Compared to Mangetsu's face, now twisted with rage, Mitsuki appeared abnormally calm.Perhaps it was because, in Mitsuki's eyes, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were already seven corpses waiting to fall.
With a cold and even tone, he said,
"From your expression, I take it someone important to you died by my hand? If so, that's quite unfortunate—because I don't usually enjoy tormenting the weak. Your loved one probably died far too easily."
Those words made the last thread of reason inside Mangetsu snap.
"You bastard! You're the one who killed my younger brother! He was in Ao's squad—you made him a disgrace to Kirigakure! He couldn't even die a hero!"
At that, Mitsuki's memory flickered—indeed, this man's face resembled that shark-toothed Mist shinobi he had slain while capturing Ao.
Mitsuki chuckled lightly.
"Don't worry. Your brother died miserably."
Jūzō felt something was wrong and tried to warn him,
"Wait, Magetsu—!"
But it was already too late. Consumed by rage, Magetsu could no longer contain the fire in his chest. He gripped Hiramekarei tightly; with his movement, the twin-bladed sword began to swell with power, the chakra inside surging until it grew massive in size.
Without hesitation, he released the weapon's full battle form. He swung it down hard—a roaring sphere of compressed chakra shot out like a cannonball, carrying his hatred and killing intent straight toward Mitsuki.
"Die! Damn you, Shimizu Mitsuki!"
Facing that attack filled with murderous fury, Mitsuki simply drew Mistcutter and gave a casual slash.
"Full Counter"
An invisible field spread outward from Mitsuki's body. The instant Hiramekarei's energy blast touched the edge of that domain, it triggered some unseen mechanism—the chakra inside immediately reversed direction and shot back toward its original source at lightning speed.
Mangetsu hadn't expected his own attack to be reflected. He barely leapt aside in time, heart racing. He knew better than anyone the devastating force of Hiramekarei's chakra bursts—each blast could convert his chakra into raw destructive power with almost no loss.
The explosion obliterated several boulders where the Swordsmen had been standing moments ago, sending shards of stone flying. But the others were unfazed. The instant Mangetsu had attacked, they had already scattered, attacking Mitsuki from all directions.
Mitsuki flipped both hands, several Flying Thunder God kunai glinting between his fingers. He threw them outward in practiced arcs.
"Fwish, fwish, fwish—"
The special three-pronged kunai embedded themselves in key positions around the battlefield.
Seeing this, Jūzō immediately warned his comrades,
"It's the space-time ninjutsu from our intel! Watch for his kunai—don't let him teleport behind you!"
After months on the Mist frontlines, Kirigakure had long since learned of Mitsuki's mastery over space-time techniques.
"Hah… in that case…"
Kushimaru grinned cruelly. He abruptly changed course, dashing straight toward Guy and the others—his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
Mitsuki, was famous for rescuing squads all across the Mist front. To Kushimaru, that soft-hearted behavior was pathetic and inefficien t —but it also made for a perfect trap. If he threatened the weaker Konoha shinobi, Mitsuki would surely expose himself to save them.
Duy tensed his whole body. If there were only one enemy, he could risk opening the Gate of Wonder, but Mitsuki clearly wasn't about to give him that chance.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had to die—by his hands.
"Four Crimson Ray Formation!"
Four dazzling red pillars of light shot upward, connecting with each other to form a massive square barrier that sealed off the battlefield.
This was Mitsuki's backup plan — the trap he had set before revealing himself. By borrowing Shukaku's chakra, he had split off four shadow clones, each with Kage-level reserves, and positioned them at the four corners to prepare the jutsu.
Kushimaru lunged, thrusting his Nuibari needle at the barrier, but the moment it touched the shimmering wall of chakra, the energy rebounded, blasting him backward.
The Four Crimson Ray Formation—a high-level barrier technique of the Senju Clan—required four users with Kage-class chakra to perform simultaneously. Because of its extreme difficulty and power, it was recorded in the Scroll of Seals, restricted to Hokage-class shinobi.
But Mitsuki… had a very capable older sister who'd taught him well.
He didn't cast the barrier merely to stop the Swordsmen from escaping—it was also to prevent anyone from stealing his kills. Yes—he meant that certain someone outside the barrier, who was itching to open the Eight Gates again.
At that moment, Duy still didn't understand what was happening. He could only watch as the red light encased Mitsuki and the Swordsmen inside, realizing the chakra beneath each pillar came from Mitsuki's meditating shadow clones.
Inside the barrier—
Kushimaru, dazed from the impact, shook his head. Suddenly, Jūzō appeared behind him, cleaving down with his Kubikiribōchō.
Clang!
Steel met steel—the ringing echoed. Mitsuki's Mistcutter, wreathed in arcs of Chidori, locked against the massive sword. The two pushed against each other with raw strength.
Sparks danced across the metal as Mitsuki channeled lightning chakra through the blades, sending a violent current up Jūzō's sword toward his body.
Jūzō's muscles stiffened under the electric surge—but he wasn't alone. Recovering fast, Kushimaru lunged in again, driving Nuibari toward Mitsuki's side.
Mitsuki didn't even flinch. He kept channeling lightning through Mistcutter until Jūzō was paralyzed in place.
Meanwhile, Shukaku, perched on Mitsuki's shoulder, formed hand seals—sand rose from the ground, shaping into a Sand Shield that blocked Kushimaru's strike in time.
In the same instant, Mitsuki's left hand glowed—a Rasenshuriken spun to life.
He didn't throw it. He gripped it tight, wielding it like a bladed weapon, and swung it down in a savage arc toward the immobilized Jūzō.