บท 42: It Has a Future

The dense fog filled the place. The remaining Swordsmen now moved like cornered prey.

"We shouldn't be able to see each other," whispered Kushimaru. "The technique is working."

Fuguki, his imposing figure barely visible in the mist, growled, "Increase the density! We can't give him even a chance."

Mangetsu, his voice trembling slightly, added, "We have to return to Kirigakure. Luo Lei... is something beyond our understanding."

Hand seals continued to form at a frantic pace, the mist becoming thicker with each exhalation.

In their minds, they couldn't help but regret their decision to enter the Land of Fire. Luo Lei's cruelty, his seemingly unlimited power, all of it weighed on them like a slab.

Suddenly, a chill ran down the spine of each of the Swordsmen.

A sense of imminent danger, so intense it could almost be felt in the air.

"Wait..." muttered Kushimaru, his body tensing instinctively.

As if moved by instinct, they all turned slowly, their eyes straining to penetrate the dense fog.

And there he was.

Just meters away, Luo Lei stood like an apparition from their worst nightmares. Despite the mist that should have hidden everything, his figure was clearly visible, as if the haze itself moved out of his way.

His eyes, bright red and playful, contrasted brutally with the cold smile that adorned his face. The dim light filtering from his eyes seemed to dance on his skin, giving him an almost ethereal appearance, like a deity of death.

"Did you really believe this would save you from me?"

"This... how is it possible?" gasped Kushimaru.

The faces of the Swordsmen, visible through the dissipating mist, were as pale as death. The realization that their most prized technique, the Hidden Mist Jutsu, was completely useless against Luo Lei.

Luo Lei spoke again with a voice loaded with amusement: "Well, it was fun while it lasted."

VWOOM!

Suddenly, his eyes glowed with an intense crimson light. The air around him began to ripple with heat.

FWOOSH!

A heat ray cut through the air. The mist in its path evaporated instantly, creating a tunnel of clarity in the middle of the haze.

"No!" Mangetsu's desperate cry resonated.

The young Swordsman, known for his ability to liquefy his body, tried to escape. But against Luo Lei's power, even that unique ability was useless.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the air. In an instant, Mangetsu's body vaporized, becoming nothing more than ashes floating in the wind.

"Idiot!" Fuguki's roar cut through the air. His gaze shone with fear and desperate determination.

WHOOSH!

With a fluid motion, he wielded his Samehada. The sword, known for its ability to devour chakra, vibrated in his hands, eager for battle.

Observing the imminent attack, Luo Lei simply arched an eyebrow. "Oh? You want to play?"

SHING!

Luo Lei's short sword gleamed with a white light, chakra concentrated on its blade.

CLANG!

The clash of swords resonated like thunder, sending shock waves that dispersed the remaining mist.

Fuguki, feeling the force behind Luo Lei's blow, felt his heart skip a beat.

"Im... impossible," he gasped, his arms trembling from the effort of containing the attack.

BOOM!

The force of the impact sent Fuguki flying backward, his body leaving a furrow in the devastated earth.

But Luo Lei wasn't finished. His eyes glowed with that fearsome crimson gleam.

VWOOM!

A heat ray cut through the space between them.

"Damn it!" Fuguki, in a desperate act, raised Samehada to block the attack.

But at that critical moment, the unthinkable happened.

Samehada, the sword that was supposed to be an extension of his own being, slipped from his grip, abandoning him in his moment of greatest need.

"Traitor!" Fuguki's cry reflected the disbelief of being abandoned by his most prized weapon.

FWOOSH! BOOM!

The heat ray found its mark. In an instant, Fuguki's body vaporized, becoming nothing more than ashes floating in the wind.

The forest clearing, already charged with death and destruction, sank into silence...

Kushimaru, the last of the Seven Swordsmen, found himself paralyzed. His mask now felt like a prison, suffocating him with the weight of his own fear.

"No... it can't be," he whispered, his voice barely audible and trembling uncontrollably. His eyes, hidden behind the mask but wide open, couldn't look away from the ashes that were once his comrades.

"Demon... he's a demon." Kushimaru, who had seen and caused countless horrors in his career as a ninja, now found himself facing something that defied all understanding.

Luo Lei wasn't simply an enemy; he was a force of nature, cruel, violent, and bloodthirsty beyond any description.

A bitter thought crossed his mind: if he could go back, he would never have set foot in the Land of Fire. But it was too late for regrets.

"Ha, ha!" Luo Lei's laughter cut through his thoughts. His eyes, glowing with that terrifying crimson gleam, pierced into Kushimaru like daggers.

Kushimaru felt his heart stop. At that moment, he knew there was no escape, that death was inevitable.

VWOOM!

The air filled with the sound of intense heat cutting through space. The thermal vision sliced through the air like butter.

SIZZLE! BOOM!

Kushimaru didn't even have time to scream. In an instant, his body vaporized, becoming nothing more than ashes and memories.

_____

On the other side...

The dense mist slowly began to clear. Guy, Genma, and Ebisu, recovered from their position on the ground, anxiously scrutinized the area.

"Do you think Luo Lei-sama is alright?" asked Genma.

Ebisu, with his cracked glasses, responded confidently: "There shouldn't be a problem. The Seven Swordsmen seemed terrified."

As the mist dissipated, gradually revealing the devastation of the battlefield, a familiar voice cut through the air:

"Guy!"

Guy froze, instantly recognizing the voice. "Father?"

With a sound of displaced air, a figure appeared in front of them. Might Duy, the self-proclaimed "Eternal Genin," materialized before them in his tight green suit.

Duy, with relief, quickly examined the young ninjas. "Thank heavens you're alright!" he exclaimed, his eyes pausing on Guy's slight injuries. Observing the shattered terrain, he added: "Looks like there was an intense battle here..."

However, Guy responded with excitement: "Luo Lei-sama saved us! He alone defeated the Seven Swordsmen."

But then, as if remembering something, he looked at his father with confusion and concern. "Father, what are you doing here? You're a Genin, it's dangerous..."

Duy, surprised by his son's words, raised a bushy eyebrow. With a quick movement, he hit Guy's head. "Ha! Don't underestimate your father," he declared, adopting a dramatic pose that made his teeth shine. "I came here to show you your father's true strength."

But then, as if suddenly fully processing Guy's words, Duy stopped. "Wait... did you say Luo Lei?"

Guy nodded, not fully comprehending the sudden seriousness in his father's tone.

"Duy, we meet again!"

As if summoned by the words themselves, Luo Lei appeared a short distance from the group. His red cloak waved dramatically behind him.

Duy, upon seeing Luo Lei, was momentarily speechless. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Finally, he could only let out a sigh loaded with complex emotions.

The history between Duy and Luo Lei was complicated. They had been mission partners in the past, sharing experiences. However, Duy's refusal to teach Luo Lei the Eight Inner Gates technique, following direct orders from Konoha's high command, had created a rift between them.

Now, face to face once again, the contrast between them couldn't be more evident. Duy, the eternal Genin, a ninja respected for his determination but often underestimated. And Luo Lei, the newly named "God Killer," whose fame spread throughout the world.

"I want the practice of the Eight Inner Gates," declared Luo Lei, his eyes fixed on Duy. There was no plea in his tone, just order. "I know it was Konoha's high command who ordered you to deny it to me. But now... what I want, I get."

Then, with a subtle movement, he directed his gaze towards Guy.

"You know, Duy, your boy has potential," he commented, his eyes shining with a sinister light. "It's... fascinating to see how young people grow, don't you think? I wonder how far Guy could go with the... proper guidance. Maybe he could even make you proud... eventually. Although, of course, the path to success can be... unpredictable."

As he spoke, Luo Lei's eyes began to emit that terrifying red glow.

Duy, instantly understanding the implicit threat, felt a chill run down his spine. With a protective movement, he placed Guy and the other young people behind him, his eyes never leaving Luo Lei.

"I don't like wasting time," continued Luo Lei, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You give it or you don't. It's that simple."

Duy gritted his teeth, feeling how the green chakra began to flow through his body. The transformation in Luo Lei was more than evident; the man in front of him was almost unrecognizable compared to the companion he once knew.

After a moment of tension that seemed to last an eternity, he finally spoke.

"Fine," he said, his eyes meeting Luo Lei's. "You saved Guy. I'll give it to you."

________

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