Chapter 24: The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist (Part 3)
Rumble—
While rushing toward the direction of the battle, Chizuki was knocked head over heels by a violent gust of wind rushing straight at him. After scrambling back to his feet, he spat the grass out of his mouth and said in shock,
"Whoa—! Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo!"
"Damn it, what kind of battle is happening up ahead? Even the aftershock is this strong?"
Seeing his state, Komai quickly ran to his side and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"Brother, the person up ahead is extremely powerful. Judging by the aura I'm sensing, the ability they're using should be EX-rank."
"EX-rank?! Don't tell me Uchiha Madara showed up."
Hearing her words, Chizuki rolled his eyes and curled his lips.
"Ding. Detected the host's current situation. Side mission issued—A Father's Youth.
Mission description: In order to protect Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu, who have been surrounded by the 'Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist,' Might Duy has opened the final gate—the Gate of Death—and entered the Eight Gates Formation. Go and help him as quickly as possible.
Mission reward: Preserve Might Duy's life and receive the Servant Noble Phantasm [Unlimited Blade Works]. For every Ninja Swordsman you help kill, you will receive 1 Saint Quartz."
The moment the system's voice fell, the mission appeared.
Only then did Chizuki finally let out a sigh of relief.
So this EX-rank monster is one of our own. Scared the hell out of me. Wait—Unlimited Blade Works?! Holy crap, that's the god-tier move that can go head-to-head with Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon. Let me see the mission requirements… save Might Duy's life… Are you messing with me? I don't have reincarnated Asura chakra or anything, so how am I supposed to save him?
Staring at the mission prompt, Chizuki grumbled inwardly in speechless frustration. After a pause, he said calmly,
"Komai, the one up ahead is an ally. But he's in danger, so we need to speed up."
Komai listened and nodded obediently.
As violent explosions continued to thunder from ahead, the two of them sped forward at full tilt. At last, they arrived at the battlefield.
And by then, the battle had already reached its fiercest stage.
Whoosh—Slash!
"Longsword Ninja Art—Earth Spider Stitch!"
Kushimaru Kuriarare, wielder of the longsword Nuibari, let out a strange laugh and yanked with one hand. Instantly, countless steel wires burst out from underground. Not only the ground—even the surrounding trees were wrapped in wire, hemming Might Duy in from all directions.
Nuibari was incomparably sharp, capable of piercing through nearly any defense. Behind the blade was a length of razor wire, allowing its wielder not only to control the sword's trajectory, but also to bind and slash opponents with the wire itself.
Seeing Duy's movement restricted, Jinpachi Munashi licked his lips, bloodlust surfacing on his face. His left eye was covered by an eyepatch, while his right eye gleamed with cold killing intent.
"Explosive Blade Ninja Art—Splatter Violent Death!"
His hands rapidly formed seals. The massive scroll attached to the Explosive Blade, Shibuki, instantly unfurled, pages laden with explosive tags flying toward Might Duy and encircling him in a ring.
As the wielder of the Explosive Blade, Jinpachi was cruel and cold-blooded. Together with Kushimaru, the two were known as the "Heartless Duo," and this combo attack was one of their favorite methods of cooperation.
Though "partners" in name, their relationship was anything but good. Kushimaru's wires often guarded against Jinpachi, and Jinpachi's explosive tags had a habit of just so happening to fly in Kushimaru's direction as well.
Bang! Bang! BOOM—
A tremendous explosion erupted, and thick smoke instantly swallowed the area where Might Duy stood.
"Did it work?"
Raiga Kurosuki looked astonished as he wiped the blood off his face and asked through gritted teeth.
Wielding the Lightning Blades, Kiba, Raiga was the only one among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen capable of launching wide-range, long-distance lightning strikes. Just moments ago, those attacks had made him one of Duy's primary targets. He had barely finished using his technique before Duy turned around and smashed him with a single punch, sending him flying more than ten meters away.
"Don't let your guard down. He won't die that easily."
Mangetsu Hōzuki, holding the Twin Blades Hiramekarei in their released state, took several heavy breaths and spoke coldly.
He had just exchanged a few blows with Might Duy. If not for being a member of the Hōzuki Clan and skilled in the Hydrification Technique, he would already be dead. Even now, thinking back on it sent lingering fear through him.
"Evening Elephant!"
As if confirming Mangetsu's warning, a furious roar came from within the smoke. In the next instant, an air cannon generated by Might Duy striking the air tore the smoke apart, and a red shockwave hurtled forward.
In the dark forest, an explosion like muffled thunder suddenly burst forth. A surging torrent of air pressure swept over the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Wherever the crimson blast passed, trees shattered and the ground was left in utter ruin.
A massive streak of red light flashed across the battlefield like a meteor, skimming the earth with lightning speed.
Jinpachi Munashi, too late to dodge, only saw a flash before his eyes. His mind blanked for a split second—
Then came a dull impact.
His pupils shrank violently.
His chest had been smashed inward by the sheer force of the strike.
The enormous power hurled his body more than ten meters through the air. Along the way, he crashed through countless trees, splinters flying everywhere as blood and shattered organs burst from his body.
"Jinpachi!!"
Seeing his comrade's presence rapidly fade away, Raiga Kurosuki's face filled with horror as he cried out in disbelief.
To unleash such a devastating attack required an enormous amount of power—but the backlash on the user was equally terrifying.
Now, every movement Might Duy made sent waves of agonizing pain through every muscle in his body.
But he could not stop.
Because the moment he stopped—
That would be the end of his life.
"It's not over yet—Aaaaaaah!!!"
Might Duy's eyes widened as he roared.
With that furious shout, the red vapor around him thickened even further. The immense wind pressure generated by the surge of chakra whipped violently through everything around him.
The steel wires of Nuibari that had once trapped him had long since been shredded apart under that overwhelming force. Duy stepped forward and charged straight at the remaining five.
"Come on again!!!"
Crack—
Suddenly, the sound of bone breaking echoed from inside Might Duy's body.
A piercing pain forced him to halt mid-step.
Damn it…
Of all times…
Is this… the end for me…?
"This monster's giving out! Now's our chance—everyone, attack! Kill him!"
Seeing this, Fuguki Suikazan—whose eyes had been filled with terror just moments earlier—immediately roared. He drew Samehada, his eyes brimming with savage bloodlust and killing intent as he charged straight toward Might Duy.