The Battle Only Just Begins! (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Upon hearing this voice, the expression on Uchiha Sou's face shifted slightly, and he began to scan his surroundings with vigilance.

He truly hadn't expected that someone would come looking for trouble the moment Shisui left.

He was currently pondering how this group had managed to locate this place, and it appeared they had arrived with a clear objective in mind.

This led him to suspect whether a ninja from a certain "war zone" had falsified their report, as those reports had contained no mention of any ninja casualties.

"Or perhaps, there is a traitor in our small town?"

Uchiha Sou thought to himself, but his movements did not slow down; he shielded Uchiha Shizuka behind him and swept his gaze across the area.

Soon, he spotted two figures perched in a tree, their arms crossed as they gazed down at Uchiha Sou and Uchiha Shizuka from their vantage point.

"Who are you people?"

In truth, Uchiha Sou had recognized these two at first glance, which caused his heart to tremble slightly.

Uchiha Shizuka's expression also changed; clearly, she had recognized who these two were as well!

These two were members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist: one was the wielder of the Kiba blades, Raiga Kurosuki, and the other was Juzo Biwa, the previous wielder of the Kubikiribōchō before Zabuza!

Could it be that the entire Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had arrived?

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Uchiha Sou's heart grew heavy, especially since fighting had already broken out within the town—this was definitely not good news for him!

Perhaps the only silver lining was that Uchiha Shisui had already rushed over there.

"Don't pretend to be so naive. If you don't even know who we are, then I'm afraid you aren't qualified to be this commander..."

Raiga Kurosuki looked at Uchiha Sou with indifference and let out a cold sneer as he spoke.

"Don't expect any reinforcements. Although the others who followed us here are trash, I think they are more than enough to deal with those civilians and the ninja you left behind."

Uchiha Sou was slightly stunned upon hearing this, then he spoke thoughtfully: "You are truly confident. Is this the standard style of you Mist Ninja?"

"No need to fish for information." The previously silent Juzo Biwa let out a cold snort and spoke up: "I can tell you directly whatever you want to know; consider it your dying wish."

"Are the others also members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Uchiha Sou pondered for a moment before asking with a serious expression.

"No." Juzo Biwa shook his head: "Do you think you are qualified for all seven of us to act together?"

If it wasn't them, then things were manageable!

Upon hearing this news, Uchiha Sou finally felt a slight sense of relief. As long as the entire Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist weren't out in force, there was still room to turn the tide of this ambush!

Although Uchiha Sou still felt a degree of wariness toward these seven, as their individual strength was truly formidable.

But beyond that wariness, he also had the confidence to clash with them!

After all, he hadn't wasted the past six months, not to mention he had Shisui, a wielder of the Mangekyo, by his side.

However, such a clash was only viable against one or two, not all seven at once!

If nothing else, if they were all acting together, Shisui likely wouldn't be able to finish off his opponents and return to reinforce him so quickly.

"Finished with the small talk? Then..."

Raiga Kurosuki watched Uchiha Sou remain silent and indifferently drew a ninja blade.

"Although you are destined to die, you are at least someone who has caused us some trouble. For people like you, I have always shown the utmost respect. Leave your name."

"How can you be so sure that I am destined to die?" Uchiha Sou took a deep breath, his hands behind his back, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"You don't want to say it?" Raiga Kurosuki didn't care about Uchiha Sou's tone at all; the Kiba in his hands had already begun to crackle with electric arcs: "Then take your name to the Pure Land!"

As soon as his voice fell, Raiga Kurosuki charged forward, his speed breathtakingly fast.

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

"You really are..."

However, at this moment, Uchiha Sou revealed a smile. In a flash, his eyes turned a deep crimson, and three black tomoe slowly spun within them!

"...not rational enough!"

"Damn it!"

Raiga Kurosuki suddenly realized the danger, but he had no time to close his eyes; a strange chakra had already struck his brain.

At the very moment he was about to strike Uchiha Sou, he suffered a fatal lapse in focus!

Uchiha Sou would never miss such an opportunity. He quickly drew a kunai from his ninja pouch and, without the slightest hesitation, slashed it toward Raiga Kurosuki's throat.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

However, at that exact moment, several kunai came flying in, completely blocking Uchiha Sou's path of attack.

If he insisted on finishing off Raiga Kurosuki, these kunai would pierce through him without hesitation!

"What a nuisance."

Uchiha Sou frowned slightly, quickly changing the angle of his kunai, shifting from an offensive stance to a defensive one on the fly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to force a kill on Raiga Kurosuki, but he had activated his Sharingan too hastily, and his genjutsu hadn't been fully prepared.

Raiga Kurosuki was, after all, a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen; even after being ambushed, he recovered at top speed.

However, Uchiha Sou would not let this guy off easily. He quickly raised his left leg and swept it fiercely toward the guy's abdomen like an iron whip.

Bang!

However, contrary to his expectations, Raiga Kurosuki blocked the strike with his arm, while his other hand gripped his ninja sword and slashed fiercely toward him!

But Uchiha Sou did not give him the chance; in an instant, his Substitution Technique had already been quietly activated.

By the time he reappeared, he had already landed back beside Uchiha Shizuka, leaving behind nothing but a wooden log.

"Uchiha," Juzo Biwa leaped up and landed beside Raiga Kurosuki. "To possess the Three Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age—a genius like this is truly rare."

"To receive praise from a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, perhaps this is my honor."

Uchiha Sou held a kunai in his right hand against his chest, speaking with a hint of regret.

"It is just that if you hadn't intervened, perhaps my battle record could have been even more impressive."

"Damn brat," Raiga Kurosuki's expression turned incredibly ugly. In the moment he had been controlled by the Sharingan genjutsu, he truly felt that he was in grave danger.

He was well aware of the power of the Sharingan, and now he finally understood why this brat hadn't bothered to give his name!

"Although this guy is an idiot, I cannot let you actually kill him."

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

"Your methods are understandable; for the sake of victory, a ninja should use any means necessary, but we are also ninjas."

"Are you ready, brat?"

Raiga Kurosuki gritted his teeth and spoke viciously, simultaneously drawing his other ninja sword.

"The battle only begins now!"

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