Namikaze Minato knew his apprentice possessed formidable sensory abilities.
Based on the feeling alone, the sense of being watched originated from the small island up ahead. After informing the ship's crew and the Kirigakure reception team, the vessel changed course towards the island.
About a kilometer away from the island shore, Uchiha Obito and Namikaze Minato leaped onto the sea's surface, racing forward across the turbulent waves at incredible speed.
"Shouldn't we follow them?" one of the Kiri ninja asked.
"No need. We'll approach slowly," Akebino Jinin replied, squinting as the two Konoha shinobi vanished into the mist. The Mizukage's orders were to capture the "Yellow Flash" if possible, but with his apprentice still unaccounted for, it was best not to alert the enemy prematurely. If they pushed Minato too hard, he might take some of them down with him. 'No empty reputation under great fame' – that saying generally held true among shinobi.
Minato, having arrived on the island first, was quickly stunned by the gruesome scene of battle before him. There were widespread signs of Lightning Release explosions, bloodstains covering the ground, large sections of rock fallen from the island's main cliff face, and a massive indentation clearly caused by an A-rank ninjutsu or higher.
Uchiha Obito followed close behind his teacher, his Sharingan activated. The air still hung thick with the fresh, acrid smell of burning and blood as he mentally tried to reconstruct the entire fight.
The two made their way to the southeastern part of the island, where they discovered the headless corpse of a man lying on the ground.
Even the "Yellow Flash," accustomed to the horrors of life and death, felt a wave of unease. Approaching the body, he noted the obese corpse's right hand was twisted unnaturally. Nearby lay a peculiar, massive sword. Further ahead, a severed head floated in a pool of water.
"It looks like they engaged in a large-scale ninjutsu confrontation near the cliff, with the Raiton user gaining the upper hand," Minato analyzed aloud. "Then, while this man was using Water Release to manipulate the terrain, he was struck in the side of the face by a high-speed object. His arm was broken using taijutsu, and finally, his head was severed with a single strike from a sharp weapon."
Obito added his observations. "The weapon was also infused with Lightning Release. And the fight likely started below the cliff."
"The deceased is almost certainly one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist," Minato deduced. "Likely Suikazan Fuguki, the wielder of Samehada. Konoha has records on him."
"Let's check the cliff again."
They proceeded in silence to the cliff's edge and descended along the massive indentation. Midway down, they found a cave entrance that had been blasted inwards, causing a collapse. Beneath the rubble, they spotted fragments of clothing buried under small stones.
"Kakashi... he's hidden quite a lot from us," Minato murmured, his voice heavy.
"It seems his presence here in Kirigakure isn't entirely the Land of Water's scheme," Obito added, clenching his jaw. He had certainly heard of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen – powerful shinobi considered top-tier even within Kirigakure. To think Kakashi had defeated one, Suikazan Fuguki no less, in a one-on-one island encounter...
This pointed to only one conclusion: Kakashi hadn't used his full strength back at Kannabi Bridge. His injury must have been faked. This was a premeditated betrayal.
Minato, who still wanted to find an explanation for his student's actions, found himself at a loss for words.
At that moment, the Kirigakure reception team arrived onshore. Their expressions turned uneasy as they took in the brutal signs of battle, a discomfort that peaked when they saw Suikazan Fuguki's corpse.
"That little brat! I'll kill him!" Akebino Jinin roared, brandishing his weapon – which resembled a massive hammer more than a sword – in impotent fury.
Nearby, Hoshigaki Kisame walked over and picked up Samehada, the sword belonging to his late superior, Lord Fuguki. Ignoring the hostile glares from the other Kiri ninja, he hefted the great blade onto his shoulder.
"Well now," Kisame said with a chilling grin, "I suppose this makes me one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen too."
His morbid joke only intensified the animosity from those around him. Several Chūnin and Genin eyed the legendary sword greedily, but knowing they lacked the strength to wield it, they buried their desire deep down. Kisame, well aware of his teammates' nature, paid them no mind. He had served under Fuguki; now that Fuguki was dead, inheriting – or rather, seizing – his weapon felt perfectly natural.
Akebino Jinin acknowledged his new colleague with a nod. He produced a scroll and had Kisame press his thumbprint onto it – a scroll signifying loyalty to the Fourth Mizukage, upon which only members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were worthy of leaving their mark.
"More arrivals," someone noted.
Another figure landed on the island, joining the reception team.
"Where's the brat?" the newcomer, the wielder of the Blast Sword, Shibuki, demanded.
"He escaped. He's not on the island anymore," Jinin replied.
"Tch. Fast little runner. Where's that oaf Fuguki? Didn't he catch him?"
"There," Kisame said dryly, gesturing towards the distant corpse. "Lucky you arrived late. Otherwise, maybe that brat would have finished you off too."
Seeing Fuguki's gruesome state, the Blast Sword user looked genuinely shocked, even a little fearful. He had sparred with Fuguki privately before and been easily defeated. Though it was only practice, the outcome likely wouldn't have been better in a real fight. Yet, that silver-haired kid had killed him.
He moved closer to Jinin and questioned him in a low voice, "Could the Yellow Flash have gotten here earlier and done this? I fought that kid's clone, and there's no way he's this strong."
"Namikaze Minato was on the deck or in the cabin the entire time," Jinin countered firmly. "Kisame and I took turns watching him. Same for the Uchiha kid. It's impossible they slipped past us."
"Besides," Jinin continued, gesturing around, "the extensive Lightning Release damage here doesn't lie. As far as I know, Namikaze Minato doesn't use Raiton."
"Well, that's certainly unexpected," the Blast Sword user conceded. "Nuibari is still on his way here. I'll go let him know we should coordinate."
Gazing towards the misty shoreline in the distance, the Blast Sword user prepared to leave, but Jinin stopped him.
"Wait. When you find him, tell him to meet us back here."
Understanding immediately, the Blast Sword user nodded and leaped into the sea.
Turning back to the Konoha shinobi, Jinin's tone hardened. "Jōnin Namikaze Minato, surely your nation owes us an explanation for this incident?"
Obito's crimson Sharingan snapped towards Jinin, the intensity of his glare making the Swordsman's skin crawl.
"I will personally bring him back to provide that explanation," Minato replied calmly, meeting Jinin's gaze. "Please assure Lord Mizukage of this. After all, Konoha and Kirigakure just signed a truce. Neither side wishes for further conflict."
The veterans on both sides knew the truce was little more than a piece of paper, but neither pointed it out.
"Then we'll be relying on you, Jōnin Namikaze Minato," Jinin said stiffly.
"We'll search from the coastline," Minato announced. "My apprentice isn't skilled in sea combat, so he likely fled inland. However, we can't rule out the possibility he might do the opposite to throw us off."
After dispatching the other Kiri ninja to search the coastline in different directions, Minato quietly pulled Obito aside.
"You head directly inland," Minato conveyed silently. "Kakashi probably uses sensory pulses periodically. Follow those traces. Once you find him, persuade him to return to Konoha. If he refuses, do not engage immediately. Notify me at once. Take one of my kunai."
"Understood, Sensei," Obito confirmed.
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