One Strike

Ueno Kei was exceptionally calm at that moment. He knew this was the final moment. After all, this was his first battle, and his lack of experience showed clearly in the nerves that had gripped him before the fight.

Ueno Kei understood all of this. At critical moments, his limbs had failed to obey him and his reactions had been sluggish. It had nearly cost him his life. If not for that, the monsters surrounding him wouldn't have even made up a tenth of their total number.

There was no reason for Ueno Kei to be in such a sorry state. His inexperience in battle had kept him from using his full strength; he'd managed at most eighty percent. Ueno Kei shook his head helplessly. He'd thought that having experienced death in his previous life and endured so much hardship in this one would make him more accepting of death.

Yet his body had trembled ever so slightly before the fight, during it, and even now. His shaking hands mercilessly told Ueno Kei the truth.

He!

Was afraid of death! Afraid of being killed, afraid of losing everything all over again.

"That's why I have to survive!" Ueno Kei murmured to himself, even as his tense muscles betrayed the uncertainty still churning inside him.

He'd originally planned to strike at the best possible moment, but a wry smile tugged at Ueno Kei's lips. He'd been driven to the edge of a cliff. There was no other choice.

At least his will to survive was unwavering! Ueno Kei's gaze gradually grew brighter.

Until now, Ueno Kei had pinned his hopes on Yuhi Kurenai, a Jonin, using a few powerful, wide-area jutsu to clear the field and give him a chance to launch a surprise attack on the girl atop the platform.

After all, defeating the caster would naturally dispel the jutsu.

A surprise attack on Kurama Yakumo was risky, but Ueno Kei had no other choice.

But, to Ueno Kei's surprise, Yuhi Kurenai hadn't used a single jutsu. He cursed inwardly. She was a Jonin, so why couldn't she even use an A-rank jutsu?

That had left Ueno Kei in a difficult position. What was he supposed to do? Force his way through? Never mind whether he could even manage it; even if he did, how much damage could he inflict on the girl atop the platform with the little chakra he had left?

This strike was his last resort. Ueno Kei anxiously glanced at Yuhi Kurenai nearby and silently prayed that she would use at least one wide-area jutsu.

But Ueno Kei had no idea that Yuhi Kurenai had her own troubles. As a Konoha Jonin specializing in genjutsu, she knew some ninjutsu and Taijutsu, but compared with Jonin of the same rank, her skills were abysmal. Even against some Chunin, she probably wouldn't stand a chance if they used the same amount of chakra.

Though she was a master of genjutsu,

she was practically an idiot when it came to ninjutsu and Taijutsu. Forget powerful A-rank jutsu with a wide area of effect; she didn't even know many B-rank jutsu.

At first, Yuhi Kurenai had known about Kurama Yakumo's ability, but she'd assumed it couldn't possibly have anything to do with the nature of genjutsu. What disheartened her was that none of the genjutsu she tried had any effect here.

Without Ueno Kei's knowledge, Yuhi Kurenai had also tried countless ways to dispel the genjutsu. They'd all fallen into a void without the slightest response.

Yuhi Kurenai was just as tormented as Ueno Kei. With genjutsu useless, her combat ability had taken a serious hit, and a chill instantly crept through her.

It was fair to say that if Yuhi Kurenai hadn't had a Jonin's supply of chakra and years of combat experience, the monsters would have been no easier for her to handle than they were for Ueno Kei, given her lack of skill in ninjutsu and Taijutsu.

And that was without mentioning the need to stay alert for a sneak attack from Kurama Yakumo atop the platform.

So Ueno Kei was, in a way, unfairly blaming Yuhi Kurenai.

Of course, Ueno Kei had no time to concern himself with any of that. Looking at the increasingly dire situation, he knew he couldn't wait any longer.

Ueno Kei quickly leaped back a few steps, putting some distance between himself and the monsters. He planted the Lingyu Blade in the ground, took a deep breath, and swiftly began forming Hand Seals.

As if they'd noticed Ueno Kei's movements, several wraiths rushed toward him.

Ueno Kei remained unmoved, his expression unchanged as he rapidly formed the seals.

Bang! Bang! Several impacts rang out. Just as the wraiths' sharp claws were about to touch Ueno Kei, the Lingyu Blade planted in the ground shone with a brilliant light.

A flash of white light vanished in an instant.

A hazy white barrier formed around Ueno Kei. No matter how fiercely the wraiths struck it, they couldn't break through.

Ueno Kei breathed a slight sigh of relief. To be honest, this was his first time using the Sealing Jutsu within the Lingyu Blade.

Fengyi Zhan had told him about it when Ueno Kei first obtained the Lingyu Blade. It could use its wielder's chakra to create a temporary barrier that offered protection.

Fengyi Zhan had called it the Lingyu Barrier.

Of course, the barrier's strength varied from person to person. The amount of chakra, one's understanding of the Wind Wing Sword Technique, and how well one resonated with the Lingyu Blade were all important factors.

Ueno Kei had tried to create the Lingyu Barrier before, but he'd never tested its strength. It wasn't as if he could go find a ninja in Konoha to try it out on—unless he'd lost his mind.

Only an idiot would reveal something so personal.

Judging by the strength and weight of these monsters' attacks, the Lingyu Barrier he'd created should be able to withstand attacks from someone around Chunin level.

Protected by the barrier, Ueno Kei could form Hand Seals without distraction or fear of outside interference.

As he formed the seals, the chakra within Ueno Kei grew stronger and stronger. This was one of the methods in the Wind Wing Mental Method for rapidly condensing chakra. To be honest, Ueno Kei wouldn't have used it except in a crisis, because it damaged his vital essence. And given his current condition,

his body and chakra reserves were still growing. The side effects would be too severe.

"Ah! Ah!" Scorching heat poured off Ueno Kei's entire body.

His face flushed red, and sweat covered his forehead. Thud! Thud! Ueno Kei felt as if something were pounding his internal organs, and he couldn't help crying out in pain.

"Hm?" Kurama Yakumo noticed Ueno Kei's strange transformation and glanced his way with a puzzled expression.

Suddenly, her eyes met Ueno Kei's. Kurama Yakumo froze for a moment, then her expression changed dramatically, and she let out a startled scream.

At Kurama Yakumo's strange reaction,

the monsters' movements all slowed.

Even stranger, the monsters began disappearing on their own. The wraiths attacking Ueno Kei let out screams one after another, then vanished in wisps of black smoke.

Ueno Kei didn't know what had happened, but this was an incredible opportunity!

Forcibly suppressing the agony throughout his body, he pulled the Lingyu Blade free and twisted his foot slightly. Ueno Kei vanished from where he stood.

His body shot straight toward Kurama Yakumo like a cannonball.

In an instant, Ueno Kei had reached the platform. He stared intently at Kurama Yakumo, who was still screaming and hadn't even noticed his arrival.

The image of the barefoot girl by the river, her face inexplicably sorrowful, surfaced in his mind. His blade faltered.

A flicker of hesitation and pity crossed his eyes, then vanished. He bit his lip, letting blood fill his mouth, and tightened his grip on the Lingyu Blade. Yuhi Kurenai's face changed drastically.

"Kei, don't..."

The Lingyu Blade came crashing down. "Wind Wing Sword Technique, First Form: Starfall!" Ueno Kei murmured the words. In an instant, a silver flash streaked by.

Blood sprayed, covering Ueno Kei from head to toe, and the girl's body was split in two.