The First Battle (6K)

The mountains and forests are high and remote, and only occasional travelers pass by. The rugged and winding forests are never an obstacle in the eyes of ninjas. The only thing that can stop them is the enemy lurking within.

The further east they went, the further they were from the Land of Fire. Kato Osamu, walking at the back of the group, gradually noticed something unusual.

His eyes flickered slightly as he glanced towards the three o'clock position, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

They had only traveled a day's journey from Konoha, and were still at least a thousand miles away from the Mist Shinobi battlefield, yet he suddenly sensed several unfamiliar auras.

"Stop!"

With a soft shout, Kato Osamu's senses gradually expanded to their maximum, but a faint, unfamiliar aura seemed to be concealing something.

Seeing the puzzled looks on the three people standing in front of him, Kato Osamu's brows furrowed even more.

In most cases, he was unwilling to say much. Experienced ninjas would know that during a march, the most likely reason for a sudden order from superiors is only one thing—an encounter battle.

Although he seemed somewhat unaccustomed to the change in identity, he only hesitated for a moment before explaining again.

"Hidden... there are enemies..."

What Kato Osamu didn't expect was that the three of them had the fearlessness of newborn calves, and what surfaced in their emotions was not fear or terror, but a faint excitement.

"My path to fame begins now!" Iruka's eyes lit up, and he instantly drew his Kunai, quietly hiding behind a large tree. His hands trembled slightly, but his eyes were fixed on his surroundings, alert to any movement.

This was the real ninja battle he had been waiting for!

The air grew still, as if awaiting the clash of metal and the dramatic shift in the atmosphere. Iruka's eyes burned with increasing intensity, a long and fierce battle already unfolding in his mind...

A gentle breeze stirred Uzuki Yugao's hair. She slowly turned her head and looked at Iruka, who was constantly turning his head and looking around, and Kato Osamu were slightly closed.

As time passed, the heavy atmosphere seemed to gradually ease.

A hint of doubt flashed in Itachi Uchiha's eyes as he hid among the trees, looking at the spot where Uzuki Yugao and Iruka were hiding—the two were wary of each other's backs. He was somewhat puzzled as to why there were enemies here, as his senses had failed to detect them. His gaze involuntarily fell on Kato Osamu.

"Enemy?"

"Where?"

Before he could finish speaking, a massive blade flew towards him at lightning speed, seemingly splitting the air and making a whistling sound as it hurtled towards Uzuki Yugao's neck, who was looking around anxiously.

"Hide!"

Itachi Uchiha reacted almost instantly, his small figure leaping swiftly down from the tree. He placed his hands on the heads of Uzuki Yugao and Iruka, and with a sudden force, the two of them collapsed to the ground.

Kato Osamu snorted softly, Body Flicker Technique beside the three. He seemed to make no move as the Kubikiribōchō hurtled towards him, but at the very moment of contact, Kunai his kunai lightly, Kubikiribōchō immediately changed direction and flew into the jungle.

"Aren't you going to hide... or are you just waiting to die?"

Standing in front of the three, Kato Osamu merely glanced at the stunned Iruka and Uzuki Yugao.

"Rumble..."

Wherever the giant blade went, the trees seemed to slice through butter with a hot knife, shifting and slowly collapsing to the ground.

"Mist Shinobi..."

"The Kubikiribōchō!"

A faint blue light flashed in Kato Osamu's eyes, and countless shimmering points of light, visible only to him, were continuously scattered into the air from his hand.

The attack from the Mist Shinobi was ineffective, and the jungle returned to its silent state, except for a few moments later when a sinister laugh began to slowly drift out from the shadows of the forest.

Ignoring the gazes of the others, three figures slowly emerged from the woods, seemingly fearless, their steps unhurried, each carrying a large sword with a ferocious expression as they stared at Kato Osamu and his companions.

"Look, a half-grown brat with three even smaller brats..."

"It seems Konoha truly has no one else to rely on..."

The Kubikiribōchō had reappeared in Juzo Biwa's hand at some point. His gaze swept over the blade, becoming even colder. A diamond-shaped notch gleamed on the sharp edge. He stared coldly at the Kunai in Kato Osamu's hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"The blood of those four brats should be enough..."

"Juzo Biwa, it's a disgrace to Kubikiribōchō in your hands..."

With a hint of disdain, the green-haired Raiga Kurosuki glanced at Juzo Biwa. Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, none had ever submitted to the others.

"Hmph, your Raiga isn't all that great..."

"Stop talking nonsense, you two. Have you forgotten our mission?"

"Juzo Biwa, hurry up and resolve these troubles..."

Suikazan Fuguki's burly body carried an unidentified large sword of similar size on his back, but it was completely wrapped in bandages, Kato Osamu couldn't see anything special about it.

"Hmph, being killed by a brat would be the best outcome..."

"Don't rush, let me deal with them first... then we can have a proper talk..."

Seeing the two still bickering, seemingly not taking him seriously, Kato Osamu chuckled and pointed Juzo Biwa the three of them, talking to Itachi Uchiha Uzuki Yugao, and Iruka behind him as if no one else was there.

"How interesting..."

"Today I'll teach you the first lesson: Before you kill someone, it's best not to talk too much..."

Raiga Kurosuki's eyes narrowed, and even Suikazan Fuguki couldn't help but rub his fingers together, looking at Kato Osamu with a somewhat ferocious smile.

"Oh, so you've been used as a negative example..."

"Juzo Biwa, you'd better hurry, or I'll get itchy too..."

"Wait three minutes..."

"Later, I'll have a good talk with you about life..."

Juzo Biwa glanced at Raiga Kurosuki with disdain, completely disregarding Kato Osamu and the others in front of him.

She glanced briefly at the expressionless Kato Osamu, then the Kubikiribōchō in her hand whistled through the air as it hurtled towards them.

"Kid, you're the first one..."

Kato Osamu stared intently at the ferocious-looking Juzo Biwa, twisted his foot slightly, and with just a slight turn of his body, the large sword slashed past him.

The most powerful weapon of the human body is the elbow strike. Even an elbow strike from an ordinary person without Chakra can pierce through the strongest human defense—the skull. How much more so an elbow strike from Kato Osamu imbued with violent Chakra energy.

In the instant he turned to the side, Kato Osamu's slightly bent elbow seemed to transform into a large spear, thrusting straight at Juzo Biwa's ribs.

Juzo Biwa was startled, not expecting Kato Osamu's movements to be so agile. Through muscle memory, his body began to sway from side to side, barely missing Kato Osamu's attack. The Kubikiribōchō spun in the air and slashed diagonally toward Kato Osamu's waist.

Kato Osamu snorted coldly, his body spun around, his Kunai and Kubikiribōchō clashing, sparks flying everywhere. At the same time, his left leg rose high, the power of the spin like a venomous snake gathering strength in the dark. A whip kick fell like a black shadow, slamming straight down on the head of Juzo Biwa.

The moment Juzo Biwa's jaw hit the ground, the entire earth seemed to tremble and crack open rapidly. His figure quickly turned into a puddle of water and disappeared before Kato Osamu's eyes.

"This person's Taijutsu... are absolutely extraordinary!"

Kato Osamu's series of movements made even Suikazan Fuguki become serious. He could tell that Kato Osamu's Taijutsu was far superior to that of Juzo Biwa, and the exquisite and concise coordination between his movements was something that could only be achieved through training on mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Such a person was definitely not just an ordinary Konoha Ninja.

"How could this be!"

Raiga Kurosuki also looked surprised. If it were him... he probably wouldn't even have time to cast Substitution Technique...

"So strong..."

Uzuki Yugao's face still had some mud on it, but she no longer had any intention of holding a grudge against Itachi Uchiha.

She had practiced Taijutsu since childhood. Although she was good at swordsmanship, Taijutsu were always the most fundamental basis, no matter what weapon she used. But even so, she couldn't even see Kato Osamu's movements clearly just now.

Her intuition told her that even the elders in her family would find it difficult to match such speed...

Her gaze was fixed on Kato Osamu, and a complex emotion couldn't help but show in her eyes.

"Cough cough..."

The dripping sound of water and incessant coughing completely revealed the location of Juzo Biwa, but he was no longer as contemptuous as before. His jawbone was shattered, and the bandage wrapped around his chin was covered in blood.

Although he had tried his best to use the Substitution Technique the instant he was attacked, he still couldn't avoid all the damage.

"You..."

"Can we come together?"

The Soulfire Insect had spread throughout the entire jungle, and he could see through their every move Juzo Biwa's Taijutsu was not weak; even an ordinary Jonin it difficult to resist. Unfortunately, Kato Osamu could see through all his movements.

"You brat, you're asking for it!"

Suikazan Fuguki, carrying the enormous Samehada, leaped high into the air like a massive balloon, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds. However, when Samehada landed on the ground, it was like a lot of noise but little rain, only stirring up a mist of water.

"Hidden Mist Technique!"

The sky was overcast, and the gray mist blended seamlessly with the heavens and earth. The entire forest seemed to be completely immersed in the vast fog. The three Mist Shinobi exchanged a glance and then vanished without a trace into the mist.

"Mr. Kato..."

The three of them, Uzuki Yugao, stood back to back, warily looking around. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated, only to be interrupted by Kato Osamu before she could speak...

"Take care of yourselves..."

"Sieve..."

The sound of countless Shuriken flying was so loud in the still mist that it was impossible to pinpoint their exact location; it seemed to come from all directions.

With a flick of his wrists, Itachi Uchiha unleashed dozens of Shuriken in an instant, intercepting the projectiles in mid-air.

"Mr. Kato... has disappeared!"

Uzuki Yugao drew her long sword, alert. Hearing Iruka's shouts, she couldn't help but glance around... Kato Osamu, who had been standing in front of them, had disappeared without a trace.

"Here I am..."

Seemingly sensing the unease in Uzuki Yugao's heart, Itachi Uchiha calmly explained that he could sense Kato Osamu not far from them, but he couldn't make out his figure clearly.

Lightning Release: Raiga!

A burst of Lightning Release energy erupted from the mist, accompanied by intense flashes of light, and surged toward Kato Osamu.

"Secret Technique: Ripple Impact!"

Countless mysterious patterns began to appear as if forming from nothingness, and black and blue chains gathered along the layers of runes, shimmering with a faint light, before disappearing into nothingness the instant they took shape.

Kato Osamu simply stood there, silently watching the Thunder Dragon surge forward... Thunder Dragon vanished...

"One Strike: Gathering Return - Rebound!"

The Chakra fluctuations Chakra factor traces remaining in space became as conspicuous as a beacon in the darkness after Kato Osamu opened the Ripple Domain.

With a soft shout, Kato Osamu reassembled the dissipated Chakra of the Thunder Dragon, imbuing it with his spiritual will. It was like the impact of an ancient, savage beast charging forward, or the resounding sound of a great bell, echoing in Raiga Kurosuki's mind.

"Ah!"

Suikazan Fuguki Samehada, who was rushing towards Kato Osamu with Samehada in his hand, suddenly stopped when he heard Raiga Kurosuki's voice.

Raiga Kurosuki wasn't weak, but he hadn't expected to be unable to withstand even a single move from this brat. His brows furrowed deeply, and he began to retreat rapidly.

His Hidden Mist Technique allowed him to sense the enemy's location. He didn't detect any movement from Kato Osamu, who was standing still, but out of caution, he still gave up the opportunity to attack.

"What exactly happened to Raiga Kurosuki?"

Hearing the shrill cry of Raiga Kurosuki, Suikazan Fuguki's brain raced. In his eyes, Kato Osamu's danger had increased to another level, not because of his strength, but because of the unpredictability of his methods.

"You are..."

"Run away?"

The sound pierced through the mist and echoed directly in Suikazan Fuguki's mind, startling him. However, a surge of Samehada from Chakra behind him brought him back to his senses instantly.

The pitch-black domain seemed to descend upon his head in an instant, threatening to rob Suikazan Fuguki of his five senses in a matter of moments. Suikazan Fuguki knew something was wrong and began to retreat at an alarming speed.

"Magic - Multiple Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"

Kato Osamu manipulated the dark space to expand continuously, forcing Suikazan Fuguki back and landing next to Raiga Kurosuki. Seeing the surprised expression on Suikazan Fuguki, Kato Osamu smiled slightly.

"That's impossible!"

"It's a mental attack using Genjutsu!"

Suikazan Fuguki was horrified as he looked at Raiga Kurosuki, who was bleeding from all seven orifices. He had never heard of such a powerful Genjutsu before. Even Genjutsu from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan wouldn't be able to cripple a Jonin -level fighter in a single encounter.

Turning his head to look at Kato Osamu, who was hidden in the mist and walking towards them step by step, a ridiculous idea suddenly popped into his mind—escape!

He glanced at Raiga Kurosuki lying on the ground, his eyes darted around, and as if he had made up his mind, he began to urgently treat Raiga Kurosuki.

"His methods... are very strange... not ordinary Genjutsu..."

With the emergency help of Suikazan Fuguki, Raiga Kurosuki staggered to his feet, leaning on Raiga for support, though his eyes still seemed to hold a hint of confusion and dizziness.

"I remember now..."

"He is... Konoha's... Blue Asura..."

The bleeding from Juzo Biwa's jaw was temporarily stopped, but he still spoke somewhat incoherently.

"Blue Asura, huh...?"

Suikazan Fuguki's eyes sharpened. He looked at Samehada in his hand, then at his two teammates beside him, seemingly lost in thought, before finally speaking after a long pause.

"Truly, a person's reputation is well-deserved..."

"You... you'd better get out of here..."

What are you talking about?

Raiga Kurosuki was stunned for a moment, a flash of anger in his eyes. Seeing Suikazan Fuguki's expressionless face, he felt slighted. But before he could speak, Suikazan Fuguki spoke again.

"I saw information about Blue Asura on the underground black market, but I didn't know what he looked like. I originally thought he was just someone with a bounty of 5 million taels, but now it seems that everyone has underestimated him..."

"Hmph, even so, I don't believe he can take on three opponents single-handedly while carrying three burdens..."

"I was careless just now. Next time, I'll make sure he gets a good taste of Raiga's power..."

Raiga Kurosuki's face showed some resentment, but he just snorted and glanced at Suikazan Fuguki. He had never been afraid of anyone.

"Alright, since you insist on fighting, then there must be a method. Strike the snake at its vital point, attack its weak spot!"

"Those three children are his weakness!"

"With Raiga Samehada together, we're not afraid of not being able to hold him off. Juzo, go and capture those three brats."

"Could we kill one or two?"

With a gloomy face, Juzo Biwa endured the pain in his jaw. All he wanted to do now was kill some people to vent his emotions.

"Do as you please..."

The three discussed for only a short while before nodding to each other and disappearing back into the mist.

Is that so...?

Kato Osamu stood silently in place, a flash of blue light passing through his eyes.

Samehada!

Suikazan Fuguki lightly patted Samehada, and seemingly endless Chakra surged into his body from Samehada. His hands quickly Hand Seals, and in the jungle, it was as if a celestial river was pouring down, creating towering waves. The massive flow of water surged and crashed, filling the ravines between the mountains.

"Water Release: Water Release: Waterfall Technique!"

"Lightning Release: Feast of Lightning!"

Raiga Kurosuki raised his lightning blade high, and in an instant, thunder and rain raged in the sky. Two surging waves of lightning were drawn down by the lightning blade, and with the help of Water Release, it seemed that they would completely devour all the water in their path with lightning!

Amidst the rolling hills and dense thunderclouds, the two men with ferocious expressions unleashed their strongest attacks upon the land.

"Kids...?"

"I like it the most..."

Taking advantage of the lull in his teammates' attack on Kato Osamu, Juzo Biwa hid in the Mist Shinobi and silently approached Itachi Uchiha and his companions, his Kubikiribōchō arriving in an instant.

"Iruka, get out of the way!"

It seemed that Uzuki Yugao had grown up a lot in that life-or-death moment. She reacted quickly, pushed Iruka away, drew the long sword from behind her, and tried her best to block the Kubikiribōchō. But the moment the metal clashed, the long sword in her hand broke in two.

"Yugao!"

Iruka's eyes widened as he watched the Kubikiribōchō, with its shattered fragments, about to slice Uzuki Yugao in two, but he was utterly powerless to stop it.

"Bite..."

Itachi Uchiha, holding Kunai in one hand, seemed to be replicating Kato Osamu's movements. With a slight flick, he deflected the Kubikiribōchō from its intended path. Although he didn't send it flying, he saved Uzuki Yugao's life.

He simply grabbed Uzuki Yugao's belt and threw her behind him, flinging her out of the Kubikiribōchō's attack range and landing her in the muddy soil where water flowed.

The water had softened the soil, and Uzuki Yugao lay prone in the mud. Although only faint human figures could be seen struggling, she was unharmed.

"You must die! You must!"

Two attacks were neutralized in the same effortless manner, and a hint of anger welled up in Juzo Biwa's eyes. If Kato Osamu was indeed no match for him, then Itachi Uchiha's actions at this moment seemed to be mocking him.

"Go to hell!"

"It must be you..."

Itachi Uchiha stared expressionlessly at Juzo Biwa, seemingly not taking him seriously at all. However, his eyes glanced slightly in a certain direction, causing Juzo Biwa to immediately retract his attack.

He glanced warily in the direction Itachi Uchiha was looking, but seemed to notice nothing, silently guiding the battlefield away from that direction.

"Boom..."

Hearing the sounds of battle in the distance, a hint of doubt flashed in Juzo Biwa's eyes. He couldn't help but give Itachi Uchiha a deep look, trying to figure out whether Itachi Uchiha was just putting on an act or trying to lure someone in.

Do you know why I'm called the Blue Asura?

Seeing the thunder Thunder Dragon rushing towards him, Kato Osamu's figure flashed, and he left the water. He leaped into the air and gently clasped his hands together, as if drawing a sharp blade from the void. The pitch-black Soul-Extinguishing Blade, covered in ghostly blue flames, appeared in his hands.

Countless runes flowed within it, solidifying it to resemble a real sword.

The two looked at Kato Osamu, who had turned into a black dot in the air. The Thunder Dragon changed direction, opened its huge head, and was about to devour Kato Osamu completely.

"If there is a next life, you will definitely see it..."

With his hands clasped together, ignoring the Thunder Dragon that was almost touching him, Kato Osamu's eyes suddenly met those of the two.

"Spirit Seizure!"

Having already been affected by the Genjutsu Raiga Kurosuki was unable to resist at all, as if he had fallen into an illusion. However, Suikazan Fuguki only paused for a moment before retreating as if he had sensed great danger.

"Cut!"

With his hands channeling Chakra, the Soul-Extinguishing Blade seemed to be unleashed instantly. A hundred meters away, the massive blade arrived in an instant, like a thunderous strike from an unparalleled demon god, cleaving the Thunder Dragon in two from head to toe. Still crackling with electricity, it slashed straight down from above Raiga Kurosuki's head.

The sky seemed to have been cleaved in two, one half clear and the other filled with thunder. Suikazan Fuguki stared at the enormous sword shadow in the sky, his Adam's apple bobbing, his heart filled with utter horror. At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind—escape!

"Escape!"

Raiga Kurosuki's body slowly crashed to the ground, without making a sound. Suikazan Fuguki watched from afar, unable to suppress his desire to escape any longer. He desperately drew Chakra from Samehada and, like a bolt of lightning, sped into the depths of the jungle.

"Too late..."

A blue light flashed in Kato Osamu's eyes, and the Soulfire Insect he had already scattered began to swarm towards Suikazan Fuguki, surrounding him completely in an instant.

"Huh?"

Kato Osamu silently chanted in his mind, but he did not see the Soulfire Insect erupt. Instead, he felt the connection between the Soulfire Insect and his Chakra constantly breaking. To maintain their existence, his already scarce Chakra was disappearing continuously, as if it were being absorbed by something.

Something's strange...

"Is that the knife...?"

With his eyes slightly narrowed, Kato Osamu stared at the long sword behind Suikazan Fuguki. He leaped up, but after taking only two steps, he hesitated and turned his head to look in the direction of Itachi Uchiha and the other two.

Seemingly momentarily stunned, he then let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"It seems like I've forgotten something..."