The Battle Is Only Just Beginning! (Please Follow!)

At the sound of the voice, Uchiha Sou's expression shifted slightly. He warily scanned his surroundings.

He hadn't expected someone to come looking for trouble so soon after Shisui left.

He was also wondering how these people had found this place. From the looks of it, they had come with a specific purpose in mind.

That made him suspect that a ninja from one of the "war zones" had falsified a report. The reports hadn't mentioned any ninja casualties.

"Or is there a traitor in our town?"

Uchiha Sou thought this as he moved without hesitation, stepping in front of Uchiha Shizuka before sweeping his gaze across the area.

Soon, he spotted two figures in a tree. With their arms crossed, they looked down at Uchiha Sou and Uchiha Shizuka.

"Who are you?"

Uchiha Sou had recognized the two at first glance, and his heart gave a faint jolt.

Uchiha Shizuka's expression shifted as well. Clearly, she recognized them too!

They were members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. One was Raiga Kurosuki, wielder of the Lightning Blade. The other was Juzo Biwa, who had wielded Kubikiribōchō before Zabuza!

Had the Seven Ninja Swordsmen come?

At the thought, Uchiha Sou grew serious. A battle had already broken out in town, and this was definitely bad news for him!

Perhaps the only good news was that Shisui Uchiha had already rushed over there.

"Don't pretend to be so innocent. If you don't even know who we are, then you're probably not qualified to be the commander."

Raiga Kurosuki looked at Uchiha Sou impassively and let out a cold laugh.

"Don't expect reinforcements. The others who came with us may be useless, but they're more than enough to deal with those civilians and the ninjas you left here."

Uchiha Sou paused at that, then spoke thoughtfully. "You're certainly confident. Is that typical of the Mist Ninja?"

"Stop trying to fish for information." Juzo Biwa, who had been silent until now, snorted and spoke up. "I can tell you whatever you want to know. Consider it your last wish before you die."

"Are the others also members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?" Uchiha Sou thought for a moment, then asked, his expression turning serious.

"No." Juzo Biwa shook his head. "Do you think you're worthy of making all seven of us act together?"

If they weren't, then this was manageable!

At that news, Uchiha Sou finally felt a little relieved. As long as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen weren't all acting together, there was still a chance to turn things around!

Though he was still wary of the seven men, each of them was no ordinary opponent.

But even so, he was confident he could take them on!

He hadn't wasted the past six months, after all. And besides, Shisui, a Mangekyo user, was with him.

Still, that only applied if he was facing one or two of them, not all seven at once!

For one thing, if they were acting together, Shisui wouldn't have had enough time to defeat his opponent and come back to reinforce them.

"Enough talk. Now—"

Raiga Kurosuki watched Uchiha Sou remain silent, then coolly drew a ninja sword.

"Though your death is certain, you've caused us a fair bit of trouble. I always show the utmost respect to people like you. Tell me your name."

"And what makes you so sure I'm going to die?" Uchiha Sou took a deep breath, slipped one hand behind his back, and let a mocking smile play across his lips.

"Not willing to say?" Raiga Kurosuki paid no attention to Uchiha Sou's tone. Lightning arcs began to spark along Kiba in his hand. "Then take your name with you to the Pure Land!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Raiga Kurosuki charged forward, moving at an astonishing speed.

In almost an instant, he was right beside Uchiha Sou!

"You really are—"

But at that moment, Uchiha Sou smiled. In the blink of an eye, his eyes turned crimson, and three black Tomoe began to slowly revolve in them!

"—not very levelheaded!"

"Damn it!"

Raiga Kurosuki suddenly sensed danger, but he couldn't close his eyes in time. A strange surge of chakra struck straight at his brain.

Just as he was about to hit Uchiha Sou, he suffered a fatal moment of distraction!

Uchiha Sou wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by. He swiftly drew a kunai from his ninja pouch and, without hesitation, slashed it toward Raiga's neck.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

But at that very moment, several kunai shot toward him, completely blocking his attack.

If he pressed on and killed Raiga Kurosuki, the kunai would pierce him without hesitation!

"What a nuisance."

Uchiha Sou frowned slightly. He quickly changed the angle of his kunai, switching from attack to defense at the last moment.

It wasn't that he didn't want to force his way in and kill Raiga Kurosuki. His Sharingan had activated too hastily, and he hadn't prepared the genjutsu well enough.

And Raiga Kurosuki was still one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Even after being caught by surprise, he recovered as quickly as he could.

But Uchiha Sou wasn't about to let him off. He swiftly raised his left leg and swept it at the man's abdomen like an iron whip.

Thud!

To his surprise, Raiga Kurosuki blocked the kick with his arm, then swung his ninja sword at Uchiha Sou with his other hand!

But Uchiha Sou didn't give him the chance. In an instant, he had already activated the Substitution Technique.

When he appeared again, he was back beside Uchiha Shizuka. All that remained where he had been was a log.

"Uchiha..." Juzo Biwa leaped down beside Raiga Kurosuki. "To have a Three-Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age—you don't see many geniuses like that."

"Being praised by a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen is quite an honor."

Uchiha Sou held a kunai in his right hand, keeping it in front of his chest. He spoke with faint regret.

"But if you hadn't stepped in, my record might have been even more impressive."

"Damn brat..." Raiga Kurosuki's expression darkened. In the moment he'd been trapped by the Sharingan Genjutsu, he'd truly thought he was done for.

He knew just how powerful the Sharingan was. Now he finally understood why the brat hadn't given his name!

"He may be an idiot, but I can't let you kill him."

Juzo Biwa drew the Kubikiribōchō from his back, his tone turning cold.

"Your method is perfectly reasonable. A ninja should do whatever it takes to win. But we're ninjas too."

"Ready, brat?"

Raiga Kurosuki gritted his teeth and spoke through them as he drew his other ninja sword.

"The battle is only just beginning!"