The torrent surged forward like a roaring beast, intent on swallowing everything in its path.
Kakashi and the others tensed, ready to strike and disperse the Water Release before it could flood the entire Valley of the End.
But in the next instant—
Figures burst out of the rushing current.
One after another, silhouettes shot into the air, breaking free from the water's surface. They flipped high above the torrent before descending in perfect formation, landing opposite Konoha's forces.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"Kirigakure shinobi…"
So this was their entrance.
The water continued to surge closer.
Then—
A blade flew out of the torrent and slammed into the riverbank.
No.
Not one blade.
Seven.
Seven massive swords embedded themselves into the earth in a straight line.
Might Guy's pupils contracted.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen…"
A heavy silence fell over the Konoha ranks.
Ever since the battle in Amegakure had spread throughout the Five Great Nations—thanks in no small part to Kumogakure's intelligence—the entire shinobi world had come to understand just how terrifying the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist truly were.
Their destructive power was no longer a rumor.
It was fact.
Water splashed.
The first to emerge was Haku, landing lightly before Kubikiribōchō. Frost clung faintly to his sleeves—remnants of Ice Release chakra from the Yuki Clan.
Next came Kaguya Hizuki and Akira Mino.
Hizuki of the Kaguya Clan—his close-quarters combat ability was monstrous. Wielding the explosive blade, he embodied pure destruction.
Beside him, Akira, master of Boil Release, carried the blunt blade with terrifying pressure radiating from his chakra. In terms of sheer destructive force, he stood only slightly below Hizuki among the Seven.
Lightning crackled across the air as Ringo appeared, gripping the twin blades of Kiba. The sound of thunder accompanied her arrival. Her Lightning Release was so refined that even Kakashi's eye sharpened in appreciation.
One by one—
All seven of the Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist stood assembled.
The moment they gathered, their combined killing intent pressed down like a mountain. Even Konoha's jonin felt the invisible weight settle on their shoulders.
Behind them, fifty Kirigakure shinobi lined up in formation.
Each carried a blade across their back.
Their gazes were sharp. Their chakra fluctuations were steady and powerful—at minimum, chunin-level. Some clearly rivaled elite jonin.
Nara Shikaku spoke quietly.
"They must be the Ninja Swordsmen Corps… Kirigakure's newly established unit."
Several shinobi frowned. "Ninja Swordsmen Corps?"
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
"Do you remember Shigure's sword technique?"
Everyone did.
It was unforgettable.
"Water Breathing," an Aburame jonin said.
Kakashi nodded.
"Yes. All of them have learned Shigure's unique sword style—Water Breathing."
Shock rippled through Konoha's ranks.
Water Breathing was no ordinary kenjutsu. It fused precise swordsmanship with Water Release chakra manipulation, allowing the wielder to amplify cutting power and fluidity through ninjutsu.
Even mastering the basics could elevate a shinobi to elite status.
And now—
There were fifty of them.
If each possessed that technique, their collective combat strength would rival an entire elite division.
At the forefront of Konoha's forces, Tsunade's expression hardened.
When had Kirigakure ever displayed such momentum?
Shigure had only been in the Hidden Mist for less than half a year—
Yet the village had undergone a transformation bordering on miraculous.
It wasn't just Shigure's individual strength that had risen.
Kirigakure itself had evolved.
Rapidly.
Explosively.
Tsunade's gaze locked onto the Mist formation across the river.
"Is this… a demonstration?"
"Inuzuka-sama, isn't this clearly a show of force?" one of the Inuzuka clan's jonin said with an unpleasant expression.
Nara Shikaku shot him a sideways glance.
"If this were merely a demonstration, they wouldn't have brought only this much."
The Inuzuka shinobi froze. "What do you mean? They've deployed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and fifty elite shinobi."
Shikaku's gaze remained fixed on the Mist formation.
"Kirigakure now has multiple clans possessing kekkei genkai."
"And none of them are here."
A murmur spread through Konoha's ranks.
Some clearly had no idea what he was talking about.
Shikaku exhaled quietly.
"It seems we need to update everyone."
"Kirigakure is no longer the isolated village it once was. It now hosts numerous powerful bloodline clans."
"The Yuki Clan—Ice Release."
"The Kaguya Clan—Shikotsumyaku."
"Clans with unique physiques and concealment techniques."
"Boil Release. Scorch Release. Lava Release. Storm Release."
Each name fell like a stone into still water.
Gasps followed.
When did Kirigakure accumulate so many kekkei genkai?
Why had Konoha's intelligence not fully grasped this?
Shikaku shook his head slightly.
That was precisely the problem.
Unless one paid close attention, the changes within Kirigakure were almost impossible to comprehend.
The Hidden Mist had already undergone a complete transformation.
And then—
A terrifying fluctuation spread across the Valley of the End.
The air twisted.
A spiraling vortex formed above the waterfall, wind pressure crashing downward like a descending mountain.
Every Konoha shinobi felt it.
An indescribable oppression.
It wasn't killing intent.
It wasn't chakra aimed at them.
It was simply… presence.
The torrent that had surged upstream suddenly receded.
But as it withdrew, the water did not collapse.
Instead, it condensed—
Forming a staircase of flowing water that connected the base of the waterfall to its summit.
The precision required to control Water Release to such an extent was enough to shake even veteran jonin.
And then—
He appeared.
Shigure stepped onto the staircase of water.
With each step he took, the invisible pressure intensified.
It was as if the air itself thickened.
Boom.
A Konoha chunin collapsed without warning.
Kakashi's eye widened.
What—
He hadn't attacked.
There was no genjutsu.
No ninjutsu.
Just raw spiritual pressure.
A nearby shinobi quickly checked the fallen man.
"He's fine—just unconscious!"
Tsunade's expression darkened.
Another thud.
A second shinobi fell.
As Shigure continued ascending, more and more chunin and genin crumpled to the ground, unable to withstand the crushing weight of his chakra.
By the time he reached the summit—
Only jonin and above remained standing.
Even among them, several were pale.
Yet—
Naruto and his generation remained upright.
They weren't unaffected. Their breathing was heavy, their eyes tense—but they stood firm.
Naruto stared at Shigure, shock written plainly across his face.
What kind of power was this?
To overwhelm others without even making a move—
Without a single hand seal—
Without a word.
Shigure reached the top step. The flowing water beneath him stilled, forming a calm platform.
He looked forward.
Ignored everyone else.
His gaze settled solely on Tsunade.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Long time no see… Tsunade-neesan."
The familiar address made Tsunade's expression stiffen.
Before the Hokage.
Before Konoha's elite.
Before two entire military forces.
He called her that.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
What exactly are you planning this time, Shigure?
And why… did you come to Konoha?
(End of Chapter)
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