"Fuguki Suikazan and Samehada? Ooh, how terrifying~"
Watching Fuguki charge violently toward him, Yagyu spoke nonchalantly and fired a laser beam without hesitation.
The golden beam, formed by condensing countless light particles, acted like a high-pressure water jet, possessing immense cutting power.
Moreover, after the laser hit its target, the highly concentrated light particles would rapidly expand, creating an explosive effect.
Fuguki assumed Yagyu's ability was derived from chakra nature transformation, so he paid no heed to the laser.
He swung Samehada, intending to devour Yagyu's beam.
Samehada could consume attacks formed by chakra, even something as terrifying as a Tailed Beast Bomb.
However, Yagyu's laser was not made of chakra. Against this beam, Samehada was useless.
Pfft!
A dull sound echoed as Yagyu's laser pierced directly through Samehada's body, triggering an explosion behind it.
Samehada struggled violently, letting out cries of pain. Clearly, the laser had caused it significant damage.
Not only did it pierce through, but the inherent burning effect of the light also made Samehada suffer greatly.
"Samehada, what's wrong? Calm down!"
Fuguki didn't realize how badly Samehada was hurt; he thought Yagyu's attack had only caused minor damage since the explosion happened behind the blade.
He tried to calm Samehada down so they could continue fighting.
Fuguki gripped the handle tighter, but this only provoked a fiercer resistance from the living sword.
Sharp spikes shot out from Samehada's handle, piercing straight through Fuguki's palm. Blood dripped down freely.
Samehada was no ordinary weapon; it was actually a strange fish that lived symbiotically with the Three-Tails.
If the wielder made it unhappy, Samehada would turn on its master.
And right now, Fuguki was facing Samehada's backlash.
"Mm~ Fuguki Suikazan, you seem to be in a bit of trouble there."
A leisurely voice rang out. Yagyu's body transformed into light particles, moving at high speed to appear behind Fuguki in the blink of an eye.
With one hand rubbing his chin and light particles flickering on his long leg, Yagyu delivered a casual, horizontal kick that sent Fuguki flying.
"What a troublesome ability!"
The remaining members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen revealed fierce glints in their eyes. However, intimidated by Yagyu's powerful display, they didn't rush to attack like Fuguki had.
"Elder Genji, is this enough now?"
Yagyu stood with his hands in his pockets, speaking nonchalantly to Genji.
Genji had wanted to use the Seven Swordsmen to test his strength and verify the truth about repelling the White Fang.
Yagyu, in turn, wanted to use this opportunity to deter the others from probing him further.
Without this battle, the other ninja at the Mist base wouldn't have been convinced.
Rather than being pestered by challengers in private later, it was better to display his power openly and make them despair.
The reason he allowed Jūzō to test his weaknesses with various jutsu was partly due to Kizaru's personality, but also to prevent others from secretly trying to find his weak points later.
The current Hidden Mist was not a united village.
Genji took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and nodded. "That is enough! I now believe that Konoha's White Fang was indeed repelled by you."
"I will report this matter to the Mizukage. You will be rewarded according to your merits."
Yagyu replied lazily, "Alright then~ I'm curious to see what kind of arrangement the Mizukage has for me."
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
The White Fang led his team back to the village and immediately went to the Third Hokage to report his encounter with Yagyu.
Hearing the report, the Third Hokage—still in his prime—furrowed his brow deeply, his face full of doubt. "Is everything you said true? It sounds impossible!"
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth possessing strength that rivaled the White Fang? How could that be?
The White Fang affirmed, "Everything I said is true. That young man's ability is indeed bizarre."
"Although I cannot determine his exact strength, he definitely possesses the combat power to threaten a Kage-level fighter."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a low voice, "You are right; it was my oversight. Perhaps his true strength hasn't reached Kage level yet, but that strange ability gives him the lethality to threaten one."
"Ignoring your White Chakra Sabre... It sounds a bit like the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique. Perhaps Lightning Style could counter him."
The White Fang shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Hydrification is countered by Lightning Style because the user's body turns into conductive water."
"But that man's body seemed to turn into light. Lightning Style jutsu would likely be ineffective."
"Furthermore, I believe his impact on the battlefield is far more critical than his individual combat power."
"He can emit intense light that impairs visual ability. On a battlefield, this is a strategic weapon."
"Once he releases that blinding light in front of Konoha's forces, our ninja would instantly become blind."
"Meanwhile, the Mist ninja facing away from him would be unaffected. The impact on the war would be catastrophic."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe, falling silent for a moment before speaking. "You make a valid point. We must treat this matter with the utmost seriousness. His influence on the battlefield is far more important than his personal fighting strength."
...
Hidden Mist Village.
At this time, Konoha was already engaging in skirmishes with the Hidden Sand and Hidden Stone. The Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud were still observing from the sidelines.
However, both villages had dispatched large numbers of ninja troops to the front lines, making no secret of their intention to intervene.
The somewhat elderly Third Mizukage picked up the battle report sent by Genji, a smile appearing on his face.
He hadn't expected such a genius to emerge from among the civilian ninja of the Mist.
Good!Very good!
The Third Mizukage pondered internally, considering promoting Yagyu to a high position.
The Hidden Mist had too many Kekkei Genkai clans. They occupied too many resources, and the conflict between them and the civilian ninja was growing larger by the day.
The future "Bloody Mist" era wasn't just random; it was partly caused by these clans digging their own graves.
Otherwise, a policy as self-destructive as exterminating all Kekkei Genkai clans would never have received approval from the ninja of the Mist.