"Aoki vs. Sanemi Shinazugawa"
Green wind blades swirled around Sanemi Shinazugawa's green Nichirin Sword as he charged at Aoki with incredible speed.
"Susanoo!"
Aoki activated Susanoo, hoping to deflect the attack. To his surprise, the first form of Susanoo shattered into pieces within seconds under Sanemi Shinazugawa's wind blades.
With the Susanoo destroyed and little room to maneuver, Aoki had no choice but to counter the attack head-on.
"Breath of Devouring, Third Style: Demon's Radiance!"
Aoki swung his sword, a long, slender black shadow with two white eyes forming on the blade's tip. A deafening clash echoed.
This time, Aoki wasn't merely knocked to one knee; a powerful shockwave sent him flying. He spun several times in the air before regaining his balance.
Without hesitation, Aoki summoned Susanoo again, but this time, it was the second form—a humanoid figure, larger and radiating a purple aura.
"Susanoo, Second Form!"
The second form offered significantly greater defense than the first. However, Aoki remained cautious. Sanemi Shinazugawa had shattered the first form with ease; the second might not fare much better.
"Only three rounds, and the kid's already at a disadvantage," Obanai Iguro commented from the sidelines.
"It's impressive enough. Most wouldn't even withstand one of Sanemi's attacks," Rengoku Kyōjurō boomed.
"Honestly, I'm curious about that purple armor. It's not from a breathing style, is it?" Shinobu Kocho asked with a smile.
Sanemi Shinazugawa launched seven more attacks, each powerful enough to severely injure Aoki, yet he persisted.
On the eighth round, Aoki was forced to meet the attack head-on. His Nichirin Sword shattered under Sanemi Shinazugawa's relentless assault.
With his sword broken, Aoki's combat power plummeted. His second-form Susanoo was also destroyed in the ninth round, leaving him defenseless.
Aoki was injured, his clothes torn, his body trembling from the repeated blows. He glared at Sanemi Shinazugawa, one round remaining. If he survived, he would become a Hashira, and nothing could stop him.
He switched the broken sword to his left hand, preparing for the final attack.
"Last strike. After this, go back and train some more," Sanemi Shinazugawa sneered, launching his final attack.
"Wind Breathing, Eighth Style: Primary Gale Slash!"
Violent gusts of wind surrounded him as he charged towards Aoki.
Aoki, facing a potentially lethal attack, reached into his haori pocket, retrieving an iron kunai. He threw it with all his might at Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Sanemi Shinazugawa easily dodged the kunai, sneering, "That's the best you can do?"
As he spoke, he was upon Aoki, his sword inches from his neck. He intended to stop short of killing Aoki; any collision would be Aoki's fault.
Just as he was about to stop, Aoki vanished.
To Sanemi Shinazugawa's shock, Aoki reappeared behind him, holding the iron kunai.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
The kunai was marked with a strange symbol. Aoki and Urokodaki Sakonji had crafted these special kunai the previous night. The symbols allowed for instantaneous movement to the kunai's location.
Aoki had gambled that Sanemi Shinazugawa would dodge instead of destroying the kunai. If Sanemi Shinazugawa had destroyed it, Aoki would have lost. But dodging gave Aoki the chance to teleport behind him.
"Breath of Devouring, Fifth Style: Shura's Bloody Blade!"
Blood-red energy surrounded Aoki's broken sword. He slashed Sanemi Shinazugawa's back, inflicting a deep wound, but he held back, stopping short of killing him.
Sanemi Shinazugawa cried out in pain, falling heavily to the ground.
The eight Hashira, watching from afar, were stunned. The speed of Aoki's maneuver was too fast for them to comprehend.
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