"Arrogant bastard!!!"
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen erupted in fury.
A moment later, Hoshigaki Kisame finally arrived, grinning as he said,
"As expected of Kiyosuke-san. Even your fighting style is so... unique."
"Keep it low-key, keep it low-key," Kiyosuke laughed heartily.
Seeing the large blade Samehada in Kisame's hand, Fuguki Suikazan's black eyes instantly turned blood-red.
"Damn you, Kisame! That's my Samehada!"
As the original owner of Samehada, Fuguki couldn't bear to see it in the hands of his former subordinate.
"Sorry," Kisame replied politely, though his shark eyes showed no warmth. "But he likes me better now, Fuguki-senpai."
Raiga Kurosuki, the wielder of the Thunder Blade: Kiba, laughed loudly.
"Then let me test how this new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen measures up!"
With that, he charged forward, lightning crackling from his blades.
Kisame didn't flinch. He swung Samehada calmly, and at the moment of collision, the overwhelming power shattered Raiga's arms completely.
Seeing this, Fuguki Suikazan cursed furiously.
"Raiga, you idiot! Samehada's wielder always has monstrous strength and endless chakra reserves! What's the point of rushing to die!?"
Raiga's body began to reform, his grin unfazed.
"Hehehe... It's fine. We can't really die now anyway, right? What's there to fear?"
"Fair point. In that case, Kisame, hand over Samehada to me!" Fuguki shouted, stepping forward. But Kisame had no intention of surrendering his precious blade.
"Come and take it, senpai," Kisame bared his sharp teeth in a grin, more excited than afraid. He was eager to test his weapon against its former master.
"Alright, alright," Kiyosuke said with a wave of his hand. "Then, Kisame-san, I'll leave the ones without weapons to you. I'll take care of the ones who still have theirs."
He tossed the kunai in his hand lazily, dividing the enemies with casual ease—an act that immediately enraged the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"You bastard! Who the hell do you think we are?!"
Unable to tolerate such disrespect, Jinpachi Munashi charged first. His Explosive Blade: Shibuki flared to life, covered in countless explosive tags that detonated with a thunderous boom.
"HAHAHAHA!" Jinpachi roared with laughter.
Jinin Akebino quickly shouted,
"You fool! What the hell are you laughing for?! Physical attacks don't work on him! Did you forget already?!"
"You're absolutely right."
A massive hand shot out from the smoke and clamped around Jinpachi's skull—its grip as solid as iron, unbreakable, crushing with brutal force.
In an instant, Kiyosuke's fingers closed, shattering Jinpachi's head like a melon.
Then, with a single stomp, he crushed what remained of the man's body into the ground.
"Sealing squad!"
"Yes, sir!"
The sealing team rushed in, wrapping Jinpachi's reforming body with sealing cloth. Talismans flared across its surface as black markings spread over the fabric, locking the corpse in place.
Once the seal was complete, Kiyosuke turned back, his battered body blazing with fierce flames.
"Alright then," he said coldly. "Who's next?"
The sight of him was terrifying—monstrous and awe-inspiring all at once.
Even the battle-hardened killers like Jinin Akebino and Kushimaru Kuriarare, men who had walked through oceans of blood, showed clear fear. They knew they weren't his match.
Kiyosuke picked up the Explosive Blade: Shibuki and examined it.
"This is a fine weapon... Not something a broke man can afford to play with."
But instead of keeping it, he casually tossed the blade toward a Kirigakure ninja nearby.
"Take it. Use it if you can. If not, deliver it to Mei."
"Yes, Kiyosuke-sama!"
The man clutched the weapon like a treasure, his eyes fixed on Kiyosuke's towering back—filled with admiration.
Only a man like this, he thought, was worthy of the Mizukage-sama!
...
Three swords remained.
Kiyosuke's gaze swept across them.
Biwa Jūzō immediately formed hand seals, preparing a Water Release to restrain Kiyosuke.
But Kisame wasn't about to let him.
Samehada swung, and with a single blow, it smashed Jūzō's body in half.
Even in their reanimated state, their power was clearly much weaker than before.
With that thought, Kisame pressed the attack.
Kiyosuke surged forward, bypassing the unarmed Fuguki Suikazan, heading straight for Jinin Akebino.
"What? Me?!" Jinin cursed, turning to flee.
Kiyosuke caught up instantly, but just as he was about to strike, he sensed a threat and leapt aside.
Out from the shadows stepped a young man who looked strikingly similar to Suigetsu.
"Hozuki Mangetsu?"
"To think you'd recognize my name—what an honor."
Mangetsu smiled politely, lowering his arm.
He was the famed genius of the Hōzuki clan, once capable of wielding all seven swords at once—the former master of the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei.
Sadly, his talent was cut short by illness, and not long after his death, the entire Hōzuki clan was wiped out, leaving only Suigetsu alive.
"Not much of a surprise," Kiyosuke said lightly. "I know your brother."
"Suigetsu?" Mangetsu's expression softened as he remembered the boy who used to chase after him everywhere.
"How's he doing?"
"He's doing fine," Kiyosuke replied. "Another genius—he dreams of joining the Seven Ninja Swordsmen himself."
"That's good to hear," Mangetsu said with a faint smile. "I'm sorry, Kiyosuke-sama... My body isn't under my control right now. Forgive me."
"It's fine. I'll just put you to rest."
In a flash, Kiyosuke appeared before him. Mangetsu's body instinctively tried to retreat, but his willpower forced it still—just for an instant.
That single moment was enough.
Boom!
Kiyosuke's fist pierced through Mangetsu's chest.
Mangetsu spoke weakly, "Please... return the Ninja Blade Scroll... to the village..."
The scroll was tucked inside his robes.
He didn't know why such a valuable artifact had appeared here, but he knew it should be returned to the living.
"No problem," Kiyosuke chuckled. "After all, the current Mizukage is my wife."
He reached into Mangetsu's chest, pulled out the scroll, and tucked it into his own vest.
"Much... appreciated..."
Mangetsu closed his eyes as the sealing tags activated, drawing his body into the seal.
Kiyosuke shook the blood from his hand.
"Alright then. Who's next?"
Jinin Akebino, Kushimaru Kuriarare, and Raiga Kurosuki all wore faces of sheer terror.
From the shadows, Kabuto—now fully transformed into a serpent-like form—watched with cold eyes.
"As expected of someone trained by Orochimaru-sama," he muttered. "Kiyosuke-sama's power exceeds all expectations. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen really aren't enough... Time to bring out a stronger piece."
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