Backlash

"Ninja Swordsmanship, huh?

"I can do that too. You're still a long way from being good enough to pull that on me."

Danzo had clearly anticipated Uchiha Mai's charge. He drew the long sword at his waist and breathed a stream of chakra onto its blade.

Then he raised it and slashed, sending a razor-sharp blade of wind toward Uchiha Mai.

Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!

Danzo had used a similar move in the original story, though he had applied Wind Release to a Kunai. Using a long sword instead made it even more powerful.

The wind blade tore through the air and reached Uchiha Mai in an instant.

Uchiha Mai was already lunging forward. Even under Double Time Flow, changing direction was difficult, so he could only raise his sword to block.

The moment the wind blade struck the flame chakra coating the Black Blade, the flames erupted. The two forces ate away at each other and canceled out, forming a vortex of fire in midair.

Uchiha Mai's forward momentum came to a dead stop. He pulled back his sword and spun clear of the Vacuum Blade, then put his strength into a horizontal slash at Danzo's neck.

Clang!

Danzo held his sword upright and blocked the Famous Sword Izumi no Kami Kanesada.

Most of the power in Dragon Star Style: Baxia—enough to cut through metal and jade—had been spent blocking the Vacuum Blade.

Little of it remained in the sword now.

Uchiha Mai's explosive strength forced Danzo back only two steps. Danzo held firm, then gained the upper hand in their contest of strength.

With one hand on his sword hilt, he gave a sudden heave and sent Uchiha Mai flying.

Damn it!

As he flew backward, Uchiha Mai cursed inwardly. *Why can everyone overpower me in raw strength?