Kazuyama watched as the lightning dissipated, his expression darkening.
Lightning of this magnitude… and that oppressive voice… The worst-case scenario has come true.
"Hmph, Konoha still has Jōnin and kids running around?"
"You actually managed to take down my subordinates—not bad."
"Did you create those five massive iron gates?"
The man before him was burly, with long green hair, thick eyebrows, and sharp teeth. His upper body was wrapped in bandages, over which he wore a black vest.
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—the wielder of the Lightning Blades—Raiga Kurosuki.
Their eyes met, and Kazuyama caught the faintest glint of disdain in Raiga's gaze.
"So, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist look down on me too?"
"I thought I'd run into Jūzō Biwa first…"
The original Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—Jūzō Biwa, Fuguki Suikazan, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Jinpachi Munashi, Ameyuri Ringo, Raiga Kurosuki, and an unknown wielder of the twin swords Hiramekarei—were legendary. Among them, Raiga, Fuguki, and Jūzō were the most formidable.
The scouts near the Daimyō's manor had mentioned Jūzō's name, so Kazuyama had expected to face him first. Instead, he had encountered someone even more troublesome.
"Oh? You know Jūzō?"
"Then I suppose you're responsible for that missing squad."
Raiga sneered. "Too bad for you—you ran into me instead."
"Ninja Art: Fangs of Lightning!"
Without hesitation, Raiga swung his twin swords. Twin bolts of lightning erupted from the blades, streaking toward them.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A towering earth wall shot up, intercepting the attack in a burst of sparks. Kazuyama wasted no time—he bit his finger.
"Summoning Technique!"
A massive brown python materialized before them, its golden eyes gleaming.
"Obito, Rin—go!"
Kazuyama flung the two onto the giant snake's back. Without hesitation, it slithered away.
"Sensei! Be careful!" Rin's voice trembled with worry, but she knew she couldn't help.
Obito clenched his teeth, his usual bravado replaced by grim determination.
"You're not getting away!"
Raiga swung his twin swords again, electricity crackling in the air.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as metal clashed against metal.
Raiga leaped back, his narrowed eyes locking onto Kazuyama—who now stood before him, the Kusanagi Blade in hand, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Kid, your summoned beast is pretty impressive. It reminds me of Orochimaru, one of the Konoha Sannin."
"You're not his disciple, are you?"
"Heh… Too bad I never got to fight Orochimaru, but taking out a rising star like you is its own kind of pleasure."
"I love crushing geniuses."
"Don't move—I'll do it myself."
Raiga played with the Lightning Blades in his hands as he strode toward Kazuyama. With each step, crackling lightning filled the air, until it seemed as though he was gripping twin bolts of lightning itself, giving him a fearsome presence.
"Don't use my blade like that. This fight won't last long."
Kazuyama casually shook his hands and began to count aloud.
"One, two, three…"
Just as everyone was wondering what he was doing, the ground suddenly trembled.
Raiga's eyes flashed with seriousness as he immediately shouted, "Get back!"
Kazuyama grinned—a cruel, knowing smile.
"Quick reaction, but…"
"Too late!"
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the ground split open. Three enormous snakes of different colors erupted from below, their blood-red mouths snapping shut around six ANBU.
The golden snake devoured three, the yellow one took two, and the green one swallowed the last.
"Damn it! When did you summon them?"
"Could it be…?"
Raiga's eyes widened in shock as he took in the three massive serpents. He hadn't seen his opponent perform a summoning at all.
Just then, a sharp killing intent flared behind him, and his body tensed with alarm.
"Ninja Art: Lightning Strike Armor!"
Crossing his twin swords, he gathered countless bolts of lightning, forming an electrified armor around himself.
"Heh…"
A sinister chuckle came from behind.
The sudden burst of thunder had disrupted Kazuyama's attack, forcing him to retreat. He landed atop Kinrin's head, the battlefield shifting dramatically with the presence of the three giant snakes.
"How is this possible?"
"When did you summon them?"
Hearing Raiga's stunned voice, Kazuyama let out a sly laugh.
"Who told you that what you see is always real?"
"Never heard of clones?"
It was only then that Raiga realized—there were two Kazuyamas on the battlefield. The one he had been fighting was nothing more than a clone.
"When did you—? Could it be…?"
Kazuyama laughed heartily.
"You guessed right—when I sent my disciples away."
"My three snake sisters have been lying in wait underground all along."
"If Konoha's shadow clones were that easy to see through, our Second Hokage wouldn't have had much of a legacy, would he?"
The three snakes flicked their tongues, their gazes locked onto Raiga.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
"Those twin swords reek of lightning. It's irritating."
Korin swayed her distinctive tail, her serpent eyes fixed on the weapons in Raiga's hands.
"Enough talking. Just kill him already—this is a waste of time."
Originally, Korin had been in the forest outside the Fire Daimyō's manor, but Kazuyama had used the Summoning Technique to bring her here, along with Kinrin and Seirin.
With their arrival, the battle had shifted drastically.
Hearing this, Raiga gritted his teeth, gripped his blades tightly, and launched his attack without hesitation.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon's Tornado!"
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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