Samehada flew through the air, its chain hissing like a serpent.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Kitazawa flicked a kunai forward, his fingers weaving through seals in a blur. Chakra surged—and in an instant, the single kunai split into hundreds, multiplying across the sky like a storm of steel.
The air shimmered with the reflection of countless blades. They swallowed Samehada whole and followed its chain back toward Fuguki, forming a lethal cloud that darkened the battlefield.
Fuguki squinted, surrounded by a storm of steel. Only now, facing Kitazawa head-on, did he realize—Raiga and Ameyuri hadn't died in vain.
But among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, strength was not equal.
And Fuguki was the strongest of them all.
With a sharp yank of his arm, he reeled in the chain. Samehada spun in front of him like a living shield, deflecting every incoming kunai with a screech of metal on scale.
A quiet "Hmph" escaped him—then his eyes widened slightly.
Kitazawa had vanished.
Reacting instantly, Fuguki flicked his wrist again. Samehada shot forward like a missile—this time, not at Kitazawa, but at Kurenai.
A crack of lightning split the air. Kitazawa appeared mid-flash, twin blades—Zangetsu and Raiden—crossed before him, stopping Samehada dead in its tracks.
"I knew you'd take the bait," Fuguki sneered. "For a shinobi, emotions are nothing but weakness."
He blurred forward, water chakra surging in his palm and shaping into a razor-thin blade. He swung.
The blow connected—but Kitazawa burst into smoke.
"Shadow Clone?" Fuguki's eyes widened.
Feeling a flicker of heat behind him. He turned just in time to see Kitazawa closing in, Zangetsu burning with crimson fire.
"Tch—!" Fuguki's instincts screamed. He spun, raising his water blade to parry—
"Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!"
Zangetsu shuddered violently, wrapped in vibrating lightning. The water blade shattered on contact.
Steel bit into flesh.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Fuguki staggered back, clutching his left arm. A deep gash ran from shoulder to wrist.
"Damn you!" he roared, his voice guttural. "I'll kill you where you stand!"
Kitazawa's expression remained calm. "You're welcome to try."
That cold composure only enraged him further. "When I was making my name on the battlefield, you were still learning how to hold a kunai!"
With that, Fuguki suddenly swung Samehada—at himself.
The expected sound of slicing flesh never came. Instead, the greatsword fused into his body. His skin rippled, transforming—his head elongating into a fish-like shape, fins sprouting along his arms.
"Samehada Fusion…" Kitazawa murmured, narrowing his eyes.
So Fuguki could merge with it too. He'd thought only Kisame possessed that ability. But then again, it made sense—Samehada's fusion was a function of the blade itself, not the wielder.
"Die!" Fuguki's distorted voice bellowed.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
The air vibrated as water chakra exploded outward, coalescing into a massive dragon that roared toward Kitazawa.
Kitazawa's grip tightened. 'Even his ninjutsu is amplified in this form…'
He swung Zangetsu—the flaming arc collided with the water dragon, only to be swallowed whole.
Without hesitation, Kitazawa sheathed the blade and formed new seals.
"Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!"
A swirling blast of compressed air shot forward, meeting the oncoming water head-on. The collision created a violent storm of mist and shockwaves.
Before the haze cleared, Fuguki lunged through it—his fused arms gleaming like blades.
"Samehada: Erasing Slash!"
Twin arcs slashed horizontally.
"Rasengan!"
Two spheres of spinning chakra materialized in Kitazawa's hands. He met both strikes head-on. The impact sent ripples through the air, tearing up the ground around them.
Even with Samehada's protection, the flesh on Fuguki's arms twisted grotesquely under the force. He gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain, and leapt back.
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"
Blades of water spiraled toward Kitazawa, slicing through the mist.
Kitazawa's right leg glowed with dense chakra. He kicked forward—the sheer wind pressure struck first, smashing into Fuguki before the water blades could connect.
The Mist Jonin was hurled backward, crashing through the trees.
"Chidori!"
Electricity burst from Kitazawa's hand, crackling with lethal intensity. The air filled with the screech of a thousand birds.
He darted forward, piercing through the dust—aiming straight for Fuguki's heart.
Fuguki's instincts screamed. Every nerve in his body lit up in alarm. He crossed his forearms in front of him just in time.
The Chidori tore through his skin, drawing arcs of blood.
But in his fused form, his body was far tougher than before. Snarling, he activated Samehada's ability.
The Chidori's crackling light dimmed, its energy rapidly drained away until nothing remained.
Kitazawa skidded back, eyes sharp.
Fuguki looked down at his bleeding arms—skin scorched and torn—but still functional. His breath came heavy, a mix of fury and disbelief twisting his face.
"Don't get cocky, brat," he growled, voice low and seething. "Samehada's not done feeding yet."
The sound of rushing wind tore through the battlefield.
A figure flashed in from the distance—it was Uchiha Itachi.
His sharp gaze swept across the scene, and even he couldn't hide his surprise.
That Kurenai Yūhi and Yakushi Kabuto were being overwhelmed was within his expectations.
But Suikazan Fuguki, of all people, being pushed this far?
The hulking man's arms were covered in blood, his expression grim and strange.
"Konoha Anbu?" Fuguki muttered, briefly startled. Then he sneered.
Even if another jōnin had shown up, it wouldn't change the tide.
Still, Itachi's sudden appearance made him uneasy. If this dragged on, more Leaf shinobi would arrive.
"You three, finish them off! Now!" he barked, his voice low and rough.
Then his eyes locked onto Kitazawa.
He had believed that his Samehada Fusion Form would easily overwhelm the young man—but reality was proving otherwise.
It seemed he had no choice but to unveil his true trump card.
His Hidden Mist Jutsu and Silent Killing hadn't been used in a long time.
Not because he couldn't. But because he hadn't needed to. Those arts were reserved for opponents who stood on equal ground.
And Kitazawa clearly was.
"Kid, this is where it ends!" Fuguki roared. His hands clapped together, and thick mist began to spill out, swallowing the battlefield in a gray shroud.
"It is indeed time for it to end," Kitazawa replied calmly.
Now that Itachi had arrived, there was no reason to hold back.
Senju Chakra Mode—activate!
Mist rolled.
From behind, Fuguki lunged silently.
Super Strength!
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kitazawa twisted and met the attack with a devastating punch.
Fuguki's eyes widened in shock before he was sent flying, crashing hard into the ground. His entire body screamed in pain, as if his bones had been shaken apart.
If not for the protective chakra of the Samehada Fusion, that punch would've knocked him out cold.
But what truly unsettled him was how fast Kitazawa had reacted.
'He can see me through the mist? Impossible!'
Gritting his teeth, Fuguki rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a roaring Water Dragon that tore through the haze.
Then, silence.
He melted into the mist, creeping closer, every movement soundless.
Kitazawa stood still, arms crossed, sunglasses unmoving, as if unaware.
Now!
Fuguki burst forward with Body Flicker, his hand sharpened like a blade aimed straight for Kitazawa's heart. A feral grin stretched across his face.
Killing Tsunade's disciple—one of Konoha's rising stars—would be a glorious trophy.
But in the next instant, his grin froze.
Kitazawa's hands shot out, gripping his arms in an iron hold.
"Wha—!"
Fuguki tried to pull back, but Kitazawa's fingers pressed against his forearms—precisely striking chakra points.
"How do you know the Gentle Fist?!" Fuguki shouted, panic flashing in his eyes as his chakra flow faltered.
"I have two Hyūga students," Kitazawa said evenly. "I picked up a few things."
Another precise strike landed.
"Get lost."
Fuguki's instincts screamed danger. He lashed out with a kick, forcing Kitazawa to retreat several steps.
He exhaled in relief—too soon.
A strange tremor ran through his body, and in the next second, the Samehada Fusion unraveled.
Realizing what had happened, Fuguki snatched up the greatsword and vanished back into the mist.
'He… disrupted the chakra flow of my fusion form… with just two strikes?'
For the first time, Fuguki felt real dread.
Even his Hidden Mist Jutsu couldn't suppress Kitazawa's reactions.
He gripped Samehada tightly, an idea sparking in his mind.
If close-range attacks failed, then—he'd strike from afar.
He twisted the greatsword in his hand and hurled it like a spear, then immediately weaved signs.
Hair Senbon!
His hair stiffened into dozens of sharp needles, firing toward Kitazawa.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
A wall of earth surged upward, shielding him.
Kitazawa's Byakugan—the key to his speed—flared. Enhanced by thirty percent chakra purity, it far outclassed even the Hyūga's natural sight.
But even he could only see clearly within three meters inside this dense mist.
Still—three meters was all he needed.
The hair senbon clattered against the earth wall—
Then Samehada came crashing through it.
Spikes of hardened hair followed, skewering Kitazawa like a porcupine.
"It worked?!" Fuguki's eyes lit with triumph.
But then—
Bang!
Kitazawa's body dissolved into mud.
"Damn it!"
An alarm screamed in Fuguki's mind as he yanked Samehada back in panic—
Compound Ninjutsu: Blazing Wind Riot!
Kitazawa's gaze snapped toward the retreating Samehada. Without hesitation, his hands blurred through a series of seals.
He leaned back and exhaled—a roaring ball of flame erupted from his mouth, crashing to the ground ahead.
The instant it landed, it expanded violently, transforming the battlefield into a blazing sea of fire.
Then came the second phase—high-pressure wind orbs burst outward, fanning the flames in a storm of fiery waves that roared like a wildfire unleashed.
"No—!"
Fuguki barely had time to grab Samehada before the inferno swallowed him whole.
Screams tore through the burning mist. He tried to flee, but the flames, fed by the raging wind, spread too fast.
The mist evaporated—replaced by pillars of fire that painted the sky red.
Through the shimmering heat, Kitazawa's Byakugan activated, piercing the haze. He spotted Fuguki's chakra flickering within the inferno.
Drawing Zangetsu, he swung once.
A blade of fire surged from the sword, slicing through the sea of flames—and found its mark.
The screams stopped abruptly. Fuguki collapsed.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Kitazawa swung again, infusing the sword with Wind Release chakra—a jutsu usually used on kunai but infinitely deadlier when channeled through a blade.
The gust split the fire apart, clearing a path. Kitazawa darted forward, grabbed the charred, unrecognizable body of Fuguki, and dragged him clear.
Even so, the man was burned beyond recognition—skin blackened, armor half-melted.
Before Kitazawa could catch his breath, movement caught his eye—Samehada was slithering away across the ground, like a dark, living serpent.
Kitazawa stepped forward and brought his heel down on the hilt, pinning it in place.
His hands formed seals.
Sealing Art: Weighted Limbs Seal!
Black seals of chakra bloomed from his palms, snaking across the blade until it went still—sealed.
Kitazawa stroked his chin, observing it thoughtfully.
"Samehada really is something else," he murmured.
Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's blades, it was arguably the most versatile—its chakra absorption ability alone made it terrifying.
In the original story, it had even devoured the chakra of Tailed Beasts.
Still, Kitazawa wasn't fond of wielding a living weapon. Samehada was willful—fickle, even.
Even if it recognized him, it could easily abandon him if it sensed a richer chakra source—like that of a Jinchūriki.
Then, a thought flashed across his mind.
"...Jinchūriki? Wait—Naruto!"
Kitazawa's eyes widened. "Good heavens…"
It actually made sense.
If any chakra could satisfy Samehada, it would be Uzumaki Naruto's. Short of Hashirama Senju himself, no other shinobi in the world possessed chakra that potent—barring the Sage of Six Paths or Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, of course.
Samehada would adore Naruto's chakra.
And, knowing Naruto, he'd probably treat the sword like a new friend.
Kitazawa chuckled. "A sentient sword as a pet, huh? He'd love that."
He bound Samehada tightly in bandages. Being alive, it couldn't be stored in a summoning scroll — he'd have to carry it himself for now.
"Kitazawa!"
A familiar voice cut through the crackling aftermath.
A fragrant breeze followed as Kurenai hurried up to him.
Kitazawa turned. The other three Hidden Mist jōnin lay scattered on the ground—all incapacitated.
"Are you alright?" she asked, worry flickering in her eyes.
"I'm fine," Kitazawa replied, shaking his head. "What about the others?"
"Izumi and Torune are injured, but Kabuto's treating them," Kurenai said, exhaling in relief.
"My apologies," came a calm voice. Itachi stepped forward, his expression faintly remorseful. "I arrived too late."
"It's fine," Kitazawa said with a grin. "Actually, perfect timing. And I have to say—taking down three jōnin in one go? That's impressive, Itachi."
"I had help from Yuhi-senpai and the others," Itachi replied modestly, glancing at Fuguki's burned form. "Compared to you, I'm still lacking."
"Alright, enough compliments," Kurenai interjected, her tone practical. "We should move—if we linger, more Mist reinforcements will arrive."
"Mm." Kitazawa nodded. His Senju Chakra Mode had drained him heavily; another battle now would be risky. But with Itachi here, they could manage.
He unrolled a Summoning Storage Scroll, sealing the remains of Fuguki and the three Mist jōnin inside.
Then, the team began making their way back to the Leaf's main camp.
Moments after they left, a lone figure materialized amidst the lingering smoke—the Hidden Mist Anbu who had earlier reported to Fuguki.
"It's over…" he whispered, trembling. "Something big has happened…"
Suikazan Fuguki—deputy commander of the Mist forces and one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—was dead.
This would shake the entire Mist Village.
The Anbu's eyes hardened. He vanished in a flicker—racing to report to Ao.
[Current Mission: Stop or eliminate Suikazan Fuguki.]
[Mission Reward: 40% Chakra Capacity Increase.]
[Mission Complete—Reward Issued.]
Kitazawa, sprinting alongside his squad, felt the text flicker before his eyes.
A surge of chakra flooded through his body, restoring much of what he had spent in battle.
His total chakra now exceeded all the Jonin in Konoha. It was getting close to Tsunade's level.
By the time they reached the Leaf Village Main Camp, dusk had settled in. The last rays of sunlight bled across the horizon.
Inside the command tent, Tsunade, Nara Shikaku, and Hyūga Hiashi awaited them.
"Report," Tsunade said immediately.
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Mission accomplished."
Tsunade's lips curved upward. "Well done."
He unsealed a scroll. "These are the remains of Fuguki's team," he warned. "They're… a bit bloody."
Tsunade took the scroll without looking, passing it to Shikaku.
"You killed all four of them?" Shikaku asked, eyes widening.
The revelation rippled through the tent.
Fuguki's status was no small matter—his death would send shockwaves through the Mist Village.
"As expected of Lady Tsunade's student!" one of the jōnin exclaimed.
They had thought Kitazawa's team merely repelled Fuguki's squad—not annihilated it. The difference was night and day.
"Haru," Tsunade ordered, turning to the nearby Anbu. "Send this report to the Hokage immediately."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
"Shikaku," she continued, "prepare defensive measures. The Mist will retaliate."
"Understood." Shikaku bowed and swiftly exited the tent.
As the others moved into action, Tsunade's gaze lingered on Kitazawa—a proud, knowing smile playing on her lips.
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