Red-Eyed Ranmaru

What is going on?

Raiga Kurosuki was stunned.

At his level of strength, ordinary genjutsu had no effect on him, unless it was a high-level technique.

Could it be...

He suddenly recalled a technique—the Mirage of the Second Hokage, which was indeed a high-level genjutsu.

"Lord Raiga, watch out behind you!"

Ranmaru cried out in alarm.

He had detected the chakra of Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Too late!

Hōzuki Mangetsu let out a cold sneer; he had already reached the top of the mountain.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

This was one of the signature ninjutsu of Kirigakure, a high-level Water Style technique that most water-natured jonin could utilize.

Whoosh!

A massive wave of water surged toward Raiga Kurosuki.

Having already seized the geographical advantage, Hōzuki Mangetsu unleashed the torrent from above, instantly submerging Raiga Kurosuki and his companions.

Is it over?

Looking at the vast ocean beneath his feet, Hōzuki Mangetsu focused his vision and spotted Raiga Kurosuki's figure floating on the surface.

The Great Waterfall Technique was an A-rank ninjutsu; even one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen could not recover quickly after taking a direct hit.

Just as Hōzuki Mangetsu reached out to flip Raiga Kurosuki over, a sizzling sound suddenly erupted from Raiga's body.

Lightning Clone Technique!

Hōzuki Mangetsu was shocked and, just as he tried to retreat, a deafening explosion occurred, and thick smoke shrouded the surrounding area.

"Hahaha!"

Raiga Kurosuki's figure suddenly appeared from the other side.

After all, he was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen; as the water descended, he had deployed a Lightning Clone and attached several Explosive Tags to it, successfully ambushing his powerful foe.

"Lord Raiga, he is still alive!"

Ranmaru exclaimed once more.

The water surface churned, and a human shape slowly rose from the depths, gradually shifting into the form of Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Hydrification Technique!

Raiga Kurosuki muttered in frustration.

All physical attacks were useless against the Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki Clan.

However, Lightning Style was a different story.

Raiga Kurosuki snorted, raised the Thunder Blades Kiba in both hands, and charged forward.

Summoning Technique!

Hōzuki Mangetsu now held a strange blade in his hands—a blade in his left, a hammer in his right, connected by a chain in the middle.

Kabutowari!

A sharp blade that ignored all physical defenses.

Raiga Kurosuki immediately recognized the origin of this weapon.

It was also one of the Seven Ninja Swords.

Raiga Kurosuki remembered the last time he had seen the blunt blade; it was over a decade ago, when the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were hunting down three Konoha genin and encountered a strange fellow.

It was that very man who had opened the ultimate taijutsu secret, the Eight Inner Gates, and in a single battle, reduced the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to the Three Ninja Swordsmen.

So, this blade had also fallen into the hands of Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Raiga Kurosuki immediately abandoned the idea of engaging in close-quarters combat with Hōzuki Mangetsu.

In melee, the Thunder Blades Kiba were simply no match for the blunt blade.

"Ninja Art: Thunder Blade Tornado!"

Raiga Kurosuki began to spin.

This was another of his powerful ninjutsu, where he summoned lightning with his twin blades and spun to create a tornado to attack the enemy.

"Ninja Art: Thunder Blade Tornado!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu began to spin as well.

He was also proficient in the use of the Thunder Blades and was a master of Lightning Style himself.

Crackle, pop!

After a whirlwind of thunder and lightning, both sides leaped apart.

Raiga Kurosuki panted heavily, gasping for air.

Only now did he recall that Hōzuki Mangetsu was also a master of Lightning Release, proficient in the use of all seven blades, and currently wielding the Blunt Sword, known for its supreme hardness.

At this moment, Raiga Kurosuki had already fallen into a disadvantageous position.

"Raiga Kurosuki!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Hōzuki Mangetsu spoke up: "Hand over the Lightning Blades and the child behind you, and I will spare your life!"

He had not come here to kill.

Hahahaha!

Raiga Kurosuki suddenly threw his head back and laughed. He clashed his twin blades together and declared: "The Lightning Blades and Ranmaru are the meaning of my existence. Now that you would take them both away, what meaning is left for me to live? Let us die together!"

He let out a roar, raising his twin blades high to merge with the lightning in the sky.

Not good!

Hōzuki Mangetsu's expression changed drastically.

He recognized this as Raiga Kurosuki's strongest technique—the Heaven-Splitting Lightning Snake.

It began by releasing hundreds of small snakes wreathed in electricity that crawled toward the enemy at blinding speed, delivering hundreds of shocks with a high probability of electrocuting the target. Once the enemy was electrocuted, these hundreds of snakes would transform into hundreds of thin lightning swords, piercing the enemy from all angles to ensure that anyone who survived the initial shock would not remain alive.

More importantly, this technique could be used to replenish one's energy.

Although Hōzuki Mangetsu also knew this technique, it required the Lightning Blades to be used effectively.

"Summoning Technique!"

Hiramekarei!

Hōzuki Mangetsu immediately drew his signature twin-bladed Hiramekarei, a ninja sword possessing immense explosive power.

Ninja Art, Hiramekarei Release!

Hōzuki Mangetsu shouted, and a massive sphere of chakra was ejected from the hollows of the Hiramekarei.

This was a tool with incredible explosive force; back in the day, Chojuro had used this very blade to knock back Sasuke's Susanoo.

The chakra orb struck Raiga Kurosuki while he was still charging his attack, instantly separating him from Ranmaru, who was on his back.

Ranmaru!

Raiga Kurosuki let out a miserable cry, already powerless to do anything.

Having unleashed the Heaven-Splitting Lightning Snake, he was nearly drained of all his strength. He had intended to use the technique to replenish his energy, but it had been disrupted by Hōzuki Mangetsu's Hiramekarei.

What is the meaning of my existence?

He murmured to himself, watching the lightning flowing through the dark clouds.

Perhaps a funeral would be more fitting!

Thinking of this, Raiga Kurosuki suddenly mustered all his remaining strength to draw down the lightning.

Countless bolts of lightning were channeled by the Lightning Blades into Raiga Kurosuki's body, and thus, a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen fell.

Even in his final moments, he had held a funeral of lightning for himself, ensuring he did not disgrace his status.

I never thought it would end this way!

Hōzuki Mangetsu sheathed the Lightning Blades and shook his head slightly.

In the original story, Raiga Kurosuki was a tragic figure who had lost himself in slaughter and missions, unaware of the meaning of his own existence, eventually dying in the ending he had chosen for himself.

Unexpectedly, even though Hōzuki Mangetsu had acted first, he still could not change this outcome.

In truth, if one thought about it carefully, this could be considered Raiga Kurosuki's own liberation. For a killing machine raised in the era of the Bloody Mist, death was his only release.

After stowing away the three ninja swords, Hōzuki Mangetsu's gaze fell upon the bundle to the side.

Ranmaru!

The child seemed to have merely fallen unconscious.

As long as Granny Sansho could successfully research the Curry of Life, Ranmaru would be able to regain his health.

Red Eye!

Thinking of this formidable bloodline limit, Hōzuki Mangetsu felt a surge of excitement.

These eyes combined the insight of the Byakugan with the hypnotic abilities of the Sharingan, and even came with innate genjutsu capabilities.

More importantly, these eyes could suppress the observational powers of both the Byakugan and the Sharingan. With them, Hōzuki Mangetsu could calmly deal with any Sharingan or Byakugan users he encountered.