Purple Cat finished setting the secret signals near the reef and returned to Yagami's side. Seeing the Fox staring out at the sea in a trance, she asked, "What's wrong, Captain?"
"Nothing, just remembering the past," Yagami said. "Before you joined the Anbu, I started out as a regular ninja under Captain Antelope. Back then, our squad patrolled these same coasts between Whirlpool and Waves. Every mission felt like it could take your life—and for many, it did. Horned Ox died; the previous owner of your mask died; Captain Antelope died. Even my Unit Leader, Brown Bear, is gone. My later Captain, Black ape, lost both arms and had to retire due to his injuries. Being a Jonin now feels different. Back then, I was terrified of the ocean. If I heard a bird cry over the sound of the waves, I'd jump out from behind my cover in a panic."
Purple Cat replied, "Every Anbu goes through that. When I first joined, even surveillance missions in the village felt like walking a tightrope. Growing up, I never felt danger in the parks or streets of Konoha. Now, even the Senju compound feels like a den of hidden threats."
"Yeah. Everything changes."
Several hours later, the Spotted Deer squad was the first to return. Spotted Deer approached Yagami and reported:
"Unit Leader, we extracted intel from a prisoner. The Mist's strategy for this war is irregular harassment. Mist squads, platoons, and companies are launching frequent, unpredictable raids to find isolated Leaf units and swarm them. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen operate as a separate entity, acting as the hammer for these raids. Sometimes they move as a group, sometimes in pairs. Low-level Mist ninja have no idea where they are at any given time."
'No pattern. That's troublesome,' Yagami thought. "I understand. Continue your reconnaissance."
Once the Spotted Deer squad left, Yagami and Purple Cat resumed their patrol along the coastline.
...
Somewhere on the eastern coast of the Land of Whirlpools.
Special Jonin Hayama Shirakumo was resting under a leeward reef with his squad. His subordinate, Tokuno, watched as the other two members set traps in the distance. He leaned in and whispered, "Captain, doesn't something feel... off?"
Hayama set down his water bottle and immediately scanned the sea. Nothing. "The Mist? I don't see anything."
"Not the Mist. I mean the thousand reinforcements," Tokuno said. "Our squad is part of that thousand. Captain, back in the Land of Rivers, Lord White Fang rewarded you with ninjutsu and recommended you for Special Jonin. On the way here, I realized something: all eleven of the Special Jonin recommended by Lord White Fang were sent to the Whirlpool front. Like your friend Shinma—the moment he arrived, he was given a patrol sector and put on the line. Yet Lord White Fang himself wasn't allowed to come. Doesn't that seem suspicious?"
Hayama replied, "Don't overthink it. Just focus on the mission." He said the words, but he took a long gulp of water to steady his own unease.
After the River campaign, the Jonin recommended by Commander Nara Shikaku were approved, but those recommended by the Vice Commanders—White Fang and Tsunade—were rejected by the Jonin Standby Station. Shikaku had claimed their abilities weren't yet sufficient for full Jonin status. Hayama and the others, as Sakumo's proteges, had naturally become his followers. If all eleven of these Special Jonin died here, Sakumo's influence would be gutted.
Suddenly, a strange whistling sound tore through the air! Hayama dropped his bottle and drew his longsword. "Careful! Enemy attack!"
A cold flash pierced the white spray of the waves, bolting toward the shore. Hayama saw one of his subordinates' stomachs get skewered instantly.
"The Longsword: Nuibari! It's one of the Seven!"
Hayama gripped his hilt, wove a sign with his free hand, and swung. [Wind Style: Vacuum Sword]! A blade of pressurized air flew toward the wire trailing behind the Longsword. If he could cut the wire, the sword would be stranded on the beach.
"Hiramekarei: Unleash!"
A massive surge of chakra, shaped like a flatfish, plowed through the solid reef with a powerful shockwave, intercepting the Vacuum Sword. Hayama's heart sank. *Another one? The Twinsword: Hiramekarei?* Chakra materialization—the signature ability of one of the world's most elite weapons!
Mangetsu Hozuki stood holding the twin blades, glancing with disdain at Kushimaru Kuriarare, who was just climbing out of the water. "I won't repeat myself a third time. The Longsword should go for the head, throat, or heart—not be a toy for your sadistic games."
Kushimaru jerked the wire, retracting the needle. The Leaf ninja had been skewered twice through the abdomen, but he wasn't dead yet; the wounds were deliberately placed to prolong the agony. "Heh heh," Kushimaru mocked. "Elder Genji granted me this blade. I am the first official master of Nuibari under the Hidden Mist. How I use it is my business. Mangetsu, don't think you can boss me around just because your clan made these toys. The era of the Hozuki is over."
"The first master?" Mangetsu snarled. "Nuibari has had at least three masters within the Hozuki clan. What were they?"
"What were they? Just people who got my blade dirty!"
Hayama Shirakumo grew more tense as he listened to the two bicker. They were so powerful they didn't even care that they were arguing in front of their prey.
Irritated by Kushimaru, Mangetsu vented his rage on the Leaf squad. Hiramekarei erupted, firing gaseous chakra orbs that shattered the coastal reefs like glass. Hayama immediately ordered: "Retreat!"
Two of the Seven Swordsmen were not something his squad could handle. Tokuno helped their wounded comrade while Hayama covered the rear.
"See?" Kushimaru said. "Wounding him slowed them down. Isn't that better?"
"Shut up!" Mangetsu barked. "Kill that squad leader. His Wind Style is interesting; if he grows, he'll be a Jonin for sure."
Kushimaru ignored him, bypassing Hayama to lunge at the wounded ninja. Mangetsu's eyes filled with contempt. Stitching enemies together and feeling their tremors through the wire was Kushimaru's obsession. He played with his food until they died. Because of this, he had nearly failed missions several times.
Mangetsu took matters into his own hands, swinging Hiramekarei to send a massive chakra blade at Hayama. Seeing his wounded teammate behind him, Hayama had no choice but to stand his ground. He poured every drop of chakra into his sword. *Vacuum Sword!* A dozen wind blades flew out to meet the blue light.
However, the wind blades were no match for the raw power of Hiramekarei. The Vacuum Sword was built for flexibility and high-frequency strikes, not heavy clashes. The chakra blade tore through the wind, illuminating Hayama's face in blue.
Just then, a figure flickered into existence in front of him. After a blinding explosion of light, Hayama saw a man's back. The stranger had his hands outstretched, palms open, having caught the chakra blade of Hiramekarei with his bare hands. Black smoke rose from his palms, but the skin was merely darkened.
The man turned his head, revealing a Fox mask. "Hayama Shirakumo, leave this to me. Go deal with Kushimaru Kuriarare," Yagami said. "I am Anbu Jonin Fox. I'm giving you a mission: seize the Longsword: Nuibari."
"Yes, sir!"
Hayama didn't hesitate. He turned and charged at Kushimaru. *It's Copper Fox!* Having just come from the River front, Hayama had heard the name many times. The rising star of the Anbu, whose "Absolute Defense" was said to be impenetrable. The Fox had killed the daughter-in-law of Chiyo herself; his strength was battle-proven.
Yagami pulled his hands back, blowing on his scalding palms through the slit in his mask. His Absolute Defense hadn't been breached, but the energy and impact of Hiramekarei had made his hands burning hot. His technique was better at physical defense than energy-based shockwaves.
He had saved Hayama because he had seen Sakumo teaching him and knew Hayama was a loyal follower who would eventually become a high-level Jonin.
Mangetsu Hozuki stared in shock. Since when could Hiramekarei's attack be caught by hand? He noticed the copper tint on the Anbu's skin and remembered a piece of intelligence: a new Leaf Anbu nicknamed "Copper Fox" by the Sand.
Yagami charged. Seizing Nuibari would be great, but if he could take Hiramekarei too, the Mist would lose their minds. Hiramekarei was second only to Samehada in utility and power.
Mangetsu retreated onto the water. "Don't get close to a defense-type Taijutsu user," he reminded himself. He swung the twin blades again, this time with full intent. A massive chakra beam cut toward Yagami. Yagami dodged, the residual energy only singeing his clothes.
Hard-tanking a second strike, Yagami reached Mangetsu and threw a punch at his head. His fist passed through a splash of water. [Hydrification Jutsu]. Mangetsu was also immune to physical attacks.
But Yagami had a follow-up. "[Self-Exerting Binding Seal]!"
The seal, now officially "learned," crawled across Mangetsu's watery form, locking his joints. In the next instant, Mangetsu collapsed into the sea.
Yagami realized then why five-element ninja were so strong. If he had a single Lightning Style jutsu, the Hozuki clan's Hydrification would be a joke.
A finger poked out from the waves. [Water Style: Water Pistol Jutsu]!, high-speed water bullet shot from the fingertip, striking Yagami's throat. Fortunately, Yagami was cautious and kept his Copper Light active; his throat remained intact.
'Water Pistol?' This jutsu was perfect for ambushes. Yagami had considered learning the Rasengan, but a kunai could usually do what a Rasengan does. Wind was his third affinity, making the Rasengan difficult to develop. But this Water Pistol was perfect.
Yagami looked at the moon. The full moon cycle was nearly over, and he was still alive. He couldn't let it go to waste. Both the Hydrification and the Water Pistol would be massive upgrades.
He stepped back and said:
"Ninja of the Hozuki, I acknowledge your ability. You are worthy of becoming one of my 'collections.' Come, use your strongest technique and kill me."
Mangetsu's eye twitched with rage. "Your arrogance makes me sick. This is what I hate about the Leaf—you always produce these detestable geniuses."
The two clashed again. Under Mangetsu's chakra, Hiramekarei swelled to the size of Samehada. The light from the blades illuminated the seabed, revealing the fish below. After several exchanges, Yagami felt out Mangetsu's limits. Mangetsu couldn't kill Yagami, but Yagami couldn't easily kill someone who could turn to water.
It was enough. He had the habits and data he needed.
In a split second, Yagami secretly deactivated his Absolute Defense. Mangetsu's water bullet tore through Yagami's temple.
Mangetsu stood stunned. This powerful Anbu had actually died from a careless mistake? 'Am I really that strong?'
[System: Host death detected. Arc of Moon System is starting...]
***
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