The sharp blade, engulfed in red flames, streaked through the air like a blazing comet as Uchiha Yoruki swung it toward his target—a masked ninja holding a long, needle-shaped blade.
From every angle, it seemed impossible for the man to defend against Yoruki's attack. His ninja sword, slender and fragile-looking, offered no clear advantage against Yoruki's sheer speed and power.
Yet, as the seven swordsmen watched, their initial shock gave way to subtle smirks. Yoruki's boldness had crossed into recklessness in their eyes. Did he truly believe he could take on all seven of them alone? Even with the power of the Sharingan, he was no Uchiha Madara.
"Swish!"
The masked ninja reacted swiftly, throwing his needle-like sword directly at Yoruki with alarming speed. So fast was the throw that the weapon closed the gap in the blink of an eye. But Yoruki's Sharingan spun calmly as he tilted his head slightly, letting the blade whistle past his ear.
"You gave up your only weapon?" Yoruki muttered, his voice tinged with suspicion. The man had discarded his sole means of defense, an action that defied logic. Something was amiss.
Even the other swordsmen, despite their readiness to counterattack, couldn't move fast enough to intercept Yoruki's blow. But the Uchiha prodigy's instincts told him this was no ordinary assault.
"Swish!"
Yoruki's Sharingan caught the faint glint of a steel wire attached to the needle-like blade. The masked ninja tugged sharply, and the sword curved mid-air, reversing course and shooting straight toward Yoruki's back.
"So that's your game," Yoruki thought. His blade shifted mid-strike, transitioning from a downward slash to a sweeping motion to intercept the needle-like weapon.
The masked ninja's suicidal tactics were apparent. He wasn't trying to defend or evade; instead, he was prepared to trade his life to ensure Yoruki's demise. It was a ruthless strategy, one that relied on his comrades to finish the job should he fall.
But before the needle could strike, shadows darted across the battlefield.
"Shadow Imitation: Success!"
Shikaku's voice echoed as the shadow under the masked ninja's feet connected with his own, halting the man's movements entirely.
The other six swordsmen found themselves similarly immobilized. Their shadows had extended to the Konoha formation, where Shikaku crouched, his hands forming seals. Though the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's collective strength far exceeded his, the brief moment of restraint was all Yoruki needed.
"Ding ding ding!"
Yoruki's flaming katana clashed with six ninja swords in rapid succession, sparks flying in every direction.
"Don't think this changes anything!" snarled the masked ninja, his fingers jerking the steel wire again. The long needle's trajectory shifted once more, now aiming directly for Yoruki's back.
"Clang!"
Yoruki turned and parried the needle in one fluid motion, his katana shielding him from the relentless assault. His Sharingan glinted ominously, taking in every detail of the chaotic battlefield.
In the Konoha formation, Yamanaka Inoichi stood with his hands forming a seal, his eyes locked on the masked ninja.
"Ninjutsu: Mind-Body Disturbance!"
The masked ninja's body jerked unnaturally. In an instant, he lost control of the wire and his own movements. His hand shifted, redirecting the needle blade toward himself.
The grotesque swordsman wielding the beheading sword quickly intervened, swatting the needle aside with a snarl. "Genjutsy?" he barked, his scarred face twisted in frustration.
In the chaos, Shikaku shouted: "Choza!"
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Choza's massive arms ballooned in size, turning into colossal weapons that dwarfed those around him. With a mighty swing, his fists descended like meteors, smashing into the ground where the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had stood moments before.
"Boom!"
The earth quaked violently, spiderweb cracks radiating from the point of impact. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the battlefield.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, however, proved their skill once again. With almost preternatural agility, they dodged the blow, leaping clear of the destruction.
Among the Kirigakure forces, Terumi Ryuunosuke observed the unfolding battle with narrowed eyes. "The Ino-Shika-Cho formation," he muttered. "So they even brought that to the frontlines."
The teamwork of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans was legendary, their coordination unmatched. For generations, their descendants had fought alongside one another, becoming one of Konoha's most formidable assets.
But Terumi Ryuunosuke's gaze remained calculating. He was all too familiar with Konoha's tactics and their elite ninja. Yet, one absence gave him some relief: Minato Namikaze.
If Minato had joined this battlefield, the situation would have been far graver. Terumi Ryuunosuke recalled Minato's terrifying speed and precision during their last encounter. Even now, years later, the memory of Minato's yellow flash haunted him.
Still, his voice carried authority as he addressed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. "Enough testing. Show them the true power of the Seven Ninja Swords."
At his command, the seven swordsmen shifted, their murderous intent swelling to new heights. The two bandaged warriors among them unwrapped their weapons, revealing their forms. One held an enormous, shark-like blade that pulsed with energy, while the other wielded a grotesque club that oozed malice.
As they advanced, the swords themselves seemed to emit an unsettling sound—like growls from living creatures.
"Is that… a shark?" one of the Konoha ninjas muttered, staring at the shark-like blade in disbelief.
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
=============================================