot out, spinning rapidly as they tore through the air toward Sakiya.
But she only smirked.
"Hmph. That's all?"
With a flick of her fingers—
Five invisible chakra threads lashed out like whips.
Shing!
The enormous shurikens were sliced apart mid-flight, their pieces scattering harmlessly to the ground.
Sakiya landed smoothly, her hands playfully moving through the air as she gave him a smug grin.
"Hmph~ You're just another lost soul, even with those so-called 'eyes of conviction.'"
The masked man clenched his jaw.
This girl… she acts dumb and playful, but she's dangerously sharp.
He prided himself as the mastermind pulling the strings behind the world's events. And yet—
She had already fooled him. Twice.
More concerning—
She had approached him both times without him noticing.
His gaze sharpened as he studied her.
She's a tricky enemy.
__________
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