Bully Lord In the Chunin Exam (NarutoVerse)

Nigō's gaze flicked to Kuro and Xero, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You've done well to make it this far," she said, her tone laced with a mixture of genuine praise and condescension. "But the real test begins now." 

Kuro and Xero didn't flinch. Kuro's sharp eyes met Nigō's, his focus unwavering. "Then stop talking and show me," he said calmly, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. 

Xero's grin widened as he shifted his stance, readying his blade. "I like her confidence," he said with a laugh. "Let's see if it holds up when things get serious." 

On the other hand, amid the destruction, Reika stood her ground, her crimson cloak flowing behind her like a banner of defiance. 

Surrounded by the mechanical monstrosities of the Cerberus Children, she remained unshaken. Dozens of cybernetic wolves prowled in a tightening circle, their glowing red eyes fixed on her with predatory intent. Each movement of the wolves was precise and calculated, their mechanical frames gleaming ominously in the fragmented light. 

Kuro, locked in his own confrontation, glanced her way, his brow furrowing. The sight of her standing alone against the overwhelming horde caused a flicker of doubt to cross his otherwise composed features. "Reika," he called out, his voice carrying over the chaos. "Can you handle this on your own? I guess Xero has to back me up now, with three opponents to deal with." 

Reika turned slightly, her expression calm and self-assured. A small, confident smirk played on her lips. "Don't worry about me," she replied smoothly, her voice steady. "Just focus on your fight. I've got this." 

With a graceful motion, she raised her hand, and her signature red spheres began to materialize. The manifestations of her Power of Destruction hovered around her, shimmering like malevolent stars. Their ominous glow cast an eerie light over the clearing, making the surrounding wolves hesitate for the briefest of moments. 

Without warning, the spheres shot forward, streaks of crimson energy that tore through the air. The lead Cerberus wolf lunged, but one of the spheres collided with it mid-air. The impact was instantaneous—the creature's metallic frame disintegrated into nothingness, leaving no trace of its existence. 

Another sphere spun through the pack, weaving between the wolves with precision before detonating in a violent arc. The blast obliterated several of the creatures in an instant, their remains scattering like ashes on the wind. 

The battlefield lit up with bursts of crimson energy as Reika moved with methodical ease. Her strikes were calculated, each sphere targeting weak points in the wolves' construction. She wielded her power with a balance of elegance and destruction, every motion fluid and deliberate. 

Kuro's concern gave way to curiosity as he observed her from a distance. Reika's power was unlike anything he had seen—devastatingly effective yet unnervingly controlled. Her every move exuded a confidence that bordered on artistry. For a moment, he forgot the danger surrounding them, captivated by the spectacle. 

Meanwhile, from the sidelines, Nigō observed the chaos with an air of detachment. Her emerald-green eyes tracked the movements of her comrades and their opponents, her expression calm and unreadable. 

"Don't worry," she said suddenly, her voice cutting through the battlefield's din like a whisper carried on the wind. Her gaze shifted to Kuro, her tone cool and almost dismissive. "I won't fight. Ichigō and Sangō will still fight. I'm only here to recover their bodies." 

Kuro's brow furrowed at her words, unease creeping into his expression. "Recover their bodies?" he repeated, his tone laced with suspicion. 

Before he could fully process the implication, Nigō moved with inhuman speed, her hand making a subtle gesture. A faint, almost imperceptible hum filled the air as a soft green glow surrounded Ichigō and Sangō. 

Kuro's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the transformation unfold. The battered and scorched forms of Sangō began to shift as Ichigo received light healing. Cracks in their skin vanished, bruises and burns dissolved, and their once-damaged bodies straightened with perfect precision. In a matter of moments, they stood tall and unblemished, their appearances restored to an almost unnerving perfection. 

It was as though the battle's toll had never touched them. 

Xero, standing nearby, narrowed his gaze, his grip tightening on his blade. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, his fiery aura flaring in response. 

Kuro, his voice tinged with urgency, called out to Nigō. "What did you do?" 

Nigō smiled faintly, her expression serene yet cold. "I told you," she said simply. "I came to recover their bodies. You didn't think you could break Fire Fly's creations so easily, did you?" 

As the fully restored Ichigō and Sangō stepped forward, their auras burning brighter than before, Kuro and Xero exchanged a glance. The brief reprieve was over, and the battle was far from finished. 

Nigō then leaned casually against a gnarled tree, her posture relaxed and her half-lidded emerald eyes betraying more boredom than interest in the chaos unfolding around her. The faintest trace of a smirk played on her lips, as if she found the entire situation mildly amusing at best. She was one of Xaker's operatives, that much was clear, but her presence seemed almost incidental, as though she were merely passing through rather than actively participating. 

Reika's crimson cloak billowed as she turned her attention to Nigō. Even amidst the chaos of the battlefield, Reika's sharp instincts could sense something unsettling about the woman's unnatural calmness. It was as if Nigō existed in a bubble, untouched by the fury of the fight raging around her. 

Reika's eyes narrowed, her irritation flaring. She raised her hand, summoning one of her signature red spheres of destructive energy. The sphere pulsed menacingly, a concentrated manifestation of raw power, before streaking through the air toward the nonchalant observer. 

The sphere carved a path of destruction as it tore through the underbrush, obliterating everything in its trajectory. 

But Nigō didn't flinch. She remained still until the last possible moment, then lazily stepped aside, the sphere passing mere inches from her. The force of the sphere's passage sent a rush of wind whipping through her long black hair, but she didn't seem the least bit perturbed.