'Is Might Duy fighting the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?'
Kiyohara narrowed his eyes.
No matter how you looked at it, this had to be one of the highest-level confrontations in the entire Third Great Ninja War.
The final gate of the Eight Gates, the Gate of Death, could multiply a ninja's power several dozen times.
"What's happening over there?"
Even through his black mask, Kakashi's face was visibly grim.
That terrifying chakra presence—
Could it be one of those walking calamities, the so-called "weapons of war"…?
He instinctively thought of the Tailed Beasts.
In this war, Kumo's Tailed Beast wielders had been extremely active.
"Probably just another big fight."
Kiyohara replied vaguely, though his gaze toward Kakashi turned odd.
If he remembered correctly…
Might Guy would one day claim that his ultimate strike had been prepared so he can finally surpass Kakashi.
"What?"
Kakashi blinked and reached up to touch his mask, wondering if something was on his face.
Kiyohara's look was just… weird.
"Nothing. Whatever's going on, it's way above our pay grade."
Kiyohara shook his head and turned his attention back to the retreat.
—
BOOM!
Suddenly, a violent shockwave ripped through the air.
Massive trees, jagged boulders, even uneven ground—
All were obliterated in its path, leaving a deep, gaping trench that scarred the forest floor.
Rocks and splinters rode the howling gale,
blasting through the air and forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
Kiyohara's heart skipped a beat.
'Crap. It's coming this way!'
Sure enough, a moment later—
a blue-streaked figure hurtled toward them like a meteor.
"Get back! Incoming! Find cover!"
The Hyūga escort ninja shouted a warning.
Thanks to their Byakugan, they spotted the danger long before it reached visible range.
But against absolute speed, even forewarning came too late.
Because that blue figure?
It was—
Might Duy.
And he was chasing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist straight into their path!
—
"Damn Leaf bastard's still on our tail!"
Jūzō Biwa cursed as he turned back, his face twisted with frustration.
They'd just captured a few bratty Konoha genin,
intending to interrogate them about the Hyūga main family's whereabouts—
But before they could even start,
some scruffy old man in a green jumpsuit had leapt into their midst,
rambling about "self-restraint," "youth," and "protecting precious things"…
Then green steam began pouring from his body.
And not long after that, the steam turned blue.
His strength and speed escalated rapidly.
He'd become a walking explosion.
—
"Morning Peacock!"
Might Duy's fists blurred faster and faster,
striking the air so fast they ignited it.
Flaming fists erupted before him—
like a peacock fanning its tail in a flurry of brilliant fireballs.
There was no sound.
Not until the attack hit.
Then, boom!
The blast reached their ears like a delayed explosion.
It had broken the sound barrier.
"That's Guy's father… Might Duy."
Kakashi muttered, finally recognizing him.
Before them lay one of the Seven Swordsmen—
Kurisame Kushimaru, wielder of the Longsword: Needle.
He was slumped in a crater,
his body scorched and mangled,
organs visibly cooked from within.
—
"Is that Kiyohara and Kakashi?"
Might Duy spotted the two mid-battle and paused briefly.
He knew them.
They were his son Guy's classmates—
and notably, two of the few who never mocked him.
"Guy… I leave him to you now.
Stay back! Don't approach—get out of here!"
Duy winced through his pain.
He was in the Seventh Gate state—already enduring incredible stress.
But if he didn't end this now,
these enemies would threaten not just him,
but his son and Konoha itself.
"Let me help you, Duy-senpai!"
Kakashi made to leap forward.
"Don't."
Kiyohara caught his shoulder, voice firm.
"This isn't a battle we can join."
What was Kakashi thinking?
Might Duy was holding his own against seven.
The last thing he needed was someone getting in his way and forcing him to hold back.
"Duy-senpai, we'll take care of Guy. You don't need to worry."
Kiyohara gave a solemn nod.
He scanned the area—
no sign of Might Guy.
He must've taken a different route with Ebisu and the others.
"Hahaha that's youth! Now go!"
Duy smiled, then turned his back to them completely—
entrusting his rear to the younger generation.
—
Kiyohara dragged Kakashi away.
Kurenai and Genma followed.
Behind them, the Hyūga main family and escorting shinobi had scattered across a hundred meters, ducking behind rocks and terrain.
A few of the Hyūga branch kids were peeking through trembling Byakugan, faces pale.
'That guy's always been a loser.
How did he suddenly become this terrifying…?!'
But before anyone could ask—
Might Duy's chakra flared once more.
"Konoha's Lotus… blooms again!
Eighth Gate…"
The blue steam erupted into a crimson blaze—
chakra so dense, it looked like burning blood!
"Gate of Death… KAI!!"
BOOM!!!
The chakra pressure exploded outward in a vortex.
Duy's muscles bulged grotesquely,
his skin carbonizing and flaking—
his body already reaching its breaking point.
"Daytime Tiger!"
With no hesitation, he formed a unique hand seal.
A sphere of compressed crimson steam gathered in front of him,
shaped into a titanic tiger's head spanning dozens of meters.
Then—
It exploded.
—
"What the hell?!"
"MOVE!"
The remaining Six Swordsmen scrambled.
But they were far too late.
This wasn't the usual Seventh Gate Daytime Tiger.
This was the Gate of Death version—
bigger, faster, blood-red.
BOOM!!
Three of the Seven were struck head-on—
like getting hit by a supersonic jet.
They vomited blood,
bodies flung like broken dolls into distant mountains,
their weapons embedded into the stone walls with them.
The other three had barely reacted in time.
Their weapons absorbed the brunt of the shock.
Jūzō Biwa's Executioner's Blade lost a chunk of its edge.
The recoil almost tore it from his grip.
Blood poured from his mouth.
But he didn't even glance back.
He turned and ran.
Fast.
The other two followed, fleeing into the woods.
'What the hell is that guy?!
Is this really Leaf genin? Seriously?!'
'What kind of monster defeats the Seven Ninja Swordsmen with a single blow?!
There's something seriously wrong here!'