Star Snatching II

"Hmph! Well met. Let me show you—my Susanoo is nothing like your Mysterious Peacock Method, which you cultivated through external objects."

Facing the charging Bear Demon, Chen didn't dodge. Instead, he controlled Susanoo to raise its fist and meet it head-on. However, the Bear Demon controlled by Natsuhi was clearly more agile than Chen's Susanoo. It easily dodged the fist, then lunged onto Susanoo and sank its teeth into its shoulder—but it was futile, dealing no damage to either Susanoo or Chen.

Seizing the moment while the Bear Demon clung to it, Susanoo grabbed it with both hands, tore it off its body, and hurled it forward with force. The Bear Demon smashed through several buildings, and a few Star Ninja were caught in the blast.

Seeing this, Natsuhi sensed trouble and thought to herself: Damn... Star Hidden Village has already suffered too much loss and casualties. If I keep fighting him here, the village will be destroyed by the two of us. I have to lure him somewhere else.

"Mysterious Peacock Method: Soaring Cloud!"

Having made up her mind, Natsuhi immediately retracted the Bear Demon, then formed hand seals again, condensing her Chakra into a pair of massive butterfly-like wings. She flew toward a distant forest outside the village.

"Hmph! Trying to run? No... you're afraid our fight will destroy Star Hidden Village, so you want to lure me out of it? Whatever. My target is only the Star. As for Star Hidden Village, I couldn't care less—I'll let them off this once." With that, he dispelled Susanoo and chased after Natsuhi using Moon Step.

Natsuhi deliberately slowed her flight speed to lead Chen away, and Chen didn't press too hard either. He knew she wouldn't flee—after all, she wanted to kill him too.

Ang, held hostage by Chen, stared at Natsuhi's back view, lost in thought: Damn, that person in the gas mask must be the Summer Star this demon is after. The villagers said he used to be a Star Ninja from the village, died ten years ago. Why has a dead man reappeared? Why did he steal our Star? And somehow... I feel a strange sense of closeness from him. Held captive, Ang's mind swirled with questions as he watched Natsuhi's figure.

Soon, Natsuhi arrived at a forest, standing atop a large tree, waiting for Chen. Before long, Chen caught up to her there.

"How about it? Picked your spot?"

"Sokka! So you already knew my plan. Then why did you follow me?"

"I told you—my target is the Star. I have no interest in Star Hidden Village. I attacked the village only to force you out. Now that you're here, there's no point wasting time there."

"What makes you so sure the Star is with me?"

"Hmph, I have my own reasons. Enough talk. My target is only the Star. Hand it over, and I'll leave immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Damn you, wishful thinking! You've committed such unforgivable sins. I will make you pay the price, no matter what, and avenge those you killed in Star Hidden Village!"

"Natsuhi, haven't you noticed who I've been holding hostage? I think you'll be very interested. Hehehe~"

"Damn, does he already know my relationship with Ang? Is that why he took him hostage? How is it possible... damn..." Natsuhi had actually noticed earlier that the Star Ninja Chen held was Ang—her and Fire Fly's only child. But she saw Chen didn't intend to harm Ang, and she feared that if Chen knew their connection, he'd use Ang as leverage to force her to hand over the Star. So she kept quiet. But it seemed her worst fear had come true.

"Despicable! Vile..." Natsuhi, no longer calm as before, glared at Chen through gritted teeth.

"Hmph! Spare me the useless talk. I'm losing patience. Hand over the Star now, or else... I'll kill him! Or is it that, in your eyes, your son's life isn't worth more than that harmful Star?"

"What? You... what did you just say? What's going on? Tell me! Tell me now!" Ang, who had been silent until now, heard their exchange and stared incredulously at the gas-masked Natsuhi. Then he grew agitated and demanded answers from Chen.

"Hmph! Shut up, or I'll kill you!" Chen ignored Ang's accusation, snorted coldly, and tightened his snake-like grip on Ang, squeezing him until his face turned red and he couldn't speak from the pain.

"Stop! Let him go!" Across from them, Natsuhi watched her son suffer, her heart wrenching. She shouted at Chen.

"Hmph! Feeling sorry for him?" Chen sneered, loosening his grip slightly. Ang immediately gasped for air.

Seeing Ang was fine, Natsuhi breathed a sigh of relief. She reached up and removed her gas mask, revealing her true face.

"How did you know? Why are you so clear about my affairs?"

"That's none of your business. How about it? Can you hand over the Star now? Your mission was to stop the villagers from using the Star to cultivate, right? Since you have no use for it, why not give it to me?"

"I can give you the Star, but you must release Ang first!"

"Hmph! You're in no position to bargain. Hand it over!" Chen said, tightening his snake-like grip again.

"Damn it, stop!" This time, Natsuhi didn't hesitate. She quickly pulled a fist-sized stone from her bosom. The stone looked as if insects had hollowed it out, covered in holes of various sizes. It emitted a strange purple Chakra, flickering eerily.

"This is the Star. Take it!" Natsuhi threw the Star directly at Chen, who caught it in one hand.

Chen brought the Star close to his eyes, examining it closely, but couldn't see anything special about it at first glance. He thought to himself: So this is the Star? It indeed contains powerful energy. Those idiots in Star Hidden Village didn't know how to use it properly—they just sat around it to cultivate. What a waste!

"I've given you the Star. Now release Ang!" Natsuhi urged, seeing Chen still holding Ang, interrupting his thoughts.

"Oh! Almost forgot. Here you go!" Chen flicked his snake-like hand, tossing Ang toward Natsuhi, who caught him quickly.

"Alright, since I have the Star, it's time to leave this godforsaken place!" Chen was in a good mood now that he had the Star. He chuckled and waved at Natsuhi and her son, then turned to leave.

Just as Chen turned to go, a sudden sense of danger hit him. Without thinking, he used Body Flicker Technique to leap away. The moment he jumped, a Bear Demon formed from Chakra lunged at the spot where he'd been standing.

After dodging Natsuhi's ambush with Body Flicker Technique, Chen turned around, his eyes fixed on her, and said coldly, "Heh heh! Looks like you don't intend to let me leave just like that. No choice then—I'll have to kill you too!"

"Ang, go. Get out of here." Natsuhi stared warily at Chen while speaking to Ang beside her.

"But..."

"No buts. I know you have a lot of questions for me. I promise I'll explain everything when I get back. Now, leave. Hurry!" Natsuhi urged him anxiously.

"I... I understand. Be... be careful!" Ang knew that with his strength, staying would only be a burden, not a help. He gave Natsuhi a complicated look, said nothing more, and leaped back toward the village.

Ang was of no further use to Chen, so Chen didn't stop him. Instead, he watched Natsuhi with interest.

"Hmph, you've committed such heinous crimes. I won't let you leave just like that. Today, no matter what, I will take you back and have you judged before everyone, to avenge those who died in Star Hidden Village."

"Tch! Stubborn fool. Since you're asking for death, don't blame me!" Chen tucked the Star into his robe, the three tomoe in his crimson Sharingan slowly rotating as he stared at Natsuhi with a cold smile.

Natsuhi said nothing more. She directly controlled the Bear Demon, which roared and lunged at Chen!