"Don't underestimate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!" Biwa Juzo's furious, contemptuous voice rang out suddenly behind Uchiha Shisui.
Before Uchiha Shisui could react, a tremendous force slammed into his back like a heavy hammer.
"When!?"
Shisui felt as though a mountain had crashed into his back. His bones creaked under the force.
His body shot forward uncontrollably, like a cannonball, his torso bent in pain as he flew through the air.
With a dull thud, he crashed hard into a thick tree trunk.
The tremendous impact tore off the bark, sending splinters flying.
Shisui felt as though his internal organs had shifted. Blood burst from his mouth, tracing a bright arc through the air.
"It's over, brat!" Biwa Juzo said, a vicious, triumphant grin spreading across his face. He raised Kubikiribōchō high, its blade gleaming with a chilling light, as though thirsting for blood.
Then he swung his arm, and the great sword came crashing down with a roar of wind, its force like a thunderbolt.
With a sharp creak, the trunk—thick as a person—was sliced clean through by Kubikiribōchō's terrifying power. The cut was smooth and even, and splinters flew everywhere.
But the scene he had expected, with Uchiha Shisui decapitated, never came to pass.
At the last moment, Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique to appear on a nearby tree trunk.
Crouched on a branch, he trembled slightly and slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wary.
He glanced down at the broken Ninja Blade still in his hand and felt a lingering chill.
If the blade hadn't blocked the blow for a moment and taken some of Kubikiribōchō's force, he would probably have been cut in half by now.
"Tch, lucky brat. Let's see how you block my next strike."
Biwa Juzo glared at the battered Shisui crouched on the branch, raising Kubikiribōchō high with an exasperated scowl. Its cold gleam reflected off his twisted face, as if he were about to cut Shisui down the very next moment.
But just as he readied himself to strike, a deafening crash suddenly erupted behind him, followed by a powerful wave of air.
The enormous explosion echoed through the forest, shaking leaves from the trees and making the ground tremble.
The blast was powerful enough to alert the watchtowers Konoha had set up, as well as the Konoha Ninja carrying out missions nearby.
"Damn it! Why now?"
Biwa Juzo's face turned ashen. He shot an angry glance at Shisui, who could still fight, and seethed with frustration.
But he knew that if he kept fighting and Konoha's reinforcements arrived, he would be trapped in a desperate situation.
After weighing his options, he spat in disgust, put away Kubikiribōchō, and fled. His figure soon disappeared into the dense woods.
The moment Shisui heard the explosion, the tension in his body eased, and he swayed slightly as he relaxed.
Watching Biwa Juzo flee, he realized that the traps he had set earlier had worked, saving his life.
Fighting through the pain, he made his way toward the Konoha watchtower.
Uchiha Shisui dragged his weary body toward the Konoha watchtower.
His Anbu uniform and mask were covered in dust and blood, but they were still easy to recognize.
The guards in the tower immediately recognized him as Anbu. They didn't give him any trouble; after a few brief questions, they let him return to Konoha on his own.
Shisui nodded in thanks, a warm feeling welling up inside him.
After enduring so many hardships and being hunted in Kirigakure, he had finally returned to familiar surroundings. The long-missed sense of safety gradually eased the tension in his body.
He didn't use the main gate, instead heading for the barrier entrance known only to Anbu.
The moment he crossed the barrier and entered Konoha, an indescribable sense of familiarity welled up inside him.
"Just as I remember. It's been a long time."
He murmured to himself, a faint smile on his face.
However, he knew what he needed to do first.
Without lingering, he quickly organized the intelligence in his ninja pouch and hurried toward the Hokage's office.
He knew that reporting to the Third Hokage and giving a full account of the intelligence he had gathered in Kirigakure and everything he had gone through was the top priority. Konoha's safety—and his own—depended on it.
Uchiha Shisui stood outside the Hokage Building and took a deep breath, calming his weary body and mind before gently knocking on the door.
Almost immediately, Hiruzen Sarutobi's familiar, steady voice came from inside. "Is that you, Shisui? You're back."
At the sound of his voice, Shisui felt a slight stir in his heart.
He knew that after entering the village through the barrier reserved for Anbu, he must have been followed discreetly by other Anbu Ninja along the way. They would naturally report his movements to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, so it was no surprise that Hiruzen knew he had returned.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Shisui replied respectfully, his voice steady with the strength of someone who had endured hardship.
He pushed the door open and entered. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk.
The familiar face, the kind yet authoritative gaze.
Shisui stepped forward and began reporting his experiences and the intelligence he had gathered to the Third Hokage.
Shisui stood quietly as he gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a full account of what had happened to him in Kirigakure, the intelligence he had gathered, and his fierce clash with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened in silence. His expression was calm, though his eyes occasionally flashed with concern.
When Shisui finished, Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment before speaking. "Now that you're back, take a month to rest and recover."
His voice was even, but there was an unmistakable authority in it.
Shisui felt a tightening in his chest. He knew this politician well and immediately understood the hidden meaning behind Hiruzen Sarutobi's seemingly simple order.
On the surface, he was being told to rest. In reality, he would be monitored throughout the month.
After all, he had spent a year in Kirigakure and carried too many secrets. Kirigakure wouldn't simply let him go, and no one could be sure whether the enemy had forced him into some kind of compromise.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Shisui said respectfully, showing no trace of discontent or unease.
He knew that everything in Konoha had to serve the greater good. Besides, his conscience was clear. Though this month of "rest" would involve surveillance, it would also give him a chance to recuperate and regain his strength.