Minamoto Takuya vs. Natsuhi

"Someone?"

The Third Hoshikage froze for a moment, and the surrounding Anbu became alert as well, though most of their attention remained on Natsuhi.

After all, it was also possible that she was bluffing because she did not want to hand over the meteorite.

"Everyone, watch for enemies!" The Third Hoshikage did not suspect Natsuhi. Instead, he immediately gave the order.

At once, all the Anbu began surveying their surroundings.

"Oh my, your senses are pretty sharp~" Minamoto Takuya appeared atop a large tree, wearing a mask and sitting there casually as he watched them, especially the meteorite in Natsuhi's hand.

"I was planning to wait until you handed the meteorite to that old man before making my move, but it seems that plan has fallen through."

"Who are you? Are you here to steal the Star too?!" Natsuhi asked warily.

"Me? You can call me a ninja who likes collecting strange things." Minamoto Takuya began lamenting again. "I was stopped by someone in the Land of Rain before. You people aren't going to stop me too, are you?"

He stared at Natsuhi, maintaining a persona completely unlike his usual self.

"The Star will never be given to you!" Natsuhi said.

"Why? Isn't that meteorite harmful? Training with it will definitely leave behind side effects. Just like your husband—his body probably won't last another year or two." Minamoto Takuya asked curiously.

Natsuhi's eyes widened at once, and she could not help looking toward her husband.

After hearing Minamoto Takuya's words, he was stunned as well. He could feel that something was wrong with his body, but he had never expected that he only had one or two years left to live.

Seeing Natsuhi's gaze, he said, "Natsuhi, didn't we already know this? And wasn't the reason we stole the Star because we didn't want our descendants to continue our tragedy?"

Natsuhi said nothing, though a trace of sorrow appeared in her eyes.

They did not doubt Minamoto Takuya's words, because that was precisely the Star's side effect.

The Third Hoshikage sighed beside them. Natsuhi and the others had noticed it, so how could he possibly have failed to discover such a flaw?

"So, since you've already decided not to use it, can you give it to me?" Minamoto Takuya asked again.

"You know the Star is harmful, so why do you still want it?" Natsuhi had calmed down and asked.

"Didn't I say so? I'm a ninja who collects strange things. Although it can't be used, an object that can help people cultivate Chakra is certainly a rare treasure." Minamoto Takuya said.

After hearing that, Natsuhi calmly replied, "Sorry, but I can't give you the Star."

"Oh my, then it seems peaceful negotiations have failed." As Minamoto Takuya spoke, a Kunai appeared in his hand.

Natsuhi's gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, she formed hand seals, and several tail-like streams of solidified Chakra suddenly surged from her back.

Mysterious Peacock Method!

Minamoto Takuya was somewhat amazed as he sensed the solidified Chakra.

Solidifying Chakra was not something easily achieved. It would only take such form when one possessed a sufficient quantity of Chakra, such as the Tailed Beast Chakra of the berserk Naruto in the Original Work.

Natsuhi clearly did not possess that much Chakra, yet she could solidify it. That showed just how much credit belonged to that meteorite.

Even as he marveled, Minamoto Takuya did not pause. He formed several hand seals.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

Then, dew from the surrounding trees gathered together, forming a giant dragon of water that charged toward Natsuhi and the others.

Mysterious Peacock Method: Bear Demon!

Sensing the Water Dragon's power, Natsuhi's eyes turned grave. The solidified Chakra behind her shifted rapidly, forming a massive bear that lunged at the Water Dragon.

Bang!!

Water mist sprayed across the ground. At the same time, the enormous bear came to a halt, seemingly evenly matched with the Water Dragon.

Yet Bear Demon did not disappear. Under Natsuhi's control, it pounced toward Minamoto Takuya once more, as though it intended to tear him apart.

"Pretty impressive." Minamoto Takuya sighed. Since his Chakra reserves had increased, the power of his elemental techniques had risen tremendously. The fact that it had been shattered like this was enough to prove the Mysterious Peacock Method's strength.

Watching the Chakra bear pounce at him, he condensed a sphere of Chakra in his hand.

Rasengan!

In an instant, the Rasengan collided with the Chakra bear.

A powerful white light burst from the point of impact, making nearly everyone squint involuntarily.

Did it get him? The surrounding Anbu could not help thinking.

"As expected of Lady Natsuhi!"

They all marveled as well. The Mysterious Peacock Method she had used was the most powerful technique in their village!

Yet Natsuhi seemed not to hear the Anbu's praise. Unease filled her heart. Her opponent was definitely not a ninja who could be dealt with so easily.

A purple gleam appeared in her eyes. It was Chakra from the Star condensed in her pupils, allowing her to see traces of Chakra.

Then she froze completely, because there were Chakra fluctuations beneath everyone's feet!

"Run!" No longer caring about anything else, Natsuhi shouted.

"Hm? Looks like I've been discovered. But it's too late."

Suddenly, several figures burst out from beneath the ground. They had the same appearance and attire as Minamoto Takuya, and each held a Kunai to the necks of everyone present except Natsuhi and her husband.

Seeing this, Natsuhi gritted her teeth and glared furiously at Minamoto Takuya. "You planned this from the beginning?!"

"Of course. If you hadn't noticed me, this would have been the script from the start." Minamoto Takuya brushed the dust from his clothes. Her Mysterious Peacock Method truly was formidable. It sacrificed mobility and flexibility, but the attack power it gained in return was indeed high.

Hearing Minamoto Takuya's words, Natsuhi did not know what to say for a moment.

"So, can you give me the meteorite now?" Minamoto Takuya sat atop the highest branch, looking at Natsuhi as he asked once more.

Natsuhi looked at the surrounding Anbu and the Third Hoshikage. After exchanging a look with her husband, she sighed.

There was no other choice. Hoshigakure already had very few people because of the Star's side effects. If these Anbu died as well, the village would truly be left with only a handful of people.

Their village simply could not bear such losses. Besides, as Minamoto Takuya had said, they had already decided to seal away the Star. Giving it to him would also completely sever Hoshigakure's attachment to it.

As for why they had not given it to Minamoto Takuya from the start?

What nonsense. Who just handed their treasures over to others? Even if they could not use it themselves, they would never give it to a stranger.

For all those reasons, Natsuhi could only nod in agreement.

"I agree."