Shlk!
That was the muffled sound of Gekko Hayate's blade tearing through Baki's flesh.
Baki staggered backward, looking down to see a bloody gash across his left shoulder.
As blood dripped down, his expression turned grave.
Had he not summoned the power of wind at the critical moment to force some distance between them, that slash might have cut straight through the back of his neck.
"Tch, he dodged it?"
Gekko Hayate stared at Baki, who was merely wounded, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he swallowed.
He had put every ounce of his strength into that strike. By rights, it should never have left only a flesh wound.
But the sensation transmitted through his blade told him-
That slash had felt as though it had cut into something soft yet tough.
What... was going on?
As Baki retreated, a breeze rose around him again.
This time, however, even the drifting breeze was tinged with the murky yellow of sand and soil.
His body stirred, and a vast sand wind swept toward Gekko Hayate.
"Good thing I managed to use the power of wind to protect my body just now. Otherwise, that strike of yours might have taken off my left shoulder."
Baki's face twisted savagely, his killing intent laid bare.
How could he let this insignificant pawn before him ruin the grand plan to destroy Konoha?
Before, I could only hold back to avoid alerting anyone...
Now that I'm wounded, I'll go all out and finish him first. I can think of an explanation afterward!
Gekko Hayate stared fixedly at the sand wind before him.
The wind seemed endless, blowing straight from in front of Baki to behind Hayate.
No wonder Baki had looked so relaxed when looking at him earlier. Those streams of sand and gravel naturally countered