If Tetsu no Sosuke's judgment had been off by even the slightest bit in that instant, Shinobu Kocho would have died!
It might not have looked that dire. After all, Akaza had caught her Nichirin Blade, not her neck.
But if Shinobu had been willing to let go of the Nichirin Blade, Akaza would have had no chance to deal a killing blow.
She refused to let go. Even with Akaza about to throw the Sleeve Arrows at her, she had not wavered.
Tetsu no Sosuke could have fired his own Sleeve Arrows to disrupt Akaza's throw. But Akaza might have dodged and finished what he had started, or simply abandoned the Sleeve Arrows and struck Shinobu down.
Either way, the decision would have put Shinobu in mortal danger.
That was why Tetsu no Sosuke had chosen to help her reclaim her blade.
Once she had it back, Shinobu could dodge on her own. He would not need to do anything else.
Akaza understood what Shinobu had been thinking. Otherwise, he would not have been so confident he could kill her outright.
What truly impressed him was everything Tetsu no Sosuke had considered and decided in that fleeting instant. Such resolve was chilling!
But when he turned back, he saw Tetsu no Sosuke staring coldly at Shinobu. "Why didn't you let go of the blade?"
"Then I'd only be a burden in this fight." Shinobu knew that cold expression was a result of his Extreme Flow Intent.
Once activated, it made him like a cold-blooded weapon, casting all unnecessary emotion out of his calculations. She did not take his harsh words to heart.
Tetsu no Sosuke fell silent for a moment, then slowly walked toward Akaza. "Leave this place."
Shinobu froze. "Why?"
"Stay alive."
Tetsu no Sosuke said no more.