Among the many bloodline families gathered here, two stood out above the rest.
The first was the Terumi clan; the lineage of Terumi Mei, the future Fifth Mizukage. Unlike most clans, they had no centralized compound or district. Instead, their members were scattered throughout the Land of Water, connected only by name and blood, with little cohesion as a group.
Their bloodline limits were Lava Release and Boil Release. Awakening either was rare enough; producing a prodigy like Mei, who wielded both, was almost unheard of.
The second was the Hagoromo clan; far different in nature, and with a history closely tied to the Uchiha.
In the Warring States era, the Hagoromo allied with the Uchiha against the Senju. But when peace came and the Uchiha grew close to the Senju, the Hagoromo feared being overshadowed. They withdrew from the Land of Fire and resettled in the Land of Water, eventually becoming part of Kirigakure.
By the Second Mizukage's time, ties with the Uchiha were cautiously renewed, and today their relations were steady, if distant.
The clan's kekkei genkai wasn't a bloodline technique at all but rather a unique physique.
From childhood, each Hagoromo raised a summoning beast bound to them by chakra and secret rites. Over time, they fused deeper with their beasts, their very bodies becoming half-human, half-creature.
At the first stage, the shinobi and beast understood each other completely, equivalent to Genin. At the second, they could partially merge into hybrid forms, reaching Chunin level. At the third, they attained perfect fusion, shifting freely between human, beast, or any state in between.
This was the mark of a true Jonin.
Beyond that, they had two paths forward; Diversify by raising additional beasts of different chakra natures, at the cost of time and resources. Or Specialize, by pouring everything into one beast, strengthening it quickly but at great personal risk.
If such a bonded beast was slain, the Hagoromo's strength could collapse by nearly eighty percent. Their methods were strange, their abilities unpredictable, and in theory, they could cultivate as many beasts as there were chakra natures.
That was why they had once stood equal to the Senju, worthy allies of the Uchiha, and feared as one of the great clans of the Warring States. Even under Kirigakure's persecution of bloodline families, they remained powerful and influential.
"Heh... so, is everyone here?"
Orochimaru's hoarse chuckle slithered through the valley. His pale lips curved, snake-like tongue flicking out as he licked them. The arrogance in his voice was unmistakable.
"If not... I can wait."
His casual and mocking tone lit fury in the Kirigakure shinobi.
Yes, Orochimaru was a legend, but to stand here, smiling in the middle of their gathered elites? Unforgivable.
"Kill them," ordered Fuguki Suikazan, his voice ice cold.
The Kirigakure jonin surged forward.
Konoha's jonin immediately leapt to intercept, blades and jutsu clashing mid-charge. But they could only hold off equals.
Ten more Mist jonin broke through, barreling down on Orochimaru and his disciple. Among them were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, bloodline heirs, and hardened killers.
Steel hissed from a sheath of white smoke as Orochimaru drew a fresh Kusanagi Blade, identical in style to the one Sasuke would one day wield.
The enemy was already too close; he hadn't time for his usual grotesque theatrics of drawing it from his throat.
Side by side, master and disciple advanced. Their killing intent slammed outward like a wave, freezing the two jonin in front.
Orochimaru's presence was expected but the boy, a child, carried the same suffocating weight.
How can a kid radiate this kind of killing aura…?
Clang!
Sparks flew as their blades struck. A high-quality kunai and sword both cracked under the pressure.
Orochimaru's neck lashed forward like a viper. His jaws clamped on his foe's throat, venom flooding the man's veins. The jonin's eyes bulged in horror before he collapsed, convulsing, without managing a single jutsu.
Shuriken and kunai whistled in from every side. Orochimaru's blade whirled, knocking them from the air with casual precision as he slid back, his grin widening.
On the other side, Uchiha Gen's scarlet Sharingan spun. The jonin facing him tore his gaze away in time, but it didn't matter. Gen's silver-white Kusanagi erupted with wind and flame chakra, cutting through the man's water-enhanced kunai like it was paper.
Ssshhhhh
As flesh sizzled. The stench of seared meat filled the valley. A blackened gash split the Mist jonin's side, tearing a scream from his throat.
It ended a heartbeat later. Gen's left hand shot out, clamping on his enemy's throat.
The Mist jonin's eyes locked on those spinning tomoe. Terror overwhelmed him as Gen's Soul-Soul power ripped free his very essence, a ghostly form and glowing white orb streaming into Gen's body.
Fear was enough to break even hardened veterans, and fear made the harvest easier.
From the outside, it looked as though the man simply froze. Then kunai from allies slammed into him from behind, while those thrown from the front were parried in sparks by Gen's blade.
Two jonin, cut down in an instant.
The Kirigakure forces flinched. Not enough to rout, but enough to rattle even seasoned killers.
And still, Orochimaru's earlier target wasn't dead but merely poisoned into unconsciousness. Gen had ordered it that way. After all… a Jonin's soul was too rich to waste on venom.
"Raiga, with me; we take down the Uchiha brat. The rest of you, crush Orochimaru!" the Fuguki commanded.
He was no fool. To face a Sharingan wielder alone was to court death.
The others didn't argue. Biwa Juzo, Hoshigaki Kisame, and three more elites lunged at Orochimaru, their momentum like a tidal wave. Even he would need every ounce of focus against six jonin, three of them elites.
Meanwhile, Raiga Kurosuki charged at Gen, lightning exploding from the twin fangs of his Thunder Blades.
The blades howled, tearing gouges in stone as he raced forward, sparks dancing along his armor.
"Boy, your head and your sword, are mine!" Raiga roared, crackling lightning surging around him like a storm.
The Thunder Blades were famed for their speed, for both attack and defense, their power to summon and channel lightning unrivaled among the Seven Swords.
Uchiha Gen only smiled faintly. His Sharingan narrowed as he shifted his stance, the faint shimmer of fire and wind chakra already curling along the edge of his blade.