101 Are You a Traitor?

Boom!

In the midst of chaos, Jinpachi Munashi's Explosive Blade detonated repeatedly, aiding Kushimaru Kuriarare's retreat, while he attempts to flee himself. However, his scroll explosion had slightly deviated during an explosion.

Then, another explosion. Caught in its blast, Jinpachi Munashi found himself perplexed.

For years, his Explosive Blade never misfired, yet now...

Impossible!

But, it wasn't a random malfunction.

Dance of the Paper Shikigami!

Though not refined with his own chakra for precise control, it was enough to cause a slight deviation.

Just that little change was enough to alter the course of battle.

Next moment.

Twin blades flashed, like a swift sparrow spreading its wings.

A mistake in the glint of light, and Jinpachi's leg and sword-wielding arm each bear a new bloody mark.

Kushimaru Kuriarare didn't expect his old ally to fall so quickly.

And then, in just two seconds, the tide of battle shifted drastically.

Fuguki Suikazan is dead.

Jinpachi Munashi's fate is unknown.

The other four...

Damn! They all fled?

In frustration, Yagura who arrived to late, cursed under his breath and threw down an exploding tag as a diversion, retreating in an instant.

But Kyōichi, in his earth spear form, is unfazed by the explosion, pursuing Kushimaru Kuriarare relentlessly, who could only defend himself with his Nuibari.

However...

One sword was blocked, but what of the other?

Moreover...

With a flick of Kyōichi's finger and the faint light from the explosion, he successfully cast a genjutsu.

Next moment.

Bang!

Kyōichi, with his monstrous strength, kicked his opponent from one side to the other.

There, the Uchiha clan members stood, dumbfounded.

They knew of Kyōichi's prowess.

But...

They never expected the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist to be dispersed in just a few moves by Kyōichi, Might Duy, and Hayama Shirakumo.

No!

More precisely, just Kyōichi and Might Duy.

Hayama Shirakumo, despite him using the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, barely held off two attackers, while Kyōichi and Might Duy took on four or five each, in their turn.

Damn beasts!

By the shore, Uchiha Yashiro formed several groups with others to resist Yagura.

Initially, Yashiro thought he could handle it alone.

He was wrong!

Not only did he fail to stop Yagura, but he also nearly fell to Yagura's wrath. If not for the intervention of a slug, he might have lost his life.

"Damn it! All of you, go to hell!"

Yagura, driven to the brink of rage.

These insignificant pests, always hindering him. If he was late, the Seven Swordsmen might be disbanded.

Four or five teams charged at him.

Yagura stretches out his hand, conjuring a Water Mirror.

Then...

Several figures rushed out, but that was not the key attack. The trap had already sprang, a hook at the end of a long staff swiftly caught one's neck.

Yagura, driven to madness.

Because...

He sensed four people fleeing in his direction.

Four!

Of the Seven Swordsmen and Ao, only four remained alive!

A group of Leaf ninja encircles the remaining four, cutting off their escape. Yagura, though powerful, didn't dare to provoke so many. Desperation set in his heart—

These fools, daring to venture so deep alone?

Perhaps...

At most, one will escape.

Yagura's guess was accurate.

The Seven Swordsmen were relentlessly hunted. Kyōichi and Might Duy chased them down while the larger force encircled them.

In a moment...

Biwa Jūzō was dead.

Already weakened by a partial Morning Peacock attack, it's a miracle he got this far. Upon arrival, Might Duy caught up and finished him.

By now...

Might Duy was also at his limit.

If not for Kyōichi's Slug Technique healing him at the camp, he wouldn't have lasted this long.

At the same time, Jinin Akebino was slain by Kyōichi's sword.

Mangetsu Hōzuki despaired.

He glances back, then forward, making a decision. He jumped into the river, turning into liquid, he didn't even dare to escape directly, but instead seeped into the underground waterways.

He was much more proficient in the hydrification technique than his sibling Hōzuki Senkei.

He was decisive, ready to abandon at a moment's notice.

His actions left Might Duy stunned, and even Kyōichi paused, unable to believe Mangetsu's cowardice, betraying his teammates and fleeing underground.

Kyōichi soon understood why.

The Hōzuki Clan held the secret to the Summoning of the Seven Blades.

Regardless of whether Mangetsu Hōzuki fled or not, the clan could likely summon the six blades back.

Unless...

Restrictions must be imposed!

Kyōichi pondered briefly, then ceased using his earth spear, focusing entirely on Kurotsuchi Raiga.

Raiga was strong.

In the anime, Might Duy opened the Eight Gates in a desperate fight, and Raiga was one of the survivors.

However...

This time, with Mangetsu Hōzuki escaping through the waterways, only Raiga remained.

Kurotsuchi Raiga, wielding his Lightning Blades.

Thunder rolled.

Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning!

But this time, Kyōichi wasn't even needed. Hayama Shirakumo, catching up, swung his sword, and his Vacuum Blade directly countered the Lightning Feast.

Next moment.

Kyōichi unleashed a Wind Blade.

Dual swords enhanced with Vacuum Blade, and now, his sword technique shifted to Flying Swallow.

From behind Raiga, the Konoha ninja closed in, using ninjutsu to exhaust him, while members of the Hyūga clan prepare with their Byakugan, seemingly ready to strike with Gentle Fist.

Despair flashes in Raiga's eyes.

He raised his swords to the sky.

Intense lightning gathered above.

Then, it transformed into a thunderbolt, striking from the heavens.

Kyōichi couldn't discern it in time, only able to create an Earth Flow Wall to block the electricity. However, the lightning didn't strike him but hit Raiga himself.

Lightning Release: Lightning Burial!

The lightning strikes was consuming everything.

Raiga conducted his own grand funeral. Aside from his two blades, nothing remained. The residual lightning force wreaked havoc all around.

If not for the Earth Flow Wall, Kyōichi would have been caught in the aftermath.

And just a moment before...

Had he moved forward, Kyōichi might have needed his "Shadow Clone" to save himself.

After all, even the Senju physique had its limits. This lightning was unbearable.

In the distance...

Yagura, witnessing this grand Lightning Burial and sensing three life forces vanishing, realized what had happened—

The Seven Swordsmen were no more!

At this moment, he was filled with despair.

Kirigakure's skilled shinobi were few.

Over the years, only a few like himself and the Seven Swordsmen have emerged. The rest, although they could attain Jonin and elite Chunin status, couldn't shoulder any major responsibilities.

Now, all was gone.

Although Mangetsu Hōzuki remained alive, frankly, Yagura wished that he too had perished.

If not for this coward, what trouble could would have been avoided?

At this moment...

Unexpectedly, Mangetsu Hōzuki emerged from the sea.

"Let's go!"

Mangetsu Hōzuki, whether from exhaustion or guilt, spoke without confidence.

Yagura, wishing he could tear him apart, tried to maintain his rationality.

Retreating, he formed a few hand seals.

Then, the sea surged, and endless waves rolled towards the land.

Mangetsu Hōzuki didn't launch an attack, only focusing on his escape, as Yagura's eyes flashed with a fierce glint.

Under the cover of an Explosive Water Wave, he successfully retreated.

"Lord Yashiro..."

"Let him go. He's too strong. We're no match for him if we pursue."

Uchiha Yashiro spoke bitterly.

Yagura was too strong!

His chakra was formidable, and every Water Release technique was masterfully executed, beyond their capability to defend against.

He struggled to imagine.

How did Kyōichi manage to dominate back and forth in Kirigakure with just four people?

But soon...

He learned the reason.

Retreating from the seaside, Uchiha Yashiro saw the devastation. Aside from Raiga and Suikazan, whose bodies were gone, four other members of the Seven Swordsmen were present.

Among them, Jinpachi Munashi, Kushimaru Kuriarare, and Jinin Akebino are captured alive.

The most outrageous part—only three people participated in the battle.

What kind of record was this?

Too absurd!

He couldn't believe it, but the facts were undeniable.. And now, Kyōichi seemed to be collecting the six blades.

Seeing Uchiha Yashiro, Kyōichi smiled and asked, "Lord Yashiro, did you manage to block Mangetsu Hōzuki's escape?"

"I... I was unable, unable to stop him or Yagura."

Yashiro was filled with shame.

Kyōichi fulfilled the promise of three against seven, while he, even with the aid of three other Konoha squads, couldn't overcome Yagura or capture the Hōzuki swordman.

In terms of performance, the gap was indeed significant.

"Couldn't stop them, huh?"

Kyōichi smiled wryly, waving his hand, "No matter, Yagura is said to be a contender for the next Mizukage. His strength is formidable. It's normal for you to be outmatched."

"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Kyōichi!"

It sounded like consolation.

But for Uchiha, these words were more hurtful than any comfort.

Yashiro felt worse than death in his heart.

"Lord Kyōichi, what should we do now?"

Hayama who had helped collect the other Ninja Swords earlier, asked.

"First, let's seal these six swords to prevent Kirigakure from retrieving them. These are our spoils of war... Where is the Sealing Team?"

"Here!"

"Summon all the sealing techniques you know."

As Kyōichi applied a sealing technique to each sword, he waited for the Sealing Team to add their techniques. Then, he wrapped them in a huge scroll, adding another layer of sealing techniques on the outside.

After that...

He summoned a slug spirit and had it store the items in the Shikkotsu Forest.

He didn't hand them over to Konoha.

These items, if taken to Konoha, might end up lost. Kyōichi was also considering forging some of the swords into weapons more suited to his style. As for the Kusanagi Sword...

What swordsman could resist the allure of such a fine blade?

He wanted the Ninja Swords, and the Kusagiri Sword too.

He wanted them all!

...

On a small island occupied by Kirigakure ninjas.

Yagura and Hōzuki Mangetsu had escaped a long way and finally felt safe enough to stop and rest here.

Hōzuki Mangetsu dared not look at Yagura.

Yagura took a deep breath and asked, "Are the others all dead?"

"There were three of them. One seemed to use a formidable forbidden jutsu, a jutsu not relying on chakra. Fuguki Suikazan's attempt to block it with Samehada sword but failed."

"And…"

Hōzuki Mangetsu's eyes were vacant as he recounted the events.

Listening, Yagura's veins throbbed with anger, "I don't want to hear this. Just tell me, are the others dead or not?"

"I don't know."

Hōzuki Mangetsu lowered his head.

Yagura took a deep breath, suppressing his rage.

"What about the swords?"

"I... I couldn't manage to take them!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu stammered, feeling the intense murderous intent.

"I remember you could summon all seven swords back."

"The summoning scrolls... are back at the clan."

"useless, a waste! Why did you even bother coming back alive?"

Even Yagura's usually calm demeanor erupted with fury, each word laden with murderous intent.

Damn it.

He had chased desperately and couldn't catch up! Mangetsu took the Seven Swordsmen to their deaths, and yet he was the only one to return alive.

If not for knowing that the Hōzuki clan wouldn't betray the village, he would have suspected Mangetsu of being a traitor.

"Listen to my explanation, at that time…"

Before he could finish, Yagura extended his hand, unfolding a sealing technique.

Hōzuki Mangetsu didn't react in time and was immediately imprisoned by Yagura, who also confiscated his sword.

"Return to the village, explain everything to the higher-ups!"