The Chosen Sword Wielder

Konoha

Hokage Building

On the top floor of the Hokage Building, the Fourth Hokage Uchiha Nara, and Namikaze Minato stood side by side. Opposite them were five elite Konoha ninjas, including clan leaders, Anbu operatives, and Jonin elites.

"Minato, are there only five ninja swords that have recognized a master?"

Naraku asked Namikaze Minato in a low voice, while sizing up the five elite ninjas. Four of these elite ninjas were Naraku's capable subordinates.

The five are Hatake Kakashi, Inuzuka Manaomaru, Yuki, Baiyun Zaojian Shirakumo, Uchiha Itachi. Each of them carries a long sword or Ninja Sword on their back.

Naraku looked at the five people in front of him with a serious expression. This Ninja Sword Selection was conducted through a Jonin meeting, which summoned the Jonin Konoha to start the Jonin Tournament, which lasted for three days, and the winners were selected from the Jonin or the Anbu.

They even recruited some Special Jonin and Chunin to participate, but none of them were approved by the Ninja Sword.

The selection process for the Ninja Sword was extremely fair and impartial, with absolutely no favoritism or preferential treatment. However, the final result was still that these same people stood out.

"Yes! No ninja can cause the Venomous Scythe and the Blazing Fire Sword to tremble. These five ninjas' swords flew into their hands on their own after the swordsmanship competition; it was the swords' own choice."

Namikaze Minato answered softly, "This three-day Ninja Sword Selection was presided over by Namikaze Minato throughout. The Venomous Scythe and the Blazing Fire Sword, and even among Chunin elite Chunin and Special Jonin, failed to select anyone."

Naraku nodded, stepped forward, circled the five people, and said in a deep voice:

"Kakashi Thunderclap Sword, Frost Sword, Manao-maru the Raging Wind Sword, Baiyun Zaojian the Devouring Sword, Itachi the Sealing Sword, very good, you are all my capable subordinates."

The five ninja swords possess spirits. Although the sword spirits are not very intelligent, they still have a little bit of likes and dislikes. Since the five ninja swords chose them, it means that they have been recognized.

Naraku glanced at Yuki Ran and Inuzuka Manaomaru Manao-maru had previously been Naraku's close bodyguard.

Yuki is currently a capable subordinate in Naraku's Anbu team and is an Anbu member. In particular, Yuki possesses the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, and this Frost Sword greatly enhances her abilities in various aspects.

Inuzuka Manaomaru is the leader of the Inuzuka Clan and the grandson of the former clan head. Manao-maru's father died in the Ninja War, and Manao-maru followed Naraku in the war. He survived the Ninja War, defeated his cousin Inuzuka Tsume, and successfully became the clan head.

At the same time, Manao-maru was also a master swordsman. He was proficient in the Inuzuka Ninjutsu passed down in the Inuzuka Clan, and his swordsmanship was also among the best in Naraku's eyes. Obtaining this Raging Wind Sword was truly like adding wings to a tiger.

After a moment's hesitation, Naraku continued:

"Now that you have such divine ninja tools to aid you, you are like tigers with wings. I hope that the five of you can better serve Konoha! Use the swords in your hands to protect the peace of Konoha!"

"Hi!" X4

"Hi..."

The four of them were full of energy, except for Kakashi, whose eyes were unfocused and who looked listless.

Seeing Kakashi's expression, Namikaze Minato, with a somewhat serious look, gently reprimanded him:

"Kakashi! Even Lord Jiraiya doesn't have all his works that are bestsellers and excellent! Especially 'Icha Icha Paradise,' that's not a good work. Be careful in the future!"

Kakashi, Namikaze Minato's prized student, looked so pathetic that Namikaze Minato was somewhat helpless.

In particular, Kakashi was obsessed with Jiraiya's Jiraiya work, "Icha Icha Paradise." Namikaze Minato bought and read the work as soon as it was published by the teacher. However, "Icha Icha Paradise" and the previous "Tales of the Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi" are completely different types of works.

Namikaze Minato blushes whenever he recalls queuing up to buy "Family Paradise".

"Ahem, I understand. I've been studying Ninjutsu lately, training until very late every day. It's because I haven't been getting enough rest lately. Please rest assured, Lord Hokage, Minato-sensei, I will do my best in any mission."

Kaka perked up, coughed, and answered softly.

Naraku nodded slightly upon hearing this, his sharp gaze fixed on the five people before him, and he said solemnly:

"Alright, from today onwards, the Konoha Seven Ninja Swordsmen are established. Hatake Kakashi, Inuzuka Manaomaru, Baiyun Zaojian Shirakumo, Yuki, Uchiha Itachi, the five of you are the first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Blade!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Blade will be my most important subordinates, and they will carry out the most dangerous missions!

If you have any objections or don't want to take on this responsibility, you can withdraw now; I won't force you.

"No objections!" X4

"We will make the name of the Konoha Seven Ninja Swordsmen resound throughout the Shinobi World!"

The five people gave different answers, but none of them said they wanted to quit.

Seeing that no one had withdrawn, Naraku, though expecting it, still smiled and laughed loudly:

"Hahaha! Good! The other two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Blade will be selected soon. Uchiha Itachi stays. The rest of you, dismissed!"

"Hi!" X4

The other four and seven members instantly Body Flicker Technique.

On the top floor, only Uchiha Nara, Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Itachi remained.

As for the other two ninja swords, Naraku preferred someone with strong Fire Style Blazing Fire Sword. Perhaps because he had previously encountered Uchiha Inabi and hadn't seen anyone with a higher fire attribute than Inabi, he didn't choose a master for it.

Once Uchiha Shisui is recalled, Shisui fire attribute and swordsmanship will surely be able to subdue this Blazing Fire Sword.

The Venomous Scythe, on the other hand, needs to seriously consider how to select a user; if that doesn't work, they should just force one out to make up a total of seven people.

After Naraku's thoughts turned to the Ninja Namikaze Minato and said softly:

"Minato, a week has passed since the Danzo incident. Danzo's Root is spread throughout the Shinobi World, with even more entrenched around Konoha. Finding Danzo will likely be very difficult, and I am somewhat worried about it."

The purpose of leaving Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Itachi behind was to discuss how to deal with Danzo. At the same time, Naraku sensed that Itachi had a high level of affection for Danzo, and wanted to take this opportunity to correct Uchiha Itachi's behavior.

"The Fourth Danzo, Jonin, murdered Konoha without cause, stole another's Kekkei Genkai, and privately trained a private army. Each of these crimes is unforgivable. However, his identity is too complicated, so we can only... handle this discreetly."

Namikaze Minato understood Naraku's desire to eliminate Danzo, but the old man had many strongholds and was very good at hiding, so they could only slowly find him.

"Lord Hokage, Minato- sama, from what I know of Danzo, he is a person who practices selfless dedication and makes sacrifices in secret, with self-sacrifice as his guiding principle. Moreover, Shisui and Danzo have a very good relationship..."

Uchiha Itachi almost blurted out that Danzo couldn't possibly have murdered Shisui, suggesting there might be other hidden reasons. However, in front of the two people in front of him, he was powerless to speak and could only offer a quiet reminder.

Like Sarutobi Hiruzen before him, Namikaze Minato glanced at Uchiha Itachi with some surprise.

Uchiha Itachi, a genius ninja on par with Shisui, was one of the top Anbu members and had some fame. Namikaze Minato knew a little about Itachi.

"Itachi, Danzo is skilled at bewitching people. He has transplanted the Sharingan of our Uchiha Clan into his right eye. He is an ambitious man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals."

"They wantonly trample on life, plot to seize others' Kekkei Genkai, and use ancient ninja training methods to adopt and raise orphans in secret, thus establishing the Root."

Naraku explained Danzo's situation to Uchiha Itachi, and Naraku truly admired Danzo's methods of bewitching people.

Naraku looked at Uchiha Itachi, meeting Itachi's calm gaze, and said softly:

"Itachi, you are already an excellent young ninja. Many times, don't just look at things superficially. In the Shinobi World, you can know a person's face but not their heart."

If Danzo truly lived up to his principles, I would certainly have given him an important position. However, he is not; he is merely a selfish and ambitious schemer.

Evidence from countless heinous crimes points to Danzo; he is a truly cruel, cunning, and evil man...