Thanks to the combination of his Byakugan and the "Wind Release: Wings of Wind," Seimei quickly located the trail of Hozuki.
Not just him—while on the hunt, Seimei also found the traces of the other three members.
Without wasting a moment, he used the "Mind Link Technique" to connect with his three shadow clones, relaying the precise locations of the targets to them.
Having done this, he landed and made his way toward Hozuki's position.
Ahead.
Within the dense forest, Hozuki was still running at full speed.
Suddenly, a kunai shot toward him at high velocity, aimed directly at the middle of his back.
A chilling sensation surged up his spine and into his brain. Realizing the danger, Hozuki dodged sideways without hesitation, evading the sneak attack.
Whoosh!
The kunai streaked past him and embedded itself deeply into a nearby tree trunk.
Seeing only a small part of the kunai sticking out of the trunk, Hozuki's pupils contracted sharply.
"Such force—it's beyond human capability."
Just as this thought crossed his mind, another kunai came flying from behind, targeting the spot where he was now standing.
If he turned to block it, he might manage to parry it.
But with his earlier judgment, he didn't dare attempt it. The speed and power behind it were simply overwhelming.
Without hesitation, Hozuki sidestepped again, dodging to the side.
His caution proved wise.
Almost the instant he moved, the kunai pierced through his afterimage and embedded itself into a distant tree.
Despite being farther away, the kunai still dug deeply into the trunk.
If it had struck a person, it would undoubtedly have left a gaping hole.
Hozuki quickly repositioned himself behind a thick tree, peeking in the direction the kunai had come from.
He saw a figure standing not far away. Wind whistled faintly between the figure's hands, and another kunai was clutched between their fingers. In the next moment, the kunai shot out like an arrow.
Hozuki pulled his head back just in time, and the kunai struck the tree without harming him.
Seimei muttered a quiet "what a pity" as he gradually lowered his hands.
Yes, the figure was none other than Seimei. The technique he had used to launch the kunai was a variant of the "Wind Release: Gale Palm."
This technique, which he had copied during the chaotic battle at Yujing Port, had been mastered to perfection over the past ten days.
As a basic C-rank ninjutsu, it was not particularly effective in direct combat.
However, it excelled at accelerating projectiles.
For instance, the kunai he had just launched far exceeded human capabilities in terms of both speed and power.
Under these conditions, even if the enemy saw the kunai coming, they wouldn't dare block it.
The only downside was the technique's limitations—it could only accelerate the kunai in a straight line.
Therefore, an enemy with sharp senses and extensive combat experience, like Hozuki, could still evade it.
These thoughts flashed through Seimei's mind in an instant. Wasting no time, he drew the long sword from his waist, his body enveloped in a blue glow, and used the "Instant Sword Technique" to close in on Hozuki.
On the other side, seeing Seimei charging at him, Hozuki realized it was too late to run.
Cornered, his desperation turned into ferocity. He drew a kunai and lunged toward Seimei.
Clang! Clang!
The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed through the forest.
The two figures moved like phantoms, fighting from the ground to the treetops, alternating between taijutsu and ninjutsu, each employing every possible tactic without giving an inch.
It had to be said—Hozuki was indeed formidable.
Despite his fear of Seimei's Lightning Release, which prevented him from using his clan's secret hydration technique, his solid fundamentals allowed him to withstand Seimei's ferocious onslaught for a time.
Unfortunately, such bursts of resistance could not last. Within minutes, Seimei's superior strength allowed him to completely dominate the battle.
Earlier, while facing multiple opponents, Seimei couldn't fully exploit his speed.
Now, in a one-on-one fight, he was free to unleash his full potential.
It was only then that Hozuki understood why Seimei was known as the "Demonic Sword." His blinding speed and uncanny swordsmanship were deserving of the title.
As this thought crossed his mind, Seimei activated his Sharingan, silently using its hypnotic abilities.
Moments later, Hozuki's expression wavered with a brief hint of confusion.
"Not good!"
Hozuki instantly realized he had been ensnared. He tried to retreat, but it was too late.
In that fleeting moment, Seimei struck. Using the "Instant Sword Technique" to close the gap, he followed with the "Phantom Sword Technique," slashing down.
Before the blade even touched him, the Wind Release chakra enveloping it tore through Hozuki's clothing, causing his skin to sting.
Faced with such a deadly strike, Hozuki reacted on instinct, using his clan's hydration technique to transform into a puddle of water in an attempt to avoid the attack.
Now, he could only hope Seimei wouldn't react in time and would swing straight through.
But having planned this encounter, Seimei wasn't about to leave such an opening.
The moment Hozuki transformed, Seimei smirked.
Crackle!
Lightning chakra surged along Seimei's blade, replacing the Wind chakra.
Blinding sparks danced around the sword, turning it into a blade of lightning.
"No—!"
Despair filled Hozuki's heart.
As he tried to dispel the hydration technique, the lightning-infused blade struck. Even before the blade touched him, the electricity coursing through his liquid form left him paralyzed.
Seimei's blade landed.
Sizzle!
Electric currents tore through Hozuki's body, forcing him back into human form, smoking and barely alive.
Cautious as ever, Seimei reached out with his left hand, using the "Chakra Scalpel" to sever the primary nerve points in Hozuki's body, rendering him completely paralyzed.
With Hozuki no longer a threat, Seimei's purpose shifted to extracting his memories.
As a jonin, Hozuki undoubtedly held valuable information. Seimei used "Genjutsu: Sharingan" to pull him into an illusionary world, guiding him to recall the intelligence Seimei needed.
Minutes ticked by.
Ten minutes later, Seimei opened his eyes, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Indeed, he had gleaned some useful information from Hozuki's memories. However, using it would require careful planning.
With this in mind, Seimei activated the "Chakra Absorption Technique," draining the last traces of chakra from his captive.
At the same time, his three shadow clones arrived, their tasks complete.
A glance was enough for Seimei to confirm their success.
With that, the Mist ninja team was completely annihilated.
read more inpatreon
belamy20