Gekko Chizan stared at the dissipating lightning, a hint of grimness on his face.
Lightning of this magnitude, combined with that oppressive voice—looks like the worst outcome has arrived.
...
"Hmph, is this all Konohagakure has left? Just a few Jōnin and brats?"
"Not bad, taking out my subordinates like that."
"You're the one who put up those five massive iron gates?"
A burly figure appeared—long green hair, thick eyebrows, sharp teeth. His upper body was wrapped in bandages, layered over with a black vest.
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist of the Land of Water—the wielder of the Lightning Blades, Kurotsuchi Raiga.
Their gazes met, and in the eyes of the other, Gekko Chizan saw clear disdain.
"Being underestimated... one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, huh?"
"I thought I'd run into Jūzō Biwa first..."
The original Seven Ninja Swordsmen consisted of Jūzō Biwa, Fuguki Suikazan, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Jinpachi Munashi, Ameyuri Ringo, Kurotsuchi Raiga, and a now-forgotten wielder of the Hiramekarei.
Among them, Kurotsuchi Raiga, Fuguki Suikazan, and Jūzō Biwa were the most formidable.
Chizan had learned Jūzō Biwa's name from scouts stationed around the daimyo's manor and thought he'd be the one they'd encounter.
He hadn't expected to run into someone even harder to deal with.
...
"Oh? You know Jūzō's name?"
"Looks like you're the one who made that missing squad vanish."
"Hehehehe... too bad you ran into me instead!"
Without another word, Raiga swung his dual blades—Lightning Blades.
Two bolts of lightning shot toward Gekko Chizan and his team with blinding speed.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
A wall far sturdier than anything a Kirigakure shinobi could summon rose instantly, blocking the lightning. Gekko Chizan immediately bit his thumb.
"Summoning Technique!"
A massive brown python emerged in an instant.
"Obito, Rin—get out of here."
"I'll handle the rest."
Gekko Chizan flung the two kids onto the giant snake. The next moment, the python slithered off at high speed.
"Chizan-sensei! Be careful!"
Rin was clearly worried about Chizan, but she knew there wasn't anything she could do to help.
Obito clenched his jaw—his once confident expression now heavy with tension.
...
"Trying to escape? Not happening!"
"Lightning Blad—"
Raiga had no intention of letting his prey go. He swung his blades to unleash another strike, but in that very moment, Chizan's figure suddenly appeared in front of him—his blade stabbing toward him from an odd angle.
"Tch!"
Clang!
Sparks flew from the clash of metal. Raiga leapt back, only to see Chizan grinning at him with the Kusanagi blade in hand.
"All of Kirigakure's forces in this town are here now, huh?"
"Next up—wiping you all out. And you—"
"I really like your blades."
"I'm missing lightning in my elemental affinity. I'll be counting on you!"
Chizan narrowed his eyes, a glimmer of greed flashing within.
He possessed four elemental affinities: wind, fire, earth, and water. The only one he lacked was lightning.
Raiga's Lightning Blades possessed innate lightning properties—powerful and overwhelming. If Chizan got his hands on them, it would perfectly fill the gap in his nature transformations.
Out of all five elements, lightning was second only to fire in terms of visual flair—and while Chizan might not be the strongest, he had to look cool!
Behind Raiga stood six masked Kirigakure shinobi.
Clearly members of Kirigakure's ANBU. Chizan's eyes narrowed slightly.
ANBU were killers by trade—far more dangerous than ordinary shinobi.
...
"Kid, that summoning beast of yours... reminds me of Orochimaru of the Legendary Sannin."
"You his student?"
"Hehehehe... it's a shame I never got to fight Orochimaru, but taking down a rising star like you still has its pleasures."
"I love crushing prodigies the most."
"You lot—stay out of this. I'll handle him myself."
Raiga twirled his Lightning Blades as he slowly advanced toward Chizan.
With every step, the lightning around him intensified. Soon, it looked as if he held two bolts of lightning in his hands.
...
"Don't get cocky just 'cause you've got those swords. This fight won't last long."
Chizan casually flicked his hand and started counting aloud.
"One... two... three..."
While the others looked on in confusion, the earth suddenly began to tremble.
Raiga's eyes flashed with urgency.
"Get back—now!"
Chizan grinned—a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Quick reaction. But..."
"Too late!"
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, the ground exploded.
Three massive serpents of different colors burst forth, their gaping maws instantly devouring all six ANBU members.
The golden one swallowed three.
The yellow one got two.
The green one devoured one.
...
"Damn it! When did he summon them?"
"Could it be...?"
Raiga stared in disbelief at the three giant snakes. He hadn't seen any summoning jutsu performed!
At that moment, he suddenly sensed a deadly intent behind him and immediately went on high alert.
Crossing his dual blades, he summoned a storm of lightning around himself—forming a crackling suit of armor.
"Heh heh..."
A sinister chuckle echoed from behind him.
Because of the lightning's interference, Chizan's attack hadn't gone through. Instead, he leapt back, landing atop the golden-scaled serpent's head.
With the three serpents now in play, the balance of the battlefield shifted drastically.
...
"Impossible..."
"When did he perform the summoning?"
Hearing the disbelief in Raiga's voice, Chizan chuckled darkly.
"You think seeing is believing?"
"Ever heard of shadow clones?"
Raiga suddenly noticed—there were two Chizans on the field. Clearly, the earlier one had been a clone.
...
"When did he—?"
"Wait... don't tell me..."
Chizan burst into laughter.
"You guessed right—back when I sent my students away."
"My three serpent friends were already lying in wait underground."
"If our Konoha shadow clones were that easy to see through, how would the Second Hokage have ever earned his name?"
The three giant snakes hissed, tongues flicking, all of them fixed on Raiga.
...
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, huh?"
"Those blades reek of lightning chakra. It irritates me."
Yamoryū flicked her unique tail, reptilian eyes locked onto the dual blades in Raiga's hands.
"Enough talk. Kill him already. You're wasting time."
She had originally been in the forests outside the Land of Fire's daimyo's manor, but Chizan had summoned her here using his summoning technique—along with Jinlin and Kurohebi.
Their sudden appearance had completely upended the battlefield.
Raiga clenched his teeth and gripped his swords tighter. He attacked first without hesitation.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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