Chapter 29

Before the Hidden Leaf could even finish setting up their defensive formation, more than twenty Mist shinobi charged forward.

They formed hand seals with both hands, then spoke in unison.

"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"

In the blink of an eye.

All the Mist shinobi spat out thick mist from their mouths, instantly engulfing the entire Hidden Leaf frontline camp.

On the Hidden Leaf side, panic began to spread.

There was no other way.

Most of the Hidden Leaf forces this time were just ninja academy students; in plain terms, they were cannon fodder.

They had never even completed a mission, let alone killed bandits or thieves, yet they were thrown straight onto the battlefield.

Despite all the bold boasts they made before arriving, facing the reality of battlefield slaughter, it was already a miracle they hadn't completely collapsed.

"Everyone, hold your ground!"

Miyamoto Yukie shouted while preparing to charge out and strike down those Mist shinobi directly.

But before he could act.

Squad after squad of elite Mist shinobi emerged from the woods and charged straight at them.

Seeing this, Miyamoto Yukie's face turned ashen with despair.

But faced with this situation, he had no immediate solution and could only roar as he charged forward.

But the next second.

A massive blade blocked his path, and immediately after, a man with bandages wrapped around his neck and a sinister gaze lunged out.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"

Miyamoto Yukie's face darkened as he gritted his teeth and spoke: "The Executioner's Blade, Hozuki Suigetsu?"

Miyamoto Yukie was completely stunned.

Yes.

He never expected that the first enemy he would face upon arriving at the Hidden Mist front line.

would be Hozuki Mangetsu from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielding the Executioner's Blade!

This...

He truly wanted to cry!

He was just an ordinary Jonin, promoted based on merit.

In terms of raw strength alone, he was not even as strong as Uchiha Uchiha Shisui, that current Chunin of the Hidden Leaf.

But, why?

He could not figure out why he had encountered Hozuki Mangetsu.

Wasn't the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Mist merely in a standoff, with no formal declaration of war yet?

Wasn't sending him to the Hidden Mist front line just a simple precaution?

However.

Before he could figure out this question, several more people walked out one after another.

"Is this guy the Hidden Leaf's front-line commander?"

"The Hidden Leaf really looks down on us Hidden Mist, sending just this thing to resist us?"

"I actually think it's normal; right now, the Hidden Leaf's major clans are cooperating with the Hokage's student to resist the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud in the Land of Rain, while the Hidden Sand is tying up a portion of the Hidden Leaf's main force."

"Our Hidden Mist declared war so suddenly; the Hidden Leaf probably couldn't spare their main force."

"If we had known this earlier, why hide? We should have launched a direct attack as soon as this group arrived."

"The Hidden Leaf really gets worse every year; after Senju Tobirama died, the Senju clan vanished completely. A few years ago, the White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo, finally emerged, but I heard he was forced to commit suicide by the Hidden Leaf itself."

"Now, facing us Hidden Mist, they actually sent this thing to disgust us."

"..."

The Hidden Mist group chattered among themselves.

Everyone's faces were filled with mockery.

Indeed!

Think about the Hidden Leaf of the past.

At its founding, Senju Hashirama alone could suppress the entire ninja world, alongside an equally powerful Uchiha Madara.

What happened later?

After Uchiha Madara left the Hidden Leaf, the village's strength was cut in half.

After Senju Hashirama died, Senju Tobirama relied on past glories, barely managing to maintain the strength of the world's largest ninja village, single-handedly fighting four enemies to survive the First Great Ninja War.

But, even so.

During the Second Great Ninja War, Senju Tobirama still showed signs of decline; the Hidden Leaf could only barely end the war through his death.

Later, when Sarutobi Hiruzen took power, the Hidden Leaf started becoming incompetent in every way.

A few years ago, Hatake Sakumo finally emerged, single-handedly fighting until the entire ninja world dared not make a sound.

But, who would have thought.

Before anyone could figure out how to kill him, Hatake Sakumo was killed by his own village.

Damn it.

Thinking of this, they wanted to laugh.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Unlike the relaxed Hidden Mist, Miyamoto Yukie could not laugh at all.

He didn't even have the heart to listen to the Hidden Mist's discussion.

Just looking at these leading ninjas in front of him, his whole body trembled in shock.

Hozuki Mangetsu, Hoshigaki Kisame, Kirigakure no Kurogane, Jinpachi Munashi, and Raiga Kurosuki...

Good heavens!

Except for the user of the Dull Blade: Kengai, the user of the Dull Blade: Kengai, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were all here.

What does this prove?

This proves the Hidden Mist declared war on the Hidden Leaf long ago; otherwise, how could a group of the Hidden Mist's strongest appear on the front line of the Land of Whirlpools without reason?

But, damn it!

I am just an ordinary Hidden Leaf Jonin; am I worth the 'Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist' all coming out to deal with me?

What merit do I have for this!

At this moment, his heart cursed the village to death.

Is this the so-called precaution?

Are they fooling ghosts?

However, Miyamoto Yukie, who became a Jonin, was not a simple novice in power struggles.

So.

He instantly realized he had been used as a scapegoat.

The village sent him and this group of cannon fodder solely to buy time for the village.

He hated it!

He was loyal to the village; how could the village do this?

However.

Before he could figure out this problem, a group emerged from the depths of the forest.

The one at the head was none other than

one of the remaining Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the wielder of the Dull Blade: Kabutowari, Tsurugi!

"Hey, what are Itachi doing?"

"Is this the time for chatting?"