The tension aboard the ship was palpable, a thick fog swirling around, tinged with the scent of blood. Waves crashed against the hull, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
A middle-aged man, dark-skinned and with a cruel smirk, confronted Uchiha Sogetsu.
"Uchiha Sogetsu, your audacity knows no bounds. Stepping into Kirigakure territory so boldly, do you take us for fools?"
Uchiha Sogetsu, seemingly unperturbed, responded with raised eyebrows. "My reputation precedes me, it seems. Even the lackeys in Kirigakure know my name."
The man's frustration was evident as he retorted, "Do not underestimate me, I am not to be trifled with!"
As a ninja, being treated with such contempt fueled his anger. "Remember my name when you meet your end!"
Summoning a peculiar broadsword, the man introduced himself with a menacing tone, "I am Jinpachi Munashi, one of the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure, wielder of Shibuki (Explosive Sword)!"
Swinging his massive blade, he aimed to strike down his opponent with sheer force. But Uchiha Sogetsu remained calm, swiftly catching the blade between two fingers, effortlessly halting its momentum.
Jinpachi Munashi's disbelief was evident, his resolve wavering as he struggled against the seemingly impossible feat. However, the blade remained immobilized, trapped by Sogetsu's unyielding grasp.
"Seeking death!"
Jinpachi Munashi's heart burned with determination, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes. "Don't presume your strength grants you impunity. The explosions from my Shibuki aren't so easily evaded!"
The thick black blade's surface erupted with dense explosions as Explosive Tags unfurled from its back.
Tsk.
Boom! ! !
The colossal explosion rent the deck asunder.
Countless wood splinters soared into the air, igniting a towering torrent from the water's surface in the wake of the inferno.
Jinpachi Munashi leapt backward, alighting upon the water's surface. He rode the undulating waves beneath his feet, gazing at the deck consumed by the explosion's fury.
Unable to contain himself, he burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha, Uchiha Sogetsu, a mere pretender. How effortlessly I dispatched him!"
At such proximity, the survival rate of being hit head-on by Shibuki's explosion approached zero.
After all, beings like ninjas typically boast high attack but weak defense.
No matter a ninja's prowess, they cannot withstand the explosive force unleashed by numerous Explosive Tags simultaneously!
At least, he had yet to witness it.
"Humph, Higashi Shibito is truly inept, and Uchiha Sogetsu, utterly underwhelming."
Standing upon the tumultuous sea, Jinpachi Munashi brandished his explosive sword, growing increasingly disdainful of Iwagakure
"Konoha's corruption runs deep, and its current Uchiha clan are but shadows of their former selves. Upon my return, I shall advise Lord Mizukage to reconsider our plans."
Just as he prepared to depart, he discerned flames gradually ascending from the mist. A figure emerged.
"As expected, you've joined forces with Iwagakure"
Uchiha Sogetsu emerged from the thick fog, his attire immaculate, not a speck of dust tarnishing it. He adjusted his glasses.
"It appears luck favors me today. I've yet to reach Kirigakure Village, and already the mission nears completion."
"No, this cannot be."
Jinpachi Munashi beheld the scene, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You were struck by the explosion. How... how are you unharmed?"
"Curious, aren't you?"
Uchiha Sogetsu's eyes bore a hint of mockery.
Gudong!
For reasons unknown, Jinpachi Munashi's heart raced, an ominous premonition gripping him.
The unease intensified, as though his life hung by a thread, causing cold sweat to trickle, dampening his clothes.
"Do not attempt to deceive me!"
Soon, Jinpachi Munashi couldn't withstand the pressure any longer and charged forward, shouting, "You must have used genjutsu just now! It was mentioned in the intelligence from Higashi Shibito that you excel at it. It's a genjutsu!"
The explosive sword descended with immense force, akin to a mountain crashing down.
In his pursuit of a guaranteed kill, Jinpachi even expended a significant amount of chakra to infuse the maximum number of explosive tags.
The thick black blade was adorned with densely packed explosive tags on both sides. As a spark ignited, the entire explosive blade seemed to be enveloped in flames, descending with a lethal and ominous aura.
"Blastsword Technique: Blasting Bridle Repeating Death!"
The broad blade was mere feet away, yet it was met with a barrier of chakra swirling like flames around Uchiha Sogetsu.
Boom!
Furthermore, the subsequent violent explosion engulfed an area tens of meters wide.
Massive waves nearly ten meters high surged on the sea surface. The terrifying explosion flames resembled demons, evaporating copious amounts of water vapor.
The turbulent air waves, visible to the naked eye, emanated from the epicenter, pushing seawater in all directions, forming a sunken semicircular area in the ocean.
The tumultuous waves crashed like the roar of the sea.
Thrown back by the shockwave, Jinpachi Munashi left a distinct trail on the sea's surface. Panting heavily, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and anxiously gazed at the center of the explosion.
"Damn it. He should be dead this time, right?"
However, from the waves stirred by the explosion's epicenter, Uchiha Sogetsu emerged once more.
"What in the world?"
Jinpachi Munashi's eyes shook violently, a look of horror spreading across his face as he exclaimed, "Uchiha Sogetsu, what have you done to me? What kind of genjutsu is this?"
Indeed, he believed everything unfolding before him to be an illusion.
Otherwise, how could he explain the fact that the explosive blade clearly struck his opponent, yet the opponent remained unscathed?
"Unfortunately, this is reality," Uchiha Sogetsu said calmly. "It's not worth my time to employ genjutsu against someone like you."
As his words echoed, the chakra enveloping him intensified, its fiery aura growing more potent by the moment.
Unseen forces of energy drew upon the surrounding atmosphere, conjuring gusts of wind and swelling waves seemingly out of thin air.
Huhuhu——!
Suddenly, a massive wave surged from the sea's surface, its radius spanning tens of meters, originating from him as its epicenter.
The roaring waves crashed, their deafening clamor echoing in the air.
"Aren't you intrigued?" Uchiha Sogetsu's blood-red eyes gleamed as the three tomoes whirled rapidly before interlocking. "How did I manage to emerge unscathed from the explosion of your Shibuki?"
Gudong!
Jinpachi Munashi felt a shiver down his spine, as though he had plunged into an icy abyss, his entire being seemingly frozen.
"Initially, I had no intention of resorting to this technique against you."
Uchiha Sogetsu's fist clenched abruptly, the chakra within him surging like a raging torrent, his presence erupting akin to a mountain's might. "However, it has been quite some time since I faced a solitary enemy. A bit of indulgence is warranted."
Boom!
The blazing chakra flame condensed abruptly into a tangible form.
Witnessing the pale golden skeleton expanding exponentially, its sinews and flesh burgeoning before being encased in formidable armor, it stood upon the sea like a colossal spirit of ancient mythology.
Within the giant's frame stood Uchiha Sogetsu, crimson lines streaming from his Sharingan eyes akin to windmills at each corner.
"Susanoo!"
********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/Unique_Writer