"Yagura, although Sandaime-sama intends to nominate you as the Yondaime, you are not yet the Mizukage and have no authority to command us!"
"Konoha must only have a small force here."
"Hmph, if we keep delaying like this, we'll only end up in a worse position."
They retreated again.
Most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen couldn't hold back any longer.
Especially, Hōzuki Mangetsu and Kuriarare Kushimaru.
So far, Konoha had been the one launching all the attacks, while they had been passively taking hits, aside from their initial reconnaissance.
Although they understood the need to wait for Kumogakure in the north to make their move.
However.
This was just too humiliating!
"What do you all want to do?"
Yagura's cold gaze swept over them.
Though small in stature, his strength suppressed most Kirigakure jōnin.
The only exception being the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Even Suikazan Fuguki, who appeared to obey him the most, was only compliant on the surface.
At these words.
Biwa Jūzō spoke up, "Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, our Kirigakure possesses the strongest assassination techniques. Why should we let the enemy dictate our actions? If Konoha can ambush us, we can do the same!"
"I agree."
Hōzuki Mangetsu raised his hand with a smirk.
Yagura fell silent.
He didn't want a full-scale battle, but if they were to imitate Konoha and carry out a hunting mission...
That might not be a bad idea.
As he pondered, a bird suddenly circled in the sky and then landed in their base.
Yagura immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to rush over.
It was a Kirigakure messenger hawk!
After retrieving the intelligence, he carefully read it and then passed it around to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
This was intelligence sent back from the Land of Fire.
"Currently, the eastern front's operations commander is Kanda Kyōichi, Konoha's youngest jōnin. He is skilled in Konoha-ryū swordsmanship, Water Release, Earth Release, and Wind Release, and is extremely fast."
"Kumogakure has crossed the border and is advancing toward the Land of Fire's border. Konoha's main forces are dealing with them in the north."
"As of the time this intelligence was sent, Konoha does not have many ninjas on the eastern front."
The intelligence wasn't very detailed.
After reading it, Yagura couldn't immediately determine whether it was good or bad news.
This was intelligence from three days ago!
In the past three days, the situation had changed again, and the information provided about Kanda Kyōichi in the report was minimal, mostly things he had already deduced.
Difficult!
Of course.
The hardest part wasn't dealing with Kyōichi, but figuring out how to handle the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Previously, he had been able to use the lack of intelligence to keep them in check, but now, these seven were unlikely to listen to him anymore.
They were determined to strike back against Konoha.
"I traced Konoha's base via underwater channels."
Hōzuki Mangetsu chuckled.
He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.
Counterattack, ambush!
"Where is it?"
Yagura quickly asked.
He was very displeased. Such important intelligence, and Mangetsu had hidden it from him!
Mangetsu sneered, "If you're too scared to launch an ambush, why should I tell you?"
Yagura's eyebrows twitched, but he held back his anger.
"Enough!" Fuguki intervened.
"There's no need for this. Yagura-sama is acting in the best interests of Kirigakure. Speak."
Only then did Mangetsu say, "Nagano Mountain."
"That place is far from any water veins. How did you manage to find it?"
Yagura glanced at the map, finding it hard to believe.
He believed this was indeed a Konoha base.
The location was perfect!
"The abilities of our Hōzuki clan are not something you can—"
Hōzuki Mangetsu was about to boast proudly, but then he remembered Hōzuki Chikage, who had been captured alive, and lost his enthusiasm. He changed the subject, "Who'll join me?"
"Konoha needs reminding—Kirigakure doesn't fear blood!" Raiga kurosuki licked his electrified blades.
His weapon, Kiba, was a double-edged sword that could harm both enemies and allies. Among the seven, he had the highest kill count, with both enemies and Hidden Mist ninjas falling to his blade.
"Alright, let's move out. We'll assess the situation first. If their numbers are thin, obliterate them."
The seven of them didn't plan to consult Yagura.
They belonged to the Mizukage's unit.
If Yagura were the Mizukage, they would have to follow his orders, but since Yagura was still far from becoming Mizukage, the seven naturally had some autonomy.
So.
They shouldered their swords and left the tent.
Yagura was furious, but he knew this wasn't the time to lose his temper.
"You lack sensors. Ao, accompany them."
"Yes!"
"If we kill Kanda Kyōichi, we'll credit you." Mangetsu waved dismissively.
Ao hadn't yet obtained the Byakugan, but he was still an excellent sensor.
As they left, Yagura's unease grew.
He believed Konoha didn't have many forces on the eastern front.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen going on a hunting mission didn't seem like a big problem, but Yagura had a nagging feeling that something was off.
He looked at the map.
Kanda Kyōichi's forces were definitely small yesterday!
However.
From the first encounter to the second ship being attacked, and then their new stronghold being bombarded...
Yagura's heart skipped a beat.
The enemy's raids were meticulously orchestrated.
The Swordsmen's brute force couldn't match such finesse.
"Recall them!"
...
On the other side, Kyōichi was testing the limits of his chakra sensing range, keeping a distance from the rapidly advancing group of eight.
He had found their base.
But.
What Kyōichi didn't expect was that shortly after arriving, he sensed eight people leaving the island, heading quickly in his direction.
Had he been discovered?
Kyōichi pondered as he ran.
He had tested his chakra sensing technique, and it had a much greater range than most sensory abilities.
Kirigakure shouldn't have anyone capable of detecting him.
What was going on?
Uncertain, he changed direction after running for a while.
The group didn't change their course.
"Could it be that their target isn't me?"
Kyōichi observed for a while and figured it out.
If it wasn't him.
This direction...
Was it Nagano Mountain?
He had already hunted down four squads, and they still dared to launch a counterattack? How bold!
There weren't many in the Hidden Mist Village who were both bold and lacking in brains.
Given the numbers, it must be the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, right?
As for the eighth person, he wasn't sure.
Kyōichi thought for a moment, then sped up toward the coast.
After completely distancing himself from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he used a summoning technique to have Katsuyu relay the information to his shadow clone.
Nagano Mountain.
Everyone was shocked when they received the news.
"Kirigakure is launching a counterattack?"
Hayama was stunned for a long time, unable to believe it.
Had Kirigakure gone mad?
Yamanaka Inoichi was puzzled.
But soon.
Another Katsuyu clone delivered a message to Kyōichi's shadow clone.
Katsuyu looked around and said, "Tsunade-sama says that Kumogakure crossed the border last night.
Instantly, everyone understood.
Kumogakure had made their move!
"Kyōichi-sama..."
"Don't worry. Kiri has sent eight people this time. We'll take them down, preferably without letting a single one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen escape."
As Kyōichi spoke, he suddenly thought of the underground black market that Kakuzu often visited. "I've heard there's an underground black market in the shinobi world that often places bounties on ninjas. How much are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen worth?"
"Ahem."
Yamanaka Inoichi coughed lightly, both amused and exasperated.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
Even their corpses would be incredibly valuable. Selling them to the black market was out of the question.
"Kyōichi-sama, I think the key issue right now is whether we can actually capture them, right?"
Uchiha Yashiro was being polite.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen weren't seven cabbages. Together, they were almost as strong as a Kage.
In his opinion, aside from Kyōichi's questionable strength, no one else in the camp could stand up to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. If a fight broke out, it was hard to say who would win.
However.
What puzzled Uchiha Yashiro was—
Even Yamanaka Inoichi seemed to think the Seven Ninja Swordsmen weren't a threat.
Why?
He couldn't understand it.
"Kirigakure excels in mist techniques and assassination. They might attack at night. If Uchiha are hindered then, guard the perimeter."
At this point, Kyōichi's shadow clone spoke.
Yashiro and Inabi were both dumbfounded.
So... You didn't even count on us?
The Hokage's faction has gotten this arrogant?
Yashiro was a bit angry inside.
It had always been the Uchiha who looked down on others.
Never had they been the ones being looked down upon. Seeing Kyōichi's serious expression, he forced a smile and said, "Alright, perhaps they'll use a diversionary tactic. In that case, we'll wait here for your triumphant return."
"Good. Inoichi-san, you should come too. If we accidentally kill them, you can gather some intelligence while they're still warm."
"..."
Inoichi sighed—Kyōichi's not including me either?
He glanced at the visibly annoyed Uchiha Yashiro, then looked around and asked, "Who do you plan to take with you?"
"Duy-san, Hayama-san, and me. Three people should be enough."
Kyōichi thought for a moment, then added, "You can send people to form a perimeter and cut off their retreat. If they try to run, we'll need you to stop them, especially Hōzuki Mangetsu."
"The Police force currently has three members skilled in Lightning Release. They can all assist you."
Yashiro wanted to see how Kyōichi planned to take on seven with just three people.
He knew about Shirakumo Hayama.
But Might Duy...
He'd never even heard of him.
Kyōichi was really blowing his own horn!
"Good. Keep patrolling along the way, but stagger the patrol times. When they arrive, just let them through and create an opening."
Kyōichi's shadow clone quickly drew lines on the map.
He wasn't worried about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen not coming.
He was worried that the seven cowards would just hunt down a small squad by the coast and then flee. That would be a real loss.
"Understood! I'll go notify everyone right away."
Soon.
The trap was set, waiting for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to walk into it.
Kyōichi received the feedback.
Then, he spent some time finding a spot where he could sense the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's location without being detected by Kiri ninjas.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were indeed heading toward Nagano Mountain.
What he was curious about was—
Who was the eighth person?
From the chakra signature, it definitely wasn't Yagura.
"Wonder who the unlucky one is."