Koeda Kyoichi was, by all accounts, something of a celebrity within Kirigakure. After all, during the war against Konoha, the Kirigakure's only real victory worth bragging about was when Ao managed to snatch a Byakugan from the Hyūga clan. Apart from that, there wasn't much glory to go around. So, when Kyoichi and his unit rescued over a hundred Kirigakure shinobi and even single-handedly held off Orochimaru, that deed naturally became the highlight of the village's propaganda.
Of course, most of the lower-ranked shinobi and ordinary villagers probably didn't even remember who Kyoichi was.
To be precise—
Unless it was someone they encountered frequently, genin and civilians who didn't care for politics rarely remembered any of the village's high-ranking figures. Only the Mizukage's name was truly known by everyone. Well, in Kirigakure's case, you had to add the Elder Genji to that list too.
But here and now, everyone present was a jōnin.
And they all knew Kyoichi's name—and his story.
So when they saw him step forward and calmly declare that his target was the Kabutowari, the few jōnin who had set their sights on the Shibuki collectively breathed a small sigh of relief.
Pride aside, they knew this was good news.
No one ever complained about having fewer strong competitors.
Of course, for those who were eyeing the Kabutowari, it was… less than ideal.
"Kabutowari? Kyoichi, I didn't expect that from you," said Yagura Karatachi, the Mizukage, with a faint smile as Kyoichi approached. "I thought you'd be after the Shibuki. Among the Seven Swords, that one packs the greatest offensive punch."
"That one's too expensive."
Kyoichi shook his head.
The Shibuki's destructive power came from the countless explosive tags embedded within it. Even without the sword, stacking dozens or hundreds of tags could unleash catastrophic force. The sword merely merged that power with the blade, letting its wielder strike and detonate in a single motion.
But either way—
The Shibuki was a weapon that literally burned through money. Without deep pockets, few could afford to wield it for long.
"If the village covered the cost of all those explosive tags, Mizukage-sama, I might actually consider it," Kyoichi said with a bright grin.
"That's impossible!"
Yagura immediately waved both hands. "There's no such rule! Unless it's wartime, the village doesn't supply ninja tools. Every expense comes out of your own pocket. Even I, the Mizukage, have to buy my own equipment."
"In that case, there's no helping it. I'll just stick with the Kabutowari. Doesn't take much thought, doesn't burn money—perfect!"
Kyoichi's cheerful tone left Yagura momentarily speechless.
"So… that's your reason?"
He didn't even know what to say anymore. Choosing the Kabutowari because it's cheap and easy?
"Haha, just teasing, Mizukage-sama. I didn't pick it just for that." Kyoichi's smile widened. "Actually, the Kabutowari suits my fighting style quite well. Besides, I've been working on developing a new secret technique lately. If it works out, I think it'll pair nicely with the blade."
"…Let's just say I'll believe that for now," Yagura said with a skeptical shrug.
Still, there was no time for chatter.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen Selection wasn't over yet.
"Anyone who's got their eyes on the Blunt Blade: Kabutowari, step up and face Kyoichi!" Yagura called out. "The rules are the same as before—I don't need to repeat them."
With that, the Mizukage retreated to the viewing area and sat back down on the long bench.
In the training hall, Kyoichi stood alone.
"What's the matter? No one else interested in the Kabutowari?"
He glanced around at the unmoving jōnin, a teasing smile curling his lips. "If you're too scared for a one-on-one… you can all come at me together."
Of course, no one moved.
Not because the rules forbade it—but because their pride did.
On a battlefield, they would have no problem fighting side by side. But this wasn't war; this was the Mizukage's underground training hall. They weren't fighting enemy shinobi—they were facing their own comrades.
Even if Kirigakure shinobi were known for being ruthless, not everyone was like Momochi Zabuza, who had killed all his classmates during graduation. There was a reason that man earned the title of "Demon."
"Koeda Kyoichi, don't get ahead of yourself! I'll be your opponent!"
A jōnin finally stepped forward.
Kyoichi recognized him immediately.
The man who had first challenged Hōzuki Mangetsu earlier—Fushō Tōya.
"So, you'll be my opponent? Fine by me! Let's see what you've got."
Kyoichi remained perfectly still, making no move to attack first.
"How bold of you!"
Fushō Tōya caught on instantly—Kyoichi intended to let him take the first move. But Tōya wasn't about to hold back. While he found Kyoichi's attitude arrogant, he didn't think the man was just an empty braggart.
He'd fought on the front lines against Konoha before. He knew full well how terrifying Orochimaru was.
Of course, since he hadn't personally witnessed Orochimaru's full power, he didn't believe Kyoichi was some unbeatable monster either.
Still, he knew enough to take him seriously.
So when Kyoichi offered the first move—he accepted without hesitation.
"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
Thick mist billowed across the field, swallowing the area in seconds and plunging everything back into fog.
It was a gamble.
Fushō Tōya was betting that Kyoichi hadn't yet mastered the Hiding in Mist Technique—or even if he had, that he wouldn't be proficient enough to use it effectively so soon.
"That guy really doesn't hold back!" one of the jōnin murmured.
"Can you blame him? Kyoichi fought Orochimaru and lived. Would you take it easy against someone like that?"
"…Yeah, fair point."
With their vision completely blocked, the observing jōnin relaxed a little and began chatting idly.
They'd all fought Konoha shinobi before—but few had survived encounters with Orochimaru. He'd only joined the Eastern Front late in the war, and not many Kiri shinobi who faced him lived to tell the tale.
So their attitudes were casual. They assumed the fight between Fushō Tōya and Kyoichi would drag on for a while.
After all, the only reason Tōya had lost so quickly to Hōzuki Mangetsu earlier was because the Hydrification Technique of the Hōzuki clan was infamously troublesome. When his Lightning Release counter failed, Tōya had wisely retreated to conserve his strength for other matches—not because he was weak.
However—
Before their idle talk could even warm the air—
BANG!!!
A dark silhouette shot out from the fog like a cannonball, slamming into the wall beside the spectators with a thunderous crash.