Seven Ninja Swordsmen
The Uchiha breathed a sigh of relief when Hiruzen Sarutobi offered him an out.
Masaki Uchiha bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama. I will take my leave now."
As Masaki turned to go, a cold voice echoed from behind him.
"Clan Head Masaki," Danzo Shimura said darkly, "you'd best restrain your clansmen. The battlefield is a place for killing, not for teaching lessons. Discipline should be enforced at home. And if you can't discipline them properly, someone else will. That's the law of war."
He continued with cutting precision, "If your people are incompetent or insubordinate, don't come crying when someone steps in. A parent making a fuss over a soldier's failure is undignified. As the head of Konoha's most powerful clan, shouldn't you be setting an example?"
Masaki's fists clenched at his sides, his Sharingan momentarily flickering before he suppressed it. Rage surged in his chest, but there was no vent for it.
"…Lord Danzo is right," he said stiffly, voice strained. He left without another word, without a backward glance.
Once the Uchiha clan head had gone, Hiruzen sighed. "Danzo, you came just in time."
Danzo snorted. "I have Root monitoring the Uchiha around the clock. The moment I saw Masaki heading here, I knew what he was after."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. "But Chi Yu went too far this time. Danzo, I—"
Danzo cut him off, just as he had interrupted Masaki.
"Don't tell me you're actually thinking of punishing Chi Yu. Think, Hiruzen. Why did we assign him to the Land of Waves? Why send nearly a hundred Uchiha shinobi there? Chi Yu is executing the plan we agreed on — and doing it well. Yes, he's aggressive, but the results speak for themselves. Masaki running here to plead his case just proves it."
Hiruzen remained silent, brooding.
Danzo inwardly sneered. He's hesitating again. Always so cautious. Tobirama-sensei, you were wrong to choose him.
Out loud, Danzo said, "If you punish Chi Yu now, it sends the wrong message — that you don't trust him. That'll make him second-guess himself next time. If you've tasked a man with controlling the Uchiha, you must let him do it his way."
He folded his arms. "You can issue a public reprimand if you must — but frame it carefully. Make it clear to Masaki that Chi Yu's actions were under scrutiny, while also reinforcing to the Uchiha that these are Chi Yu's methods. Let their resentment turn toward him. I'll handle the explanation on my end."
Danzo's voice grew sharp.
"We can't wait until after the war to address the Uchiha problem. It must be handled now. Today it's Masaki challenging you. What happens tomorrow when they demand more? Push harder?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, Danzo's words hitting home.
As Hokage, he could not allow himself to be backed into a corner — not by anyone.
"…Very well," he said. "We'll do as you suggest."
Danzo nodded and departed the Hokage Tower, his face unreadable.
---
In the Land of Waves, Chi Yu was already on the front lines.
Following the death of Uchiha Kazuo, their original 20 squads had been reduced to 19, now spread out across the region to hunt down and eliminate Kirigakure forces.
Chi Yu, as always, led from the front.
The rear command was entrusted to Nara Watada, a seasoned strategist.
One morning, Chi Yu received a hawk-delivered message. He unsealed the scroll, reading its contents quickly.
A cold smile touched his lips.
"A public reprimand… Classic Hiruzen — trying to please everyone. But it seems Danzo values me more than ever."
The message made it clear: Hiruzen had initially considered punishing him, but Danzo had intervened. Chi Yu was to proceed as he saw fit.
Chi Yu burned the letter to ash and returned to the battlefield.
---
A month passed.
Under Chi Yu's brutal command and the Uchiha's relentless assault, the tide turned decisively. The Mist-nin suffered catastrophic losses.
Despite their famed Silent Killing and sheer ferocity, even two elite Mist-nin could only manage a stalemate against a single Uchiha shinobi.
Of the 91 Uchiha initially deployed, fewer than half remained — many bearing scars both visible and hidden.
But their attitude had changed. Having witnessed Chi Yu's overwhelming power and unflinching cruelty — not just toward enemies, but his own men — none dared speak out. None questioned orders.
When Chi Yu returned to the garrison, he issued one command:
"Full-scale assault."
Every available Konoha shinobi — Hyuga, Aburame, Akimichi, and others — mobilized. Their mission: eradicate all remaining Kirigakure presence in the Land of Waves.
And so, they dispersed like fire through the forest.
---
A few days later — deep within the jungle terrain of the Land of Waves…
Three young Genin — Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu — found themselves cornered.
Surrounding them were seven figures cloaked in bloodlust and mist.
Shiranui Genma's senbon trembled slightly in his mouth. "This is bad. We're completely surrounded."
Might Guy's fists were clenched. "We can't escape this time…"
Ebisu's face was pale. "Those are… the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist…"
Biwa Jūzō stepped forward, resting his monstrous Executioner's Blade on his shoulder. "Even brats from Konoha know us now? Hah. We're practically celebrities."
He ran a finger along the chipped edge of his blade.
"Hmph. There's a notch in the steel. Time to feed it some blood."
The three Genin were paralyzed. Biwa Jūzō alone was beyond them — let alone all seven.
"What do we do? We can't even handle one of them…"
Just as dread settled in, a blur streaked through the trees — green, fast, and fierce.
A man landed between the three boys and the Seven Swordsmen, kicking up a wave of wind and leaves.
"Youth burns eternal!" he exclaimed. "I made it just in time!"
It was Might Duy, clad in a tattered green jumpsuit, sweat dripping from his brow — but eyes fierce and unwavering.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters