"Anyone else feeling brave? Come on. Saves me the time."
Ryuuto clapped the dust off his hands, eyes sweeping over the gathered fighters. The killing intent rolling off him made the entire training hall recoil like a tide pulling back from shore. Shock flickered across their faces. No one stepped forward.
Then—
Bang.
A single bullet sliced through the air toward his forehead, tracing a sharp line of light that made the entire crowd freeze in anticipation.
Ryuuto didn't even blink.
Two fingers rose.
Clink.
He caught the bullet like it was a falling pebble. A squeeze. The metal crumpled flat and dropped to the floor.
Gasps erupted around him.
Before the next shot could fire, dozens of Shadow Clones burst into existence, rushing toward the rooftop where a presence was hiding.
"Ryuuto… you actually came."
A figure vaulted into view, twin pistols already raised. "But today, this gate will be your grave."
Deadshot opened fire in a sweeping arc. Every bullet curved like it had eyes, instantly shredding most Shadow Clones.
The crowd roared, excitement flooding in where fear had been moments ago.
"Deadshot's here! That brat's finished!"
"Turn his skull into a sieve!"
Ryuuto cracked a grin. "Nice aim. Must've spent a lot of lonely nights practicing, huh? Makes sense why you're so… precise."
His eyes sharpened.
"But if you think that's enough to take me down—keep dreaming."
Wind Release: Air Burst!
Compressed chakra detonated outward. The shockwaves screamed across the training hall, forcing everyone to clamp their hands over their ears as pillars and stone statues shattered into dust.
Deadshot rolled and dove, slamming a grenade into his launcher.
"This one won't miss!"
Ryuuto didn't flinch.
"Cute. Let me show you what getting shot really feels like."
Sand Shield.
Sand erupted upward, swallowing the incoming bullets… then wrapped around the grenade midair, catching it like a hungry serpent. With a twist of Ryuuto's hand, it spun and leveled straight back at Deadshot.
"What—?!"
He tried to dodge, but the explosion swallowed him whole. Fire and smoke blasted a crater into the ground.
Yet Deadshot strode out of the flames, armor glowing with heat but completely intact.
"Nice outfit," Ryuuto said. "Bet it cost more than your personality."
"Shut up… and take this."
Deadshot reloaded with frightening speed. His guns ignited in a storm of muzzle flashes, bullets curving in impossible arcs toward Ryuuto's vital points.
But every shot was devoured by sand.
Deadshot's eye twitched behind his mask. The man who never missed was finally losing his composure.
"Yeah," Ryuuto said. "My turn. Let's see how long that fancy armor lasts."
Deadshot tried to leap back—too late. Sand surged upward, binding him from the torso down and locking his limbs tight. Metal groaned under the crushing pressure as the sand wrapped tighter and tighter.
"Now what?" Ryuuto asked. "Want to admit defeat? Or should I smack you in front of everyone? Your choice."
"Bastard!" Deadshot's face flushed red with fury as he thrashed, teeth bared. "I'm not done! I'll tear you apart!"
He lunged like a rabid beast—only for the sand to crank down harder.
Sand Coffin.
The pressure forced him to his knees. Air wheezed out of him in harsh blasts.
Still, Deadshot glared up at Ryuuto, pure hatred burning behind his visor.
"If you're gonna kill me, then do it! Otherwise, I'll never stop coming for you! I'll never submit!"