"Someone's there?"
The Third Hoshikage froze for a moment, and the surrounding ANBU immediately grew alert, though most of their attention was still fixed on Natsuhi. After all, it was entirely possible she was bluffing to avoid handing over the meteorite.
"Everyone, be on guard for external enemies!" the Third Hoshikage ordered without hesitation.
At once, the ANBU began scanning their surroundings.
"Oh? Not bad sensing," a voice rang out lazily.
Kurogane Ren appeared atop a large tree, sitting casually on a branch as he looked down at them, his gaze lingering especially on the meteorite in Natsuhi's hand.
"I was planning to wait until you handed it over to that old man before making a move. Looks like that plan's fallen through."
"Who are you? Are you here for the star as well?!" Natsuhi asked warily.
"Me? You can call me a ninja who enjoys collecting strange things." Kurogane Ren sighed dramatically, slipping into a completely different persona. "I got interrupted in the Land of Rain earlier. You're not planning to stop me too, are you?"
He stared at Natsuhi, maintaining that odd, almost whimsical demeanor.
"The star is not something I can give you," Natsuhi said firmly.
"Why not? That meteorite is harmful, isn't it? Training with it leaves lasting damage. Your husband, for example… his body probably won't last more than a year or two."
Natsuhi's eyes widened instantly, and she couldn't help but glance at her husband.
He froze for a moment as well. He had always felt something was wrong with his body, but he hadn't expected his remaining lifespan to be so short.
Seeing her gaze, he spoke calmly, "Natsuhi, we already knew this, didn't we? That's exactly why we stole the star—to make sure the next generation doesn't suffer the same fate."
Natsuhi said nothing, but sorrow flickered in her eyes.
Neither of them doubted Kurogane Ren's words. After all, the side effects of the star were well known.
The Third Hoshikage sighed quietly as well. If Natsuhi had discovered it, there was no way he hadn't noticed the flaw.
"So, since you've already decided not to use it, why not give it to me?" Kurogane Ren asked again.
"You know its dangers, so why do you still want it?" Natsuhi asked, her voice steady now.
"Didn't I say? I collect unusual things. Even if I can't use it, something that can enhance chakra training is definitely a rare treasure."
After a brief silence, Natsuhi replied calmly, "I'm sorry. I can't give it to you."
"Oh? Then I guess negotiations have failed."
Kurogane Ren spoke lightly as a kunai appeared in his hand.
Natsuhi's expression sharpened. Without hesitation, she formed hand seals, and several tail-like streams of solidified chakra burst out from her back.
Peacock Mystical Method!
Kurogane Ren felt the presence of that tangible chakra and couldn't help but be impressed.
Solidifying chakra wasn't something easily achieved. Normally, it required an enormous amount of chakra, like when Naruto lost control and manifested tailed beast chakra.
Natsuhi clearly didn't possess that level of chakra, yet she could still materialize it. That alone proved the meteorite's influence.
Even as he marveled at it, Kurogane Ren didn't pause. His hands formed seals rapidly.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Moisture gathered from the surrounding trees, coalescing into a massive dragon of water that surged toward Natsuhi and the others.
"Peacock Mystical Method: Bear!"
Sensing the power of the incoming attack, Natsuhi's expression turned serious. The chakra behind her shifted instantly, forming a massive bear that lunged at the water dragon.
Boom!!
Mist exploded outward as the two attacks collided. The giant bear halted mid-charge, seemingly evenly matched.
But the Bear didn't dissipate. Under Natsuhi's control, it surged forward again, roaring as it charged toward Kurogane Ren, intent on tearing him apart.
"Not bad at all," Kurogane Ren remarked. With his increased chakra reserves, his elemental techniques had grown significantly stronger. The fact that it had been neutralized so cleanly spoke volumes about the Peacock Mystical Method.
As the chakra bear closed in, a sphere of chakra formed in his palm.
"Rasengan!"
In an instant, the Rasengan collided with the chakra bear.
A blinding flash erupted at the point of impact, forcing nearly everyone present to squint.
"Did it work?" the ANBU wondered.
"As expected of Lady Natsuhi!"
They couldn't help but admire her. The Peacock Mystical Method was the most powerful technique in their village.
But Natsuhi paid them no attention. A sense of unease gripped her heart. There was no way that opponent would be defeated so easily.
A faint purple hue appeared in her eyes as she infused them with chakra from the star, allowing her to perceive chakra flow.
Then she froze.
Chakra… was everywhere beneath their feet.
"Run!" she shouted, abandoning all restraint.
"Oh? So you noticed. But it's too late."
In the next moment, multiple figures burst out from underground. They looked identical to Kurogane Ren, each holding a kunai pressed against the throats of everyone present—except for Natsuhi and her husband.
Seeing this, Natsuhi clenched her teeth and glared at him. "You planned this from the start?!"
"Of course. If you hadn't sensed me earlier, this would've been the opening move," Kurogane Ren replied casually, brushing dust off his clothes. The Peacock Mystical Method was indeed powerful, trading mobility for destructive force.
Hearing his words, Natsuhi fell silent.
"So," Kurogane Ren said, now seated at the top of a branch, looking down at her, "are you willing to hand over the meteorite now?"
Natsuhi looked at the ANBU, the Third Hoshikage, and then at her husband. After exchanging a glance with him, she let out a long sigh.
There was no other choice. Star Village already had very few people due to the meteorite's side effects. If these ANBU died here, the village would be reduced to almost nothing.
They simply couldn't afford such losses. And as Kurogane Ren had said, the star was already meant to be sealed away. Giving it to him would at least sever Star Village's lingering attachment to it.
As for why she hadn't handed it over from the start?
That was obvious. No one would casually give away a treasure to a stranger, even if they no longer intended to use it.
Taking everything into account, Natsuhi could only nod.
"I agree."