Nagato Kagutsuchi: The Dawn
Ch. 232 — Round of 8 Big Tiger Tournament Kai

The Tiger Circle Arena is getting more and more visitors. The morning in the Capital of Daifuzen is getting crowded with the holding of the round of 8 of the Tiger Tournament Kai.

“The four of us didn't sleep all night.” Litha covered her mouth with her palm and yawned slowly.

“True, let's see Hisui's eyes. I'm so anxious to see it..” Iris actually noticed Hisui who looked very sleepy. Unknowingly the beautiful girl was watching Hisui from a distance.

“True, his eyes are adorable once..” Litha let out a soft laugh, while Nagato remained seated quietly in the audience waiting for Gyuki's arrival.

“I haven't greeted Sister Serlin. It must have been hard for Serlin's sister who was left by all her classmates..” Litha sat up and looked at Serlin who was sitting on the special spectator bench of the Akaramizarawa Family.

Before long Gyuki's voice made everyone present in the Tiger Circle Arena speechless. The man explained to all the people present at the Tiger Circle Arena if today there would be a round of 8 and a semi-final.

“Today there will be four games in the last eight. To shorten the Tiger Tournament Kai, the organizing committee made the semi-final round held in the afternoon along with the round of 8.” Gyuki explained to everyone with her looks that looked still sleepy.

“So today there will be a semi-final round match in the afternoon. While tomorrow, we will hold the final match.” Gyuki added.

All the spectators whispered to each other and waited for the first match of the last eight of the Tiger Kai Tournament.

“To shorten the time, we call two participants who will compete in the opening match of the last eight round of Tiger Tournament Kai..” Gyuki gazed towards the audience stands, “Mangetsu Tatara of the Mangetsu Clan and Fuyumi Iris of the Fuyumi Clan please come forward!”

The audience rumbled as it was unexpected that the two participants who would compete in the opening match of the last eight of the Tiger Tournament were Mangetsu Tatara and Fuyumi Iris.

“Air and Ice. Reply to the defeat of your manjamu boy, Iris.” Nagato smiled faintly, but this morning somehow his mood was so bad that his smile did not appear on his beautiful face.

“I will win this match in order to fight against you two, Litha, Nagato.” Said Iris, then Iris walked towards the center of the Tiger Circle Arena field.

“I can't fight as usual, Nagato.” Litha leaned her head on Nagato's shoulder and her eyes closed, “I'm tired. This noise makes me feel sad.”.

“Actually I want all this to pass quickly, I hate to see their laughter when my feelings crumble like this..” Nagato responded to Litha's cold words.

“Nagato, are you angry?” litha asked while looking at Nagato. But Nagato did not speak of Litha and only closed his eyes.

“Sonren..” Litha in a slightly spoiled voice whispered softly in Nagato's ear, “My answer..”.

“Hmm... Alright, alright.” Nagato's hand touched Litha's head and looked at her, “Now we are both still in a state of mourning, I may not be competing as usual later because today I want to calm down.”.

Litha tried to smile gently at Nagato, “We have to win the remaining two matches. We both have to give the most beautiful gift to Grandpa.”.

Nagato smiled faintly at Litha who was trying to stay firm, “True, we should give the best gift to Grandpa Hyo. At least if I manage to cure my illness, I want to realize Grandpa Hyo's dream.

Many people who saw Nagato and Litha were like young minors who were already making out, but actually they are both brothers who are encouraging each other to stay strong in living life.

In the middle of the field, Gyuki is waiting for Iris and Tatara to arrive. The man closed his eyes while smiling faintly looking at Hika and Tika.

“I did not expect that Boss Hyogoro and my father had died. Gore and Brusca, this guy is very dangerous.” Gyuki muttered softly and before long Iris arrived in the middle of the field as well as Tatara.

As usual, Gyuki explained the rules of the match to Iris and Tatara first. The rules still remain the same as the round of 32.

“Do you remember the rules?” Gyuki saw Iris and Tatara nod slowly, “Then take some distance and wait for the match from me.”.

Iris and Tatara jumped back, while Gyuki signaled the two participants.

“The opening game of the round of 8 of the Tiger Tournament Kai between Fuyumi Iris against Mangetsu Tatara begins!” Gyuki started the match.

Iris took a deep breath and channeled it all over her body, “What can I do for the two of them? I don't want to see Dragon and Litha let out tears of sadness again.”.

Unknowingly Iris still remembered the times when the four of them had not slept all night and said promises to each other. In that calmness, the sword slash from Tatara made Iris open her eyes and stare intently at the young man who was her opponent.

Iris opened her palm as Tatara got closer to her, “Ice Sword..” The clash of sword slashes echoed as Iris's sword and Tatara's sword met touching each other.

The splash of water that came out from Tatara's sword slash froze because of Iris. The power Iris had made the beautiful girl unconscious if when she was sad or too happy, then the cold coming out of her body was much bigger and cooler than usual.

Even Tatara was surprised to see his water-covered slash was unbearable towards Iris. All his attacks froze, though Tatara had tried many times trying to corner Iris.

“Air Sword Technique : Waterfall Gripping...”

The shrill sound of a sword clash echoed in the middle of the field of the Tiger Circle Arena, Iris's ice sword was completely destroyed due to Tatara's sword slash.

“Ice Site..”

Iris's eyes were quite observant as she avoided Tatara's sword slash right after her ice sword shattered. The cold palm of his hand hit Tatara's stomach and made the young man take three steps back.

“What is this?” Tatara scrunched his forehead as he saw his stomach freeze. Then Tatara looked at Iris who had re-created dozens of ice swords to attack Tatara.

“Water Sword Technique: Rain Dampens Soul Tranquility!” Tatara's sword slash swing was quick and contained. Iris's dozens of ice swords were shattered in a single slash.

The exchange of attacks occurred as Iris approached Tatara and played her sword with a gurgle.

“Dance Snow Fairy!”

Iris stared fiercely at Tatara who could resist the slash of her sword, this time she tried to attack Tatara from various directions to freeze the young man.

Iris whirling her body created a whirlpool of snow that was blown away by the strong wind from her swordplay, Tatara also did the same with her.

The clash of both the snow vortex and the whirlpool made Iris find a slight gap to overwhelm Tatara.

Iris released a huge amount of white-colored aura of her body, then she froze the two snow vortexes and whirlpools that collided with each other.

“Trusting, she froze every attack of mine..” Tatara smiled and shook his head, before long he saw Iris directing the chunks of two vortexes of snow and frozen water at him.

“Klan Fuyumi once sent her representative, they were really terrible. Real young talent..” Tatara stared at the two chunks of the frozen vortex and cut them into four pieces.

The audience was astonished to see the fight between Iris and Tatara unfolding fiercely in the middle of the field of the Tiger Circle Arena.

Tatara adjusted her breathing and looked at Iris who was flicking her finger, Tatara's countenance worsened from feeling Iris was planning something.

The fragments of ice that hit his entire body froze, it turned out that Iris had manipulated his body aura to target moments like this.

“Ice Clutches..” Iris blushed her face when muttering softly, “The name of this technique is very bad, I want to follow Hisui but instead like this.”.

Iris clucked in her own annoyance, then her palms clasped. Tatara's body almost froze completely except for the head.

Iris is not a girl who wants to take a dizzy look at the resistance of her enemy, when seeing Tatara still showing an expression of not giving up, Iris used her inner power to form hundreds of needles made of ice.

The needles he pointed all over Tatara's frozen body, even Iris stopped him from attacking his face and neck.

Gyuki smiled faintly, “Very similar to Princess Shirayuki.”.

Iris stared intently at Tatara who was still not giving up, so Iris released a gripping chill at Tatara even bigger.

Tatara was deathly pale in face as his body temperature dropped drastically. Before long Gyuki signaled Iris to stop.

Iris was also a little emotional and did not fight quietly as usual.

“I overdo it,” said Iris while melting Tatara's frozen body.

Then Iris returned to the audience, while Gyuki announced Iris as the winner.

“Winner Fuyumi Iris!” Everyone gave a standing ovation to Iris.

“It looks like I have to train harder in order to beat a person with ice ability like Fuyumi Iris.” Tatara had mature thoughts, his defeat he considered a lesson. With a calm pace he returned to the spectator bench occupied by the Mangetsu Clan.

Gyuki looked at Iris who was still walking, then she called out the next two participants' names, “Fuyumi Nagato and Himuro Kirigiri. Two names I'm calling please come forward!”

All the spectators again shouted hysterically as the next fight brought Himuro against Nagato.

On the bleachers Nagato stood up and squeezed Litha's nose gently, “I first, Litha..”.

Litha smiled faintly and looked at Nagato's face, “Spirited Brother Soren, I mean Nagato.”.

“Entah why I like the call of Brother Soren compared to Nagato.” While walking to the middle of the field, Nagato felt happy because Litha made him have the desire to live longer.

“Your wishes are granted, Naga.” Iris greeted Nagato who was passing by her.

“Yes, somehow today I am in a very good condition to show my strength..” Nagato glanced at Iris and walked past the beautiful girl.

“Since I knew Dragon and Litha, from that moment on I dared to express my feelings... I hope we stay together until adulthood and beyond.” Iris sat down meaningfully and sat beside Litha.

Gyuki raised her eyebrows looking at Nagato, “Gore and Brusca. Those were the two names that killed my father..”.

Nagato closed his eyes, “Thank you... I will avenge your father's death, Uncle Gyuki.”.

Gyuki only realizes that Nagato is Grandpa Hyogoro's student, and that Nagato is Pandu's son, but Gyuki still wants to watch over Nagato first and protect him from a distance.

“Do you two remember the rules?” Gyuki asked Nagato and Himuro.

“Yes, I still remember it,” Nagato replied as he looked at Himuro who had just come to the center of the Tiger Circle Arena field.

“I'll kill you, Fuyumi Nagato fafafa.” For the first time Gyuki and Nagato heard Himuro's voice sounding like people were laughing.

Nagato instead did not understand Himuro's words and focused on waiting for Gyuki's cue.

“Good the second match of the last 8 of the Tiger Tournament Kai between Fuyumi Nagato against Himuro Kirigiri begins!” Gyuki immediately jumped backwards but her body stopped in the air for one second.

“This?” Gyuki's eyes immediately looked at Nagato who was using Tenkai on Himuro.

“Heavenly Rainbow Breathing : Red Form!”

Nagato processed his breathing and quickly swung his sword at Himuro.

“Organic Trajectory!” The clash of Nagato's sword and Himuro's Fire Axe left the audience in awe.

Nagato's speed was difficult to follow even Himuro who usually remained relaxed in his position instantly wavered.

Himuro smiled grinning, “This is the opponent I have later!”

Nagato smiled faintly and swung his sword from various directions attacking Himuro.

Nagato and Himuro exchanged attacks in the middle of the field of the Tiger Circle Arena. Himuro's Fire Axe could be held captive by Nagato well, even all those who saw the fight could only remain calm and enjoy the game.

Himuro unleashed the power of the Artificial Holy Water: Fire Element Type. In an instant the middle of the field was filled with blazing flames.

Nagato released his golden-coloured body aura and manipulated the flames around him into flames that did not touch him.

“So this is his strength?” Nagato smiled faintly and again attacked Himuro with a deep slash of his sword.

Himuro fended off Nagato's sword slash with the Fire Axe in his hand, but Nagato's slash swing was so powerful that his body retreated backwards.

“Link Fire!”

“Broot Breaker!”

Nagato and Himuro used their weapon techniques almost simultaneously, this time the middle of the Tiger Circle Arena field was filled with dust due to the collision of the two techniques belonging to Nagato and Himuro.

The young swordsman who saw Nagato was able to withstand attack after attack from Himuro just gulped in disbelief.

“Cih, what is this feeling? I feel so angry!” Nagato gnashed his teeth and released a massive amount of his body aura.

The dust disappeared and was seen in the middle of the field Nagato was standing with an emotional face staring at Himuro.

“Hampa Space!” Only Litha knew Nagato was currently in a bad mood.

Himuro first broke out in cold sweat while competing in the Tournament of the Kai Tigers match. Nagato's aura was gripping, though white and golden, but there was one aura that made him not stop trembling in fear.

Himuro grew even more panicked when he did not find Nagato anywhere, all the spectators rumbled when they saw the speed of Nagato's footsteps who had now been beside Himuro.

“Kau—” Nagato smacked Himuro in the face before the young man finished his words, then Nagato played his sword intending to finish Himuro off.

Shirayuki and Emi who were sitting on the bleachers were shocked to see Nagato's change. According to him Nagato was currently just a young man who wanted to vent his frustration and anger at something. And unfortunately that something was Himuro who was now his opponent.

The slash-by-slash that Nagato launched hit Himuro's chest. Now Gyuki saw the two participants who competed both have a great appetite for killing.

Nagato clenched his teeth and jumped backwards as Himuro's mouth let out dozens of fireballs. Himuro's fingers also let out fireballs.

“Heavenly Rainbow Breathing : Tilapia Shape!”

Nagato unknowingly cultivated rough breathing, the exchange of attacks this time won by Himuro who managed to land his axe slash on Nagato.

Nagato's body was thrown far back, Nagato's eyes closed in light of his sadness. His current emotions were unstable, he needed a person who understood him like Litha, but he also needed an outlet at the same time.

“Sial!” Nagato shouted and released his body aura along with his inner power, “Sirih!”

Everyone else again clucked in awe when Nagato used his sword to become his footrest to stand up. His right foot rested on his sword that was stuck on the ground.

Himuro ran up to him with the attack of dozens of axe slashes that created a bird-shaped flame.

“Hampa Space!” Nagato smiled cynically and moved quickly to slash his sword at Himuro's chest.

“Sweeping Breathing : Coarse Shape!” Nagato's sword smouldering was coated in flames, Nagato's eyes staring intently at Himuro, “Fire of the Sun!”

Himuro tightened his teeth to see the huge fire spin forming a small sun.

Nagato slashed Himuro's chest without the slightest hesitation and kicked the young man's waist to the side.

“Argh!” The audience was surprised to see Himuro groaning in pain in the middle of the Tiger Circle Arena field, while Nagato was seen torturing Himuro with his sword slash that Himuro was unable to withstand.

“Enough!” Gyuki raised her hand and pointed at Nagato as the winner, but Himuro was unable to accept it.

“This is the opponent I'm waiting for fafafa!” Himuro unleashed his entire body aura and dashed swiftly towards Nagato, “Bar Bullet!”

“Cih, don't blame me..” Nagato fended off the swing of Himuro's axe and pierced Himuro's palm with his sword.

Nagato's foot stomped on Himuro's chest and pressed him firmly. It was seen Nagato gritting his teeth and his face was filled with anger.

Gyuki held Nagato's shoulder, “Enough! Nagato!” But Nagato's hand brushed off Gyuki's hand and drew his sword quickly.

Himuro groaned in pain and rolled on the ground, “Fuyumi Nagato! Kill me!”

“Hah?” The walking Nagato now stopped, “Are you the same as Kakugo? Come with me if you're afraid of the person who tortured you. I'll kill him for you.”.

Gyuki widened her eyes, now she understood what Grandpa Hyogoro meant about the young man who had become his disciple.

“Nagato is a white paper that has been stained with red streaks. The pain and suffering made it this way.” Gyuki bathed and clenched her hands, “I hope she is not the same as the older sister of the Grand Master Sura who went from the Ezzo Continent and spread terror of fear on the world.”.

Gyuki ended the match and felt uneasy because lately he often dreamed when he saw his friends from the Kagutsuchi Clan burned to death by being devoured by fire alive and because he inhaled smoke and was killed by fire mass with terrible one-sided slaughter.

“Winner Fuyumi Nagato!” Gyuki raised her hand and saw Nagato telling Himuro to follow her.

Himuro looked terrified to look at Satha and the Ten Elders Kai. Even some warriors from the western stronghold were approaching Nagato yet they all stopped moving when they saw the gripping aura from Nagato's body.

“I want to dig up information from you, so don't get me wrong..” Nagato sat on the bleachers and looked at Himuro who was sitting beside him, “I have a problem with the Demon Worship Sect, if people torture you there is a relationship with the group I am after, then that person should I kill!”

Litha, Iris, and Hanabi heard Nagato speaking to Himuro. They all don't think Nagato can make Himuro the feared young swordsman a hostage rather than his new friend.

“I can't talk about this fafafa..” Nagato caught a glimpse of Himuro's tongue which was the same as Kakugo's.

“Nagato!” Iris looked at Nagato who seemed to want to vent her frustration, sadness and anger on Himuro, “If you want to vent your pain, vent it on me. I will challenge you in the final round!”

Litha who usually looks unenthusiastic and ambition to be champion is now staring at Iris fiercely, “Iris, I will fight Nagato!”

“I will fight Nagato! Not you two!” Iris and Litha turned their heads towards Hanabi who was staring at Nagato fiercely.

“Himuro, hit me..” Nagato let out a long sigh and tried to be patient while calming down his anger-controlled self.

“Hah?” Himuro was confused and he wanted to cry but he instead laughed, “Fafafafa!”

Nagato who heard that closed his eyes, his heart felt the sadness that Himuro felt, “Himuro, you seem to have suffered for a long time. I was intending to kill you because I felt that someone had told you to hurt me, but my guess was correct, you are just like Kakugo who became a victim of the Demon Worshiping Sect.”.

“Fafa! Damn right! Fafafa!” Hearing Himuro's strange-sounding laughter, Litha and the others frowned in confusion.

“But I think there's something Himuro is hiding? I also did not see his friend named Ashiya... Why did I follow her words?” Nagato thoughtfully recalled Ashiya's words pleading with Nagato to defeat and save Himuro.