It's good to know.

Emerging from the smoke and debris was a Mist ninja wielding a massive sword—a wielder of the dreaded Explosive Blade, Jūzō Biwa, renowned as one of the formidable Seven Swordsmen.

Recognition flickered within Fugaku's mind as he recalled the intelligence he had acquired during his time at the camp.

"Damn, you samurai messed up our plan. I'll kill you before the Konoha ninjas get here!"

Jūzō Biwa seethed with frustration as he and his comrades split into two teams and numerous smaller squads to evade the vigilant gaze of Konoha's guards.

Their plan was meticulous: a surprise attack under the cover of night. Yet, Jinpachi and Kobanza had taken a different route, leaving Biwa and Kushimaru Kuriarare to lead a brigade concealed within the dense foliage of the forest.

But their plan was ruined by a samurai who appeared out of nowhere, caused high casualties, and alerted their enemy.

Jūzō Biwa wanted to tear him apart. He didn't care about their surprise attack anymore. He only wanted to kill the samurai who stood in his way.

Fugaku saw Biwa's rage. He had not used many of his cards yet. Sensing something amiss, he swiftly moved aside. A long needle hurtled past his previous standing place and embedded itself in a nearby tree trunk.

Silver threads glinted. His katana, infused with wind attribute chakra, attempted to slice at the wire of the Nuibari. But the thread only bent upward and did not snap.

"What a weapon!" Fugaku exclaimed. His katana, chosen by Akihiko, may not have been a legendary weapon, but it was still good. Infused with wind chakra, it possessed enhanced cutting power.

Yet he couldn't sever the wire at the end of the needle-like sword. It seemed the sword's owner had some control over it, which spoke to the quality of the weapon.

Kushimaru Kuriarare slowly emerged from hiding, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the needle-like sword returned to his hand.

He held the sword in his left hand and the wire in his right hand. He said calmly, "Finish him off quickly. The Konoha ninjas will be here soon." He sounded cold and annoyed by the situation.

Fugaku smirked. "You want to kill me? Go ahead and try! Second gate: Gate of Healing, open!"

He slung his katana over his shoulder and dashed towards the right side of the forest.

After a year and a half of training, Fugaku could open the fifth gate. He could also switch from the first gate to the fifth gate in less than three seconds.

The reason he was accustomed to the Second Gate was that using the Eight Gates is described as a double-edged sword, empowering users by sacrificing their own health and safety.

-----------

Under the veil of night, the moonlight illuminated a swarm of insects, coalescing into an arrow shape, guiding the way for a sizable group of ninja advancing forward.

They were led not only by their comrades but also by a contingent of Ninken riders among the ranks. Behind the three leaders, there were about a hundred ninjas.

As they pressed on, Aburame Shibi, running alongside a bandaged companion, inquired about the skirmish unfolding in the nearby woods. "Who's that fighting?"

With a nod and the revealing of the blue vein on his face, Hizashi Hyūga uses his Byakugan.

He peered through the obstacles, his keen eyesight penetrating the darkness to discern the scattered corpses littering the woods.

Amidst the chaos, he spotted a lone figure locked in combat against two of the famed Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Puzzled, he voiced his thoughts, "Is that... a samurai?"

"A samurai?" echoed Aburame Shibi and Tsume, in confusion. How could a samurai be involved?

They had sensed the gust of wind earlier, along with the heavy scent of blood, leading them to assume a battle between enemy forces and the Konoha ninjas on guard duty.

However, upon following the trail, they discovered only the lifeless bodies of the Hidden Mist ninjas. The Konoha ninjas had called for backup but had not engaged in the fight, adding to the mystery.

Now, learning that there was a samurai in the fray only deepened their bewilderment.

"No… No, it looks like… Fugaku-sama?" Hizashi Hyūga recognized the fighter, his revelation cutting short any further surprise. "He's here! He's right ahead!"

"I'm going ahead to help him! Kuromaru, let's go!" Tsume said. She bounded onto a large tree branch, crouching on her front legs as a black dog leaped beside her.

The Hidden Mist ninjas were known for their deadly combo of assassination techniques, particularly their mastery of the mist technique.

However, in a surprising turn of events, they found themselves on the receiving end of an attack initiated by Fugaku himself, disrupting their plans.

As chaos ensued, their coordinated assault faltered, and the Hidden Mist ninjas began to retreat.

Fugaku, catching his breath amidst the aftermath of the battle, scanned the area until his eyes landed on Tsume, who stood amidst a massive crater she had created.

Examining his own condition, Fugaku noted the damage inflicted upon him: his katana was chipped, his clothes were scorched by the explosive sword, and traces of blood stained his attire. The irony was not lost on him; despite his skill, he couldn't evade the bloodstain without using his Sharingan.

With Tsume's arrival, accompanied by the fierce gaze of her companion Kuromaru, the tide of battle shifted further.

"Retreat!" yelled the explosive sword user, Biwa, his left arm bleeding from the wounds inflicted by Fugaku.

Though Nuibari wielder Kushimaru Kuriarare remained unscathed physically, his frustration simmered beneath the surface as he recognized the failure of their attack.

Suppressing his irritation, he made the tactical decision to retreat, knowing that engaging in a prolonged battle with Fugaku, especially with Tsume's assistance, would only lead to further losses.

As the Hidden Mist ninjas made their hasty departure, another figure leaped down, swiftly assessing the situation before confirming, "Is everything alright, fugaku-sama?"

Translation notes: I made another mistake with a minor detail. It can indeed be confusing to keep track of both the names of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and their respective swords, especially given the timeline inconsistencies in the Naruto universe.

Considering this, I've thought about how it could also be seen as a butterfly effect within our Naruto alternative universe. Therefore, the problem is resolved. Thanks for your support!