Fuguki let out a chilling laugh, baring his sharp teeth, as if he had transformed into a beast satiated by blood.
In a direct confrontation, he likely wouldn't be a match for Yagura, even wielding the Great Sword Shark Skin would yield the same result.
But defeating him wasn't an easy task for Yagura either.
At their level of power, a minor misstep could be fatal.
Moreover, Yagura launching a coup at this time was undoubtedly a challenge to the authority of Hidden Mist.
The Third Mizukage would be forced to stand against Yagura.
It must be said, Yagura had guts.
Precisely because Yagura exploited their mindset, no one expected him to initiate a coup at this moment.
Thus, he caught them off guard.
"Kisame."
Fuguki suddenly turned, looking not far behind him at the silent, shark-faced young man who had been following them, and called his name.
Kisame lifted his head and met Fuguki's gaze.
"You're my most trusted subordinate. I leave the task of welcoming the Hidden Cloud ninjas to you; get the Hidden Cloud troops to quickly move to the south of Hidden Mist Village and intercept the ninja squad supporting Yagura. Don't let Yagura's people enter the village."
"Understood."
The young Kisame nodded silently, ready to leave the squad to deliver Fuguki's orders.
Intense lightning swept across the road ahead, exploding in front of them.
Driven by a storm of electricity mixed with hot air, with swords resting on her shoulders, Ringo Ameyuri grinned with gleaming white teeth, eyes fixed on Fuguki and Jinin Akebino.
"Sorry, but it seems this path is blocked."
"Ringo... Ameyuri. So you're the one who caught up first? It seems Yagura has been halted by the Third Mizukage and the others."
Fuguki felt the intense killing intent emanating from her, and he removed the Great Sword Shark Skin from his back.
Jinin Akebino also snorted, knowing this confrontation was inevitable, feeling a slight thrill in his heart; Ringo Ameyuri... she was indeed a formidable woman.
If he could use the Bluntsword · Kabutowari to crush her, it would surely be satisfying.
Despite being part of the Seven-swords Ninja, each member had their own thoughts and aims, always forming individual interest groups.
"So, does the fact that I survived disappoint you?"
Lightning shot out from the Thunder Blade resting on her shoulders, slowly lowering on each side.
"The poison in you was resolved by Tsunade, one of the Konoha Sannin, wasn't it? Truly the strongest medical ninja in the Ninja Realm, which means Yagura and Konoha have secretly allied, right?"
Fuguki's gaze deepened.
Yagura's subordinates had once taken the seriously ill Ringo Ameyuri to Konoha, and he had sent someone to verify it later.
But according to Konoha's testimony at that time, Ringo Ameyuri's poison was not completely purified, so afterward, she went to the Land of Demons for treatment.
Given the current circumstances, Konoha's official personnel deceived him.
Ringo Ameyuri's poison had been resolved by Tsunade, one of the Konoha Sannin, and the truth was concealed. There was certainly shady dealings by Yagura, reaching some secret agreement with Konoha, hiding the fact that Ringo Ameyuri had healed.
"You really enjoy making such baseless guesses. But you're correct on one point; the person who treated me was indeed a Konoha Ninja."
Referring to Hakushi as a Konoha Ninja isn't wrong, even if the term 'former' should precede it.
"You truly love meddling in affairs, wanting to obtain a Hidden Mist alliance agreement, huh?"
Fuguki snorted.
Just like his alliance with Hidden Cloud, his promise was to unite with Hidden Cloud to attack Konoha once he became the Fourth Mizukage.
Yagura proposed a similar agreement to Konoha; for Konoha, which was surrounded by enemies, the Hidden Mist alliance was indeed crucial.
Under such conditions, Konoha concealed the fact that Ringo Ameyuri's injury was treated; it was a natural outcome.
"So, when will your delusions end? Let me give you another piece of good news."
Ringo Ameyuri sighed helplessly, then her face revealed a malicious smile:
"At this point, don't you realize those Hidden Cloud ninjas might not reach here smoothly?"
"What?"
Fuguki was immediately shocked and stunned.
"That means your pig-headedness will meet its end today! Retribution for the past grudge!"
With that, Ringo Ameyuri dashed toward Fuguki with incredible speed, her twin blades sparking with electricity.
Fuguki swung the Great Sword Shark Skin with brute strength, letting out a cold snort.
"My Great Sword Shark Skin can devour chakra directly; your Lightning Style Jutsu is useless against me!"
Blocking the attack of the Thunder Blade, the current weakened, flowing into the Great Sword Shark Skin.
On the other side, Jinin Akebino did not immediately draw the Bluntsword · Kabutowari to assist Fuguki against Ringo Ameyuri.
He took a signal tube from his pocket, pulled the mechanism, and inside, beads turned into streams of light shooting towards the sky, bursting into a beautiful fireworks display, extremely conspicuous.
Ringo Ameyuri noted the fireworks in the sky, without a worry, moving agilely backward, arms extended, as lightning flickered densely across the blade.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Fang!"
The Thunder Realm emerged, starting to cover the ground extensively.
Fuguki kept snorting coldly, wielding the Great Sword Shark Skin, charging into the sea of lightning without care, devouring it with one swift stroke.