The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist

"What?!"

Just as Yu and the others reached the border of the Land of Fire.

In the Hokage's office in Konoha, the Third Hokage looked at the report a subordinate had just brought him, and his face changed dramatically.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Facing the Third Hokage's shock, the kneeling ninja wore a grave expression.

"The previous intelligence was wrong. The number of Kirigakure ninja sent this time is far greater than we imagined."

"According to the scout's report, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have also joined this operation."

His body was covered in wounds, large and small. He had rushed over to report to the Third Hokage before he'd even had a chance to treat them.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?!

At those words, nearly everyone in the Hokage's office drew a sharp breath.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—whose full name was the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist"—was an inheritable title in the Land of Water's Kirigakure Ninja Village, not an actual organization.

Each of the seven wielded a famous sword suited to their own style of ninjutsu. Their abilities were evenly matched, and they were tasked with carrying out difficult missions for Kirigakure in the Land of Water. All of them had reached the level of an elite ninja.

It could be said that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were the defining symbol of Kirigakure in the Land of Water. Every generation had made a name for itself in the Ninja World, and all of them were ruthless assassins who killed without batting an eye.

"So it's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist... Doesn't that mean Yu and Guy's group, whom we sent out just yesterday, are in danger?!"

It was no wonder the Third Hokage looked so shocked.

What had been an A-rank reconnaissance mission had turned into a confrontation with a large force of Kirigakure ninja—even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had joined in.

Thinking of Yu and the others—the five he had sent out on their mission just yesterday—the Third Hokage's expression grew so grave it seemed water might drip from it.

They were all promising talents of Konoha who had yet to reach their full potential, especially Yu. In all his years in Konoha, the Third Hokage had never seen a young ninja with such talent.

If anything happened to them, it would be a tremendous loss to the entire Konoha Ninja Village.

"Guy is with them?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Third... I'll go support them right now!"

Hearing the shocking news in the Hokage's office, a middle-aged man in a green jumpsuit, with thick eyebrows and a striking resemblance to Might Guy, rushed out before the Third Hokage could say a word.

"Dai? Don't be reckless!"

Watching the man charge out despite his attempt to stop him, the Third Hokage was startled. In the end, all he could do was sigh.

"So... it seems you've made your choice..."

"You'll protect what matters most to you, even if it costs you your life..."

"Looks like the mission's going smoothly..."

"We haven't run into any Kirigakure ninja along the way."

The five had entered a dense forest along the border of the Land of Fire.

They hadn't encountered any Kirigakure ninja along the way, and Ebisu couldn't help commenting on it.

"Don't let your guard down... We're at the border. We could run into ninja from an enemy country at any moment."

As they leaped through the shadowy forest, Genma Shiranui reminded Ebisu and the others to stay alert.

Although Yu had taught him a lesson the day before, Genma was still a Chunin of Konoha's new generation. He knew the most basic rules of being a ninja.

"Wait!"

But then Yu, who was leading the way, seemed to sense something and suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong, Yu?"

Seeing Yu stop abruptly, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and the other two behind him halted at once, warily scanning their surroundings.

Bullet String!

The instant the words left his mouth, Yu suddenly struck from where he stood in front of the others.

He whipped his right hand forward, and a fine thread formed at the tip of his index finger, shooting out at high speed like a bullet.

"Bang!"

A sharp crack rang out as Yu's shot pierced a tree beside them, sending splinters flying.

A ninja hidden behind the tree didn't even have time to scream before Yu's shot punched through his head. His corpse fell from a thick branch and landed heavily in front of them.

"It's a Kirigakure ninja!"

Genma Shiranui's sharp eyes immediately spotted the Forehead Protector on the ninja's head, marked with four dots of water—the symbol of a Kirigakure ninja from the Land of Water.

The four behind Yu were also secretly amazed by his keen observation and the astonishing lethality of his attack.

"Thanks to you, Yu..."

"Otherwise, we wouldn't even have noticed the enemy's ambush."

Seeing Yu kill the hidden enemy in an instant, the four behind him breathed a sigh of relief. Kurenai Yuhi looked at Yu's back with gratitude.

"Stay alert... There's more than one enemy."

Even though he'd instantly killed one Kirigakure ninja, Yu didn't relax. His expression grew even more serious.

"Were we really spotted by such a little brat?"

"Looks like Konoha really is a cradle of geniuses..."

Just as Yu finished speaking, an unfamiliar voice rang out in the shadowy forest.

To the shock of Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and the others, seven mysterious figures had appeared in the forest before them without anyone noticing.

"This is bad. We're surrounded..."

Genma Shiranui was the first to react, but it was already too late. Every possible route for the five of them to retreat had been cut off.

"There's no escaping now..."

Ebisu took a step back and instinctively stood back-to-back with Genma Shiranui.

"Wait... Who are these guys?!"

But when Yu finally got a clear look at the seven ninja before them, his pupils contracted sharply, and his heart jolted.

"Th-they're the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, aren't they?!"

Yu wasn't the only one who recognized them. Ebisu also identified the seven ninja at a glance, his face full of terror. His voice warped with nerves.

"Damn it... Why are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist all here together?!"

The seven ninja before them all wore the Forehead Protectors of Kirigakure Ninja Village, and each carried a differently shaped Ninja Blade.

They were easy to recognize. They were none other than the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist: Juzo Biwa, Suikazan Fuguki, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Jinin Akebino, Munashi Jinpachi, and Raiga Kurosuki.

Every one of the seven was an elite ninja, their powerful presence and astonishing killing intent radiating without pause.

"I didn't think kids from another ninja village would know who we are. Seems we've made quite a name for ourselves!"

Seeing that the five Konoha brats had recognized them at a glance, Juzo Biwa rested one hand on Kubikiribōchō, planted in the ground. A sinister grin spread across his face, marked by a cross-shaped scar.