"They caught up to me..."
The black-robed man before him radiated a chilling aura, his icy gaze like a sharp blade trying to pierce Nawaki's heart.
He swallowed hard, gripping the kunai in his hand so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Just as Nawaki was about to say something, the black-robed man opposite him suddenly moved.
Without the slightest hesitation or a single word of nonsense, he launched his attack.
A puppet shaped like a pangolin shot out from beneath his cloak.
The puppet had an eerie design, its entire body gleaming with a cold metallic sheen that glinted ominously under the moonlight.
"A Puppet Master!"
Nawaki's heart sank.
Before he could react further, the puppet had already rushed before him like lightning with a piercing shriek.
With a click, the puppet's head split open into four sections, revealing a steel drill that gleamed with metallic light.
It began spinning at high speed, whipping up a violent gust as it drove straight at Nawaki.
A terrifying killing intent flooded Nawaki's heart like a tidal wave.
With no time to dodge, he could only force himself to raise his kunai and slash at the puppet.
"Zzzzt..."
A shrill scraping sound rang out instantly, like countless sharp nails raking across glass, making his head spin.
Dazzling sparks burst continuously, especially conspicuous in the darkness.
The constant vibrations transmitted through the kunai numbed Nawaki's hands, and he nearly lost his grip on it.
"Damn it..."
At the brink of life and death, Nawaki erupted with strength far beyond that of an ordinary person.
He actually sent the puppet, which was roughly his own size, flying with a fierce blow.
"Worthy of being a descendant of the Senju Clan..."
The black-robed man let out a hoarse sigh.
Then, the Chakra Threads in