The Prelude

"Hey, Raiga Kurosuki, have you heard? We've got a secret mission tonight."

Suikazan Fuguki, who had just been urgently summoned back to duty from his leave, chatted curiously with his companion.

"I only just got the message myself. But since it's an order from the Mizukage, we'll do as we're told." Ever since returning from the Land of Rain two months ago, Raiga Kurosuki had grown more and more accustomed to the comfortable life in Kirigakure.

It wasn't that Kirigakure was especially peaceful. Rather, with Raiga Kurosuki's strength and status in the village, he could have lived freely for the rest of his life.

Still puzzled, Suikazan Fuguki turned his attention to another companion.

"What about you, Biwa Juzo? I heard the Fourth Mizukage thinks highly of you. Have you heard anything new?"

Not only had the other two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen Trio noticed it, Biwa Juzo himself had sensed that the Mizukage's attitude toward him had changed recently. His words and actions all seemed to be aimed at winning Juzo over.

But Biwa Juzo was an elite member of Kirigakure's Anbu, the Mizukage's own direct force to begin with, wasn't he?

"Don't make things up. The Mizukage treats everyone equally. I only heard that a new Mizukage Aide has appeared at his side..."

Biwa Juzo stopped halfway through, because the Fourth Mizukage and the Mizukage Aide were standing not far in front of them.

"Is everyone in position?"

Not far from the Kaguya Clan's compound, Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura and the masked Shimura Danzō inspected the assembled forces.

"Reporting to the Mizukage and his aide: our regular forces have sealed off every street within five hundred meters. No one is allowed to approach. To avoid any complications, the main force for this operation consists entirely of Kirigakure Anbu members. This will ensure that no information leaks during the mission."

As captain of the Anbu, Karatachi Suirō was reporting on the operation's progress to Kirigakure's two most powerful figures.

Almost every senior figure in Kirigakure knew that Mizukage Karatachi Yagura had brought in a mysterious man who called himself Uchiha Madara and appointed him Mizukage Aide.

Everyone was skeptical when a legendary figure, who should have been dead for more than forty years, suddenly appeared before them.

But this "Uchiha Madara" possessed Kage Level strength and a Sharingan. Apart from Fourth Mizukage and Three-Tails Jinchuriki Karatachi Yagura, hardly anyone dared claim they could beat "Uchiha Madara" in a one-on-one fight.

As luck would have it, Karatachi Yagura was on "Uchiha Madara's" side, too.

So everyone wisely accepted it as fact.

"Then let's begin." As Karatachi Yagura spoke, he turned his gaze toward Biwa Juzo and the other two.

"You three will lead this operation."

Only now did Biwa Juzo and the other two realize that tonight's secret mission was to attack the Kaguya Clan's compound.

Even the Anbu members had only been told that an important mission was underway. The entire force had been mobilized.

But none of them had expected such an unusual mission.

The Kaguya Clan had existed since Kirigakure's founding and had once made outstanding contributions to the village.

On the battlefield, thanks to their extraordinary physical abilities and fearless fighting spirit, the Kaguya Clan were the most reliable of comrades—and often their enemies' worst nightmare.

But away from the battlefield, their impulsive, volatile nature was widely despised. No one wanted allies who were political idiots, knew nothing but fighting, and needlessly brought trouble down on them.

After all, political backstabbing was often deadlier than anything on the battlefield.

In this respect, the Kaguya Clan's awkward position in Kirigakure was much like that of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha.

Even so, why not simply send the Kaguya Clan to the battlefield, where they excel? Why wipe them out? That was the question on the minds of the Anbu members present.

It was also the question Shisui had asked himself in his final moments in his previous life.

But despite their doubts, no one was foolish enough to voice them.

If they offended both the Mizukage and his aide, how would they be any different from the Kaguya Clan?

"Yes, Mizukage." The Three Ninja Swordsmen quickly acknowledged the mission.

"First Division, follow me. Second and Third Divisions, follow Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki. Fourth and Fifth Divisions, split up once you enter the Kaguya Clan's compound and provide support as needed." As the most senior and experienced member of the Three Ninja Swordsmen, Suikazan Fuguki was entitled to give orders in the absence of Anbu Captain Karatachi Suirō.

"Move out." Under Suikazan Fuguki's command, the Kirigakure Anbu set off toward the Kaguya Clan's compound.

"Stay here and guard against interference from other forces. I'll go in with them and make sure the mission our master assigned is completed." After the others left, Danzō gave Karatachi Yagura his instructions.

Under Shisui's arrangement, Karatachi Yagura, who was under genjutsu control, could follow Shimura Danzō's orders as well.

As for Danzō, he did have something more important to take care of.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" The Kaguya Clan might have had almost no political instincts, but their combat awareness was second to none.

When Suikazan Fuguki was still a hundred meters from the Kaguya Clan's compound, the clan's outer sentries spotted them and immediately raised the alarm.

"Quick, keep moving! Don't fall behind." Suikazan Fuguki's plan to catch the Kaguya Clan off guard had failed, but his extensive combat experience came in handy. He didn't panic; instead, the commander led the Anbu onward.

"Suikazan Fuguki, Biwa Juzo, Raiga Kurosuki—what do you think you're doing?" The Kaguya Clan guards rushed over at the alarm and shouted at them when they recognized who had come.

"Ignore them. We're close enough. Prepare the first wave of ninjutsu," Suikazan Fuguki ordered.

Unlike small-scale duels, in large-scale battles between ninja forces like this one, individual strength rarely determined the outcome. Teamwork and a steady battle rhythm were the keys to large-scale combat. This was where Suikazan Fuguki's extensive experience in battle and command proved useful.

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" Suikazan Fuguki, at the head of the charge, opened with a large-scale Water Release Ninjutsu. Waves surged forward like a raging tsunami, instantly swallowing the outer walls and other defenses of the Kaguya compound. At the same time, they created favorable conditions for the forces behind him to unleash their own Water Release Ninjutsu.