"Kakashi, Obito, are you both entering the selection for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
The gathering had ended, and the three former members of Team Minato walked together.
Rin Nohara walked between Kakashi and Obito. She seemed to have noticed the longing in their eyes.
Obito nodded without hesitation and pointed a thumb at himself. "Yeah, I'm entering."
This time, it wasn't just to show off or catch Rin Nohara's eye.
Obito wanted to prove he was no longer the Dead Last, that he deserved to fight alongside Kazan and Kakashi.
"I'm going to be the first wielder of Exploding Blade Shibuki."
He had already made up his mind and set his sights on the explosive blade.
It was a Ninja Blade with a Sealing Jutsu formula and scroll mechanism built into it. It could summon vast numbers of Explosive Tags in an instant, earning it a reputation as an Explosive Tag printing press.
With the Ninja Blade's power behind it, a single Explosive Tag was two to three times as potent as an ordinary one.
"What about you, Kakashi?"
Kakashi was still considering whether to enter.
He was happy with his father's short blade, but Kiba's abilities tempted him too.
Kakashi was particularly skilled at Lightning Release, and Kiba could amplify Lightning Release Chakra. He could even form Hand Seals while wielding both blades.
High-frequency lightning constantly coursed around the blades. Anything they struck was severed, regardless of conventional armor or Chakra reinforcement.
Honestly, the Ninja Blade suited his fighting style perfectly.
"I'm entering!" Kakashi nodded.
There was one more condition for entering the selection: candidates could be no older than fifteen.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist would also become Kazan's direct subordinates, so the village's intentions were easy to guess.
Konoha wanted to choose