The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken continued to expand rapidly, but even without Biwa Jūzō's warning, Kurosuki Raiga and the others had already sensed the danger.
With such strong chakra, they weren't blind to the threat.
Each of them swiftly retreated, but the expanding energy sphere was just as fast. Realizing they were about to be consumed by the blast, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen reacted quickly.
Kurosuki Raiga crossed his twin blades, lightning crackling violently as he collided with the approaching force. The resulting explosion sent him tumbling backward at even greater speed, using the impact to escape.
Jinin Akebino, wielding the blunt sword Kabutowari, brought down his axe, followed by a powerful strike from his hammer. The tremendous force clashed with the Rasenshuriken's power, but like Raiga, he was knocked back by the shockwave.
Kuriarare Kushimaru, the masked wielder of the Nuibari , had seemingly anticipated the attack. Wrapping his long wire around a tree, he used it to swiftly escape the explosion.
Fuguki Suikazan, the slowest of the group, saw that he couldn't escape in time. He immediately unsheathed the Samehada, still wrapped in bandages. As the bandages exploded away, Samehada unfurled, and with a fierce swing, it sliced through the expanding Rasenshuriken's force.
Jinpachi Munashi, wielding the explosive blade Shibuki, unfurled a scroll covered with explosive tags.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions filled the air, their fiery light scattering the Rasenshuriken's expanding energy.
From the air, Shūichi took in the scene.
However, what surprised him the most was the swordsman he was least familiar with—Hōzuki Mangetsu, who wielded the Hiramekarei, a pair of fan-like blades stacked together.
As the bandages flew off, the Hiramekarei released a powerful burst of chakra, forming a massive chakra orb. As it descended, it slammed down like a gigantic hammer forged from pure chakra.
Boom!
The expanding Rasenshuriken came to a sudden halt, and then exploded outward, unleashing a windstorm that swept across the battlefield.
However, the storm caused little actual damage.
"This guy must be the strongest of them…"
Shūichi's gaze sharpened as the windstorm swirled. Taking advantage of the moment, he waved his hands, scattering a multitude of Flying Thunder God kunai across the battlefield.
At that moment, Might Duy, having already opened the Seventh Gate, charged into the storm with immense force, launching a devastating kick at Jinin Akebino.
Jinin Akebino retreated quickly, the storm tearing through the ground as dust and debris filled the air. He swung his axe at Duy with his right hand, followed by his hammer in his left.
But Might Duy's speed in the Seventh Gate far exceeded his expectations. In a flash, Duy had already appeared behind him.
Jinin Akebino twisted his wrist, swinging his axe in a spin toward his back.
Boom!
In the next moment, Jinin Akebino was sent flying, crashing into a tree before collapsing to the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he couldn't stand. His axe and hammer lay scattered on the ground.
As the windstorm passed, a thick mist began to rise, quickly engulfing the battlefield.
Hiding in the Mist Jutsu!
Suddenly, a long needle shot up from the ground, aimed directly at Might Duy's back.
Unfortunately for Kuriarare Kushimaru, Shūichi's heat vision was unaffected by the mist. Drawing his sword, Shūichi launched his Totsuka Blade, enveloped in blue flames, straight at Kushimaru's sneak attack.
"Thousand Blades!"
Kurosuki Raiga shouted as thunder roared, lightning tearing through the mist, aimed directly at Shūichi.
In Shūichi's field of vision, the Hiramekarei's chakra flared up once again, extending outward like a massive chakra blade.
Swish!
Shūichi's figure disappeared from the air, reappearing next to one of his Flying Thunder God kunai, only to be met by the Hiramekarei, which was already slashing toward him with tremendous force.
At the same time, Kuriarare Kushimaru gave up his attack on Might Duy and dodged the incoming Totsuka Blade.
Shūichi disappeared once again, evading the strike from the Hiramekarei, and reappeared next to his sword. With a swift motion, he swung the blade, unleashing a crescent-shaped Blue Flame Vacuum Slash toward Kushimaru.
But before it could hit, Hōzuki Mangetsu, wielding the Hiramekarei, appeared in front of Kushimaru, deflecting the attack with his blade.
Boom!
The Blue Flame Vacuum Slash exploded, creating a fiery windstorm.
Suddenly, from behind Shūichi, the sound of countless senbon needles whistled through the air.
It was Fuguki Suikazan's Needle Senbon, flying at great speed and covering a wide area.
But before they could hit, Shūichi vanished once more.
Meanwhile, Jinpachi Munashi, wielding the explosive blade Shibuki, swung his sword, unfurling a scroll that surrounded Might Duy.
Before the explosion could trigger, Might Duy leapt into the air.
"You're dead!" Jinpachi roared.
As he swung his blade, the unfurled scroll flew toward Might Duy, while lightning from above struck down.
It was Kurosuki Raiga, continuing his support from a distance.
Lightning struck Duy mid-air, causing his body to tense up from the shock.
However, the scroll flying toward him was suddenly sliced in two by a blinding white beam of light.
Jinpachi sensed the danger and dodged, but mid-dodge, his body was cleaved in half by the blinding light.
"Perish!"
Kurosuki Raiga shouted as lightning rained down like branches, targeting Shūichi, who had just unleashed his flaming dragon breath.
Lightning was fast, but Shūichi's reaction was faster.
Having dealt with Jinpachi, he disappeared before the lightning could strike.
"Uncle Duy, are you alright?"
Shūichi appeared beside Might Duy.
"I'm fine!"
Duy shook his head. Although the lightning attack had paralyzed him momentarily, his Seventh Gate power had already helped him recover.
Shūichi placed a hand on Duy's shoulder, leaving a Flying Thunder God mark before turning his gaze toward the remaining four enemies.
Hōzuki Mangetsu, Fuguki Suikazan, Kurosuki Raiga, and Kuriarare Kushimaru.
Jūzō Biwa was crippled by the Rasenshuriken, Jinpachi Munashi was split in two by the Flame Dragon Breath, and Kuriarare Kushimaru was incapacitated by a single kick from Might Duy.
Despite their losses, these were no weaklings. The coordination among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was impeccable.
Raiga Kurosuki's Lightning Release provided both speed and wide-area attacks, Fuguki Suikazan was a close-combat powerhouse with his swift and broad Needle Senbon, and Hozuki Mangetsu wielded the strongest blade of all. Shūichi estimated that even his standard Rasenshuriken would be cleaved in two by it.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the others really didn't lose unjustly!
On the other side, amidst the mist, the expressions of Hozuki Mangetsu and the remaining swordsmen were equally grim.
All the way here, the only group that even remotely posed a challenge to them was that Konoha Anbu squad. Yet, they had still achieved victory.
But now, after just a brief skirmish, they had already lost three members.
Not only was the renowned Shūichi absurdly strong, but even that scruffy-looking man was no ordinary fighter.
"No wonder he's called the Blue Flash of Konoha!"
"His speed… it's even faster than lightning…"
Raiga Kurosuki muttered, his gaze locked on Shūichi Hoshita.
Even through the thick mist, Shūichi's striking appearance couldn't be concealed.
"I'm getting more and more eager to prepare a grand funeral for you!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Raiga's excitement grew. "You're worthy of a funeral that I would lay down my life to prepare!"
He quickly turned his head and shouted, "Mangetsu, seize the opportunity!"
"This guy can teleport to his kunai. Just like the Yellow Flash of Konoha, he's mastered the Body Flicker Technique."
Hozuki Mangetsu added, "And don't forget about his sword..."
Hearing Raiga's words, Shūichi couldn't help but feel exasperated.
"The Blue Flash of Konoha… Can't they come up with something new?"
"Duy-senpai, you charge in when I give the signal!" Shūichi called out to Might Duy.
They hadn't had much coordination up to this point.
However, after that initial exchange, had a clear grasp of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's strength.
Now... it was time to unleash their full power!
"Duy-senpai, go!"
With a shout, summoned his Totsuka Blade in his left hand, while blue lotus blossoms bloomed all over his body. In an instant, he shot forward like a bullet.
"The burning spirit of youth, bloom!"
Might Duy declared, his feet smashing into the ground as he followed right behind Shūichi, rushing straight at Raiga Kurosuki.
Boom!
A barrage of lightning bolts rained down from the sky, targeting and Duy, but they dodged them with incredible speed.
Shūichi's Totsuka Blade slashed downward, its blade glowing intensely as it cut toward Hozuki Mangetsu.
Blue Flame Waterfall Blade!
Mangetsu swung his sword in response, his blade also glowing brightly. The two sword beams collided, exploding with a violent storm of energy.
Just then, Fuguki Suikazan appeared at Shūichi's side, swinging his massive sword, Samehada.
But in the next moment, Fuguki's movements froze.
Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories!
In a flash Shūichi, appeared beside Fuguki, his blade sweeping across the swordsman's neck.
Dodging a flurry of needles, Shūichi's figure vanished once again.
This time, he reappeared beside Might Duy. From his shoulder, two dragon heads shot out brilliant beams of light like giant scissors, splitting Raiga Kurosuki in two, who had been stunned by Duy's kick and paralyzed by the lightning.
Raiga Kurosuki, dead!
Shūichi and Duy disappeared again as both the long needles and twin blades of the Hiramekarei launched simultaneous attacks.
"This bastard… we can't even land a hit on him."
Hozuki Mangetsu gritted his teeth, feeling despair for the first time.
"It looks like our newly rising fame will end here," said Kuriarare Kushimaru, his face hidden behind a mask. "Mangetsu, retreat. I'll hold them off."
"Take the swords back to the village. We can't let the Seven Ninja Swords vanish."
Mangetsu, who could summon all the blades of the Seven Swordsmen, hesitated, but then nodded solemnly. "Understood!"
With that, Mangetsu began to retreat.
"I've already told you, all these swords are part of my collection. Not even the Mizukage could stop me from keeping them!"
Shūichi's voice echoed as chains burst from the ground.
As Mangetsu retreated, he swung his sword to fend off the approaching chains, but then he noticed that Kushimaru had frozen in place.
Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories!
Might Duy flew in with a powerful sweeping kick, and the bound Kushimaru was sent flying like a ragdoll, his body lifeless as it crashed to the ground.
With one kick, Kushimaru was dead. Duy charged again, appearing behind Mangetsu and sweeping out another kick.
Swoosh!
Mangetsu's body liquefied.
But just as this happened, fiery chains from the Fire Nether Chains wrapped around the Hiramekarei, and with a tug, ripped the weapon from Mangetsu's grasp.
Following up on his kick, Duy threw a punch with all his might, causing the liquefied Mangetsu to explode into a torrent of water.
However, the water swiftly wrapped around Duy's legs, ensnaring him.
At that moment, Shūichi, surrounded by crackling lightning after deactivating his Fire Release: Chakra Mode, reappeared.
He rescued Duy, and then, without giving Mangetsu a chance to retreat, flashed forward once again. His hand pierced into Mangetsu's liquefied body, electrocuting him until he solidified into a jelly-like form.
Shūichi withdrew his hand and gently flicked his fingers, causing a lotus of flames to bloom from his fingertips. The jelly-like Mangetsu exploded in a burst of fire.
"Even the Demonic Realm—Memory Palace isn't invincible. The liquefied Mangetsu and the lightning-armored Raiga were both immune to the spirit body invasion."
"As expected, the Sharingan's silent infiltration through eyes is still superior."
Shūichi sighed inwardly.
The mist had now dissipated, and Pakura's voice called out from the distance, "Lord Shūichi, should we finish off these two?"
(End of Chapter)
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