Unfathomable speed!
Unstoppable fists!
Youth, blazing and fervent like fire!
The scorching heat unleashed by Morning Peacock was so intense that it completely evaporated the lake formed from the water shaped and condensed by Fuguki Suikazan's Water Style technique.
"This—!!"
The scene before them left the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist utterly stunned. Fuguki Suikazan and Raiga Kurosuki, who had yet to be injured, immediately dodged out of the way.
But Jinin Akebino and Jinpachi Munashi weren't so lucky.
The two couldn't evade in time and were directly hit by Morning Peacock. Under the terrifying heat and onslaught, their bodies erupted violently, as if subjected to some unspeakable destructive force.
Countless trees behind them were also annihilated in the aftermath.
"What terrifying power… Is that guy even human?!"
"Jinin Akebino and Jinpachi Munashi are dead too. At this rate—wait, is that… Mizunotsuki Yoru?!"
Fuguki and Raiga exchanged tense glances, seemingly realizing something. Fuguki's expression turned extremely odd as he looked directly at the figure now exposed to the group.
"That's definitely that kid under Kuriarare Kushimaru's command. What's he doing here?"
Raiga also seemed confused, but then something dawned on him. His eyes widened:
"Wait a second… Could the battle from the eastern front earlier… have been this brat?!"
"Now that you mention it, that chakra really is his!"
It felt like conceding defeat, but even as elite members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, they had to acknowledge the strength and exceptional nature of the Blood Mist Blade in front of them.
Without a doubt, this youth was on par with them. In fact, because of that unique technique of his, even the seven of them wouldn't want to face him head-on.
"Reinforcements?"
Besides Fuguki and Raiga, the one who had just used Morning Peacock, Might Duy, also noticed Yoru.
Truthfully, Duy was already in rough shape. Maintaining the Gate of View (Keimon), on top of launching Morning Peacock, had put immense strain on his body.
"I didn't expect reinforcements from Kirigakure to arrive this quickly… No, I have to take them out. Otherwise, Guy and the others will be in danger!"
Duy took a deep breath and clenched his teeth:
"I must keep Guy alive."
"He's my son… the continuation of my youth… my—"
"Hope!!"
The blue flames blazing around Might Duy surged again. In an instant, his figure charged straight toward Fuguki and Raiga!
Clearly, in Duy's eyes, compared to the sudden appearance of a Kirigakure ANBU operative, the infamous Swordsmen were the greater threat.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the blue beast rushing at them, Fuguki and Raiga's expressions changed drastically. They quickly raised their swords to defend.
Yoru, who was momentarily ignored as a target, quietly exhaled in relief.
[S-Class Target: Might Duy detected — Side Quest Triggered]
Objective 1: Subdue Might Duy — Reward: 50,000 points
Objective 2: Defeat Might Duy — Reward: 20,000 points
Objective 3: Kill Might Duy — Reward: 100,000 points
"…The hell?!"
One hundred thousand points for a kill?!
The system's alert had already rung out. Seriously, only the 'King of Youth' himself could make a Genin worth this much in rewards — absolutely absurd!
Just seeing the reward made Yoru abandon all thoughts of retreat.
Damn it, that's 100k! Do you know how many Jōnin I'd have to take out to rack up that much?!
Yoru swallowed hard, throat dry.
Sure, the reward was sky-high… but facing a blue monster who's opened seven gates? Even for Yoru, that was immense pressure.
Still, since he hadn't been treated as an enemy yet, he might as well let the Swordsmen keep tanking for now.
"Twin Swords: Hiramekarei, Blunt Sword: Kabutowari… and Explosive Blade: Shibuki."
Sweeping his gaze around, Yoru quickly located two of the swords among the underbrush. He found Jinpachi's remains, but Jinin Akebino's corpse was nowhere to be seen.
After that last Morning Peacock, the wielder of the Explosive Blade truly became… shibuki (spray) — completely fused into the environment.
"Hey, brat!"
A hoarse voice called out. Yoru looked up to see Jūzō Biwa, slumped against a tree stump.
[B-Rank Ally Detected: Jūzō Biwa — Side Quest Triggered]
Objective: Rescue Jūzō Biwa and return to Kirigakure — Reward: 5,000 points
Jūzō's chest was caved in, and his left arm hung limply — clearly a compound fracture. Only his right arm was still functional.
But he didn't ask Yoru for help. Instead, he tossed his battered Executioner's Blade (Kubikiribōchō) to him.
"Take the swords and fall back. Let Samehada and the Lightning Blade stay with Konoha for now!"
"What?"
Yoru caught the damaged Executioner's Blade (Kubikiribōchō). Despite its ruined state, its ability to regenerate by absorbing iron in blood meant it could still recover.
But what shocked him was that Jūzō wanted him to retreat with the blades rather than assist or rescue anyone.
"In every battle, we must maximize the benefit — that's the Blood Mist Way. My injuries will only slow you down, and against that level of monster… your best bet is to bring these five swords back."
Jūzō said calmly,
"Otherwise, Kirigakure may lose the Seven Ninja Swordsmen… forever."
For those raised in the Bloody Mist, life was never the top priority.
Like Kisame Hoshigaki.
He once slew his own comrades for the sake of Kirigakure's secrets and later sacrificed himself for Akatsuki's.
Clearly, Jūzō Biwa inherited that same resolve.
"…As much as I want to just turn around and run, I am a shinobi of the Mist, after all."
"What?"
Jūzō frowned.
"If we lose the Seven Swordsmen right as war erupts, the blow to Kirigakure would be far too great."
Yoru tossed the Executioner's Blade (Kubikiribōchō) back to Jūzō.
His eyes locked onto Might Duy, who—despite forcing back two swordsmen—was clearly beginning to falter. His body trembled.
Given enough time to power up…
"Maybe… just maybe, I can take him on."
Yoru muttered softly. Then, a strange chant escaped his lips:
"Darken the night with an arrogant mark, unleash wild and defiant power…"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Armor!
"Lightning Blade: Falling Thunder!"
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet!"
"Morning Peacock!!"
Nearby, yet another set of ultimate techniques clashed. Fuguki and Raiga were hurled through the air, their fate unknown. Samehada and Kiba fell from their hands to the ground.
But Might Duy wasn't unscathed.
After two consecutive Morning Peacock releases, his muscles had begun tearing under the surge of chakra. That same chakra, however, was forcibly binding his body back together.
The pain was unimaginable — as if his entire being was being torn apart and crushed together again and again.
He gasped, exhausted. Even the blue flames surrounding him flickered unsteadily.
Yet when Duy turned his gaze to Yoru, Jūzō, who lay slumped to the side, gave a wry smile.
"Well, now Kirigakure's not just losing the Seven Swordsmen. We're throwing in a rising star too."
"Jūzō-sama, the world says you're a man of ambition and iron discipline. But this battle isn't over yet — and already you've lost your will to fight? That's not how someone born in the Bloody Mist should be."
"And besides, I'm sure you've heard…"
Yoru took a deep breath, meeting Duy's gaze. In Jūzō's stunned expression, Yoru raised his hand and clenched it tightly.
"I'm very strong."
"Hadō #90!"
"Kurohitsugi!!"