Chapter Forty-Five: Snatching Stars

Chen really didn't want to waste any more time, so he directly used the Mangekyō Sharingan's ability to manifest Susanoo, planning to bulldoze straight through Hoshigakure with it. He was also genuinely curious to see what his own Susanoo looked like, and he wanted to use these Star ninjas as practice targets.

Chen's Susanoo rampaged through Star Hidden Village, each punch causing massive casualties. The village was a scene of utter devastation. By now, the Star ninjas had split into two groups: one desperately attacking Chen to try and stop him, the other urgently evacuating people and leading civilians to safety.

"Demon... you're a demon! Stop it, stop it!" Akahoshi screamed at Chen, his voice tearing from his chest as he watched the village's horror. "I already told you—avoid me and live, block me and die! If Natsuhi doesn't show up, I won't stop."

"Damn you, if you're looking for someone, why attack our village? There's no one named Natsuhi here!"

Chen ignored Akahoshi and kept controlling Susanoo to wreak havoc. Though he didn't deliberately target civilians, many still got caught in the chaos. But Chen didn't care about that.

"The innocent bear the blame for the treasure they hold. Blame yourselves for being too weak."

Just as Chen's Susanoo was running wild, not far from Hoshigakure, Natsuhi grabbed the Star and left the village. She had been secretly guarding Star Hidden Village all along, following the Third Hoshikage's wish to stop the village from using the Star for training again. Three years ago, when Akahoshi assassinated the Third Hoshikage and became acting Hoshikage, he restarted Star-based training. Natsuhi had wanted to steal the Star ever since, but never had the chance.

Until today. When Chen appeared and drew Akahoshi and most of the Star ninjas away, she seized the opportunity, broke into the Star Training Room, knocked out the few Genin kids training around the Star, and took it. As she fled with the Star toward her secret hideout, she suddenly noticed smoke billowing from the village's direction—something was definitely wrong.

"Huh? What's that? That direction... the village! What's happening there? I have to go see!" She formed hand seals, and Mysterious Peacock Method gathered behind her.

"Mysterious Peacock Method: Soaring Cloud."

Natsuhi shaped her Chakra into wings, leaped upward, and flew toward the village. As she got closer, the scene grew clearer. Star Hidden Village was already half-destroyed, smoke everywhere, cries of anguish rising. A horrific sight unfolded before her.

"This... how is this possible... why?" Natsuhi couldn't believe her eyes. When she'd snuck in to steal the Star, the village was fine. In just that short time, it had turned into this nightmare.

Natsuhi sped up, reaching the village's sky in an instant. Susanoo's massive form was impossible to miss, and she spotted the culprit wreaking havoc at once. Without a second thought, she dove down.

"Damn it, unforgivable. Mysterious Peacock Method: Bear Demon!"

Landing on a high spot behind Susanoo, Natsuhi instantly shifted the Mysterious Peacock Method's form into a Bear Demon identical to Lord Red Star's—except hers was much larger and far more powerful.

Once the Bear Demon was formed, Natsuhi sent it lunging at Susanoo. Chen had been busy slaughtering Star ninjas, trusting Susanoo's absolute defense so completely that he ignored their weak attacks and didn't even bother to look back. He had no idea Natsuhi was coming, and caught off guard, the Bear Demon slammed into Susanoo, staggering it.

The Bear Demon didn't break through Susanoo's defense or hurt Chen, but it grabbed everyone's attention. Before this, no matter how the Star ninjas attacked, it was like tickling Susanoo—they couldn't even make it budge, let alone stagger it.

"That's... Mysterious Peacock Method: Bear Demon! Could it be Lord Red Star?"

"Haha! Lord Red Star is back! That kid Ang said Lord Red Star was killed—unforgivable! Once Lord Red Star beats the enemy, we'll deal with him."

Seeing Natsuhi's Mysterious Peacock Method: Bear Demon, the Star ninjas' spirits soared. Their first thought was their acting Hoshikage, Lord Red Star! In all of Star Hidden Village, only he could shape the Mysterious Peacock Method into a beast form. In their minds, he was the strongest, having mastered the technique to its peak—no one could match him.

But not everyone was celebrating. Some noticed something off.

"Something's wrong... if that's Lord Red Star, why is he wearing a gas mask? And look—that Bear Demon is bigger than the one Lord Red Star used to make, and the Chakra is denser too."

"You're right... that's true!"

"If it's not Lord Red Star, then who? Looks like this person is even more skilled with the Mysterious Peacock Method than him."

"Never mind that now. The priority is to destroy that monster. Whether it's Lord Red Star or not, he just attacked it with the Mysterious Peacock Method, so he's on our side. The stronger he is, the better for us."

Of course, Chen noticed Natsuhi too. He stopped his destruction and just stared at her. "She must be the Natsuhi I'm looking for. Finally here, huh?"

Just then, the Star ninjas tried to attack Chen again while he was paused, but Natsuhi shouted them down.

"Don't go near him! You can't beat him. None of you move."

"Damn it..." Though it stung, the Star ninjas had to admit the truth. At Natsuhi's words, they stopped and didn't dare act rashly.

"Hmph! Smart of you. But you finally showed up, Natsuhi!" Chen had lost interest in the Star ninjas and didn't attack them further, focusing on Natsuhi instead.

When Chen spoke Natsuhi's name, the Star ninjas buzzed with chatter. Some had no idea who she was—she'd left Star Hidden Village ten years ago—only the older ninjas had a faint memory of her.

"What... it's really not Lord Red Star."

"Natsuhi? We have someone that strong in Star Hidden Village? I've never heard of her."

"I think I remember... wasn't she supposed to have died ten years ago? Why is she here..."

Natsuhi ignored the ninjas' murmurs and didn't explain anything. Instead, she stared at Chen in shock. "You know me? Are you after me? No... you're after the Star!"

"Of course. I'm after the so-called Star. What else is worth mentioning in this place? I know the Star is in your hands. Hand it over!"

"You attacked the village just to force me out?"

"Exactly. Just to force you out. I knew you've been secretly guarding Star Hidden Village for ten years. So if I attacked it, you'd definitely show up. Simple as that."

"You bastard! You did something this horrific just for that? Unforgivable! I'll make you pay for everyone who died here!"

"Enough talk. I don't have time to waste with you. Hand over the Star!"

"Hmph! No chance. Mysterious Peacock Method: Bear Demon!" Furious, Natsuhi formed the Bear Demon again and lunged at Chen.