Chapter 27: The Tragic Fate of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist (Part 2)

Chapter 27: The Tragic Fate of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist (Part 2)

"Lord Hokage, I understand that these opponents are no threat to you, but entering enemy ranks without guards is a failure on our part."

Hyuga Fuji's calm and even tone gradually tempered Minato's mood, which had been lifted by the sense of having a capable successor.

That was the effect Fuji had—his composed demeanor and steady voice had a calming influence on those around him, the complete opposite of Kushina's personality.

On the battlefield, this trait was advantageous. But when he spoke in such a tone, Minato couldn't help but overanalyze his words.

On the surface, Fuji was acknowledging their absence when Minato faced the enemy, reflecting on how he hadn't fulfilled his duties as a member of the Shadow Guard. But Minato couldn't shake the feeling that Fuji was subtly chastising him for not bringing his guards in the first place.

Was it just his imagination?

There was no fluctuation in Fuji's tone, leaving nothing to grasp.

Minato shook his head, dismissing the trivial thought. Locking eyes with Hyuga Fuji, they both pulled out Flying Thunder God kunai marked with their own unique seals and exchanged them.

At the same time, Fuji's low voice reached Minato's ears.

"Seven o'clock, 29 meters, retreating at a speed of 25 meters per second."

Quickly calculating the optimal interception point, Minato summoned four Flying Thunder God kunai in each hand and hurled them in the specified direction.

Fuji mirrored the action, throwing kunai in a different direction.

Swoosh!

With the sharp whistle of air, the two vanished again.

…

The mist-shrouded forest was punctuated by the occasional muffled explosion. Standing on a tree, Raiga Kurosuki carefully surveyed his surroundings. Only after confirming that no enemies were nearby did he begin tending to his wound.

After hastily wrapping his severed arm with an emergency bandage, he brought the bag on his back to the front and opened it.

Inside, a small boy lay peacefully asleep.

Seeing this, Raiga let out a faint smile.

"Good, that strike only knocked Ranmaru unconscious."

Thinking back to Hyuga Fuji's sudden appearance, Raiga frowned as he examined his Thunder Sword, ensuring that no strange marks were left on it. Only then did he feel reassured.

Since the Fourth Hokage had made his name, Kirigakure had extensively studied the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Raiga knew that using the Flying Thunder God required a special marking to serve as a transfer point.

He now understood that Fuji's shadow clone had likely touched his lost sword in their last exchange, leaving the seal there.

"Did he let me go so he could assist the Fourth Hokage?"

After all, Fuji was a Konoha ninja. Even if he knew that the Hokage, armed with the Flying Thunder God, would be fine, he wouldn't stand idly by.

Raiga exhaled in relief, grateful to have escaped with his life.

As for the others… as a ninja from the Bloody Mist, he had long stopped caring about comrades.

Perhaps he had once harbored such naïve notions, but those sentiments had been thoroughly eradicated after countless missions of slaughter.

Now, the only person Raiga cared about was Ranmaru.

"I've lost a Thunder Sword and deserted the mission. I'll probably become the scapegoat. Returning to the village is no longer an option…"

Adjusting the bag on his back, Raiga stood and started moving in a specific direction.

"From now on, I'll live as a wandering ninja with Ranmaru."

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of Byakugan quietly observed him from a hundred meters away.

…

Fuguki Suikazan and Juzo stood back-to-back, their eyes darting nervously as they monitored their surroundings.

"Damn it, those two ran away, didn't they?"

"The screams we heard from their directions earlier tell you all you need to know about their fate. Focus on the here and now," Juzo said coldly.

"I get it. Just don't drag me down."

Sweat rolled down Fuguki's face as he tried to maintain his composure, scanning their surroundings.

How much time had passed since the battle started?

A minute? Three?

Certainly no more than ten!

In this short span, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had been reduced to just two.

Was this what it meant to face a Kage-level opponent?

The ease with which they had been cut down was incomprehensible. Placing such individuals on the battlefield made it all too clear why Iwagakure and Kumogakure had retreated.

The oppressive silence gnawed at their nerves, and just as the weight of anticipation became unbearable, two blurred figures emerged from the dense mist.

"It's you?"

Juzo immediately recognized Hyuga Fuji as the one who had warned the Fourth Hokage earlier.

The Byakugan… truly the nemesis of the Hidden Mist Technique.

Fuguki, however, grimaced at Fuji's youthful appearance and sneered maliciously. "I'll hold off the Hyuga brat. You use the Silent Killing Technique to handle the Hokage. How about that?"

"Without the Byakugan, the Fourth Hokage won't be able to move at full speed. We might have a chance to escape."

Juzo glanced at Fuguki but didn't expose his selfish ploy, instead charging directly at Minato.

The Flying Thunder God required marked kunai as its medium. If he was cautious enough, he might stand a chance.

However slim that hope was…

As for escape? Without capturing the Hokage, it was impossible.

On the other side, Fuguki's expression remained grim as he faced Fuji's youthful, unscarred face. He couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.

"A Hyuga prodigy? Let me see what makes your Gentle Fist so special."

"Needle Hair Senbon!"

Releasing his grip on Samehada, Fuguki quickly formed seals.

His hair stiffened into needle-like projectiles, raining down on Fuji like a storm.

Rotation!

A glowing blue sphere of chakra enveloped Fuji, deflecting the hair needles with ease.

Seeing that his attack was ineffective, Fuguki ceased wasting chakra and unleashed a Water Style technique.

"Water Dragon Bullet!"

A massive water dragon rose into the sky and crashed down toward Fuji's Rotation. Simultaneously, Fuguki vanished into the mist.

Just as Fuji dispersed the water dragon with Rotation, he spun and delivered a precise palm strike to his side.

The strike collided with Samehada, which absorbed its chakra effortlessly.

Fuguki sneered and swung the sword, forcing Fuji back.

"Gentle Fist? Taijutsu specialist? Your attacks rely on chakra. Against me, that's useless."

Samehada, the most powerful of the Seven Ninja Swords, could devour chakra and even neutralize ninjutsu.

"An impressive weapon," Fuji acknowledged calmly. "But the wielder is lacking."

As he spoke, green steam began to rise from his body.

Fuguki froze.

The Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist had a technique like this?

'To fall to this attack… what a fitting end for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.'

Before Fuguki could process what was happening, Fuji seemed to teleport to his side, his fiery fist targeting Fuguki's chakra points.

Eight Gates: Sixth Gate, Open!

Morning Peacock!

Fuguki's Samehada was utterly useless against this onslaught. Even when used as a shield, it was kicked away by Fuji's relentless assault.

Unable to keep up, Fuguki was forced to endure the barrage, his body battered from head to toe.

Desperately retreating, he began forming seals, abandoning taijutsu in favor of ninjutsu.

But before he could complete the seals, his chakra flow slowed to a crawl, his movements stiffening.

What… was this?

"Chakra point strikes. You should be familiar with them."

Fuji's cold voice came from behind. Before Fuguki could even turn his head, his body gave out, collapsing limply to the ground, never to rise again.

(End of Chapter)

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