> *"Bones harder than steel, yet able to morph freely. Overwhelming strength, speed, defense, and technique—no weaknesses in taijutsu."*
>
> *"Some kind of sensory ability that doesn't rely on sight. Ambushes are useless. High genjutsu resistance too—my Mist Illusion lasted less than a second. Doubt any other genjutsu would work."*
Bloodhound and Karasu rapidly exchanged intel.
The more they spoke, the more their dread grew.
Monstrous strength. A body like tempered steel. Weapons shifting unpredictably—paired with bizarre sensory perception and genjutsu immunity.
Bloodhound, a master swordsman, had his blade shattered in a single clash, his arm nearly crippled. If not for Karasu's intervention, he'd be dead.
Karasu, a specialist in illusions and assassination, fared no better.
His poisoned shuriken, launched from a blind spot and laced with lethal venom, were swatted away like flies.
His strongest genjutsu—*A-Rank: Mirage Mist Technique*—was shattered in under a second. The backlash felt like a club to the skull; his vision still swam.
Karasu stared at Hikari's youthful face and delicate frame, his mind sharp through the pain. Cold logic overrode panic as he pieced together the facts:
*"She slaughtered the Kurumari squad before we arrived—her sensory range is vast. Escape is impossible."*
*"Close combat is suicide. Keep our distance, use ninjutsu to harass."*
*"Her age suggests limited chakra and stamina. A battle of attrition is our only chance."*
In seconds, Karasu devised their strategy.
Meanwhile, Hikari wasn't idle.
Intel was the lifeblood of shinobi warfare.
No matter the rank, identifying an enemy's weakness was fundamental.
But Hikari's methods were… simpler.
With her *360-degree vision*, the duo became living blueprints—clothing, masks, muscle, bone—all dissected into data flooding her mind.
**Karasu:** *Chunin-level chakra. Genjutsu-specialized tokubetsu jonin.*
*Poison pouches at his waist. Six kunai, twelve shuriken, three explosive tags.*
*Weak physique. Skilled in illusions and sensory ninjutsu. Frail in direct combat.*
**Bloodhound:** *Chunin-level chakra.*
*Dense bones, reinforced muscle. Proficient in kenjutsu and taijutsu.*
*Right arm tendons torn, wrist fractured. Useless now.*
They stood no chance in close quarters. If they resorted to ninjutsu, their chakra would drain faster than hers. Her *Shikotsumyaku* and *Byakugan* required minimal upkeep.
A war of attrition? She'd win.
But they'd avoid melee now. She had to brace for powerful ninjutsu—while exploiting her edge: **rush them down.**
***Crack.***
Beneath her skin, bone membranes thinned everywhere but vital areas, shedding weight.
Chakra surged into her thighs.
Muscles tore—then regenerated *thicker*, fibers coiling like steel cables.
Bone spikes erupted from her soles, armoring her feet and anchoring her stance.
Twin blades fanned from her arms like wings.
Her body coiled—a bowstring at its limit.
Karasu's instincts screamed.
Hikari **moved.**
***BOOM—***
The ground cratered as she launched, a blur even to shinobi eyes.
Her blades lashed outward, a guillotine's sweep aimed to bisect both men.
**"NOW!"**
Karasu and Bloodhound *folded* mid-air, knees to chest, as the blades shrieked beneath them.
Their sandals' steel soles sparked against bone.
Still airborne, they flanked Hikari—hands flashing identical seals:
***Tiger → Ox → Rabbit...***
***Ram → Horse → Dragon → Tiger...***
**"Suiton: Wild Water Wave!"**
**"Doton: Earth Spears!"**
A torrent crashed into jagged stone spikes—engulfing Hikari in a maelstrom.
The duo landed lightly, scanning the chaos—
**"Chakra signature is—** ***BEHIND YOU!"***
Karasu whirled—
***WHOOSH.***
Hikari was already there, arms crossed.
A crimson **X** split Karasu's torso—before his body *splashed* into water.
**Water Clone.**
The real Karasu staggered meters away, coughing blood, a shallow **X** carved into his chest.
*"Damn… fast,"* he wheezed.
Hikari tilted her head, avoiding a sudden earth spear.
Bloodhound's sweat dripped. That stunt bought Karasu seconds.
*"But…"* Karasu grinned behind his mask, voice taunting despite his wounds. *"You always pause after attacking. Not out of mercy, right?"*
*"That speed… that brute force…"*
*"No way a body like yours handles that strain naturally. Otherwise, you wouldn't have slaughtered Kuriu Mari's squad before we arrived."*
*"Every burst leaves you vulnerable. Am I wrong?"*
Silence.
Then—
*"Heh. What's knowing gonna change?"*
Steam hissed from Hikari's lips. Her chest heaved.
Pushing her muscles to the limit demanded recovery time—like a bow kept drawn too long.
But now… she was ready.
**"Six seconds."**
Bloodhound's monotone cut through the tension.
Karasu burst into laughter, blood dripping from his grin.
*"Hah… hah… Got you."*
---
( *¯ ꒳ ¯*)ｂ