The sword fell to the ground and twisted its legless body, scrambling backward like a rabbit that had run into a tiger.
"Is it... scared?"
The speaker was an eleven-year-old girl, Mei Terumi, who was about Rin Nohara's age. Disbelief covered her face.
Samehada actually knew fear?
"This sword is a lot smarter than you."
Xuan Zhe chuckled.
Suikazan Fuguki had never expected this. By the time he reacted, Samehada had already slipped to the very back of the group.
He hurriedly changed tactics. The instant his hands formed hand seals, the long hair behind his head flared out, turning into countless fine needles that shot forward.
"Bastard! Ninja Art: Needle Senbon!"
"Without that sword, is this all you've got?"
Xuan Zhe turned his wrist, sweeping his blade through a slanting arc.
A semicircle of fierce flames burst from the blade's tip. The hair needles burned to ash the instant they touched the flames.
Inoichi Yamanaka was secretly stunned. This was completely different from the black flames Lord Xuan Zhe had used before.
But its power was even more frightening. Just feeling the heat from a distance was enough to keep anyone from approaching.
"Urgh-Aaaaargh!!!"
The hair needles could not slow the flames' forward rush at all.
In the blink of an eye, flames licked over Suikazan Fuguki's entire body. His fat served as perfect fuel, and he sizzled inside a ball of fire.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Beside him, Juzo Biwa did not draw his sword. He launched a ninjutsu from a distance instead.
He wanted to attack Xuan Zhe and put out the fire on Suikazan Fuguki at the same time.
"Heh."
Xuan Zhe glanced sideways at the water dragon roaring toward him and lowered Ryūjin Jakka's tip beside his feet.
Then he traced an arc