"Ding!"
A kunai clashed with the enemy's blade, sparks of lightning flickering along the metal. Saitama's strike was swift, but the enemy vanished with a flicker before he could press the advantage.
"Konoha brat, you think I'd fall for that?"
Fujiwara's cold voice rang out. He reappeared nearby, gripping a kunai charged with crackling blue Lightning Release chakra.
Saitama frowned. So fast… he already analyzed my style?
"Bang!"
Moonlight Masano blocked two Sand shinobi at once, gritting his teeth as he was pushed back. Sagi wasn't faring much better—outnumbered and overwhelmed, he could barely hold his ground.
"Focus, kid!"
A gust of wind roared toward Saitama. Fujiwara had thrown his kunai, and his fist followed, aiming straight for Saitama's face.
"Tch!"
Saitama raised his blade to block and slid backward, the impact forcing him to retreat. Fujiwara didn't relent and launched a high-speed kick—
"Boom!"
The kick slammed into Saitama's chest, sending him skidding across the sand, a deep furrow trailing behind him.
"Is that all you've got?"
Fujiwara sneered, hoping to provoke him. After all, Saitama was just a boy.
Saitama touched his aching chest and exhaled sharply. When he opened his eyes again, two tomoe spun in his crimson irises—his Sharingan had awakened.
"An Uchiha?!"
Fujiwara's gaze narrowed. He had fought Uchiha before. This kid wasn't in the intel. So he's been hiding his lineage. That makes him even more dangerous.
"Chakra burst!"
Saitama gathered chakra underfoot and exploded forward, lightning trailing his body as he closed the gap between them. I need to end this quickly and help the others.
"Clang!"
Despite his speed, Fujiwara parried the strike with ease. Their weapons locked, and Saitama's eyes narrowed—this enemy could match his burst speed.
As Fujiwara deflected the sword, he countered with a kick. Saitama's body glimmered with arcs of electricity, dodging back just in time.
This isn't good. I can't waste time here... If they can't hold on, we'll all go down.
Blue lightning arced around his blade. If he can track me even with this speed… maybe he can't read attacks well without a dojutsu. Let's test him.
Saitama pressed his foot into the sand, chakra surging.
"Boom!"
The desert floor erupted beneath him as he charged forward, a thunderous blur tearing through the night.
"Whoosh!"
His slash missed—only slicing air. Sparks danced as lightning screamed from his blade.
"Boom!"
Fujiwara's counterpunch struck sand, missing wide but gouging out a crater as golden sand flew into the air.
"Not bad."
Fujiwara smirked, but he didn't underestimate him again.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Saitama quickly formed hand signs, exhaling a massive fireball that roared across the dunes.
"Hmph."
Fujiwara scoffed. His agility was enough to evade low-level ninjutsu. He sidestepped with a burst of speed—
"Chirp!"
A thousand shrill cries filled the air. Lightning condensed in Saitama's hand—a sudden Chidori!
"Tch!"
Fujiwara's instincts flared, and he twisted mid-air—but not fast enough. The piercing lightning strike tore across his side, burning through his flank.
"Gah!"
Fujiwara howled, chakra flaring wildly to counter the damage. He barely escaped a killing blow. Saitama tried to follow up, slashing at his chest—
"Clang!"
His blade only cut into Fujiwara's side again, a deep wound, but not fatal.
Why didn't that finish him? Saitama frowned, recalibrating.
"Huh?!"
A shinobi who'd been fighting Masano suddenly leaped in, launching a kick at Saitama. He narrowly evaded, flipping backward and landing near Masano.
"You okay?"
Moonlight Masano asked, his flak jacket scorched, but his stance steady.
"Still standing," Saitama replied, eyeing the three Sand shinobi regrouping.
Across the battlefield, Sagi cried out as he was struck by a kunai. Blood trickled from his lips as he staggered. He wiped it away and reset his stance, blade gripped tight. Gotta hold on... no matter what!
Fujiwara stumbled, clutching his cauterized wound. Blood still seeped through despite the burn.
"Tch… Bastard got me good," he hissed. His hands pressed to the injury to slow the bleeding. He looked up at his allies.
"What's wrong, Fujiwara?" asked Bai Ren, a shinobi wielding a massive sickle.
"I got careless. You'll have to finish it. I'll provide support from here."
Fujiwara's gaze remained on Saitama.
"Watch his speed. And that Lightning Release."
Bai Ren and his comrade, Xie Liu, nodded grimly. Neither had succeeded against Masano before—now they had to deal with an Uchiha prodigy too.
"Crackle!"
Lightning flared as Saitama and Masano split off in opposite directions, weaving through the battlefield with graceful footwork. This was their chance to break the stalemate.
"Yah!"
Saitama struck at Bai Ren, blade flashing.
"Clang!"
The sickle blocked him. Sparks flew as lightning surged from the clash.
"Bang!"
Bai Ren withstood the shock and kicked forward, launching the sickle up to break Saitama's stance.
"Tch!"
Saitama backstepped, avoiding a strike that nearly took his head off. The massive sickle continued to swing, forcing Saitama to retreat.
Meanwhile, Masano dueled Xie Liu in a brutal exchange. Fujiwara, weakened, had already retreated to a dune's edge, blood matting his flak vest. Another move might reopen the wound.
"Tch… that sickle..."
Saitama winced. A shallow cut streaked across his cheek. The weapon's wide arcs were a pain to handle.
"Heh, not so tough now!"
Bai Ren grinned darkly, charging again.
His sickle slashed down like a guillotine—
"Boom!"
The blade split the sand where Saitama had just stood. He kicked off the enemy's weapon, launching himself into the air.
"Hah!"
Saitama soared over Bai Ren's head, stabbing down from above.
"Clang!"
The sickle intercepted again, batting him aside.
"Die!"
Before Saitama could land, another slash screamed toward his chest.
He twisted, narrowly avoiding it. This guy's offense is overwhelming...
Dodging relentlessly, Saitama focused on tiring him out. The enemy's massive swings consumed chakra and stamina with every blow. He just needed to outlast him—
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