Youth Arc: Clash

Facing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen head-on would have been sheer stupidity, so I hid my presence nearby and quietly observed them, searching for an opening.

"Look at these Konoha brats. They look like they've pissed themselves from fear, hahaha!"

"Which one should we tear apart first?"

"That green-skinned frog. I don't like the look of him. I'm going to skin him and burn the hide!"

Faced with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's taunts, Might Guy and the others did not dare move. They merely lowered their heads, not even daring to meet their eyes.

"What do we do... Can we escape?" Genma Shiranui asked.

Ebisu, standing beside him, shook his head.

"They're the Hidden Mist's Seven Ninja Swordsmen. At this distance, they could probably take our lives with ease. We shouldn't make any rash moves... Damn it, is this where my fate ends?"

After a long silence, Might Guy swallowed, then suddenly raised his head, his eyes turning sharp.

"I'll stay behind. You go back and get reinforcements."

"That's impossible, Guy. Leaving aside the fact that we'd be abandoning you and running away, even if you stayed behind, we still wouldn't be able to escape."

"Yeah. If that's the case, we might as well die here together and leave behind a brave image. You two, can you do it?"

"Yeah—then let's do this! Give it everything we've got!"

What admirable resolve. But there was no need for you to die here. These three would all become notable figures later on, especially Guy, whose name would resound far and wide.

Just as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were about to make a move, Guy and the others had also steeled themselves to fight to the death.

Suddenly, a glowing green figure dropped from the sky and landed in front of Guy and the others.

"Finally made it!"

When he looked up and saw the figure before him, Might Guy's face filled with shock.

"Father?"

Hearing that, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu exchanged glances. Then, as if they had realized something, troubled expressions returned to their faces.

"Why is a Genin's father here?"

"Forget that for now. Run, quickly! I'll buy you some time!"

"Run... Father, they're all Jonin, and they're the Seven Ninja Swordsmen! You can't beat them by yourself!"

"I have the Eight Gates Formation's Gate of Death."

At those words, sweat dripped down Guy's face, and his features twisted together.

"But the price of that technique..."

"Self-restraint."

After speaking the words that had defined Might Dai's entire life, Guy froze. In that instant, he must have truly understood the deeper meaning his father had wanted him to know.

Might Dai turned back, closed his eyes, and smiled. He raised his left thumb, then prepared to open the Gate of Death.

Damn it, why am I still standing here watching? If I don't act now, wouldn't this trip have been for nothing?!

Coming to my senses, I immediately began carrying out the battle plan I had just devised. I would use my Devil Fruit power and unleash my strongest slash to instantly kill one of them!

That strange long sword looked like it would be troublesome. Him, then. If I remembered correctly, his name was... Kushimaru Kuriarare. What a tongue twister.

After preparing to strike, I pulled several smoke bombs from my pocket and threw them out, then transformed into Fenrir, the Mythical Zoan form of the Wolf-Wolf Fruit.

After taking wolf form, I felt every muscle in my body tear apart and reform, my strength receiving an immense boost.

Now, I could use the Sword God Style ultimate technique—Light Blade!

The instant the smoke bombs flew out, my transformation was already complete. At the moment the smoke spread, I kicked off the ground and burst forward, the blade of my ninja sword aimed directly at Kushimaru Kuriarare.

Thanks to the enhancement of the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, my physical abilities underwent a qualitative leap. Then I erupted with chakra, strengthened my Dragon Saint Battle Aura in one breath, and successfully used this sword technique that could not be defended against.

Light Blade activated. There was no unnecessary technique involved—only adjusting my body's coordination and swinging with all my strength at the fastest speed possible.

It was an ultimate technique simple to the extreme, a charging slash that pursued only ultimate speed. Thus, it was also called an unblockable slash.

--

Where had this green-skinned frog jumped out from? Konoha really had no shortage of talent!

For hot-blooded fools like him, willing to sacrifice themselves for others, killing his companions right in front of him would feel incredible!

"Bang—"

Smoke bombs? Had Konoha sent new reinforcements?

Damn it, it was all because of that green-skinned frog who suddenly appeared. So it was a diversion!

Huh? Why can't I move? Where are my legs? Why can't I feel my body anymore?

Wait, why is my view spinning nonstop? Everything in front of me is swaying, but why don't I feel dizzy at all?

"Kuriarare, from today onward, you are one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. This Long Sword: Needle is entrusted to you. Remember, you must never lose this sword. As long as the person lives, the sword remains!"

That was... the Fourth Mizukage's voice. Why was I seeing the Mizukage now?

"Kuriarare, congratulations on becoming a ninja!"

That was my childhood sweetheart, who had died long ago...

"Kuriarare, as a Hidden Mist ninja, you must completely erase your emotions. You exist only to kill enemies."

That was my teacher. Why were these scenes, these moments from the past, appearing in my mind?

Wasn't I preparing to kill Konoha's ninjas? What exactly happened?

Wait, that was... my body? The Long Sword: Needle was in its hands, so it had to be my body. Why was I seeing my body from this perspective?

Why did my body have no head, and why was it spraying blood?

I see. I was dead... I died without even seeing the enemy, without even knowing what had happened...

--

After killing Kushimaru Kuriarare with Light Blade, I immediately released the Fenrir form to avoid exposing my trump card.

I casually snatched the Long Sword: Needle from Kushimaru Kuriarare's corpse, flung it out to pierce the head I had sent flying, then pulled the wire to reel it back in.

After landing, the smoke had already been dispersed by the sword pressure unleashed from their ninja blades.

"A pointless trick. Is this all Konoha is capable of..."

Halfway through speaking, Juzo Biwa, who held the Executioner's Blade, seemed to catch sight of Kushimaru Kuriarare's flying head from the corner of his eye. That terrifying face instantly filled with panic.

"Hey, Kuriarare!"

"Stop calling him. His head flew off. He's definitely dead."

I truly could not remember the name of the owner of that relatively calm voice, but the ninja sword in his hand should have been the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei.

After arriving in front of Guy and the others, I casually tossed the Long Sword: Needle and the head aside. After adjusting my breathing, I looked again at the remaining six.

"Yo, Guy, and Big Brother Dai! What a coincidence, running into you here. Though you've really got rotten luck, encountering the Hidden Mist's Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

Apparently, no one had recovered from the shock just yet. No one responded to me.

That was only natural. From the smoke bombs being thrown and exploding to the head hitting the ground, not even a second had passed.

"Don't space out. Get moving—you go first, and I'll buy time here. Guy, move!"