Muscle-Bound Uchiha

Thick white mist blanketed the outskirts of Blackwater Marsh.

The muddy water reeked of rot, and broken Kunai and splinters floated on its surface.

Dozens of Konoha Ninja lay dead around the entrance to the only stone bridge, their bodies sprawled at odd angles.

Blood seeped through the gaps between the stone slabs into the muck, staining the standing water dark red.

A tall Kirigakure Ninja stood at the center of the bridge, a massive broad-bladed sword resting on his shoulder.

The blade was exceptionally wide and thick, with a crescent-shaped notch near the hilt and a round hole toward the tip.

It was the Kubikiribōchō, one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

The man gripping its hilt had bandages wrapped around his face. His exposed eyes gleamed with menace, and a cruel smile curled his lips.

He was Biwa Juzo, an Elite Jonin of Kirigakure's Assassination Corps.

Behind him, more than a hundred Kirigakure elites in breathing masks lurked silently in the marsh beneath the thick mist.

Each held blue-tinged Poison Senbon and a Short Blade.

Apart from water dripping onto mud, scarcely a breath could be heard across the entire area.

"These Konoha fools are getting more useless by the day."

Biwa Juzo spat out the grass root he had been chewing and nudged a fallen Konoha ANBU member with his foot.

"The Land of Fire's elite troops, and they couldn't even take three swings from me."

"That stinking snake Orochimaru is hiding in a cave waiting to die, and the Yellow Flash can't even hold on to his own Kunai."

"Before dawn, Blackwater Marsh will be a mass grave for you Konoha Ninja."

The moment he finished speaking, a rapid tread of footsteps came from the muddy road ahead.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

The footsteps were heavy and forceful,