Afterimage!
The mist ninja had no time to react to Uchiha Yoruki's blazing speed. His eyes struggled to track the latter's movements, only catching faint afterimages of his opponent. The skill and precision Yoruki demonstrated were far beyond what the swordsman had anticipated.
Yet, despite Yoruki's overwhelming advantage, his opponent never managed to see the true strenght of Yoruki's three-magatama Sharingan. The crimson eyes, spinning with unparalleled clarity, were a testament to the Uchiha clan's legacy. A Sharingan of this level possessed insights that surpassed even the legendary Byakugan in combat scenarios.
Yoruki's expression remained calm and devoid of emotion as he slashed his flame-covered blade horizontally, aiming to end the grotesque warrior's life in one clean strike. Victory seemed certain.
Just as his blade was about to land, a sudden, electrified flash appeared in his periphery. Two short swords crackling with lightning shot toward him with lethal precision, like fangs ready to bite.
The attackers were fast—so fast that even Yoruki was forced to abandon his attack. With a flicker, he reappeared several meters away, safely evading the dual-strike ambush.
Regaining his composure, Yoruki's sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, quickly locking onto a new threat. Another figure, wielding an enormous, blade-less sword, was rushing toward him. The weapon's design was bizarre—wide and heavy with no visible cutting edge.
Yoruki raised his flaming blade to meet the attack head-on.
"Bang!"
The two weapons clashed, but to Yoruki's surprise, the giant sword erupted upon impact. The explosion dispersed the flames from Yoruki's blade and sent a shockwave rippling through the air. The unexpected blast forced him to stumble back, his body momentarily thrown off balance.
Despite the power of the explosion, Yoruki steadied himself with minimal effort. His Sharingan remained locked on his opponents. The three swordsmen stood before him, their expressions a mix of surprise and wariness.
"He stood his ground against all three of us and didn't even flinch," muttered the grotesque man, resting his massive sword on his shoulder. His tone carried grudging respect.
"Hah! If we hadn't stepped in, you'd have been dead in seconds. And yet you still have the nerve to talk big?" sneered a long-haired man wielding two electrified sword.
The grotesque warrior turned to his comrade, his face darkening with irritation. "Ringo, are you provoking me?"
Murderous intent flared between the two, but the third swordsman—the one wielding the explosive blade—spoke up before the situation could escalate further. His eyes, fixed on Yoruki, gleamed with caution.
"Calm down. This kid isn't just anyone. He's an Uchiha, and with those Sharingan eyes, even one of us would struggle to take him down alone."
At the mention of the Sharingan, the other two shifted their attention to Yoruki's scarlet eyes, the three magatama spinning hypnotically within them. The recognition brought a flicker of unease to their expressions.
The Uchiha name had long been synonymous with power, fear, and domination. Together with the Senju, the Uchiha had once ruled the ninja world, and the legend of the Sharingan was etched into the minds of shinobi everywhere.
Yoruki observed his three opponents with an air of cold indifference, but his attention soon shifted. Beyond them, he saw the Kirigakure army—a force numbering in the thousands—approaching the battlefield.
From behind Yoruki, the Konoha forces surged forward, closing ranks in preparation for the confrontation. Wind-style ninjutsu swept through the area, scattering the mist once more, revealing the enemy camp in full detail.
At the forefront of the Kirigakure army, four additional figures stepped forward, each carrying a uniquely shaped weapon unlike anything Yoruki had ever seen. These four joined the three Yoruki had already faced, forming a line of seven.
"What strange weapons are those?" muttered Akimichi Choza, standing amidst the Konoha ranks. His gaze shifted to Shikaku beside him, but Shikaku shook his head, his expression serious.
"It is rumored," Fugaku interjected from the front of the Konoha formation, "that Hidden Mist Village possesses seven legendary ninja swords, each with unique and deadly abilities. These must be those weapons."
The revelation sent a ripple of unease through the Konoha forces. While clans like the Nara and Akimichi were renowned in their own right, Fugaku's knowledge of such ancient legends underscored the depth of the Uchiha clan's history and influence.
"Ninja swords that can explode?" Choza exclaimed, recalling the earlier clash. "That's insane!"
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are no ordinary ninja," Shikaku said, his tone grave. "Even though the Kirigakure forces number only a thousand, these seven alone make their army a deadly threat. We've underestimated them."
The attention of the Konoha forces focused on the seven swordsmen, and their weapons became the subject of scrutiny. Among the group, one man wielded a peculiar sword that lacked a blade, its hilt connected to what appeared to be a long, sharp needle.
Another figure—a bandaged warrior—carried a massive hammer connected to a heavy blade by a thick rope. The strange combination defied conventional logic, yet it exuded an intimidating presence.
On the Kirigakure side, a middle-aged man with streaks of white in his hair chuckled softly, his sharp eyes observing the Konoha forces. His expression was calm but calculating.
"If Minato were here, he'd recognize that man immediately," Shikaku muttered. The figure was none other than Terumi Ryuunosuke, head of the Terumi clan and father of Terumi Mei.
Terumi Ryuunosuke's voice carried across the battlefield. "Ah, Konoha knows of the Seven Ninja Swords, I see. Then you should also know their power."
At his signal, the seven swordsmen surged forward, their murderous intent palpable. Terumi's words echoed ominously: "See for yourself the might of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
The sheer aura of the seven warriors sent a chill through the Konoha ranks. Their coordinated charge exuded deadly precision, honed through years of training and bloodshed.
Shisui Uchiha, standing among the Konoha forces, gripped his weapon tightly. Though his talent was extraordinary, he was still young, and the overwhelming presence of the seven filled him with dread.
"Snort!"
Yoruki's derisive snort cut through the tension like a blade. With unwavering confidence, he stepped forward to meet the charge, his flaming sword held high.
In an instant, he vanished, reappearing like a specter before the advancing swordsmen. His blade came crashing down toward one of them, its flames roaring with intensity.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?" Yoruki's voice was cold, his Sharingan burning brightly. "Compared to the Sharingan, they're nothing but scrap metal."
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