Selecting the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Blade

Konoha

The village's Ten Thousand Person Arena, Jonin with seats occupied by many Konoha, but many of Konoha Jonin listless.

At the summons of Namikaze Minato, numerous Konoha Jonin gathered in the Ten Thousand Person Arena, ready to begin a Jonin tournament.

Bang!

With a large scroll hanging from his waist, Namikaze Minato appeared in the center of the arena. Upon noticing this, the Konoha Jonin immediately perked up and jumped down from the arena, gathering around Namikaze Minato.

"Ahem, everyone, the Jonin Tournament is meant to prevent Jonin from forgetting the code of conduct of ninjas and losing the hard work required to hone their Ninjutsu in a peaceful environment."

Secondly, it was to select seven ninjas to form the Konoha Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Blade organization.

Here are seven extraordinary weapons; the first seven ninjas will receive one of these seven weapons.

Namikaze Minato succinctly explained the purpose of summoning the Jonin. After speaking, he unloaded the scroll from his waist, laid it flat on the ground, and then summoned the seven ninja swords.

With a series of thuds and a burst of white mist, seven weapons lay flat on the scroll.

After summoning the seven ninja swords, Namikaze Minato picked up the scroll again, took the swords one by one, and swung them around.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As Namikaze Minato moved, seven weapons were planted in the walls of the arena, with the Kusarigama hooked into the wall by its scythe, fixing the seven weapons in place.

The Konoha Jonin curiously walked to the area beneath the weapons and looked up at the seven weapons that were clearly extremely valuable.

"Gentlemen! The selection of the Seven Swordsmen is mainly based on swordsmanship, and secondly on Ninjutsu of various attributes."

Finally, we need to see if the ninja swords are repulsive. These swords are spiritual and will choose their own masters. They are true divine weapons. With them, you will surely become famous throughout the Shinobi World!

We have gathered you all here today for this very reason. Registration is now open!

Having served as Konoha High Command for many years, Namikaze Minato's speech has begun to adopt a more refined and scholarly tone.

Namikaze Minato dared not neglect the task personally assigned by the Fourth Hokage, and carefully selected seven top fighters for Konoha.

These seven swords are said to possess spirits; it's no exaggeration to say that Namikaze Minato played with them all day yesterday.

Although they are not very intelligent, they will choose their owners on their own. They might even fly down from the wall and recognize their owner.

Konoha

Third floor of the Ministry of Education Building

Yesterday, Uchiha Itachi visited Sarutobi Hiruzen in the Minister's office on the third floor of the Department of Education but was unsuccessful. Today, he returned to the Department of Education and successfully met with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Itachi, it's been a long time since you've visited this old man. What brings you here today?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen a warm expression. He was pleased to see Uchiha Itachi visit. As the Department of Education and the Principal of the Ninja Academy, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that his past teaching had not been in vain.

"Lord Hiruzen, the Lord Hokage has ordered you to assist Lord Sakumo in searching for Danzo's whereabouts. Did Lord Danzo really assassinate Shisui?"

When Uchiha Itachi saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, he hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been on his mind.

In the past, when he and Shisui were confused about many things, besides asking the clan leader Naraku and several elders in the clan, they most liked to consult Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was somewhat surprised by Itachi's question. Although Danzo's deeds were not made public in Konoha, the Anbu should have known the truth.

Danzo killed Uchiha Shisui and then fled out of fear of punishment. It's such a simple matter; there's no question of whether it's true or false.

After a moment's thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer Itachi's question, but instead said in a deep voice:

"Indeed, Itachi, the Fourth Hokage ordered me to search for Danzo. However, I'm not in a position to comment on this matter..."

"Difficult to evaluate? What's difficult to evaluate?"

A look of doubt flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

"It's difficult to comment on Danzo's attack on Shisui."

Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe, took a small puff, and answered softly.

Upon hearing Uchiha Itachi's Sarutobi Hiruzen, Itachi Uchiha's eyes deepened with confusion. After a moment's thought, a glint Flash Cut in his eyes as if he had understood something, and he said softly:

"You also think this matter is very strange?"

"Strange?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen answered with some surprise.

Uchiha Itachi looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. The usually composed Sarutobi Hiruzen had a strange expression on his face. Itachi continued:

"Yes! Shisui's death is very suspicious. Danzo was a ninja who dedicated himself to his work. Although Danzo high aspirations, his strength was ultimately limited... He should not have been a match for Shisui, so there are some suspicious points in this matter."

"I think there's no one in the Root led by Danzo who is more skilled than Shisui."

Upon hearing Itachi's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen was incredibly surprised. He couldn't understand Uchiha Itachi's thinking about such an irrefutable case. Remaining calm and expressionless, he replied:

"Itachi, now that you mention it, I've also noticed something unusual about it; there seems to be something fishy going on..."

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen had also noticed something amiss, Itachi felt his own theory was even more plausible and asked with a serious expression:

"Hiruzen, I will always keep in mind your and Danzo's earnest teachings."

Danzo is a man who carries the darkness of Konoha on his shoulders; I can't believe he would do such a thing.

Furthermore, I am well aware of Shisui's exceptional Ninjutsu. Even if Danzo wanted to ambush Shisui, he wouldn't have the ability to do so.

Furthermore, Danzo and Shisui have a very close relationship. I think there must be some truth being hidden behind this."

Uchiha Itachi recalled many of the concepts that Danzo had taught him in the past.

For the sake of Konoha, even if it means bearing infamy and being condemned by everyone, one must endure and make silent sacrifices.

If anyone threatens Konoha, then we must secretly take action to eliminate the person and thing that threatens Konoha, no matter what, even if it is the Hokage or the Daimyo.

How could someone with such a spirit of dedication to Konoha be a vicious person who would attack their comrades? That's simply impossible.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's originally very clear train of thought was now confused by Uchiha Itachi's explanation. He felt that Uchiha Itachi's words made a lot of sense and said softly:

"You're right, Itachi. What do you think is the truth being hidden?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled Danzo's image in his mind. Danzo's Ninjutsu skills were very high, he had powerful Summoning Beasts, and his Wind Release Ninjutsu was so advanced that even he couldn't match it.

At the same time, Danzo was skilled in many forbidden and secret techniques of Konoha Style arts, and various Fuinjutsu and Juinjutsu were also readily available to him.

Although these new ninjas are excellent, Danzo is not someone to be Danzo. After a moment's thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen said tactfully:

"Itachi, Danzo is from the same era as me, and his strength is considerable. Although Shisui is strong, you shouldn't underestimate Danzo."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's words were a veiled message to Itachi that Danzo's strength should not be underestimated. Although Shisui was excellent, Danzo was not without First Shinobi World War chance, so it was best not to overthink it.

"I understand that Danzo's strength is certainly not to be underestimated, but I know Shisui even better."

"Hiruzen, there must be something being hidden here. I will definitely investigate the truth about Shisui and Danzo."

Uchiha Itachi Sarutobi Hiruzen a firm answer.

Danzo instilled poisonous ideas in Shisui, such as the idea that even the Hokage should be eliminated, which caused Shisui to develop a strong resistance to Danzo.

However, Shisui didn't know was that Danzo had already instilled this idea in Itachi, and Uchiha Itachi greatly approved of Danzo's thoughts.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared blankly at Uchiha Itachi.