However, just as Kakashi was about to charge in front of Shadow One and end Shadow One's life, he suddenly felt a dangerous aura.
If he continued forward, he would die.
This indescribable sixth sense forced Kakashi to slam on the brakes and stop, pausing at a position not far from Shadow One.
The Chidori in his hand hadn't dispersed yet. In the lightning's illumination, he noticed that Shadow One's whole body, at some unknown moment, had already been covered with countless thin threads.
A few of those threads were only a step away from him. If, just now, he hadn't stopped and had continued to rush forward, his whole body would have been sliced to pieces by those threads that already looked razor-sharp.
Kakashi couldn't help but look toward Shadow One, who was still standing where he had stopped and had not recovered his combat ability.
With Shadow One's physical condition, he shouldn't have had time to set up this trap.
So there must be someone else present?
Kakashi glanced behind Shadow One, and saw only a patch of dark shadow.
He suddenly understood something and murmured, "So your companions are already here, you were just hiding their presence with shadow concealment, even I couldn't sense them."
"When did this happen?"
Shadow One, seeing his scheme exposed, showed no regret. He only said, "I can't fool you. Since that's the case, come out, all of you, go greet this future ANBU Captain of Konoha."
The shadow behind Shadow One blurred, then slowly seven figures emerged, walking out from within the darkness.
One of the figures let out a strange laugh and lifted a slender-looking long blade in his hand.
At once, all the threads around Shadow One were gathered onto that long blade.
That person commented, "Strong, well done to have discovered my earth-spider sewing."
A cold sweat broke out on Kakashi's forehead.
Relying on his excellent eyesight, he recognized the seven people.
They were all members of the Seven Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist; the one who had gathered the threads earlier was the wielder of the long-sword sewing, Kushimaru Kuriarare.
He didn't expect to encounter all seven of them at once in a scene like this.
Among them were several faces Kakashi had seen in ANBU dossiers; only one face looked unfamiliar.
That unfamiliar face held the twin blades that Mangestu Hozukihad used during the Chunin Exams.
It seemed likely this was the current wielder of those twin blades, and would be no easier to deal with than the others.
Kakashi said slowly, "All seven at once? That's quite an impressive formation."
Fuguki Suikazan's expression was very ugly. He raised his shark-skin weapon, aimed it at Kakashi, and said angrily, "So you're the rat who snuck into the Land of Water. We lost you earlier because Terumi Mei gave us false information."
"I'll tear you to pieces and rid myself of this hatred!"
Kakashi's mind was already making plans to escape, but on the surface he remained calm.
He glanced toward the Mizukage's tower; fierce fighting raged over there as well.
So he said, "You should be supporting the other side. Why waste time making trouble with me?"
Fuguki Suikazan scoffed, "With the Mizukage's strength, he doesn't need our interference to resolve the fight."
"But if you fall here, it will be a huge blow to Konoha."
Kakashi only replied, "You never know, things go wrong. I advise you not to speak too absolutely. Those who dared attack the Mizukage surely have backing; if your delayed support causes the Mizukage to fall, you will bear the main responsibility."
These words made the seven's expressions shift slightly. In their original plan, they were indeed supposed to go support the Mizukage.
They had only stopped because they happened to pass by and found another rat here.
Although confident in the Mizukage's ability to solve everything, if possible, they still wanted to get to him as soon as they could.
Thinking this, Kushimaru Kuriarare said, "I'll stay and deal with Kakashi and Terumi Mei. You go support over there first."
However, Terumi Mei, who had already recovered somewhat, suddenly used Body Flicker and appeared beside Kakashi. Facing the Seven Swordsmen, her expression serious, she said to Kakashi, "Kakashi, we can't let them leave and join the battle at the Mizukage's side. The situation will get terrible if they do."
Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes and offered a reminder, "Terumi Mei, I'm saving you."
"And… I'm only saving you, not joining your internal fight to die for nothing."
Terumi Mei's face flushed. Only now did she realize she had reflexively treated Kakashi as a comrade she could entrust her back to, so she had made such an excessive request.
A strong feeling of guilt rose in her. Indeed, Kakashi had always been an outsider, how could he throw himself in recklessly like she would?
She whispered, "Sorry, Kakashi. Why don't you try to escape on your own? I need to hold them off, even if only for a short moment."
Kakashi's expression hardened. Rationally, as a Konoha shinobi, the most appropriate action now would be to abandon Terumi Mei and run.
Yet why did he feel so unwilling?
He said, "No. You come with me, run together. Running is also a way to buy time."
Terumi Mei thought it over and realized Kakashi was right. Unexpectedly, she felt deeply moved, "Kakashi, thank you. If we survive this, will you make me a meal?"
Kakashi curled his mouth, "What time is it to think about food? If we get out of this, don't talk about one meal, ten meals are fine."
At that moment, one of the Seven Swordsmen, the wielder of the blunt blade Kabutowari, Jinin Akebino, had grown impatient. He raised his great hammer and, seeing Kakashi and Terumi Mei whispering, said to his companions, "Let's strike together. Quickly finish this fight, it won't take long."
This remark resonated with the Seven. Splitting up was against their aesthetics of violence.
They no longer debated; they drew their swords, prepared to strike Kakashi and Terumi Mei with a devastating blow.
The air around them instantly solidified, chokingly heavy.
Just then Kakashi stepped in front of Terumi Mei and said quietly, "Terumi Mei, you're not fast enough to run. Hold onto me, I'll take you away."
Terumi Mei knew her disadvantage and that there was no time to hesitate. She immediately threw herself onto Kakashi's back, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
Feeling the softness on his back, Kakashi pressed a pressure point on his chest, gritted his teeth and said,
"This is the first time I've opened such a high gate, Fourth Gate, the Gate of Wounding, Open!"
At once a fierce aura burst from Kakashi.
Fuguki Suikazan saw this and his face went ashen, "Strike together. We must not let them escape."
Immediately, all seven of them leapt up and attacked toward Kakashi.
Kakashi turned, electricity flashing again in his hands. He planned to use the combined speed of the Fourth Gate and Lightning Release to sprint away in a single burst.
As for the Seven Swordsmen who charged, Terumi Mei, on Kakashi's back, was not idle. Holding Kakashi's neck, she formed hand seals with both hands.
"Water Style: Water Wall Formation!"
Instantly, behind her and Kakashi, a huge pillar of water shot into the sky, forming a wall that blocked the Seven Swordsmen.
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