Chapter 5: Clash with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen

Might Guy murmured to himself in awe, "Is this really the power of an Uchiha prodigy? He doesn't look much older than us…"

In the sea of flames ahead, a thunderous voice erupted from Fuguki:

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

Hiss!

Water and fire collided, creating an immense, searing steam cloud that quickly spread, shrouding the surrounding area for hundreds of meters. The steam rose rapidly but was blown skyward as Akira unleashed a powerful Wind Release, transforming it into a thick layer of clouds above.

"Release, Hiramekarei!" cried Mangetsu Hozuki.

With his shout, a massive blue energy blade slashed through the dense mist and raging winds, aiming to cleave the forest in two. The blade was fast, but Akira was faster.

A burst of crackling electricity lit the air as Akira vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away in an instant. With a mighty boom, the giant energy blade cut through the mist, extending to the horizon and making it seem as if the entire forest had been split.

Raiga's chilling voice pierced the air through the haze,

"Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning!"

Suddenly, a swarm of lightning tendrils, like tree branches, shot out from the smoke, homing in on Akira's agile form.

Akira's Sharingan spun, his body wrapped in sparking electricity as his hands crackled with intense blue lightning. Swinging both hands, he conjured a veil of lightning chakra that neutralized Raiga's attack.

Just then, a large, blunt blade bound with thick rope surged from the smoke, cutting through the air with a menacing whistling sound.

It was part of Kubikiribocho, wielded by Jūzō.

Clang!

The sharp ring of metal echoed as Akira unsheathed a blade strapped to his back to block the strike. Jūzō had timed his move perfectly, attacking at the exact moment Akira was recovering from his last exertion.

Without missing a beat, Jūzō's sneering grin widened as he swung the hammer end of Kubikiribocho down with full force, striking the blade against Akira's weapon.

Clink!

The sharp sound of breaking metal rang out, and Akira's sword shattered in his hands. With a sickening crunch, the blunt edge of Kubikiribocho sliced into Akira's side, tearing through half his body.

But just as Jūzō's expression twisted in triumph, Akira's broken body crackled and exploded in a flash of lightning, engulfing Jūzō. It was Akira's Lightning Clone!

Swish!

With a swift motion, Akira emerged from beneath the ground, his kunai enveloped in invisible Wind chakra. In one strike, he drove it upward from Jūzō's jaw through to his skull.

With a final slash, blood and fragments erupted from the wound, and Jūzō collapsed with a heavy thud.

From afar, Guy, Genma, and Ebisu stared in stunned silence.

"Incredible! No wonder Sunagakure warns that if you encounter an Uchiha on the battlefield, you run if you're one-on-one!" Genma muttered, his ever-present senbon dropping to the ground as he gawked at the scene.

In mere moments, two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had fallen. While it could be said that Kushimaru Kuriare had been caught off guard, Jinpachi's defeat was purely a matter of overwhelming power.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were known for their prowess, a name that commanded fear and respect. But this only highlighted Akira's own strength.

Ebisu, his sunglasses askew, mumbled, "So strong! Are all Uchiha this terrifying?"

Guy clenched his fists, his gaze resolute. "One day, I'll become just as strong—to protect everyone."

Meanwhile, in the heart of the battlefield, Akira moved again. In a flash, he completed a series of hand signs.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

Four massive, roaring fire dragons, each over ten meters long, hurtled toward Raiga with ferocious intensity.

The remaining swordsmen had already scattered, having underestimated Akira's prowess at first. But after seeing Jinpachi's brutal defeat, their arrogance faded, and they closed in from all directions, ready to attack together.

Fuguki and Zabuza leaped forward simultaneously.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

Jūzō opened his mouth, expelling a huge water sphere that transformed into a surging river, crashing into Akira's blazing fire dragons.

"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"

Fuguki, wielding the massive Samehada, unleashed a torrent akin to a dam breaking, the immense flood extinguishing the flames instantly.

Amidst the dense steam that blanketed the forest, Akira's scarlet Sharingan spun, alert to any sudden assaults.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!" Raiga lunged with a direct assault.

Bright blue lightning surged from the tips of his dual lightning blades, launching twin bolts of electric fury toward Akira.

At that moment, a green blur flashed through the forest, moving too fast for the naked eye to track.

The green light clashed with Raiga's attack, dispersing the Lightning Release into faint blue sparks.

Guy and his team felt a sudden rush of wind as a familiar figure appeared on the battlefield.

It was Might Duy, with the Eight Gates opened to the Sixth Gate, the Gate of View. Encased in a green aura, the powerful currents of energy flowing from his body stirred waves across the lake below.

"Dad!" Guy's eyes widened in shock as he saw his father, fists raised, standing before Akira.

"Young man, I hope I didn't keep you waiting!" Dai turned, his large grin flashing as he gave Akira a thumbs-up.

"Don't worry about them—leave this to me. I have to thank you for watching over my son."

With that, Duy faced the remaining five swordsmen, his expression growing serious.

"Eight Gates, already up to the Sixth Gate… You're planning to go all the way to the Eighth?" Akira asked, his Sharingan spinning, instantly assessing Duy's chakra flow.

The Sharingan, after all, could see chakra itself, and Duy's was blazing brilliantly before him.

Duy's voice came firmly, "This is the only move I have. It's time to let my youth burn!"

Akira countered, "If we work together, you might not need to open the Eighth Gate. That way, your youth can keep burning."

"Uchiha, these guys aren't your average shinobi. If I only open the Gate of Wonder, I might manage two of them," Duy replied gravely.

"That's enough!"

As the two spoke, the remaining swordsmen closed in, finally taking Duy's arrival as a serious threat. In an instant, the battlefield filled with streaks of green and flashes of blue lightning as the five swordsmen attacked in unison, only to find Duy's movements faster and stronger than they'd anticipated, even with their combined efforts.