Chapter 23.2- One Thousand Hands

He skated across the ground, moving backwards like h as moving on ice and not water and allowing the fire balls to keep coming after him. She allowed her attack lead him right into Izuku’s waiting grasp, and her Cousin took no time in striking with all the force of an enraged god. Fire cloaking his fists, he punched right at Shori’s head from behind on his way out of a body flicker. Shori dodged the attack like he had seen it coming from miles away which was probably the case, but that was just the beginning of the exchange. Fire around his fists, Izuku did not use the traditional Interceptor fist her Clan had taught them both from a young age. Instead, he used the style some genin had brought over from some family in Tsuchi no Kuni. Strong fist.

The first punch almost made his fist blur to her vision, and yet Shori leaned out of the way almost casually. The next came at a similar pace and he did the same, trying to counterattack with a tap aimed at Izuku’s head. Her cousin pressed his attack, moving forwards and forcing Shori’s attack to land somewhere other than where he had aimed it. Risky. Very risky, she tsked. It was the kind of gamble he could only try in a spar. Shori would have pulled out the chakra from the attack on fear of causing any permanent or truly severe damage.

Izuku’s knee rose for Shori’s chin but hit naught but air. Shori twirled out of the engagement, and then back in like he was some sort of dancer. He slapped Izuku’s fist out of the way with a hand glowing blue with chakra and then retaliated with a slap across Izuku’s face that made her cough out loud. It took effort to prevent the cough from developing into laughter. The distraction had worn on her and her trump card was moving in before she was ready.

With a scowl, she sent the fireballs right at the two of them. Izuku could handle himself, she rationalised. Of course, it seems her cousin had other plans. He saw her attack coming, she knew he did. But he was not moving. He kept pressing, punch after punch leaning into kick after kick. Every single one was executed quickly, efficiently and in succession. He was on his best form, but why was this singleminded focus showing as he was about to get roasted. Shori dodged, blocked, or waved aside each attack in turn while frowning at his opponent. It was like he was waiting for him to disengage and move on with the next phase of the battle, but he was doing the very opposite.

Izuku’s right hook clashed against Shori’s raised forearm but failed to gain any headway, and in the struggle, Shori somehow found the opportunity to step right on Izuku’s foot. The fireballs were right on them. In one smooth movement, while Izuku flinched backwards from the pain, Shori jumped into the air and sent a powerful dropkick right into Izuku’s crossed arms that sent her cousin flying, and in a blur of wind, Shori went sailing in the other direction.

She smiled at the impressive maneovre even as her blood screamed at her to get right back in the thick of things. Shori rose from where he had landed in the forest, and began to walk right back in their direction. She smiled and brought her gunbai to bear, while waiting for Izuku to stand. It took him a second longer than she expected for him to do so, but when he did, he was glaring right in Shori’s direction. Good. His blood was up as well.

She ran forward with a war cry on her lips but was forced to stop at Shori’s raised hands.

“What? Tired, pretty boy” She mocked, even knowing that he had spent more chakra than both she and Izuku combined and still had more in the tank than the both of them.

“I just don’t see the need in continuing when we’ve achieved our goal” He said, while tapping his face.

What? Oh. She turned to Izuku, taking a look at his eyes. Three tomoe in each one. Fully matured Sharingan, just like hers.

He looked at her, doubtful, but she nodded at him and a smile bloomed on his face.

“Hold on, let me give you a hand” Shori said, and then formed a handseal. Water rose from the ground in front of them until it took the shape of a discus. He switched seals and then to her surprise weaved three more seals. There was visible exertion on his face for a moment or two, and when she made to speak she found her words knocked out of her as the water in front of her froze at once.

“Ice?” She asked him suspiciously, but he merely smiled and pointed at Izuku who was ignoring the impossible being done in front of him in favour of staring right at his news eyes in his reflection.

A/N; Progress