Stay for a Battle

Looking at the charmingly smiling Yakumo Anma, Nairaku narrowed his eyes.

"What's wrong, Nairaku‑kun? Why are you staring at me? I'm feeling shy..." Facing Nairaku's gaze, Yakumo lowered her head slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just wondering when Miss Yakumo got such a long pair of fangs?"

"Fangs? That's impossible! I clearly shapeshifted my appearance, how could I have fangs!"

A panicked "Yakumo" quickly reached up to feel her face, only to find there were no fangs at all.

"Damn, you dared to deceive me..."

Realizing his cover was blown, Idu, furious and embarrassed, stripped away his disguise and transformed into a blue‑faced monster with a pair of large sideways horns!

Tch, with that level of intelligence, you can't even be a villain. Hah, you monster, I could tell at a glance you're not human!

Nairaku let out a roar at the Idu before him!

"Damn you, human. I'll kill you first, then go after Yuhirou!"

"Since Yakumo saw you yesterday, her heart has started to brighten a little. Though it's just a small change, I can feel a loss of power. Seizing this chance, I'll kill you first, then when that little girl turns dark I'll devour her. No one will be able to contain me!"

With that, Idu lunged at Nairaku.

Facing Idu's raging aura, Nairaku showed no sign of panic.

He gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō, timed it perfectly, and swung a single slash!

Aaa... how could this be... I'm a consciousness, how can your blade possibly hurt me??

Idu, still bristling with aggression, was knocked back by Nairaku's slash, a sharp pain shooting through him. Looking down, he saw a massive wound gouged across his chest!

Idu stared in disbelief. As a consciousness and Yakumo's inner demon, only Yakumo herself—its creator—could harm it; others could at most seal it away.

But now it was actually wounded, and that terrified it!

"Where did you get the confidence to clash head‑on with me? Do I look that weak?" Nairaku sneered.

Though he feigned disdain, Nairaku secretly rejoiced.

"Well, looks like it works. So‑called consciousnesses and inner demons are just like phantoms, completely suppressed by my Death God power. This move is solid!"

Just as Nairaku was secretly celebrating, the knocked‑back Idu realized he was no match and quickly fled underground.

This is Yakumo's consciousness space, but also Idu's. Since they share the same origin, Idu can instantly appear anywhere within it. Distracted, Nairaku missed his chance to intercept.

Hah, you monster, don't run! Give me a fight, a real fight!

"Damn, miscalculated. Missed a perfect chance, and it got away!"

Nairaku felt a surge of irritation.

English.But do you really think you can get away? Bakudō 58 – Grab Toe, Chase Sparrow!

Nairaku gathered a trace of Idu's scent and activated Bakudō.

In an instant, a visible ribbon‑like beam of light formed before Nairaku, pointing toward a direction on the second floor.

Gripping his Zanpakutō, Nairaku sprinted toward where the beam led.

The light ribbon guided Nairaku to a tightly shut door. He didn't even need to double‑check; he knew Idu was inside.

A wisp of black vapor slipped through the crack, as if shouting, "I'm here, come catch me! If you catch me, I'll make you…".

Can't find it by title? Try searching the author; maybe it was just renamed!

Nairaku took a deep breath, then kicked the door!

Boom—Crash

The door shattered with a loud crack!

Monster, wherever you run, you won't survive!

Holding his Zanpakutō, Nairaku transformed it into a Zan Moon for added flair.

Now, with the massive Zanpakutō slung over his shoulder at the doorway, he exuded an unstoppable aura.

"Nairaku‑kun, you're finally here!"

"Hmm, what's going on? You got caught already?"

Looking at Yuhirou, suspended mid‑air in a crucifixion pose, Nairaku was at a loss for words.

You're at least someone's teacher—how long has it been? And you're already captured by your own student? If I'd been a bit later, you'd probably be gone!

Clearly, Yuhirou was a bit embarrassed, stammering, "I… I didn't expect Yakumo to ambush me!"

Nairaku turned to the Yakumo standing aside: "Miss Yakumo, why would you do this? Miss Yuhirou is your teacher!"

Yakumo Anma pressed a kunai against Yuhirou's throat, her face twisted with conflict. She didn't want to give Nairaku the impression of a teacher‑killer, but the chance was rare; she'd endured for a long time and finally seized the moment.

"Nairaku‑kun, please don't stop me. I must kill Yuhirou."

"Yakumo, put down your weapon first. Is there some misunderstanding? Miss Yuhirou has always treated you like family. Let's sit down and talk this out!"

"No, family? She's my enemy. She and the Third Generation conspired to murder my parents!" Yakumo's voice trembled with intense emotion.

"Yakumo, what are you saying? How could I and the Third Generation have killed your parents?" Yuhirou, suspended in mid‑air, was utterly bewildered by Yakumo's words.

final."Stop lying to me! It's not just my parents—you all want to kill me too! That day on the rooftop of the Hokage's mansion, I heard everything you and the Third said. You said you'd kill me as soon as you got the chance. Do you think I never found out?"

An agitated Yakumo pushed the kunai in her hand forward a little; the sharp blade pierced the crimson‑and‑snow‑white neck, and a thin line of bright red blood dripped down the weapon.

"Yakumo, calm down. I think there's got to be some misunderstanding about the day your parents perished in the fire. Do you really not remember anything?"

At such close range, Naraku could easily snatch the weapon from Yakumo's hand, but Ido was somewhere unseen. To draw Ido out and resolve this trouble, Naraku could only coax from the sidelines.

"Don't listen to them. They're just jealous of your talent. You were born with an incredibly strong illusion aptitude. They're scared—scared that one day you'll surpass them, so they sealed away your abilities!"

"They're afraid of you, which is why they killed your parents. They want you to die alone and forgotten in this manor!"

"Kill them—kill the woman standing in front of you—and you'll have your revenge!"

Just as Yakumo's emotions reached a fever pitch, a swirl of black mist erupted, and Ido appeared behind her, whispering temptingly.

"Huh... you thing, you're such a nuisance!"

Seeing Ido finally reveal himself, Naraku flashed forward to Yakumo's side, snatched the kunai from her hand, and kicked Ido into the wall with a single foot.

"Get out of the way, you flash‑mouth!"

"Swish swish swish..."

Three massive, spear‑shaped beams of light nailed Ido to the wall, leaving him unable to escape.

Naraku had used this technique against Kai before, but Kai broke free shortly after. Ido, however, lacks Kai's strength, and the Ghost Path just happens to suppress Ido, pinning him to the wall.

"Alright, now it's time for us to have a proper talk!" Naraku said to Yakumo and Hong.

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