"Brother Liuyun! The sea is so beautiful!"
Since getting together with Aoyama Ryūun, Yuhi Kurenai rarely cared about what others thought.
Whether there was something to do or not, she stayed beside him—beside the green hills and flowing clouds.
Aoyama Ryūun naturally wouldn't say anything about it.
As for the clans led by Hiashi Hyuga, they had nothing to say either.
On a ship crossing the vast ocean, Yuhi Kurenai stared at the endless water before her and couldn't help but sigh.
This was the first time she had ever seen the sea.
Kirigakure's territory is surrounded completely by the ocean—reaching it requires crossing waters like these.
"It's really beautiful."
Aoyama Ryūun wasn't particularly concerned about the upcoming battle with Kirigakure.
Not only him—very few of the shinobi following him felt any panic.
In their eyes, as long as Aoyama Ryūun stood with them,
it didn't matter who the opponent was. They would win.
"It's a pity Rin and the others left. Otherwise, we could have watched it together."
During this period, Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara's relationship had grown quite good.
They were originally supposed to follow Aoyama Ryūun to support the Kirigakure front.
However, when they were leaving the area around Iwagakure…
Uchiha Obito, Hatake Kakashi, and Rin Nohara sought out Aoyama Ryūun.
They said they wanted to head toward the battlefield near Kumogakure.
Aoyama Ryūun was somewhat surprised, but after thinking about it, it wasn't strange at all.
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin were all students of Minato Namikaze.
They had a close bond with him.
Naturally, they would want to reunite.
Aoyama Ryūun didn't refuse.
"Speaking of which, they should be almost at Kumogakure by now."
Leaning against the ship's railing, Kurenai spoke leisurely.
"Perhaps."
Aoyama Ryūun smiled faintly, hands tucked behind him, expression calm.
While Obito and his group were still in the Iwagakure region…
Aoyama Ryūun sensed a strange presence lingering around them—constantly watching Uchiha Obito.
Without a doubt, that presence belonged to Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
When they were with him, Aoyama Ryūun didn't mind keeping an eye out for them.
But now that they had willingly gone off on their own, he wouldn't stop fate from moving.
It just so happened that Obito and the others were likely to fall into danger near the Kannabi Bridge.
But Iwagakure had already been defeated.
How Madara Uchiha would act against Obito and his group next… Aoyama Ryūun was genuinely curious.
Just as Aoyama Ryūun and the others were nearing the Kirigakure battlefield,
his Observation Haki suddenly picked up something unusual.
"Hm?"
He turned his head, gazing toward a certain direction on the sea.
Thick mist had begun to rise across the waters near Kirigakure.
But even such heavy fog couldn't obstruct Aoyama Ryūun's perception.
"Brother Liuyun? What's wrong?"
Sensing something off with him, Kurenai looked at him curiously.
"Nothing."
With a small smile, Aoyama Ryūun spoke softly,
then called Hiashi Hyuga and the others over.
"Lord Ryūun?"
"You all head to the Konoha camp near Kirigakure first. I'll arrive shortly."
"Has something happened?"
"Nothing serious."
They all knew Aoyama Ryūun's detection abilities were exceptional. His sudden departure meant he had found something.
The Hyuga clan's Byakugan was ideal for reconnaissance—unaffected by mist—making them perfect to lead the group.
"Understood."
Hiashi Hyuga and the others didn't ask further.
As commander-in-chief, Aoyama Ryūun could move however he wished.
"Brother Liuyun, please be careful."
Even knowing that Aoyama Ryūun was practically invincible in the current shinobi world,
Kurenai still couldn't hide her worry whenever something like this happened.
Aoyama Ryūun smiled and lightly tapped her forehead.
"Don't worry."
With that, Aoyama Ryūun vanished instantly.
Hiashi Hyuga, now holding responsibility for everyone present, didn't hesitate.
"All personnel on alert! Proceed at full speed to Kirigakure!"
"Yes!"
…
Meanwhile, in a forest somewhere within Kirigakure's territory—
"Tch! What's this? Just a few students."
Atop the trees, seven figures stood—each with distinct appearances and wielding a different type of ninja sword.
Their looks varied, their blades varied—
but their thoughts were nearly identical.
The situation was… laughable.
"This… this is… the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
Below the trees were three newly graduated genin from Konoha.
The future Blue Beast of Konoha—Might Guy—along with Yamashiro Aoba and Shiranui Genma.
Though they would one day become well-known…
right now, they were nothing more than fresh genin.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were unmistakable by appearance alone.
Looking at the looming figures above them—
even the iron-willed Might Guy couldn't help but panic.
Yamashiro Aoba and Shiranui Genma were nearly crying.
"How did we run into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!?"
"I'm dead! I'm really dead this time!"
"I— I—!"
Might Guy was stuttering uncontrollably.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, meanwhile, were disappointed.
They had expected to meet Konoha jōnin… and instead found three academy brats.
In the end, Jūzō Biwa—wielder of the Executioner's Blade—stepped forward.
Resting the massive sword on his shoulder, he stared at the boys with a mocking, cruel grin.
"Perfect timing. My Executioner's Blade has a crack… I'll use your blood to fix it."
…
Each blade of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had a unique ability.
Jūzō's Executioner's Blade absorbed the iron from blood to repair itself.
Hoisting the enormous cleaver, his shark-like teeth made his grin even more savage.
"You… you all!"
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