Brawl

Besides, Yuhi Kurenai was deeply worried about the safety of her beloved student, Kurama Yakumo. Just as Ueno Kei had guessed, Kurenai treated Yakumo like her own daughter.

No matter what, Kurenai was deeply concerned for her safety. She didn't know whether this monster had taken on Yakumo's appearance or had taken over her body.

She needed to figure that out first. She had planned to restrain her and inflict a serious injury before dealing with her. Otherwise, with her reservations, it would be difficult to strike.

"Yakumo" burst into laughter, as if she'd heard something hilarious.

"Yakumo" wiped the smile from her face and stared coldly at Kurenai. "Destroy me? How laughable. And that girl? This is my perfect body. How could I bear to give it up? I'd meant to chat with you all a little longer, but since you're asking to die, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

A terrifying look came over "Yakumo's" face, and she gave a savage grin.

As she spoke, Kurenai suddenly attacked. Dozens of Shuriken and Kunai shot toward the girl, while Kurenai rapidly formed Hand Seals.

At the same time, Ueno Kei burst forward, chakra surging beneath his feet.

Wielding the Lingyu Blade, he charged at the girl from the side like a cannonball. Although he had very little chakra left and his body was exceptionally weak,

he knew perfectly well that he could only survive if they defeated the monster. He didn't care if it worsened his injuries; otherwise, once the monster finished off Kurenai,

there'd be no chance he'd make it out alive.

Ueno Kei closed in on "Yakumo." The skin all over her body tightened as she sensed the Lingyu Blade's icy edge.

The boy before her—Ueno Kei—was no match for her. The only thing worth noting was the slash he'd landed earlier.

Its explosive power and speed had made her wary. Nothing else about him posed any threat.

But that didn't mean "Yakumo" could afford to face the Lingyu Blade head-on. She had no doubt that if she took the blade directly without preparing, she'd be cut in half just like the Substitute had been.

There was no other possible outcome.

She couldn't use the Substitution Technique again, either. Now she was facing both Ueno Kei and Kurenai. The technique might fool Ueno Kei, an inexperienced rookie ninja,

but it definitely wouldn't work twice in front of Kurenai.

For a jonin, using the same Substitution Technique more than once was foolish if the timing was wrong, the difference in strength wasn't overwhelming, and there was no good opportunity.

Though "Yakumo" had only existed for a few years,

she was no clueless rookie. She was shrewd enough to trouble many jonin—even the Third Hokage, whose strength had declined with age and who had to consider the Kurama Clan and the importance of peace.

After all, she was a monster, and not one to be underestimated.

In an instant, "Yakumo" considered several possibilities. She knew the boy in front of her was running on fumes.

He had no chakra or strength left for another attack.

There was no need to waste time fighting him. He would bring about his own demise sooner or later. Even so—

"Yakumo" curled her lips into a cold smile and lightly tapped one foot against the ground.

Her body made a strange, more-than-180-degree turn on the spot, narrowly evading Ueno Kei's attack.

At the same time, "Yakumo's" eyes widened slightly. Her right arm abruptly transformed into a huge, black, furry horn shaped like a scythe.

It came down hard toward Ueno Kei's neck at close range.

She clearly intended to kill him with one blow. Though Ueno Kei was nearly spent, Kurenai was watching her from behind. Besides, "Yakumo" had already expended a great deal of strength suppressing the body's original owner.

She had only just gained control of the body and hadn't fully adjusted to it. She was weak herself, too.

Under the circumstances, the best choice would have been to put some distance between herself and Ueno Kei, then wear both him and Kurenai down. As she'd calculated, after this strike, Ueno Kei wouldn't have the strength to close in on her again.

Kurenai's abilities relied almost entirely on genjutsu, which was "Yakumo's" specialty. She had nothing to fear. A jonin's strength? A jonin's experience? With the Kurama Clan's talent and Yakumo's natural gifts, combined with the monster's immense power, an ordinary jonin's genjutsu was no threat to her.

Once Ueno Kei used up his last bit of strength, she could finish him off with ease. Then Kurenai alone would be even easier to deal with.

But in that moment, the monster's savagery took over.

A drawn-out fight? Evading them to buy time? It was all ridiculous. All she had to do was tear apart every enemy before her and destroy everything!

So, in "Yakumo's" eyes, killing Ueno Kei outright was the right choice. She quickly conjured several bull-and-leopard-like monsters with horns and sent them charging toward Kurenai.

Then, without hesitation, she lunged straight for Ueno Kei's head with her own huge horn.

In the blink of an eye, Ueno Kei struggled to twist his body around. A piercing metallic clang rang out.

The Lingyu Blade blocked "Yakumo's" sudden attack with her great horn.

Sparks flew.

"Heh." "Yakumo" gave a cold laugh, then grunted as she increased her strength, trying to knock Ueno Kei to the ground.

Ueno Kei gripped the Lingyu Blade with both hands and struggled to fend off "Yakumo's" attack. His face grew paler and his breathing weaker.

Just then, "Yakumo's" expression changed. She coughed up several streaks of viscous green blood, horribly nauseating to look at. The great horn she'd swung at Ueno Kei also lost the crushing force that had nearly overwhelmed him.

It drooped limply.

With a thud, Ueno Kei collapsed onto the ground. The Lingyu Blade clattered down beside him, and a lingering look of fear flashed through his eyes.

He gave a weak, bitter smile. "Teacher Kurenai, if you'd been one moment later, I wouldn't have been able to hold on."

"Yakumo" looked down in disbelief at the tip of the Kunai sticking out of her right chest, then struggled to turn and look at Kurenai behind her.

How is this possible?! "Yakumo" roared inwardly.

How could Kurenai have approached her from behind without making a sound? How could something as simple as a Kunai have badly wounded her? She couldn't sense any chakra at all, and her body was gradually growing weak, as if it were slipping out of her control.

"Now!" Kurenai, behind her, gave a sharp cry. Several black chains marked with runes extended from the Kunai, wrapped around "Yakumo," and bound her tightly.

"Yakumo" spat out another mouthful of green blood as Kurenai moved.

P.S. Ye isn't a professional. It takes him two or three hours just to write a chapter like this, and sometimes it's even worse when he gets stuck. If he were to update more often, he'd have to spend at least five or six hours a day on it, which he probably couldn't manage. Please bear with him, everyone.