Battle Against Star Ninja II

The kunai Chen had thrown was a specially crafted Flying Thunder God kunai. Although the Star Ninja easily dodged it, that was exactly what Chen wanted. The moment the kunai passed the Star Ninja, Chen immediately activated the Flying Thunder God, vanishing from his spot and reappearing at the kunai's location—right behind the Star Ninja. He kicked off the air with Moon Step to stay aloft, his right hand still crackling with Chidori.

"What's so happy? Care to share?" Chen whispered coldly into the Star Ninja's ear.

The Star Ninja snapped out of it and tried to flee in terror, but he was no match for Chen's speed. The thought of escape had barely formed when Chen's Chidori slammed into his back. The violent lightning tore through the Peacock Mystic Method called Death Burial, pierced his spine, and burst out through his chest.

"How... is that possible..." Death Burial stared blankly at the hand protruding from his chest, stained red with his own blood and crackling with wild lightning. His voice faltered as his consciousness faded. The Peacock Mystic Method could no longer hold, and it dissipated. Chen pulled his arm back, and Death Burial's body plummeted from the sky.

It all happened too fast—from start to finish in an instant—so fast that the chunin named Night Eagle and the jonin named Red Star hadn't even reacted. Only when Death Burial's body—no, his corpse—hit the ground did they snap awake.

"Death Burial..." Night Eagle cried out in grief. The two had worked together for years, forging a deep bond. To watch his best comrade die before his eyes, powerless to stop it—how could he not be furious and heartbroken?

Red Star, staring at Chen hovering in the air, thought in shock: What just happened? I'm not mistaken—he vanished and then appeared behind Death Burial. What the hell is going on?

Shock gave way to rage. Death Burial and Night Eagle were his trusted men. Though he'd never truly considered them confidants, they had served him for a long time. And since this guy was after the Star, he had to be killed no matter what.

"Peacock Mystic Method: Bear Demon!" Red Star activated his technique, far more powerful than the two chunin's. It took the form of a massive bear. Once formed, the bear roared and lunged at Chen midair. After killing Death Burial, Chen had planned to take out Night Eagle next, but he didn't notice Red Star's sneak attack. Caught off guard, the Bear Demon bit into Chen and dragged him to the ground, trapping him so tightly he couldn't break free. Seizing the moment, Night Eagle transformed his Peacock Mystic Method into a volley of javelins and hurled them at Chen.

"Die!" Night Eagle roared with hatred. As the chakra javelins closed in, Chen quickly used Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to summon five or six giant snakes to block them, but they couldn't hold—the snakes were sliced apart one by one. Just as the javelins were about to hit Chen, he vanished again, and Night Eagle's attack struck empty air.

Chen reappeared instantly, now standing far away from the two Star Ninja. His foot rested on a technique kunai—the same one he'd thrown to kill Death Burial.

"That move again—vanishing and reappearing elsewhere. Could it be... space-time ninjutsu? If so, we're in trouble!" Red Star watched Chen from a distance, unease creeping into his heart.

"Hmph! Got careless, but that's the last time!" Chen stared coldly at the two Star Ninja from afar, not immediately attacking. They didn't make a move either, their gazes heavy with caution. A standoff ensued.

Just then, a boy about Chen's age ran over from a distance, shouting, "Bad news, Lord Red Star!" He reached Red Star in moments.

"Ang! What are you doing here? What happened?" Red Star demanded.

"Lord Red Star, the Star... the Star was stolen!"

"What? The Star was stolen? How?" Red Star's face tensed as he fired off questions at the boy named Ang.

"We were meditating around the Star in the training room when a powerful ninja burst in. We couldn't stop him—he knocked us all out in an instant, grabbed the Star, and fled!"

"Useless bunch! You—"

Red Star was about to scold the boy when something clicked. He glared at Chen with fury. "Damn it, he has an accomplice? No matter—if I catch you, your partner will show up!"

"Accomplice? Since when do I have one? What's going on? From what he said, the Star was stolen. Is someone else after it too? Damn, someone beat me to it—they must've struck while I was keeping these Star Ninja busy. Bastard, using me like that. Whoever it is, they'll pay." Though mistaken for having a partner, Chen didn't bother correcting them. He knew they wouldn't believe him, and he had no interest in explaining himself to these Star Ninja.

Chen glanced at the young Star Ninja and froze, a thought striking him. I forgot something... right, Summer Star!

Summer Star had always made it her mission to protect the Star Ninja Village. In the original story, using the Star for training caused severe side effects. She and her husband once tried to hide the Star to stop the villagers from using it, but the Third Star Shadow stopped them, later banning its use. However, after Red Star killed the Third Star Shadow, he reinstated the practice. To protect the village, she eventually stole the Star.

If it's her, that makes things easier. Chen looked thoughtfully at the genin named Ang, then turned his gaze to Red Star. For now, I just need to take out these two pieces of trash.

As Chen plotted his next move, Red Star acted. He commanded his Bear Demon to lunge at Night Eagle's Peacock Mystic Method—a tail-shaped beast form—and swallowed it whole. After devouring it, the Bear Demon grew even larger. Night Eagle collapsed to the ground, his chakra drained, his condition unknown.

"Lord Red Star, you..." Ang stared in disbelief at what Red Star had done.

"Don't worry, I just borrowed Night Eagle's chakra. He'll be fine! That guy's tough, so I had no choice."

"Oh? Devouring your ally's chakra to boost your own strength? You've got some nerve. But even so, your fate's the same." Chen showed no fear of the now-enlarged Bear Demon.

"I'm done playing. I'll finish you in one move."

"Hmph! That's my line." Red Star, swollen with his ally's chakra, sneered arrogantly. He sent the Bear Demon charging at Chen. "Die!"

Hmph! This Peacock Mystic Method is annoying. I'll just shred it! Chen dodged the Bear Demon's attacks while thinking.

"System, exchange for Rasengan."

"Rasengan, item grade: A-rank, item type: skill, exchange cost: 5000 points. Exchange?"

"Exchange."

"Ding! Exchange successful. Points deducted: 5000. Remaining points: 35000."

After a warm surge, Chen instantly mastered the A-rank ninjutsu—Rasengan.