Chaotic Brawl

Furthermore, Yuhi Kurenai was currently deeply worried about the safety of her beloved student, Kurama Yakumo. Just as Ueno Kei had guessed earlier, Kurenai treated Yakumo as if she were her own daughter.

Regardless of the circumstances, Kurenai was incredibly concerned for her safety. She did not know whether this monster had merely conjured an illusion of Yakumo or had directly taken over her body.

These things had to be determined first. Previously, she had intended to restrict her movements and inflict a heavy injury before resolving the situation; otherwise, with her hands tied by hesitation, it would be truly difficult to strike.

"Yakumo" laughed out loud, as if she had heard something ridiculous.

"Yakumo" wiped the smile from her face, looked coldly at Kurenai, and said in a chilling voice, "Eliminate me? How laughable. As for this girl, this is my perfect vessel; how could I bear to part with it? I originally wanted to chat with you both a while longer, but since you are seeking death, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

A terrifying expression appeared on "Yakumo's" face, accompanied by a sinister grin.

It turned out that while she was speaking, Kurenai had suddenly made her move, firing dozens of shuriken and kunai rapidly at the girl while her hands moved in a blur to weave hand seals.

At the same time, as Kurenai acted, Ueno Kei exploded with chakra beneath his feet.

Wielding the Lingyu Blade, his figure shot forward like a cannonball, flanking the girl from the side. Although the chakra within Ueno Kei was nearly exhausted and his body was exceptionally weak, he knew clearly that he could only survive if he dealt with that monster, even if it meant worsening his own injuries. Otherwise, once that monster finished off Kurenai, there would be no way for him to escape his fate.

Ueno Kei rapidly approached "Yakumo," whose skin tightened; she could feel the cold, sharp edge of the Lingyu Blade.

Although the strength of this boy—Ueno Kei—was not worth mentioning in "Yakumo's" eyes, the only thing worthy of note was that previous strike.

That instantaneous explosive power and speed were the only things that had made her feel a hint of fear; everything else was beneath her notice.

However, this did not mean "Yakumo" could face the sharpness of the Lingyu Blade head-on. She had no doubt that if she were caught unprepared and took that blade directly, she would absolutely be cleaved in two, just like the previous shadow clone.

There would be no other outcome.

The Body Replacement Technique could not be used again. Now that she was facing a pincer attack from Ueno Kei and Kurenai, the technique might have deceived a rookie ninja like Ueno Kei, but it would never work twice in front of Kurenai.

For a Jonin, even the most exquisite replacement technique was a foolish thing to use more than once if the timing was wrong, the strength gap wasn't vast, or there wasn't a favorable opportunity.

Although, by age, "Yakumo" had only existed for a few years, she was no ignorant rookie. Her cunning was enough to make even many Jonin—and even the Third Hokage (who, due to his aging body, declining strength, concerns for the Kurama Clan, and desire for peace, felt troubled)—find her difficult to handle.

After all, she was a being known as a monster and could not be underestimated.

"Yakumo" cycled through several thoughts in an instant. She understood that the boy before her was already a spent force.

He absolutely had no spare chakra or strength left to attack.

There was no need for her to entangle herself with him too much; he would meet his own demise sooner or later. Even so!

However, "Yakumo" curled the corners of her mouth into a cold, chilling smile and tapped one foot lightly on the ground.

Her body performed a bizarre 180-degree spin in place, narrowly avoiding Ueno Kei's attack.

At the same time, "Yakumo's" eyes widened slightly, and her right arm suddenly transformed into a large, black, fur-covered horn shaped like a scythe.

She slashed it fiercely toward Ueno Kei's neck at close range.

It was clear she wanted to kill Ueno Kei in one blow, even though he was already nearing exhaustion and Kurenai was lurking behind him. Moreover, "Yakumo" herself had expended great strength to suppress the original owner of the body.

Having just gained control of this vessel, she was not yet fully adapted and was also in a weakened state.

Under these conditions, "Yakumo's" best choice would have been to put distance between herself and Ueno Kei to engage in a protracted battle with both him and Kurenai. By her estimation, after this strike, Ueno Kei would have absolutely no ability to lunge at her again.

As for Kurenai, her strength relied almost entirely on genjutsu, which was exactly what "Yakumo" excelled at; there was no need to fear. Jonin strength? Jonin experience? With the talent of the Kurama Clan and Yakumo's aptitude, combined with the monster's immense power, the genjutsu of a mere Jonin was nothing.

Once Ueno Kei exhausted his last bit of strength, she could easily finish him off, and Kurenai alone would be even easier to capture.

But the monster's cruelty took the upper hand in that moment.

A protracted battle? Dodging to stall for time? That was all too laughable. All she needed to do was tear apart every enemy before her and destroy everything!!!

Therefore, killing Ueno Kei directly was, in "Yakumo's" view, the most correct choice. She rapidly manifested several monsters with the bodies of oxen and leopards and the horns of beasts, which roared as they rushed to surround Kurenai.

As for herself, she went straight for Ueno Kei's head without hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, Ueno Kei struggled to turn his body, and a harsh sound of metal clashing rang out.

The Lingyu Blade blocked the large horn that "Yakumo" had thrust at him.

Sparks flew from the impact.

"Heh heh," "Yakumo" sneered, then grunted as she increased her force, attempting to knock Ueno Kei to the ground.

Ueno Kei gripped the Lingyu Blade with both hands, resisting "Yakumo's" attack with extreme difficulty. His face grew increasingly pale, and his breathing gradually weakened.

At this moment, "Yakumo's" expression changed. She coughed up a few mouthfuls of blue, viscous, and nauseating blood. The heavy pressure of the horn that Ueno Kei had been unable to withstand suddenly vanished.

It hung limply.

"Thud." Ueno Kei collapsed onto the ground, and with a "clang," the Lingyu Blade fell beside him. A look of lingering fear flashed in Ueno Kei's eyes.

He smiled weakly and said, "Kurenai-sensei, if you had been a second later, I wouldn't have been able to hold on."

"Yakumo" looked down in disbelief at the tip of a kunai protruding from her right chest, then struggled to turn her head to see Kurenai standing behind her.

"How is this possible!" "Yakumo" roared in her heart.

How could Yuhi Kurenai have approached her from behind without a sound? How could a mere kunai have inflicted such a grave wound? She could sense no chakra at all, and her body was gradually growing limp, as if it were slowly slipping out of her control.

"Hah!" Yuhi Kurenai let out a sharp cry from behind her, and several black chains etched with talismanic scripts extended from the kunai, coiling around "Yakumo's" entire body and binding her tightly.

"Ugh!" Following Yuhi Kurenai's actions, "Yakumo" spat out another mouthful of cyan blood.