At the third floor of the Kurokaze-kai headquarters, the battle between Carter Brooks and Takeshi Ono raged on. Carter was acutely aware of the vast difference in strength between him and the sumo enforcer. He knew that while Takeshi held the upper hand in brute force, his own advantages lay in his agility, speed, and strategic thinking. One clean hit from Takeshi's kanabō would be the end of the match for him, so Carter focused on outmaneuvering the larger man.

  Carter continued to use his Athlete’s Agility, allowing him to dodge attacks and maneuver around the dohyō swiftly.At every opportune moment he employed his Puck Precision, scooping up handfuls of sand and flinging them with incredible accuracy and speed at Takeshi, hoping to wear down and unbalance the larger man gradually. The sand, while harmless, was a distraction aimed at wearing him down mentally and physically.

  Takeshi, far from being unnerved by Carter's tactics, stood firm in the center of the ring. His years of experience in sumo had prepared him for such distractions. Silently, he activated Mace Cyclone, swinging his mace in a wide, circular motion, creating a powerful cyclone that effortlessly deflected the sand Carter had flung at him. The move also kept Carter at a safe distance. Takeshi calmly endured Carter’s evasive maneuvers, showing no sign of frustration or fatigue, making only minimal movements, conserving his energy and maintaining control of the fight.

  Carter, on the other hand, was realizing that this battle was different from his fight with Ushio Tanaka. While Ushio had been provoked into mindlessly charging, draining his stamina, Takeshi was a different beast. He remained still, composed, and patient. There were no wild swings or reckless attacks from the sumo enforcer. Takeshi was waiting, observing, conserving his strength.

  As the minutes ticked by, it was Carter who found himself slowing down. His movements, once quick and fluid, began to lose their sharpness. His stamina was wearing thin, and the sand-throwing tricks that had initially been effective were now barely making a dent in Takeshi's resolve. Carter’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, beads of sweat rolling down his face.

  Takeshi saw his moment and lifted his leg, slamming it down on the dohyō in a Sumo Stomp, sending small tremors through the ground to destabilize Carter's momentum. Though Carter's stamina was wearing thin, he saw the move coming and quickly went into a Rink Runner’s Rush, maintaining constant movement as he retreated out of the tremor’s range, thinking he had secured a moment of safety.

  But Takeshi, riding the wave of his momentum, charged at Carter without warning, swinging his kanabō with a Rikishi Rush, the unstoppable force of a sumo wrestler. He aimed to knock Carter off his feet. Carter, with a burst of remaining stamina and relying on his Athlete’s Agility, barely dodged the attack by a fraction of a second.

  "Bam!" The kanabō smashed into one of the building's supporting pillars, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the surface. Dust and debris fell from above, signaling that the integrity of the Kurokaze-kai headquarters was now compromised.

  Takeshi's gaze lingered on the damaged, crumbling pillar, his expression turning somber as he realized the potential danger of further damaging their headquarters. In that brief moment, Carter saw an opening and went for a Power Check, using his physical strength to slam into Takeshi's back, hoping to create an opening for further attacks.

  But it was a big mistake.

  The sumo enforcer had already assumed Yokozuna's Guard, a stance reminiscent of the highest rank in sumo, making him nearly immovable. His weight and strength absorbed the impact of Carter's body slam with ease. Carter, realizing he was too close to Takeshi, felt a surge of dread as the sumo wrestler turned. Before Carter could react, Takeshi's massive arm wrapped around his waist.

  "Oh no!" Carter thought, panic rising as he found himself unable to escape. With a swift, brutal motion, Takeshi lifted him off the ground and executed a devastating Sumo Slam, smashing Carter into the ground with immense force.

  "Thud!" A large splatter of sand erupted from the dohyo as Carter's body hit the ground heavily, the impact reverberating through the room. Takeshi then gave a formal 90-degree bow, signaling the end of the match, with Carter lying motionless on the sandy floor. Confident that he had secured victory, Takeshi turned to examine the damaged pillar, satisfied with his performance.

  What Takeshi didn’t notice was Carter, slowly pushing himself up with the aid of his hockey stick. Seeing that Takeshi’s back was turned, Carter gathered every ounce of strength for one final attack—his ultimate move. With a fierce shout of determination, he launched into his Final Buzzer Blitz, swinging his hockey stick with all the energy he had left, symbolizing the final, desperate moments of a hockey match. "It's not over yet!" Carter roared as he delivered a powerful strike to Takeshi’s back.

  The force of the blow sent Takeshi staggering backward, slamming him into the already weakened pillar, further compromising the structural integrity of the building. Dust and debris shook loose as the pillar cracked under the strain.

  Takeshi, now visibly furious, turned to face Carter. Though Carter's ultimate attack had landed and delivered considerable damage, it wasn’t enough to bring the sumo enforcer down. Takeshi grunted in frustration, clearly displeased at being struck from behind. His eyes narrowed as he prepared to finish the fight once and for all.

  Without hesitation, Takeshi unleashed his own ultimate move, Warrior's Wrath—a relentless series of rapid, powerful mace strikes that demonstrated his unyielding fighting spirit and adaptability. The blows came with the force of a truck, overwhelming Carter, who was already exhausted and unable to fully defend himself. The final hit sent Carter sprawling to the floor, fainted and unmoving.

  Takeshi, breathing heavily but still standing strong, nudged Carter's limp body with his foot to ensure he wouldn’t rise again. Satisfied, he gave a final bow, this time signaling his confirmed victory.

  

  The two young women stood on the sixth floor, surrounded by the soft, pink tatami mats of the traditional washitsu. The atmosphere was thick with tension, not of raw strength, but of strategy and elegance, where both waited, poised, to see who would make the first move.

  Hana, with her ever calm demeanor, brought her hand to her mouth and feigned a yawn. "Hoooaaah! If you're not going to make any moves, I might as well go upstairs and deal with your other friends," she taunted in Japanese, her voice laced with boredom. "It’s getting tiresome when you're supposed to be entertaining me."

  Akane, knowing she had no choice but to act, tightened her grip on her sai and moved with precision. Crimson Flash—a lightning-fast lunge designed to close the distance and deliver a powerful strike aimed directly at Hana. She hoped this sudden, decisive move would give her the upper hand.

  But Hana only smirked, clearly pleased by the attack. "Ah, it looks like the game has finally begun," she said, her smugness unmistakable. Akane had fallen right into her trap.

  Hana had intentionally appeared open for an attack, her movements seemingly careless. But it was all part of her strategy—Calm Before the Storm—a deceptive move where she lowers her guard, appearing vulnerable, only to unleash a sudden and fierce counterattack at the perfect moment. As Akane closed in, Hana made her move, her umbrella spinning gracefully as she prepared to turn Akane's offensive strike into her own advantage.

  Akane saw Hana's incoming attack and dodged with the grace of a falling leaf, using her Whispering Willows technique to effortlessly avoid Hana’s offensive. Hana’s enjoyment of the battle grew, clearly impressed by Akane’s skill. Her smirk widened as she executed Rainfall Strike, a flurry of rapid, precise strikes with her umbrella, mimicking the soft yet relentless fall of rain.

  However, Akane was prepared. With a swift spin, she activated her Whirlwind Retreat, parrying each of Hana's strikes with her sais while creating enough distance to reassess the battle. Her movements were fluid and graceful, making it clear she was no easy target.

  Spotting the lighting above them, Akane saw an opportunity. She angled her sais to reflect the light, performing Twilight Mirage. The reflection dazzled Hana, momentarily disorienting her and creating potential openings for Akane to strike. But Hana, ever composed, used her umbrella to execute Blossom Guard, gracefully blocking the harsh light, her movements as delicate and effortless as petals caught in the wind.

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  This was the moment Akane had been waiting for. Seizing the opportunity, she slipped into Hana's blind spot with Shadow Step, her small frame and agility allowing her to move with ghostly speed. The surprise attack connected, the edge of Akane’s sais slicing through the beautiful pink fabric of Hana’s kimono.

  Hana's eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly regained her composure, realizing Akane was far more formidable than she had initially thought. However, her expression shifted into a teasing smile. "It's getting boring, don't you think?" she taunted in Japanese, the mockery in her tone clear, hinting that she hadn’t even been trying yet. It was a challenge, daring Akane to push her limits.

  Deciding it was time to turn up the heat, Hana gracefully initiated her Mist Veil. Twirling her umbrella, she summoned a disorienting mist that filled the traditional washitsu, blurring Akane's vision and distorting her sense of direction. Akane, now unable to see clearly, was forced to rely on her other senses. She sharpened her focus, listening carefully to her surroundings.

  Suddenly, a sharp sound like a clap of thunder echoed through the room. Akane reacted instinctively, pinpointing the sound and lunging forward with Silent Cherry Blossom Thrust, a swift, precise strike aimed at vital pressure points. But her strike hit nothing but air. The sound had been a distraction, a trick of Hana’s Thunderclap Snap, where she opened her umbrella with such force that it produced a sharp, startling noise.

  Unbeknownst to Akane, Hana was now stalking her from behind, her movements as quiet and unassuming as a light drizzle. Using Silent Drizzle, Hana approached Akane with deadly precision, preparing to strike with her umbrella. Akane, sensing the incoming danger, reacted quickly. She crossed her sais in front of her, performing Sai Serenity, forming an 'X' to catch and lock Hana’s umbrella, redirecting the attack away and momentarily controlling the flow of combat.

  But Hana wasn’t finished. She spun on her heels, executing Typhoon Spin, a powerful whirl of her umbrella that generated a strong gust of wind. The force of the spin sent Akane flying backward, slamming her against a nearby wall with a resounding thud. Hana’s cunning and strategic mind was proving too much for Akane to counter. Sensing the moment to finish the fight, Hana followed up with Monsoon Lunge—a swift, precise dash forward with her umbrella aimed directly at Akane. The force of the strike connected, pinning Akane against the wall, her umbrella pressing hard into Akane's midsection, successfully knocking her out.

  As Akane slumped to the ground, lying motionless, fainted from the impact, Hana casually closed her umbrella, gazing down at her fallen opponent. "Akane Miyazaki-san, thanks for the fight," she said with a smirk, her tone dripping with mockery. "I really enjoyed it. Rest well."

  Another of Jake’s friends had fallen in battle, defeated by yet another of the Kurokaze-kai’s horsemen.

  

  Luna stood meticulously in the high-tech, computer-lined room, holding her light saber at the ready, her eyes trained on the lifeless frame of the cybernetic ninja, Hiroshi. Suddenly, a computerized female voice echoed through the room: "System reboot complete." Luna's heart sank as Hiroshi's once-slumped form straightened with eerie precision. He stretched and twisted his neck as if waking from a long nap, his movements fluid and mechanical. His advanced Regenerative Abilities had kicked in, repairing his systems from the earlier hack, and restoring him to full capacity.

  Panic surged through Luna as she quickly activated her Digital Blade, desperately trying to re-hack into Hiroshi's cybernetic systems. Her fingers moved rapidly, attempting to tap into the technology that had previously shut him down, hoping for a second chance to disable him.

  But Hiroshi was unfazed, his smug expression signaling his awareness of her futile efforts. His cybernetic enhancements, combined with his vast combat experience, had activated his Iron Will, making him immune to most forms of psychological manipulation and external interference—this time, even Luna’s hacking abilities couldn't penetrate his defenses.

  "You’re not getting in again," Hiroshi's mechanical voice echoed in Japanese, filled with cold arrogance. From a distance, he flung Electro Shuriken, electrically charged projectiles designed to stun or incapacitate. Luna acted quickly, pulling up her Plasma Shield, reversing the polarity of her light saber to create a temporary plasma-based barrier, deflecting the shurikens with precision.

  Relieved by her successful defense, Luna looked towards where Hiroshi had been, but he was gone. She moved cautiously, turning slowly, scanning the room for any trace of him, but Hiroshi seemed to have vanished. Luna took a deep breath, thinking perhaps he had left the room, and as she lowered her light saber, feeling a momentary sense of relief, something caught her eye—a faint blue glow reflecting on one of the computer screens.

  It was the unmistakable glow of Hiroshi’s plasma saber.

  Luna’s heart pounded as she realized with growing horror that Hiroshi had never left her sight, using Ninja Stealth to remain hidden, always just behind her, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The truth hit her like a wave—he had been silently stalking her, unseen, preparing for his Plasma Blade Technique. As the glowing plasma saber from Hiroshi approached, aiming for a swift, cutting strike, Luna caught the faint reflection in the monitor at the last second.

  With adrenaline surging through her veins, she spun around, executing her Neon Arc, sweeping her light saber in a glowing trail of neon light. But it was too late. Hiroshi's plasma blade grazed her arm, the sharp sting of the strike sending a wave of pain through her body. Their weapons clashed in a shower of sparks, illuminating the room in brief flashes as the duel intensified.

  The brief contact sent Luna reeling back, her mind racing as the flickering glow of their weapons illuminated Hiroshi’s half-cybernetic face. His expression remained emotionless, exuding confidence as he advanced, knowing Luna was no match for him. Luna realized she needed to act quickly, her thoughts racing for any advantage she could find.

  She unleashed Photon Flash, emitting a blinding flash of light aimed directly at Hiroshi, hoping to disorient him. But Hiroshi, ever prepared, raised his cybernetic arm and activated Cyber Guard, generating a temporary barrier that shielded him from the flash. Unphased, Luna immediately switched tactics, using Holographic Feint to create multiple illusory duplicates of herself, each moving in different directions, hoping to confuse him and buy herself a chance to strike from an unexpected angle.

  But Hiroshi’s experience in Tactical Combat was far beyond her tricks. His mechanical eye scanned the room as he quickly analyzed the situation, effortlessly identifying the real Luna among the illusions. With Enhanced Reflexes granted by his cybernetic enhancements, Hiroshi rushed towards the real Luna with blinding speed, catching her off guard once again.

  With no mercy, Hiroshi executed Cybernetic Precision, his ultimate move, flawlessly combining his plasma saber with his expert ninjutsu skills. His strikes were perfect, fast, and lethal, grazing Luna from different angles with surgical precision. The pain surged through her, but she refused to give up.

  "Jake…!" she gasped, falling to the ground, but her resolve remained unshaken. Summoning her last bit of strength, she grabbed Hiroshi's ankle, preventing him from moving forward. Her grip was weak, but her determination was unwavering. She would protect her friends, even at the cost of her life.

  Hiroshi, ready to deliver the finishing blow, suddenly paused as two figures emerged from the spiral staircase. Kaito and Kenjiro had arrived, just as Kaito had promised. Kenjiro, bruised but standing strong, locked eyes with Hiroshi, while Kaito's face was marked with both urgency and regret.

  Hiroshi's focus shifted entirely to the two men before him—once his comrades, now his adversaries. "Kazuo wants a fair fight with the bearer of the Sword of Flame," Hiroshi said coldly, addressing Kaito and Kenjiro. "I can't let you through." His tone was decisive, signaling that he knew exactly why they were there, and Luna’s presence no longer mattered—she was no longer a threat to him.

  Kaito whispered to Kenjiro, "Looks like Ojisan isn’t letting us pass. I'll take him on, and you go up to help your nephew, father-in-law."

  Kenjiro, caught off guard, glanced at Kaito. "Father-in-law? What are you talking about? This is no time for jokes, young man," he replied, surprised by Kaito's words. He quickly refocused. "How confident are you about taking on Hiroshi?" Kenjiro's concern was evident, knowing the danger posed by the cybernetic ninja.

  Kaito, using his Intellectual Intuition, analyzed Hiroshi. "Not much—maybe a 25% chance," he admitted calmly. "But we can't waste time. Your nephew's chances against Mori-san are close to zero."

  Kenjiro organized his thoughts, recognizing the urgency. "I can only count on you..." he replied, accepting the grim odds and preparing to move forward, trusting Kaito to hold off Hiroshi. But then Kaito added, "If I survive, let me date Yoko, will you?"

  Kenjiro turned back, baffled. "What did you just say?"

  "There's no time, go!" Kaito gave Kenjiro a firm push, signaling him to run past Hiroshi.

  Hiroshi, enraged, prepared his Plasma Blade Technique, aiming for a swift, cutting strike at Kenjiro. But before the plasma saber could reach him, Kaito intercepted with a precise Strategic Strike, exploiting weaknesses in Hiroshi's movements. Plasma met bamboo as Kaito’s shinai clashed with Hiroshi’s saber.

  "Saito-san, your opponent is me!" Kaito declared, forcing Hiroshi to focus on him.

  Hiroshi’s expression darkened. "I told Kazuo it was a mistake to make someone as young as you a horseman of Kurokaze-kai," Hiroshi growled. "And now, I’ll prove I was right." With that, he prepared to face the prodigy head-on, his anger rising.

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