Aoisuke spun backwards and fell, sinking a foot into the shallow waves before he regained his balance. When he coughed, blood sprayed through his bandage-mask and dappled the ocean’s surface.

It was a rare genjutsu-user who could go hand-to-hand on Raidou’s playing field.

But then he brought his hands up, and shuriken flashed through the air. Raidou was ready for them this time; he twisted and stamped down on the crest of a wave, shoving chakra through quick seals. The wave roared up, answering the water affinity in Raidou’s blood, and swallowed the shuriken. It kept going, curving higher before it crashed down on Aoisuke's head. The Kiri-nin vanished under the surface, forced down deep.

A second later, chakra sparked.

Waves split beneath Raidou’s feet, wrenched apart by the force of a jutsu. He dropped down into the valley and the ocean closed icy jaws over him, ripping his mask right off the side of his head. Breath jolted out of his lungs, but he didn’t need it, he didn’t care. He could feel Aoisuke struggling to the surface, almost within reach, and Raidou wasn’t going anywhere until he broke more bones.

He kicked upwards.

When he broke through, Aoisuke's chakra was circling in on itself, gathering close to split into another mind-bending illusion or infuriating chakra trick. Raidou yanked on his own chakra faster and shoved it down into the water; a summoned wave grabbed him and hurled him up into the air. He landed crouched next to his target, balanced on the ocean’s surface. Ducked Aoisuke's frantic sword swipe as chakra splintered apart, jutsu unformed, and lunged up to drive a clenched fist into Aoisuke's chest.

Ribs snapped beneath his knuckles.

There was chakra behind the hit. Aoisuke caught air, arcing up and crashing back down on the wharf, sword flying from his hand. Stone cratered beneath him. He landed flat on his back, chest heaving, and flung empty hands up. Blood streamed down his face, and Raidou might have felt something about that, once upon a time, might have stopped at the open-palmed plea, but there was no mercy left in him tonight.

He leapt and came down on top of the man, straddling the broken chest. His knees pinned Aousuke’s arms down, and he looked at the dazed, desperate face.

“Don’t—”

And hit it.

And hit it again.

He didn’t stop. Teeth broke, bone caved, and somewhere along the way, the body beneath him quit fighting. In the shivering distance, someone screamed. Or maybe they’d always been screaming.

They didn’t stop, either.