Call It Off, Danzo. The Anbu Are Outside

I spun, I leaped, my eyes closed tight; the clamor faded from sight. Were you lost in it too?

White snow, summer nights, I never stopped; the years blurred, and I crushed time's hourglass beneath my feet.

Uchiha Mai danced through the attacks like a flower blooming at dawn, more dashing than dashing, more alluring than alluring.

Not one of the dozen-odd Wind Release: Shuriken Danzo launched so much as touched his clothes.

In terms of chakra consumption alone, Uchiha Mai had the upper hand.

Unfortunately, Danzo was too strong. Even in a flow of time moving twice as fast, Uchiha Mai had few chances to counterattack.

Uchiha Mai had the edge in speed. Danzo had the edge in combat experience and tactics.

Both favored swift strikes and fast techniques. Victory could be decided in an instant, and Uchiha Mai was unwilling to risk everything on a desperate gamble.

Only a cornered outlaw would bet his life on odds below ten percent. He wasn't out of options yet.

Five seconds passed. The barrier vanished, and the fivefold Corrective Force descended. Uchiha Mai spat out another mouthful of blood.

An opening!

Danzo's pupils contracted. Seizing the chance, he stopped throwing shuriken, gathered a little chakra, and spat out a dozen small blades of wind.

Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!

The dozen-odd Vacuum Orbs tore through the air toward Uchiha Mai like sniper rounds fired from a rifle.

Clock Up!

Time accelerated again.

Uchiha Mai gritted his teeth against the Corrective Force. The instant the barrier shattered, he formed another, pulling the flow of time to two and a half times its normal speed.

Then he gripped his sword with both hands and shot straight toward Danzo. He made no attempt to dodge the Vacuum Orbs ahead of him.

Pfft, pfft, pfft...

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