Just as Kakuzu and Konoha's forces were locked in fierce battle, the Mist Village's four Ninja Swordsmen had quietly crept nearby, hiding behind a large tree and watching from the sidelines.
"Who's that guy? He looks pretty tough, holding his own against Jiraiya?"
After taking beatings for days on end, Suikazan Fuguki was the first to take an interest in Kakuzu.
"Whoa, he even summoned that giant toad!"
"Damn, this guy's Earth Release is pretty solid!"
"Holy crap, that slash had some power! Juzo, could you block it?"
The four watched the intense battle from afar, practically one bag of sunflower seeds away from becoming spectators at a show.
But after Konoha's shinobi swarmed in, Kakuzu quickly fell into danger. Suikazan Fuguki could no longer sit still.
He removed [Samehada] from his back. "Konoha's people have no sense of honor. So many against one—we need to help him out."
"Suikazan, do you even know who he is? And you want to help him? Our goal is to stall for time, not go head-to-head with Konoha!" Biwa Juzo said, puzzled.
"Doesn't matter who he is. As long as he's fighting Konoha, we're definitely backing him up!" Suikazan Fuguki's tone was exceptionally forceful.
"This..."
The other three exchanged looks, feeling that Suikazan Fuguki might have been beaten senseless by Jiraiya.
But in Kirigakure, strength determined who had the right to speak. As the strongest wielder of Samehada among the four present, Suikazan Fuguki's orders could not be ignored.
"Move!"
At his command, the three men besides Raiga Kurosuki formed hand seals at once. "Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Rumble!
Boundless waves rose from the flat ground. This place was already not far from the coast, and with the three of them exerting themselves together, it was as though they had