Bearing the Name "Shadow"!

Hearing that Riu had kept his word, Hōzuki Mangetsu and Hoshigaki Kisame both let out sighs of relief. The two had adapted to the cruel environment of the Bloody Mist Village and attained their current positions. They were shinobi who did not fear death, but that did not mean they were willing to casually throw away their lives.

Riu put away the Lightning Blade: Kiba from the ground, walked over to Hōzuki Mangetsu, took out the Executioner's Blade, and tossed it before him. "One for one. No objections?"

Hōzuki Mangetsu gave a bitter smile. "Even if you took all seven blades, what objection could I possibly have?"

Riu neither confirmed nor denied it, merely asking, "You have a younger brother, right?"

Hōzuki Mangetsu froze. "Yes. His name is Suigetsu, and he isn't even two yet..."

"When you come to report in later, bring him with you." Riu turned and walked toward Hoshigaki Kisame.

Watching Riu's retreating back, Hōzuki Mangetsu said, "Are you really so certain that I'll lose my place in the Hidden Mist Village? The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are second only to the Mizukage in the Hidden Mist Village. Even if it is called the Bloody Mist Village, it cannot do without our strength."

Riu did not answer Hōzuki Mangetsu's question. When he reached Hoshigaki Kisame, Kisame's arms were mangled from the force rebounding from the explosion, the flesh torn open badly enough for bone to show...

It was clear just how much power had been contained in his final strike!

After pondering for a moment, Riu made a decision.

He took out the Greatsword: Samehada and placed it before Hoshigaki Kisame. Then he picked up the Explosion Blade: Shibuki and said, "Hoshigaki Kisame, from today onward, you are the new master of the Greatsword: Samehada. I'll keep this Explosion Blade: Shibuki."

Kisame said in surprise, "Wait. Shibuki may possess tremendous destructive power, but in terms of its special properties, Samehada is the strongest of the seven ninja swords. Surely you know that?"

After witnessing Riu's immense strength, Kisame addressed him respectfully every time.

How could Riu not know how powerful Samehada was? Samehada could even devour a Tailed Beast's Chakra. By fusing with Samehada, one could not only enhance one's perception, but also gain nearly immortal regenerative abilities!

But Riu would never choose to fuse with Samehada for such a trivial benefit. Never... because the fused form was far too ugly!

Riu had no desire to become some half-human, half-fish creature like the "fish-men" from One Piece!

The only thing Riu intended to fuse with was the Ten-Tails.

So after giving it some thought, the Greatsword: Samehada was better off in the hands of someone suited to wield it.

In the original story, Hoshigaki Kisame had upheld his beliefs to the death and refused to betray his comrades. After being captured, he even bit off his own tongue to break free of control rather than leak intelligence, then summoned sharks to devour himself. Even in the end, he faithfully completed the mission Obito had entrusted to him!

Whether for Obito or Riu, Hoshigaki Kisame was a shinobi worthy of appreciation and trust!

Riu said sincerely, "A good ninja sword belongs in the hands of a shinobi worthy of it. Hoshigaki Kisame, compared with the value of Samehada, I value you more..."

Kisame did not appear overwhelmed by the favor. Instead, he said, "Although I do not know why you value me so highly, I will thank you for now. Also, I have no intention of betraying the Hidden Mist Village. I hope you understand that."

Riu said, "The choice is yours. I am merely giving you a platform. If one day, you discover that both your comrades and your own existence are false, that you cannot even tell who you are, then two paths will lie before you. If your heart still yearns for darkness, go to Amegakure and seek an organization called 'Akatsuki.' If your heart still yearns for light, then come to... Shadow Village."

Just then, Riu had chosen a name for his future shinobi village: Shadow Village. And he, Riu, would bear the name "Shadow."

Kisame smiled. "A name meaning dawn, yet representing darkness; a name meaning shadow, yet implying light... Forgive my bluntness, but the names you chose are rather baffling."

Riu smiled. "Are appearance and essence not often opposites? Is that not exactly like this absurd yet real Shinobi World?"

Kisame said, "I cannot yet see that far ahead. Perhaps, as you said, I will face such a choice one day. But at this moment, my heart still leans toward the light. You said that joining Akatsuki means going to Amegakure. Then how do I join Shadow Village?"

Riu said, "It does not exist yet, but it soon will. When that time comes, its name will surely spread throughout the Shinobi World, and the road there will not be hard to find. I only fear that... by then, your heart may yearn for darkness instead."

"Hahahaha... Then I can only hope your prophecy does not come true." Kisame spoke respectfully.

With that, Riu turned and left.

As he passed Ringo Ameyuri's corpse, he deliberately gave it another glance. When he had first seen her, Riu had been somewhat surprised, because according to what he knew, the Lightning Blade: Kiba was still in the hands of its first owner, Kurosuki Raiga.

Kurosuki Raiga was also one of the three Seven Ninja Swordsmen who had survived Might Duy, and he had lived all the way into Naruto's era. But on second thought, that had merely been anime-original material.

"It seems... this Naruto World does not recognize the anime-original plot. The proof is that this Lightning Blade: Kiba was not in Kurosuki Raiga's hands, but had been inherited by Ringo Ameyuri."

On another note, Ringo Ameyuri had been a very distinctive female shinobi. She was beautiful and young, but Riu had not shown her mercy for that reason. The instant he seized an opportunity, he had struck ruthlessly, proving that he was not a man swayed by beauty.

The reason he had spared Yūhi Uzuki back then was likely because her name and the meaning it carried had slightly stirred Riu's gradually chilling heart.

"Xiyang, this is for you." Arriving before Yūhi Uzuki, Riu took out the Lightning Blade: Kiba.

"You brought this... for me?" Yūhi Uzuki looked extremely surprised.

"Who else would it be for?" Riu said.

Yūhi Uzuki's expression wavered with hesitation, and she did not reach out for it for a long while.

"Didn't you always want to kill me? With another powerful ninja sword, your chances of succeeding would increase, wouldn't they?" Riu said teasingly.

"Don't regret it when the time comes!" Yūhi Uzuki shot Riu a fierce glare with her beautiful eyes, took the Lightning Blade: Kiba, and slung it across her back.

Riu smiled faintly. He had long seen that Yūhi Uzuki possessed a Lightning affinity and was exceptionally skilled with the sword. With this Lightning Blade, which suited her best, her strength would surely increase greatly.

After a brief rest, the three continued on their journey.

"Oh, right. I've seen someone use the Lightning Release techniques you employed in battle... What is your relationship with Kakashi Hatake, the White Fang's son?" Yūhi Uzuki suddenly asked.