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"!"
"..."
Chen Xing's body suddenly flared with a deep violet chakra, quickly coating him from head to toe. The aura condensed into an avatar-like form, causing the crackling force of Kakashi's Raikiri to rebound uselessly against the shimmering barrier.
"A chakra cloak? Even my Lightning Release can't pierce it…?" Kakashi's scarlet Sharingan narrowed sharply. He caught sight of something moving within the aura and leapt back, landing lightly on a tree trunk. His gaze remained fixed, wary, on Chen Xing's violet form.
"Peacock Form!" Chen Xing's voice carried an edge of excitement. His hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals.
In an instant, the violet chakra surged and reshaped itself. Feathers of pure chakra extended outward like a mantle, each one glowing faintly. A sharp beak formed, talons gleamed with killing intent, and an immense peacock-shaped chakra construct — over five meters tall — materialized in front of him. The illusory beast's head turned, proud and imperious, to stare down at Kakashi.
Kakashi's brow furrowed. A bead of sweat slid down his cheek. His Sharingan could see the density and raw potency of the chakra that formed this construct — this was no simple clone or genjutsu.
"Peacock King… so that's his code name. No wonder he's impossible to track. That chakra is monstrous." Kakashi thought grimly. He reminded himself that his mission was only reconnaissance — to gather intel on Chen Xing. Directly defeating him had never been the plan.
The chakra construct screeched, a sharp, piercing cry. Its massive wings snapped downward, propelling it toward Kakashi in a blur. Talons, elongated and razor-sharp, slashed forward.
"So fast!" Kakashi's pupils contracted. He twisted away just in time, the attack shredding the air beside him.
BOOM!
The branch Kakashi had just been standing on shattered into splinters. Before he could fully regain his footing, the chakra peacock flared with fresh energy — this time an aura of pale blue wind chakra — and swept its wings again.
The air roared as a massive, crescent-shaped wind blade shot forth from its wing, racing toward Kakashi.
Kakashi's Sharingan tracked the attack, but even with his reflexes, it was a hair's breadth from disaster. His body split apart under the strike — but in a burst of smoke, the halves became splintered logs.
A substitution.
The wind blade carved clean through a tree trunk thicker than three men could encircle, sending it crashing to the forest floor.
Perched now atop another tree, Kakashi's Sharingan spun as he studied the chakra beast below. "That attack… it wasn't just Wind Release. He's infused the construct's entire form with elemental chakra, letting it launch attacks directly. Even my Lightning Blade couldn't get through earlier…"
The peacock turned its head toward him. Without warning, it launched upward, wings beating with enough force to stir a gale, closing the distance in seconds.
The next exchange tore through the forest. Within minutes, dozens of trees were splintered or toppled. The ground was littered with deep gouges from claws and wind blades. Kakashi bore several shallow cuts, none life-threatening — Chen Xing was clearly holding back.
Sweat dripped from Kakashi's jaw as he panted lightly, face pale. His stamina was wearing thin. Though his injuries weren't severe, the prolonged use of the Sharingan — which he couldn't deactivate — had steadily drained his chakra.
The eye granted him unrivaled perception, but against such relentless chakra constructs, the burden was heavy.
Chen Xing dispelled the Peacock Form, violet chakra fading around him. He regarded Kakashi coolly.
"Don't look so shocked. If I really wanted you dead, you wouldn't still be standing." His tone was casual, but his gaze was sharp.
He had no deep hostility toward Kakashi, and conflict with Konoha was not in his plans. The Bear Country and the Fire Country had no significant disputes, and in the current political climate, there was even potential for alliance. Fighting a Leaf jōnin to the death here would serve no purpose.
"I'm guessing you were sent to investigate me. If your mission's done, stop following me. Otherwise… I won't guarantee you make it back."
In a flicker, Chen Xing vanished and reappeared directly before Kakashi. Before the jōnin could react, Chen Xing's left hand trapped Kakashi's right wrist, while his other hand tore away the fabric mask from Kakashi's face.
Moonlight spilled across the clearing, silvering the edges of the trees. Chen Xing's wings beat once, carrying him away into the night breeze.
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