With just a single move, Kushimaru Kuriarare, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, fell dead at Kyusei's hands.
The scene stunned everyone present.
Even the Third Mizukage couldn't hide his shock.
Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, there was an unspoken hierarchy: the upper three blades and the lower four. The distinction wasn't about the weapons alone—it directly reflected the strength of their wielders. The Seven Swordsmen were never appointed; they seized their blades by force, proving themselves through blood and battle.
Kushimaru Kuriarare belonged to the lower four, but that didn't mean he was weak. At the very least, he was a rock-solid jōnin.
Yet the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki had killed him in a single exchange.
How could that not be terrifying?
Too fast.
Watching Kyusei close the distance in an instant, the Mizukage no longer hesitated. A torrent of water condensed in his hands as he advanced instead of retreating, charging straight at the enemy.
Though his Blood Mist policies had earned him countless enemies within his own village, that didn't absolve him of responsibility.
He was the Mizukage.
The Third Mizukage.
The one who stood at the front to protect Kirigakure.
Kyusei's gaze was cold—sharper than any blade. He didn't believe for a second that the Mizukage knew nothing about the theft of the Byakugan.
Take him down.
Threaten Kirigakure.
Naori's eye would return to him—no matter what.
The radiant spear formed from Boei-shin in his hand instantly reshaped into a massive staff, and Kyusei swung it down without mercy.
The Mizukage's taijutsu was exceptional. In truth, anyone capable of becoming a Kage possessed outstanding physical combat skills—the Raikage being the most infamous example.
As for the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki only seemed unimpressive because of his age. In his youth, one punch enhanced by Weighted Rock Jutsu would have terrified anyone foolish enough to challenge him head-on.
The Mizukage twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the blow, then countered with a heavy punch that tore through the air toward Kyusei's chin.
Kyusei didn't dodge.
Golden chakra flared as he caught the punch barehanded, then snapped his leg forward in a brutal kick toward the Mizukage's abdomen.
"Protect the Mizukage-sama!"
No matter how controversial he was, the Mizukage remained Kirigakure's highest authority—its final symbol of dignity.
A sharp projectile whistled through the air, forcing Kyusei to withdraw his kick mid-motion. Seizing the opening, the Mizukage struck back with a powerful counter-kick—
Only to have it blocked.
A golden, tail-like chakra chain intercepted the strike effortlessly.
Kyusei's expression remained utterly indifferent. His hand curled into a claw, golden chakra condensing along his fingers into razor-sharp talons—another application of Boei-shin.
The claw slammed down on the Mizukage's shoulder and tore downward.
Five gashes, deep enough to expose bone, ripped across his arm.
Yet the Mizukage endured the pain, forcing chakra into his leg and blasting himself free with a violent kick against the golden chain.
Kyusei was about to pursue—
When four or five figures surged in at once.
They were the same ones who had forced him to break off earlier.
Samehada's wielder, Kisame Hoshigaki—no.
Not yet.
Instead:
Zabuza Momochi was absent, but standing before him now were:
Jinin AkebinoJinpachi MunashiKushimaru's comrades—Biwajū Jūzō and Fuguki Suikazan
Kyusei swept his gaze over the group, voice cold.
"What a pity."
"Hah? What's so pitiful?" Jinin Akebino snapped irritably.
"That five of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are going to die here today."
"From now on, you might as well be called the Two Ninja Swordsmen."
Kyusei opened his palm.
A massive scythe—taller than he was—manifested in a flash of golden light.
"You—!"
Before Jinin could finish, Kyusei vanished.
A streak of gold.
The scythe came down in a terrifying arc.
CLANG!
Jinin barely managed to block with his sword—the Exploding Blade, Shibuki. Seeing Kyusei so close, he bared a savage grin, about to activate Shibuki's explosive tags—
Then his smile froze.
A golden spear punched straight through his torso.
"Is that smile meant to celebrate your own death?"
Kyusei kicked him away without another glance.
Shock rippled through the battlefield.
This one had lasted only slightly longer than Kushimaru—one extra exchange at best.
"Enough with honor—kill him together!"
Panic finally took hold. Jūzō and Jinpachi had wanted to preserve the pride of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, fighting one by one.
Now they understood.
If they didn't end this immediately, none of them would leave alive.
Jinpachi Munashi and Biwajū Jūzō attacked first, striking from front and rear.
Kyusei's scythe instantly transformed into a colossal warhammer.
He sidestepped Jinpachi's cleaving strike—and brought the hammer down.
BOOM!
The impact sent Jinpachi flying.
The sound of shattering bones echoed across the battlefield as he crashed through multiple Kirigakure shinobi and was hurled clear out of the fight, his upper body buried in the earth, legs hanging lifelessly.
Dead. Beyond doubt.
All of it happened in the span of a heartbeat.
Jūzō, who had been preparing a sneak attack, suddenly found himself staring into a pair of cold, vermilion slit pupils.
Fear flooded his veins.
Even knowing he couldn't win, there was no retreat now.
With a roar, he swung the Executioner's Blade with all his strength.
Kyusei met it head-on.
Golden claws formed once more, catching the massive blade barehanded. The sheer force drove Kyusei an inch into the ground.
"Not bad strength."
His fingers tightened.
The Executioner's Blade shattered.
Jūzō's eyes went wide—
And the golden battle axe appeared.
One brutal swing.
Jūzō was cleaved cleanly in half.
In moments, four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were gone.
Kyusei turned his gaze to Fuguki Suikazan, who had stood frozen the entire time.
He raised his hand, beckoning.
Fuguki's face went pale.
He took a step back.
Then another.
Then he ran.
Monster.
Demon.
This thing wasn't human.
Watching him flee, Kyusei calmly reshaped the axe into a longbow. He drew the string, golden light condensing into an arrow.
The bow hummed.
The arrow was released.
A streak of gold tore through the night sky—
straight toward the fleeing Fuguki Suikazan.
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