Hozuki Shichigatsu

At the entrance of the inn, Uchiha Matsuri and his two companions remained unaware of the events unfolding inside, left with no choice but to wait quietly outside the main gate.

"Matsuri, do you think Lord Orochimaru might be in danger going in there alone?" Nohara Shin broke the silence between them, asking aloud.

"Do you actually think you could go in and help him?" Uchiha Matsuri curled his lip, looking at Nohara Shin with a speechless expression.

"Heh, I suppose you're right. Neither Lord Orochimaru nor that rogue ninja from the Land of Grass is someone the three of us could tangle with." Realizing his own overestimation of their abilities, Nohara Shin scratched his head in embarrassment.

"He is one of the 'Sannin,' mentioned in the same breath as Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade. Do you really think Lord Orochimaru couldn't handle a mere rogue ninja from the Land of Grass?" Kushina Uzumaki glared at Nohara Shin.

Just then, the sounds of combat suddenly erupted from within the inn.

"Has it started?" Uchiha Matsuri said.

Civilians began to flee the inn in a steady stream. To avoid drawing suspicion, Uchiha Matsuri and his two companions followed the crowd, running to a street far away from the building.

Boom!

The moment the three of them moved away from the inn's entrance, a jutsu from Orochimaru reduced the entire structure to a pile of rubble.

As the dust gradually settled, the three looked toward the noise, only to see Orochimaru and two other men fighting atop the ruins.

Inside the Mizukage's office.

The instant the inn collapsed, the Third Mizukage's eyes snapped open.

"Such immense chakra," the Third Mizukage couldn't help but exclaim inwardly. "The chakra radiating from this person is even greater than what I possess within me."

At that moment, a ninja wearing a white mask suddenly appeared in the office.

"Lord Mizukage, a fight has broken out at an inn on the west side of the village. According to our sensor ninja, it seems... it seems to be..."

"Seems to be what?"

"It seems to be the inn where Lord Hoshigaki Muyin was meeting with that rogue ninja from the Land of Grass."

Hearing the name Hoshigaki Muyin, the Third Mizukage immediately realized that the secret dealings between Kirigakure and Kunshi Bilan had likely been exposed.

Although Kirigakure was not exactly in the right for colluding with a rogue ninja from the Land of Grass to investigate Konoha during a time of peace, as the leader of the village, the Mizukage still had to step forward to confront the "intruders" causing chaos in his territory.

"Hmph, I want to see who dares to stir up trouble in Kirigakure during a time of peace." The Third Mizukage slammed his hand against the table. "Let's go. Follow me to meet the enemy."

"Yes!"

Outside the inn.

A large crowd of civilians, drawn by the commotion, gathered to watch the battle, seemingly unafraid that the fight might endanger their own lives. Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin mingled among the civilians, hoping to keep their identities hidden.

While watching the battle, Uchiha Matsuri noticed the mist around them suddenly thickening, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

Within the dense fog, a dozen Kirigakure ninja gradually emerged. Leading them was a burly man carrying a strange, oversized blade. The sword was peculiar because a heavy iron chain was attached to its hilt, connected at the other end to a large iron hammer.

"Lord Shichigatsu, this is the place," a ninja beside him said to the man carrying the blade.

Hozuki Shichigatsu glanced at the three combatants and immediately frowned.

"Such powerful chakra. Even the strongest in Kirigakure, the Mizukage, might pale in comparison," Hozuki Shichigatsu muttered to himself.

"Lord Shichigatsu, besides that pale-faced ninja, there are three other ninjas who came with him. It seems they have hidden themselves among the civilians," the subordinate reported in a low voice after glancing at the onlookers.

"Oh?" Hozuki Shichigatsu looked curiously at the crowd and ordered, "Evacuate the civilians immediately. Also, dispatch sensor ninjas to locate the other three."

"Yes."

Within the crowd.

Uchiha Matsuri and his companions did not realize they were stepping into danger.

The Kirigakure ninja who had arrived began driving the civilians away, and the three of them turned to leave along with the others.

Suddenly, Uchiha Matsuri felt a violent kick to his chest. His body was sent flying backward, and he slammed heavily into the ground.

The sudden turn of events caught Uchiha Matsuri off guard. Turning his head, he saw that Kushina Uzumaki and Nohara Shin had also been knocked to the ground, their true appearances now exposed.

"So, it's three little mice from Konoha," Hozuki Shichigatsu said, glancing at them with a sneer of disdain.

"Then let me finish them off." Hozuki Shichigatsu hoisted his blade and walked toward the three of them.

Seeing Hozuki Shichigatsu approaching with his massive weapon, Uchiha Matsuri thought, This is bad.

When he first saw the blade, Uchiha Matsuri had deduced that this man was likely one of the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen" of Kirigakure. As Hozuki Shichigatsu drew closer, he could feel the dense, overwhelming chakra radiating from the man's body.

Watching the figure loom closer, Uchiha Matsuri suddenly formed hand seals.

"Ninja Art: Chakra Scalpel!"

Once the chakra in his body gathered into his right palm, Uchiha Matsuri sprang up and charged toward Hozuki Shichigatsu.

"Hm? So, a medical ninja," Hozuki Shichigatsu remarked dismissively, not bothering to dodge as Uchiha Matsuri ran toward him.

Boom!

Just as Uchiha Matsuri's right hand was about to strike, Hozuki Shichigatsu swung his blade, slicing Uchiha Matsuri's body in half.

However, the very next moment, the severed Uchiha Matsuri transformed into two logs.

Clone Jutsu combined with Body Replacement Jutsu? Hozuki Shichigatsu thought, realizing his mistake.

At that moment, the real Uchiha Matsuri's right hand had already struck Hozuki Shichigatsu's left shoulder.

"Ah!" Hozuki Shichigatsu let out a miserable shriek as he was struck, instinctively kicking backward.

Uchiha Matsuri was unable to dodge in time and was sent flying heavily, slamming into a stone wall to the side and leaving a massive crater in its surface.

"Damn it." Realizing his left arm could no longer move freely, Hozuki Shichigatsu immediately understood that he had been too careless.

"Ninja Art: Blunt Blade: Helmet Splitter!"

Giving Uchiha Matsuri no chance to react, Hozuki Shichigatsu hoisted his great blade and charged toward the fallen Uchiha Matsuri.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow City Wall!"

Uchiha Matsuri quickly utilized Earth Release, hoping to withstand Hozuki Shichigatsu's great blade.

However, Uchiha Matsuri was destined to be disappointed. The Blunt Blade: Helmet Splitter used by Hozuki Shichigatsu was renowned for being able to defeat any defensive force.

Sure enough, the moment the Blunt Blade: Helmet Splitter struck the Earth Flow City Wall, the thirty-meter-high wall crafted from Earth Release instantly crumbled to pieces.

"Damn it. I'm out of chakra." Watching Hozuki Shichigatsu charge toward him, Uchiha Matsuri gritted his teeth and spoke.