My Great Saber

Uzushiogakure.

It was the hometown of Diejian's grandmother, and for Diejian, who inherited the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan, it could also be called his second home.

This village, located on the border of a small island nation surrounded by the sea, sat in a precarious position between Kirigakure and Konohagakure.

When the princess of the Uzumaki Clan married Senju Hashirama, the founder of Konohagakure, it was calculated that in an emergency, they could draw the Senju Clan—who were considered the strongest alongside the Uchiha Clan and acted as they pleased—into their own ranks as a fighting force.

Later, Senju Hashirama established the village system and, as the "Hokage" who ended the Warring States Period, ascended to the pinnacle of the ninja world.

The Uzumaki Clan, having birthed the wife of the First Hokage, was able to remain under the protection of the Land of Fire and Konohagakure, enjoying a measure of peace and tranquility.

Therefore, Uzushiogakure could not refuse requests from Konohagakure.

Diejian had been traveling to Uzushiogakure under the pretext of hearing progress reports on Kushina Uzumaki, a young girl adopted from Uzushiogakure.

At the same time, to reinforce the cover story of "sightseeing at his grandmother's birthplace," he often brought his younger brother Nawaki along.

Even after small-scale conflicts began between Konohagakure and Sunagakure, Diejian had not rushed to the front lines, all to avoid reducing his opportunities to visit Uzushiogakure.

His goal was to investigate a traitor who might be lurking within Uzushiogakure.

When Kagami Uchiha was killed, testimony from the survivor Juri revealed that it was highly likely the Second Water Shadow had invaded the Land of Fire with the specific intent of murdering the Uchiha Siblings.

However, Kagami's return to Team Six had been a sudden decision; it was far too unnatural for the enemy to have precisely ambushed and attacked him.

Indeed, the fact that Team Six had accepted the mission to escort the Feudal Lord was something that could easily have been leaked from the Feudal Lord's side.

However, the only people who could have known that Kagami Uchiha would return to Team Six were those present at the time.

Yet, there were others who could have known that Diejian was "leaving Team Six."

That would be the upper echelons of Uzushiogakure, who had learned from the Third Hokage that Diejian was going to pick up Kushina.

Rumors that Team Six were experts at escorting missions had long since spread.

Escorting a Feudal Lord, no matter how much the Feudal Lords—who had long forgotten war—might look down upon it, was an important mission for a ninja that could never be taken lightly.

With Diejian absent, it was nearly impossible for the mission to be carried out by a two-man team consisting of only one Chunin and one Jonin.

Personnel would certainly have to be added.

In that case, the ninja added to Team Six after Diejian's departure could be none other than their former lead Jonin, Kagami Uchiha.

Only the upper echelons of Konohagakure and Uzushiogakure could have known about the vacancy left by Diejian.

Within Uzushiogakure, there were those hostile to Konohagakure—this was the deduction shared by Diejian and Danzo.

Facing the slightly hawkish words and actions of Diejian and Danzo, the Third Hokage had to maintain an impartial perspective.

Hiruzen was unwilling to suspect Uzushiogakure, an ally since the era of Senju Hashirama, but he did not forbid Diejian from conducting a covert investigation.

Given that Uzushiogakure had entrusted Kushina Uzumaki, who belonged to the direct line of the Uzumaki Clan, to Konohagakure, the Third Hokage believed that Uzushiogakure had not betrayed them.

But even so, one could not assert that this wasn't a piece placed on the board for a future falling out.

Since one could not deny that the seeds of betrayal might be spread throughout all of Uzushiogakure, now that the times were beginning to grow turbulent, an internal investigation of Uzushiogakure was necessary to protect Konohagakure.

One and a half years.

Diejian had frequently traveled to Uzushiogakure using Kushina as his excuse.

During this period, small-scale conflicts between Sunagakure and smaller nations gradually intensified, and he had even watched the back of Sakumo as he headed to the battlefield once again.

Diejian suppressed the regret of being unable to help his friend and continued to carry out his missions.

And now, the result of that was sinking into a pool of blood-red right before his eyes.

Crouching by the rocks, Diejian's eyes widened in shock as he stared fixedly at the scene.

It was a beach where the horizon could be seen.

Fine white sand shimmered under the sunlight, covered by waves, and the small amount of sand washed away was revealed once more.

On this deserted beach, the "traitor" Diejian had been searching for lay motionless, letting the white sand drink its lifeblood without reservation.

Approximately four hours—

Diejian had been monitoring the prone Uzushiogakure ninja the entire time.

If this were an act, or if there were some kind of ambush, now would be the time they could no longer wait to act.

The sun had begun to slant westward, and the red color absorbed by the sand had turned to a copper-bronze hue from contact with the air.

Diejian threw a Kunai from the shadow of the rocks.

The Kunai met no resistance as it pierced the back of the prone ninja.

One minute, two minutes.

There was no movement.

Diejian scanned his surroundings and emerged from behind the rocks.

He approached the prone Uzushiogakure ninja.

The Kunai he had drawn just in case, its unadorned, pitch-black blade, glinted dully in the sunlight.

No footprints were left on the beach; this was the application of the Water Surface Walking Technique.

Diejian crouched beside the prone ninja and placed two fingers against the side of his neck.

He felt no pulse at his fingertips.

Without a doubt, the man was dead.

Diejian furrowed his brows and roughly flipped the corpse onto its back.

A blood-stained short blade was revealed beneath the body.

The neck of the corpse, now exposed by the shift in position, was soaked in a massive amount of blood, revealing a gruesome wound.

Diejian had spoken to this man a few times in the past.

He recalled a man whose relaxed, narrow eyes always exuded a gentle air.

But now, those narrow eyes were wide open, staring into the void.

His expression was twisted in extreme agony.

It was as if he had seen something beyond belief.

This man had cut his own throat with his own hand—what on earth had he seen at that moment?

Diejian closed the corpse's eyelids with a practiced, businesslike motion.

He turned his gaze toward the blood-stained short blade that had lost its master.

Just as he reached out to pick it up, Diejian froze.

The sensation of being watched.

The opponent was already quite close.

He had been too focused on what was in front of him, neglecting his vigilance toward his surroundings.

Diejian sighed inwardly, admonishing himself for his carelessness.

Diejian withdrew his outstretched hand and slowly stood up.

With his back turned, he projected his killing intent to signal, "I have found you," and the owner of the presence responded by releasing their own killing intent in kind.

There was no signal to begin the battle.

Diejian spun around in an instant, throwing the kunai he held in his hand.

The owner of the presence closed the distance in a flash, swinging a massive blade, thick as a log, toward where Diejian stood.

Diejian's kunai grazed the side of the attacker and flew off into the distance.

Perhaps convinced that he would kill Diejian, the attacker's lips curled upward—but Diejian's figure vanished.

Flying Thunder God: Second Stage: Heavenly Weeping.

Suddenly appearing behind the stunned attacker, Diejian unleashed the seal-less Water Release: Heavenly Weeping.

The water senbon, sharpened to a lethal edge, shot straight toward the attacker's head and struck true.

"A shadow clone...?"

The body of the attacker struck by the Heavenly Weeping shattered like mist, turning into ordinary water that seeped into the sand.

—Immediately following.

Three figures appeared.

Each ninja carried a distinct, characteristic blade, approaching in a formation that surrounded Diejian.

Diejian looked at the three figures in turn and nodded.

"I see. It really is Kirigakure. That Uzushio ninja must have been your inside man. To be able to make someone from another village choose to commit suicide—it seems Kirigakure's methods are quite sophisticated."

The Uzushio ninja who took his own life might even have been a relative of Kushina.

He couldn't know without an investigation, but if that Uzushio ninja had held deep feelings for Kushina, he might have walked this extreme path out of grief over her impending fate as a Jinchuriki.

Regardless, if Konoha learned that there were seeds of betrayal in Uzushio Village, they would have no choice but to act.

The person responsible for that investigation had to be someone who wouldn't look out of place traveling to Uzushio Village—it was obvious that someone from the former allies, the Senju Clan, would be chosen.

And in reality, Senju Diejian had gone to Uzushio Village thinking he had caught the tail of a traitor—only to be lured out instead.

"I presume you are the next head of the Senju Clan, Lord Senju Diejian."

Hearing the words of the Kirigakure ninja, Diejian frowned.

"—Is my head your target? I've become famous, haven't I? But it's too late. If you wanted to kill me, you should have done it when I was still a brat."

"—In recent years, your martial achievements have grown at an astonishing rate. In fact, the reputation of you slaying 'that' Kinkaku has spread your strength throughout the Shinobi World with terrifying momentum. You are truly like a dragon ascending to the heavens. To have hidden such strength until now is worthy of praise. You must have been sharpening your claws while hiding behind the rumors of the 'Senju's decline,' unlike the 'White Fang' who burst into the upper echelons of Konoha in his teens. Truly, you are a ninja among ninjas."

"Ah, no, I didn't intend to do anything of the sort..."

These were merely the many pieces the Second Hokage had laid out to protect Diejian.

Diejian hadn't noticed; he had simply lived as he pleased until now.

Diejian had been hearing these kinds of things often lately, and each time, he felt uncomfortable.

Because he had no clue.

Although he suspected Tobirama had done something, thinking about it further made him feel suffocated at the thought of his late Teacher worrying over him, so he tried his best not to dwell on it.

"That greatsword wielder. You are Suikazan Fuguki, aren't you? I saw you during the Chunin Exams."

"--You actually remember me? I'm almost tempted to let you go."

"--?"

To change the subject, Diejian looked toward the ninja holding the familiar greatsword.

The response he received was spoken with a hint of sorrow.

Perhaps he had been forgotten by someone once.

Diejian tilted his head slightly.

"Anyway."

With Diejian's words, the flow of the air shifted.

The air grew so tense that even the sound of the waves seemed to be cut off, sending a chill through the Kirigakure ninjas.

"If you of Kirigakure intend to become enemies of Konoha—"

Before he could finish, six clones appeared around Diejian.

The six Shadow Clones split into three two-man teams, each taking a position as if to confront the Kirigakure ninjas.

"Then there is no choice. I will end it here—"

The Shadow Clones began weaving hand seals in unison.

The Kirigakure ninjas immediately drew their ninja swords, shifting into combat stances.

Standing as if guarded by the six Shadow Clones, Diejian crossed his arms, tucked his chin, and cast a sharp gaze forward.

"--and finish you all."

His arms remained crossed.

He raised a single finger.

Chakra erupted.

A gale whipped up, and on the sand-strewn beach, a dragon rose.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."

Diejian's Shadow Clones released the ninjutsu in unison.

Six dragons surged forward, intent on devouring their respective enemies.

However, they were all shattered.

Meeting them were the individual ninja swords of the Kirigakure group.

One was a greatsword covered in sharp scales.

One was a pair of blades wreathed in lightning.

One was a broad-bladed greatsword that looked like a flatfish or flounder viewed from above.

The Shadow Clones clashed fiercely with the Kirigakure ninjas.

Diejian's main body briefly assessed the situation—then, targeting Suikazan Fuguki, he began to move.

Because he was the youngest of the three Kirigakure ninjas, his movements were not as polished as the others.

Diejian judged that he should start by weakening the opposition there.

Diejian sprinted as if gliding across the ground.

He drew a kunai from the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist and infused it with chakra.

This was the technique he had used to defeat Kinkaku back then, wrapping compressed Water Release around the blade.

The Shadow Clone engaging Fuguki suddenly vanished.

Fuguki, in the middle of swinging his greatsword, could not react to the sudden disappearance of the clone, and his swing cut through empty air.

Diejian slipped into the smoke created by the vanishing clone, closed the distance, and swung his kunai.

The chakra coating the kunai extended its edge to the length of a sword.

However, he was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist for a reason.

Ignoring the risk of injury to his own feet, Fuguki forced himself to use a Body Flicker Technique in an awkward posture to kick off the ground and retreat.

At the same time, using the momentum of his retreat, he pulled Samehada back to attempt a defense.

Diejian retracted his swung kunai, holding it at his waist in an iaijutsu stance, and pressed toward the retreating Fuguki.

Then, a fierce clash erupted.

A kunai with the reach of a sword met Fuguki's great blade.

This was a strike capable of stripping away even the Nine-Tails cloak; no ninja blade could defend against it. Thus, Diejian realized the terror of the Seven Ninja Swords.

"Have you noticed? My great blade, Samehada... it shaves away and devours chakra."

"What—?"

The moment the kunai Diejian swung collided with the great blade Samehada held by Fuguki, it reverted to its original length, slicing through nothing but air.

The sensation was like trying to sit down only to find no chair beneath you—a feeling of weightlessness followed by shock.

Before his eyes, the great blade, Samehada, loomed closer.

If this continued, his face would be blown away.

"Circle Domain: Heavenly Might!"

"Oh? I told you, didn't I? The great blade, Samehada, shaves away... and devours chakra."

Diejian instantly generated a chakra barrier around himself, further releasing a massive amount of chakra within the barrier with explosive force, attempting to halt Fuguki's movements.

However, that vast chakra drained away in an instant.

Assailed by a sense of exhaustion, Diejian had no technique left to defend against the great blade looming before his eyes.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Diejian instantly teleported to the location of a kunai he had thrown earlier, which now lay on the ground some distance from Fuguki.

The exhaustion caused by the massive reduction in his chakra forced Diejian to drop to one knee.

"So that is the space-time ninjutsu the Second Hokage was rumored to excel at. I see. Indeed, if one were unaware, they would mistake it for an extremely high-speed Body Flicker."

"Tch!"

Because his main body's chakra had been disrupted by the previous exchange, the Shadow Clone fighting the other two ninjas slowed down and was destroyed.

Diejian understood this through the presence of the approaching twin blades and the great blade.

To withstand the incoming attacks, Diejian quickly formed hand seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Sand Collapse Technique!"

Centered on Diejian, sand and earth erupted in a ring.

Rising like waves, the earth and sand attempted to protect Diejian, surging with the ferocity of a tsunami to swallow the two ninjas.

However, it was to no avail.

The twin blades used their coiled lightning to sever the approaching Earth Release, while the great blade blew away the waves of earth with its sheer destructive power.

But this series of attacks and defenses created a momentary gap.

Diejian formed further hand seals, drawing a deep breath into his chest. "Fire Release: Twin Flame Dragon Fire Technique!"

The fire dragons exhaled from Diejian's mouth coiled into a circle, as if guarding him.

The beach transformed into a hellish landscape.

The scorching twin-headed dragon fire, intent on burning everything to ash, opened its maws and assaulted the Kirigakure ninjas.

The two Kirigakure ninjas were forced to retreat.

But at the same time, a Water Release unleashed by Fuguki surged forward, attempting to neutralize Diejian's flames.

The fire dragons and the water dragon clashed violently, turning into steam with a hissing sound.

Mist filled the area around Diejian, and as the Kirigakure ninjas swapped positions to create distance, they hurled shuriken into the fog.