Chapter 95:- Second confrontation

Kenshin's expression remained serious as he recounted their ordeal. "Kaede was the one who opened the portal that brought Kira and me here from the Shikkotsu Forest. She attacked us the night before.

We tried everything, but she was… unkillable. She gouged out Kira's right eye just to taunt me. And when we were both too injured to continue, she simply left, saying she'd return once you came for us."

Aruna listened in silence, her gaze steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of fear. Kenshin hesitated, then added, "I happened to have a Sharingan eye—a special one from a powerful Uchiha—that I gave to Kira as a replacement."

Kira stepped forward, her expression tense. "Mother… how did you find us here? And who is Kaede really?"

Aruna turned to her daughter, and her expression softened. "I found you through your chakra signature, Kira. It's similar to mine… you're my daughter, after all." She then looked away, a deep sadness filling her eyes. "As for Kaede… she's my aunt."

Aruna took a steadying breath. "Long ago, the cat tribe was not the only sage race in the Shikkotsu Forest. The sage snakes once lived here in harmony with us. In my grandfather's time—the time of Nekomata Yasora—Kaede, his elder daughter, came into conflict with an elder snake, which ended in the snake's death.

Unlike most of our tribe, Kaede enjoyed fighting… killing, even. But instead of condemning her, Yasora commended her strength. This led to a war between the snakes and the cats, one that we nearly lost."

Kira's eyes widened as Aruna continued, her voice growing darker. "It was Kaede who singlehandedly decimated thousands of snakes with her unique abilities—a result of genetic mutation.

Her extreme regeneration and invisible wind chakra tendrils made her impossible to defeat. After nearly a century of conflict, the White Snake Sage surrendered, and the snakes left the forest. But Kaede's bloodlust only grew. She began to attack our own tribe members, her fights often ending in death."

"Finally, my grandfather saw no choice. He created this very pocket dimension, filling it with a small part of the Shikkotsu Forest so Kaede wouldn't starve. Then, he banished her here, and the knowledge of this place was hidden from future generations. After that, the title of Nekomata was given to your father, at the request of our mother."

Aruna glanced at them both, her urgency clear. "I found out about this place only through my grandfather's secret records. Time flows differently here, and barely an hour had gone by in our world after you two disappeared, and I'm assuming that multiple days have gone by her. Kaede must've experienced thousands of years here. We need to leave, now."

Without a second thought, Aruna turned and opened a portal. But just as they stepped toward it, a chilling presence filled the cave. Kaede emerged from the shadows, her eyes gleaming with malice. With a casual wave of her hand, Aruna's portal vanished.

"Leaving so soon, Aruna?" Kaede purred, her voice dripping with menace. "After being stuck here for millennia, I finally get to meet my dear niece, and she won't even say hello? That hurts my feelings."

Aruna's face went pale, but she stood her ground, her jaw clenched as Kaede continued.

"Oh, and she's quite the warrior, your daughter." Kaede's tone was mocking, her eyes flashing with cruel amusement.

"Fought so bravely… and lost so miserably. Even let me relieve her of her right eye. And she brought along some vermin," Kaede sneered, her gaze shifting to Kenshin. "He put up a better fight than her, I'll give him that. Maybe if he lives a century more, he might actually pose a threat to me."

Kaede's gaze flicked to Kira's face, noticing her new eye—a dark, unmistakable Uchiha eye. Her lips curled into a mocking grin.

"Resourceful, aren't you?" she said, giving Kenshin an appraising look. "You just happened to have a spare eye for her. How… convenient. Perhaps it was a good thing that I relieved that kitten of her useless eye?"

Aruna's expression hardened, her fear barely concealing her rage. In one swift, determined step forward, she unleashed a powerful burst of concussive nature energy toward Kaede. The sheer force tore through Kaede's upper body, ripping flesh from bone until only her heart, lungs, and ribcage remained exposed.

Kaede was thrown onto her back, a low, guttural moan of pain escaping her as her body slowly began to regenerate.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed as he observed her recovery. The regeneration was still astonishingly fast but noticeably slower than what he and Kira had witnessed last night.

He realized with a jolt—it was the nature energy. Aruna's attack had managed to wound Kaede more deeply, even eliciting pain from her, a rare reaction for the unkillable entity.

Kaede slowly rose, her body knitting itself back together. To everyone's horror, a faint blush crept across her cheeks, and her lips curled into a small, almost euphoric smile. This… pain—it was thrilling.

"Well now," she breathed, her voice thick with something dark and unsettling. "It's been so long since I felt anything quite like that." Her eyes shone, an almost sickly enjoyment in them.

Kenshin shuddered, feeling an intense unease wash over him. Despite the flush in Kaede's cheeks giving her a certain allure, he found himself disturbed, disgusted even, at his own reaction to it. He steeled himself, averting his gaze from her unsettling expression.

Kaede's voice purred through the silence. "More, Aruna. Show me more."

Kaede's eyes glinted as her wind chakra tendrils lashed out, swift and invisible. The group scattered, narrowly dodging the deadly strikes.

Kenshin took a step back, summoning chakra to activate his wind chakra mode. "Aruna-sama," he called, "I need a minute. Buy me some time!"

Aruna's gaze flicked to him, tense but resolute. "I can't afford to use too much nature energy, Kenshin! This place has none to draw from, and I need enough to open the portal home."

"So you're useless here?" Kenshin frowned, while still concentrating his wind chakra.

"Of course not! I'm still the Nekomata. I'll buy you time, but whatever you're planning on better be worth it." Aruna said, her tone resolute, as she stepped into the battle, dropping her robe.

Kira stepped forward, her Sharingan blazing to life. Though unaware of her Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities, she could still see faint outlines of Kaede's wind chakra tendrils with her enhanced vision. She moved in, weaving between the strikes as she met Kaede's gaze defiantly, the sharingan's precognition coming in handy.

Kaede raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk spreading across her face. "So, the little kitten has new claws," she murmured.

Kira darted to the side, narrowly avoiding another swipe, then lunged forward, drawing Kaede's attention as Aruna followed up with her own attack.

She inhaled deeply, gathering fire chakra in her chest. Exhaling sharply, she released a series of fireballs, each bursting toward Kaede in rapid succession.

"Thank you for the inspiration, Kenshin." Aruna muttered under her breath, aiming to keep Kaede off balance.

Kaede didn't even bother dodging, instead blowing away the fireballs with her tendrils. She turned her attention back to Aruna, her smirk fading slightly as her irritation flared.

Meanwhile, Sora attempted to join the fray, charging in with a fierce determination. But Kaede, noticing her approach, struck with precision. One of her tendrils coiled around Sora, lifting her off the ground.

"Your mother and sister are putting up a half-decent fight," Kaede sneered, grabbing Sora's throat and tightening her grip as Sora struggled to breathe.

"But you? You're in way over your head, little kitten. Why don't you sit this one out? Or perhaps I could do to you, what I did to your sister last night?" Kaede reached out a claw, attempting to gouge out Sora's eye.

Just then, two golden adamantine sealing chains shot forward from behind Kaede, one slicing cleanly through her arm that held Sora, and the other catching Sora mid-air, pulling her swiftly to Kenshin's side. Kaede's severed arm dropped to the ground, twitching slightly before starting to regenerate.

Kenshin steadied Sora beside him, meeting her shocked gaze. "Stay back," he said firmly. "When it's time for your mother to open the portal, she'll need help. Leave the fighting to us."

Sora nodded reluctantly, glancing worriedly at her mother and sister before stepping back. Kenshin turned his attention back to Kaede, his wind chakra mode now almost fully activated, his aura humming with power.

Aruna darted back in, claws bared, and went straight for Kaede, moving with feral grace. Each strike was quick and precise, driving Kaede back as she blocked and dodged with narrowed eyes.

Aruna's attacks kept her on the defensive, claw swipes backed by calculated footwork and razor-sharp reflexes. For a moment, Kaede seemed caught off guard, her smug smirk replaced by a faint snarl as she was forced to backpedal.

But Kaede recovered quickly. Seizing a moment when Aruna's guard dropped, she grabbed a fistful of Aruna's hair, yanking her forward.

"You disappoint me, Nekomata," she hissed, her voice dripping with scorn. With a quick motion, Kaede spit on Aruna's face, her expression twisted in disgust.

"Unhand her!" Kira roared, jumping at Kaede, only to swatted away by Kaede's tail.

"Fireballs? Stooping to human tactics now, are we? I might have had some respect if you'd used a decent technique—but that pitiful display didn't even come close to that human's fire. You should be carrying the power of 14 generations of Nekomata, and yet you must stoop to copying human tricks to fight me? Disgusting."

Aruna growled, wiping the spit from her face, her eyes blazing with defiance. But before she could strike back, a sudden force slammed into Kaede from behind, snapping her head to the side.

The impact sent her flying, and she crashed against a distant tree, her jaw dangling grotesquely by shreds of flesh and skin.

Kenshin stood behind her, wind chakra swirling around him in an aura that made him seem weightless, his every move sharpened with lethal intent.

He reached over to Aruna, wiping the spit from her face with a steady hand before turning back to Kaede, his gaze hard and unwavering.

"I know nothing is limitless, Kaede," he said coldly, his voice carrying an edge of iron. "I'll make you burn through every bit of energy you've hoarded for these thousands of years. And I'll make you beg for mercy."

Kaede snarled, struggling to align her dislocated jaw even as her flesh knitted itself back together at an unnervingly fast pace.

But she barely had time to recover before Kenshin was upon her, his movements swift and brutal, each strike a blur of power and precision.

The force of his blows sent shockwaves through the air, every punch and kick landing with a strength that could rival Tsunade's legendary power.

Kaede staggered back under the onslaught, her body jolting with each hit. Her expression flickered, irritation giving way to a spark of surprise, and then—a faint, unsettling smile.

"You're…stronger than I expected," she murmured, her eyes alight with twisted admiration even as she bared her fangs. The faint blush that tinged her cheeks left Kenshin unnerved, a shudder creeping down his spine at the look in her eyes.

The way she savored the sensation of pain, the thrill of actually being pushed back, twisted her expression into something disturbingly beautiful.

For a fleeting moment, Kenshin felt an unwelcome sense of attraction, his stomach churning at the realization.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. Kaede was enjoying this far too much. He lunged towards her, aiming to exhaust her energy with attacks that would deal otherwise fatal damage.

Kenshin's fists and sword were a blur as he struck Kaede again and again, his body moving with a fluidity and force that Aruna could barely track with her eyes.

Each hit sent shockwaves through the ground, and Kaede's face flushed deeper, her lips curving in a satisfied grin even as her wounds knitted together just as quickly as they were inflicted.

Yet despite her near-instantaneous regeneration, Kenshin didn't relent, his intensity only escalating as he poured every ounce of chakra and strength he had into each blow.

Watching from the sidelines, Aruna's fists clenched, a sense of helplessness gnawing at her. She was the Nekomata, one of the mighty guardians of the Shikkotsu Forest—and yet here she was, unable to even keep up with Kenshin's movements, let alone assist him.

She dared not interfere; if she miscalculated even by a hair, she would risk ruining his rhythm, and the thought of getting in the way of the guest who was fighting for her and her daughters sent a wave of shame crashing over her.

This was supposed to be her battle, her responsibility. Kaede wanted to kill her, to rip her family apart, yet it was Kenshin—a guest from another world entirely—who was risking his life to protect them in a place where she herself couldn't unleash her full power.

The humiliation and frustration twisted in her chest, making her feel weaker than she'd ever felt.

Just then, Kira leaped into the fray, her Sharingan gleaming as she locked onto Kenshin's movements, synchronizing her attacks with his in a dance of perfectly coordinated strikes.

Her eye allowed her to track the lightning-fast shifts in Kenshin's position, enabling her to attack precisely where Kaede would be vulnerable.

Their combined efforts pushed Kaede back, and for the first time, the self-proclaimed predator seemed slightly rattled, her eyes widening in gleeful surprise.

Kaede laughed, her voice tinged with genuine admiration. "Oh, you two are marvelous!" she exclaimed, her face flushed to a nearly crimson shade as she savored their relentless attacks. "Not even the White Snake Sage made me feel this… alive! I feel I'm about have an orgasm!"

The fight wore on, stretching into hours of relentless combat. Kenshin's wind chakra mode allowed him to keep pressing forward, his every step lighter, his strikes harder as he stretched his chakra reserves to their very limits.

But his body was reaching its breaking point, and he knew he could sustain this intensity for only a short while longer.

Kira was reaching her limits as well; her Sharingan's drain on her stamina was punishing, and the toll was evident as her breathing grew ragged.

Yet even exhausted, her eyes burned with determination, allowing her to contribute despite her lack of nature energy. She refused to back down, forcing Kaede to remain on the defensive alongside Kenshin.

Finally, Kenshin saw a glimmer of hope. Kaede's regeneration was slowing, her once-impervious body now forced to dodge and deflect more frequently rather than simply absorbing his blows.

For the first time, she seemed to be tiring, her face flushed red with ecstasy as she moaned softly under her breath, savoring each strike even as she struggled to avoid them.

Kenshin noticed her growing reluctance to tank his attacks, a clear sign that her reserves were running low. His determination surged, a fierce resolve flooding his veins as he pushed through the exhaustion, striking at her with all he had left.

But despite his best efforts, his body was nearing collapse. His chakra mode flickered, barely holding together on sheer willpower alone, his breathing ragged as his limbs grew heavy.

With one final slash at Kaede's midsection, Kenshin faltered. His blade barely cut deep enough to graze her spine before he had to pull back, unable to muster the same force.

Kaede let out a soft moan as the blade bit into her flesh, but the look in her eyes was one of pure disappointment. The cut, though relatively deep, was shallow compared to Kenshin's previous attacks, and it left her momentarily stunned, a look of genuine shock flickering across her face.

She took a step back, her expression heartbroken as she looked at him. "Wait, that's it?" she murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief. "After all that, is that really all you have left?"

Her tone was laced with frustration, as if she'd wanted him to keep going until she could endure no more. "No! Please.. carry on! Attack me more! Please, I beg you!"

But Kenshin's body was spent. He couldn't go any further, every ounce of chakra drained, every muscle on fire from exhaustion. He struggled to stay upright, his vision blurring as his chakra mode flickered in and out.

Kaede's disappointment twisted into something darker. Her eyes narrowed, and in a swift, ruthless motion, she snatched Kira by the throat just as she was about to attempt another attack.

Kira gasped, her Sharingan flickering as she struggled, her remaining strength no match for Kaede's grip.

"If you won't keep fighting me," Kaede hissed, her voice dripping with malice, "then perhaps I'll give you a reason to try harder." She held Kira up, her nails dangerously close to Kira's eyes. "I'll gouge both of them out this time. Let's see if you have it in you to stop me, human."

Kenshin's heart pounded as he watched, helpless and spent. Kira struggled in Kaede's grasp, her eyes wide with fear and determination, but her strength was gone, and Kenshin's own reserves were all but depleted.

As Kaede's claws hovered dangerously close to Kira's eyes, Aruna saw her chance and lunged forward, summoning every ounce of strength and skill she had.

Her claws glinted with energy as she intercepted Kaede, forcing her to release Kira and redirect her focus.

Kaede's eyes narrowed, an annoyed scowl forming as she shifted into an offensive stance, parrying Aruna's strikes with an almost casual ease.

Sora seized the moment, darting forward to scoop up Kira and Kenshin, pulling them swiftly to the edge of the cave. She set them down gently against the wall, her eyes filled with concern.

Kenshin finally allowed himself a moment to breathe, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over him as the adrenaline wore off. He glanced over at Kira, who was slumped beside him, her Sharingan barely flickering as she struggled to keep it active.

"It's okay," Sora murmured, her voice soft but steady. "Mother can handle her now."

But Kenshin knew better. He watched Aruna, and from the look in Kaede's eyes—an exasperated flicker devoid of the excitement she had shown during their fight—it was clear Kaede wasn't taking Aruna seriously.

The crimson blush that had once colored Kaede's face was gone, replaced by a cold indifference as she deflected Aruna's attacks with minimal effort, almost as if she were toying with her.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, a risky one—but perhaps their only shot. He remembered Kira's right eye.

She had Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan, and Shisui's right eye had the power to cast Kotoamatsukami, the ultimate genjutsu—a subtle but powerful ability capable of implanting suggestions deep within the mind of its target.

However, if memory served him right, it wasn't guaranteed. Kotoamatsukami's influence could be broken, as it had been during the Five Kage Summit when Danzo attempted to use it on the samurai leader Mifune.

Still, it was their best option.

"Kira," he murmured, turning to her, his voice hoarse. "Do you… do you have any chakra left?"

Kira's weary eyes met his, and she shook her head. "Not much… I don't think I could—"

Before she could finish, Sora knelt beside her, placing her hands over Kira's, channeling her own chakra into her exhausted sister. "Here," Sora said softly, her tone both encouraging and gentle. "Take mine."

Kira closed her eyes, accepting the chakra transfer, her strength bolstered slightly. She opened her eyes, and the Sharingan flickered back to life, a faint glow of power returning to her gaze.

Kenshin quickly explained, his words urgent. "Listen, Kira—that right eye can cast Kotoamatsukami. It's a genjutsu that plants a suggestion in the mind, something subtle but powerful. If you can suggest anything that might make her stop… or even something to make her think helping us is in her best interest, it could end this."

Kira nodded, catching her breath as she processed his words. "Something… that would make her stop?" She thought for a moment, her gaze flickering to Kaede, still locked in combat with Aruna. "Maybe something about… wanting to fight you again?"

Kenshin gave her an approving nod. "Exactly. Make her think that if I live, she'll have a chance at an even greater battle in the future."

Focusing her gaze on Kaede, Kira activated the Mangekyo Sharingan, her eyes fixed with unwavering intensity on her target. The Kotoamatsukami took effect, a powerful suggestion weaving into Kaede's mind.

Kaede's movements slowed as she faltered, a strange look crossing her face, the suggestion settling into her mind as if it were a foreign, yet oddly familiar, thought.

The suggestion took hold, and Kaede stopped mid-strike, her eyes wide, her expression conflicted. Her hand fell to her side as she turned to face Kenshin, her gaze softening as her eyes took on that crimson flush once more.

A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as the suggestion fully formed in her mind—but it twisted into something neither Kenshin nor Kira had quite anticipated.

With a burst of speed, Kaede dashed to Kenshin's side, her predatory intensity softened by an almost reverent gleam. Dropping to her knees before him, she bowed, pressing her forehead to the ground at his feet, her voice trembling with a fervent plea.

"Please… let me stay by your side," she whispered, her tone both tender and eager. "Allow me to follow you, to help you grow stronger. And when you're ready…"

She looked up at him, eyes smoldering with a barely restrained hunger. "Promise me you'll fight me again. A fight even greater than this one."

Kenshin's breath caught as he looked down at her, unsure how to respond. Kira's suggestion had worked—but it had gone far beyond what they'd intended.

Kaede's face, flushed deeply once more, looked up at him with an expression that was equal parts devotion and exhilaration.

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A/N: I am barely resisting the urge to give Kenshin every single potential waifu in this story, but I'm not sure if I should stick to my original plan for the harem. Also, do you think Kaede should get a redemption arc or I should keep her as a ticking, slightly horny time bomb?

Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.