Chapter 143: Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist vs. Tsunade

After shouting a provocation, Suikazan Fuguki saw that the Explosion Release ninja Gari did not say a word, so he stopped talking as well and directly signaled the other six members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist:

"The hunt has begun. Let's have a competition, everyone, and see who can finish off this Fifth Hokage first!"

"Hehe, the Fifth Hokage's head is mine!"

"Princess Tsunade? A Medical Ninja can actually become the Hokage of the Leaf; the Leaf really has no one left!"

Several of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist laughed loudly and charged directly into the town.

A Rock Ninja frowned, walked behind Gari, and whispered:

"Sir... is this really okay? Those Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist will alert the enemy!"

Gari sneered and shook his head:

"You underestimate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! They are not such simple characters!"

"Could they really be able to finish off the Fifth Hokage?"

The Rock Ninja looked surprised, even appearing somewhat incredulous.

Although the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were all Elite Jonin, and there were rumors that the seven of them could kill a Shadow-level ninja if they joined forces, other ninjas treated this as mere boasting—because the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had never actually achieved any notable results!

"The mission requirement given to me by the Tsuchikage is merely to use this attack to test Tsunade's strength and see if she has truly awakened the Wood Release Bloodline Limit. Do you think the Mizukage of the Mist would issue an order to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to have them finish off Tsunade and her Shadow Guard entirely?"

Gari rolled his eyes and said to his subordinate:

"Although Tsunade is a Medical Ninja, she was able to earn the name of one of the Legendary Sannin, so her strength cannot be much weaker than Jiraiya or Orochimaru! Not to mention that according to intelligence, she actually displayed Wood Release!"

A group of experts who play with explosions—what kind of mission could they be executing in the Land of Fire? Could it be that they are here to demolish some city in the Land of Fire?

"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter; this is just a stepping stone. After all, the opponent is a Hokage, and every move she makes is under scrutiny. One must be mindful of one's influence."

"If they really dare to do such a stupid thing, that would be even better. We will watch the tigers fight from across the mountain. If there is an opportunity, we will directly make a move on Tsunade; if there is no opportunity or Tsunade displays Wood Release ability, then we will just leave... At worst, we can say we came to the Land of Fire to execute a mission!"

That Rock Ninja asked in a low voice, and Gari shook his head:

"We are, after all, different from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist... The ninjas of the Mist follow an elite strategy; the initial Blood Mist Policy even required killing one's own companions to become a ninja."

"Uh... then why are we waiting for the Hokage to leave the town before we make a move?"

"As expected of Lord Gari, the plan is so thorough!"

"No... I mean, these guys are basically playing us! They just look brutal, but in reality, they know exactly what they are doing!"

There are many residents in the town, and Tsunade is, regardless of anything else, the Hokage of the Land of Fire, so she will certainly care a little. Under these circumstances, the possibility of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist escaping naturally increases greatly.

After hearing Gari's explanation, the group of Rock Ninja suddenly realized the truth. Ninjas capable of executing such missions are naturally not afraid of death, but if they can live, who would want to die?

On the other side, where the advancing Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were, Biwa Juzo leaned over to Suikazan Fuguki's side and asked:

"The Rock Ninja behind are following; are we really not going to wait for them?"

Gari said nothing more. The style of the Rock Ninja was exactly the opposite of the Mist Ninja, as they excelled in group combat.

Therefore, even if Tsunade did not pursue them, such a ninja unit would find it difficult to escape the pursuit of the main Leaf Ninja force. If it were just to test the Hokage, Tsunade might not go to such great lengths.

In the original story, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were kicked into the 'Lucky Trio' by the eternal Genin Might Dai the moment they appeared. In this timeline, they didn't encounter the desperate green kappa, but they were still blocked on the coastline by Jiraiya alone, losing more than they won in several battles.

But if they caused major losses to the Land of Fire and the Leaf Ninja mobilized in full force, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen could basically escape back, but his own Explosion Corps would likely be wiped out in the Land of Fire!

"Then if the other party attacks Tsunade directly in the town..."

"Uh... we came to the Land of Fire to execute a mission? How could the other side possibly believe that! We are the Explosion Corps, after all!"

"Eighty percent of their mission is the same as ours, just a test... So these people are prepared to launch an attack directly in the town. This way, if they find the situation is not good, it will be easier for them to escape with their lives!"

Suikazan Fuguki turned his head to look behind him and spat casually:

"These Rock Ninja cowards! It seems they have other plans... Maybe if we really start fighting that Hokage, they will sell us out!"

Hearing Suikazan Fuguki's reply, Biwa Juzo's eyes flickered slightly, and he spoke softly:

"Then what do you think we should do? If that Hokage really possesses the power of Wood Release, even with the cover of these people in the town, without the help of the Rock Ninja, I'm afraid we..."

"As long as there is this stepping stone, and we haven't actively attacked the other party, then as long as this Hokage doesn't want to completely fall out with the Iwagakure and start a major war, she will at most expel us from the country."

The dozen or so Explosion Corps ninjas under his command could pose a threat to a Shadow-level ninja if they joined forces, but separated, they were all the type of flawed Special Jonin who could never split up to escape.

"And because of this, although Mist ninjas have no ability to cooperate, their individual combat ability is extremely outstanding. Plus, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are all Elite Jonin; as long as they escape Tsunade's pursuit, the Leaf can do nothing to them."

If Tsunade still had her original strength, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen really wouldn't be that afraid, and might even have absolute confidence in winning.

Although the Legendary Sannin are mentioned together, Tsunade, who is most skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, is the one with the weakest frontal combat ability, always in a situation of insufficient offensive power but sufficient self-preservation.

In the case of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen joining forces, not counting her hemophobia, they could definitely beat the original Tsunade. Of course... they certainly couldn't kill her. As the strongest Medical Ninja, not to mention her other skills, Tsunade's ability to save her own life is definitely top-tier.

But according to intelligence from various ninja villages, Tsunade used Wood Release ninjutsu during her battle with the Nine-Tails. In this era, it has only been about 30 years since Senju Hashirama passed away, and many older-generation ninjas know how monstrous Wood Release is!

Those who truly understand Senju Hashirama know that it is Senju Hashirama who is the monster, not Wood Release. But in the eyes of people from other ninja villages, Senju Hashirama was invincible precisely because of Wood Release, so they are naturally afraid of having a new Wood Release ninja.

Given the age of these ninjas of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, although they have never seen Senju Hashirama's brilliance on the battlefield, they have at least heard from their elders how terrifying Wood Release is. It would be strange if they weren't a little nervous inside.

Suikazan Fuguki glanced at the other five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen around him and whispered to Biwa Juzo:

"When the time comes, let them make the first move... If the situation is not good, we will retreat first!"

"Anyway, there are Summoning Scrolls for other ninja swords in the village. It doesn't matter if the people die, as long as the swords are still there!"

There are seven members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in total, but they are divided into several small factions, such as the ruthless duo who only have killing on their minds, the twisted Kurosuki Raiga who wants to send people to their funerals every day, and Ameyuri Ringo who uses the Blunt Sword Kabutowari...

How should I put it? Anyway, except for Suikazan Fuguki and Biwa Juzo who have some brains, the remaining five are all remnants of the Blood Mist Policy, executioners who are good at killing not only others but also their own people.

Therefore, faced with Suikazan Fuguki's plan to use the other five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen as cannon fodder, Biwa Juzo just nodded:

"Okay, I understand!"

As they spoke, both Biwa Juzo and Suikazan Fuguki fell slightly behind.

If the other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were a little more cautious and had some brains, they might be able to see the trickery of these two. Unfortunately, ninjas who are accustomed to the Blood Mist Policy and have been completely brainwashed have the most killing intent and the least brains.

"Tsk, these guys have all chased over... Are they rushing to their deaths?"

Walking out to the edge of the town, Uchiha Feiyu turned his head and looked at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist rushing over like fleas, sneering:

"Tsunade, I'll leave them to you! I want them alive!"

"Rest assured, they are just a few Mist ninjas."

Tsunade clenched her fists and a trace of a smile appeared on her face; having engaged in Dual Cultivation with Uchiha Feiyu so many times, Tsunade's strength was long since incomparable to what it had been in the past.

"I'm the first! Fifth Hokage, your head is mine!"

Ameyuri Ringo, wielding the Blunt Sword Kabutowari, charged straight up; that weapon, which was better described as a large axe and a hammer than a pair of swords, was swung directly down at Tsunade.

Facing the Blunt Sword descending from the sky, Tsunade's only reaction was a cold sneer; she clenched her fair, delicate fist, then swung it out, smashing it upward!

Boom—a loud crash! Ameyuri Ringo only felt as if their Blunt Sword Kabutowari had smashed into a rampaging mountain of steel; the terrifying force rebounded instantly, and with a crack-crack sound, the bones in their arm were nearly shattered, and the rebounding Blunt Sword nearly smashed into their own head.

Fortunately, at the last moment, Ameyuri Ringo used the hammer in their other hand to block the descending Blunt Sword axe; otherwise, they would likely have been the first of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to be killed by their own rebounding weapon.

Even so, this fellow was still sent flying by Tsunade's punch like a shooting star; with a boom, they crashed into the town's city wall and spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wah."

"Terrifying... is this woman a Tyrannosaurus?"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who had originally been charging forward, stopped their footsteps in unison and looked at Tsunade with a hint of fear in their eyes; Tsunade, meanwhile, looked at her own fair, delicate fist, seeing a small bloody cut on it from the Blunt Sword Kabutowari, though in the short time it took to bring her hand over, it had already completely closed and recovered.

That was precisely the Sage Body that Tsunade had now begun Awakening; perhaps it was still not quite a match for Senju Hashirama in his prime, but the gap was no longer very large.

"Be careful, this must be that woman's Monster Strength Technique! But no matter how great her strength is, it's meaningless if she can't hit anyone!"

Kurosuki Raiga, holding the Thunder Blade, shouted loudly; electric light flickered on their body, and the dual blades they brandished whipped toward Tsunade like two lightning lashes.

Tsunade swung a fist, and the chakra wrapped around it directly dispersed the lightning lashes; she gave a light, cold huff:

"Strength is great but can't hit anyone... then why don't you try dodging for me!"

As soon as the words fell, she stomped a foot toward the earth; amidst a rumbling sound, the entire ground trembled, and a fissure a full twenty or thirty meters long was torn open.

Afterward, Tsunade grabbed the ground with both hands, and Earth Release chakra was released along with her hands, reinforcing the entire ground; she then looked at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and revealed a cold sneer:

"Try dodging for me again, you bastards!"

Boom, boom, boom! Amidst a terrifying, thunderous roar, Tsunade directly pried up a massive patch of earth forty or fifty meters in circumference and smashed it toward the terrified Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!

"Jinpachi Munashi!! Quickly use your Explosive Sword!"

Suikazan Fuguki roared loudly; Jinpachi Munashi, holding the Explosive Sword, saw the Explosive Tag Scroll on the blade spinning continuously, and he slashed at the incoming patch of earth.

The earth, which was three or four meters thick, was blown into several pieces by hundreds of Explosive Tags amidst a series of rumbling explosions; the flying stones caused all the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to retreat continuously, and a few who retreated slightly slower were left battered and bleeding by the rocks.

"Damn it... what level of Monster Strength Technique is this!! This woman is even more monstrous than that white-haired guy who plays with toads!"

A patch of earth forty or fifty meters wide might not sound like much, but its actual size was equivalent to about half a football field! This level of strength, even for a ninja, could be called shocking and incredible!

Just as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were still complaining, suddenly, a figure like a cannonball rushed out from the smoke and rubble, smashing directly toward Jinpachi Munashi, who was standing at the very front.

Jinpachi Munashi's pupils contracted violently; he hurriedly raised the Explosive Sword in his hand, wanting to block the opponent's fist, and then, with a boom, a burst of smoke erupted; Jinpachi Munashi flew backward, blood spraying wildly from his mouth, and his original Explosive Sword was smashed into a distorted arc, spinning a few times in the sky before falling to the ground with a clatter.

However, at this very moment, countless thin, sharp steel wires woven into a net directly wrapped around the figure in the smoke:

"Good chance, I've caught her!"

Kushimaru Kuriarare held the Longsword Nuibari and pulled with all their might; the steel wire of the Longsword Nuibari was extremely sharp, no less so than an ordinary ninja sword; under such a pull, an ordinary person would be cut into pieces by the wire immediately.

Yet, after Kushimaru Kuriarare pulled, they only felt as if the figure opposite had taken root in the ground; they were like an ant trying to shake a tree, unable to pull those steel wires any further no matter what.

"Uh... this is bad, I think she might have caught me!"

Kushimaru Kuriarare swallowed a mouthful of saliva; a powerful, incomparably immense force came from the longsword in their hand, pulling them directly over.

(End of this chapter)