Chapter 113: The Ambition of the Four Ninja Swordsmen

Facing the sky full of Explosive Tags, there was not a hint of panic on Might Duy's face.

His figure flashed, transforming into a blurred afterimage hurricane that blew away all the Explosive Tags, and he charged directly in front of Jinin Akebino.

Without a moment's hesitation, he raised his fist and struck toward Jinin Akebino, the very space between them resonating with the sound of wind and thunder.

The fear in Jinin Akebino's heart erupted completely; he swung his Blastsword: Shibuki frantically, releasing and detonating Explosive Tags regardless of the distance, attempting to drive Might Duy away.

Countless Explosive Tags exploded, but it was already too late for everything.

A fist landed on Jinin Akebino's chest, and he opened his mouth to vomit a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Might Duy did not give him a chance to catch his breath; he flicked his hands, unleashing a sky full of burning fist shadows: "Asa Kujaku!!"

Jinin Akebino flew into the sky like a tattered sack, the clothes on his body ignited by the flames on the fists, and he had completely lost his breath.

"Jinin is dead just like that?!"

Seeing this, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were both shocked and furious, launching even more frantic attacks against Might Duy.

Yet Might Duy did not yield an inch, countering them head-on!

Biwa Juzo swung the Kubikiribocho, the blade wind fierce, but Might Duy kicked it away, and with a second kick, he struck Biwa Juzo in the chest, sending him flying dozens of meters away.

The Don-to: Kabutowari in Jinin Akebino's hands came crashing down heavily, but Might Duy did not dodge or retreat, smashing a fist back at it; the blunt blade was knocked from his hands on the spot and rebounded to strike Jinin Akebino in the face, disfiguring him.

Kurosuki Raiga swung the Kiba, releasing powerful lightning that left Might Duy's entire body smoking.

Because of this, he drew Might Duy's enmity and was chased and pummeled, reaching the height of wretchedness.

Suikazan Fuguki was the most insidious; holding the great sword Samehada, he stayed far away, attempting to drain Might Duy's chakra to weaken his strength, while simultaneously weaving hand seals with one hand to release a large amount of Water Style Ninjutsu.

For a moment, the battle scene reached its climax.

Blade light, lightning, and water waves surrounded Might Duy, attempting to swallow him whole.

The three little Konoha Genin watched the battlefield from afar; even though they were far enough away, they could still feel the tremors coming from the ground—every time Duy threw a punch or landed a kick, the ground would shake once.

Ebisu said blankly: "Guy, your old man is so amazing."

Might Guy looked at his father with a mix of shock and worry, responding subconsciously: "Yeah, I didn't know my old man was this amazing either."

Shiranui Genma was the most composed, yet he was the most impacted at this moment: "Taijutsu can be this strong? How is Senior Duy still a Genin when he's this strong?"

Might Guy scratched his head: "Because my old man doesn't allow himself to use his power at will, and strictly forbids using it against comrades, so I guess everyone didn't know..."

Genma shook his head: "No, it shouldn't be like this."

"Even if we didn't know, the upper echelons of the village should have known, Lord Hokage should have known..."

Ebisu suddenly said: "Genma, don't say any more!"

"If you keep talking, you'll be in danger!"

The three little ones closed their mouths, but a thought began to brew and grow in their hearts: Lord Third Hokage, he doesn't seem very qualified.

Boom!

Biwa Juzo was kicked again; this time his left arm snapped directly, and he retreated a long way, screaming in agony.

The space around Might Duy had actually cleared; no one was launching attacks at him anymore.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist... no, the Four Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had crooked mouths and squinting eyes, blood at the corners of their lips, and their expressions as they looked at Might Duy were as if they had seen a ghost.

Especially Suikazan Fuguki, who kept touching the Samehada wrapped in bandages on his back.

He didn't understand; Samehada had indeed absorbed a massive amount of chakra, so why hadn't it weakened the opponent even a little bit?

"Don't doubt Samehada; Senior Duy is a taijutsu ninja, and the chakra he radiates is just the excess part his body cannot fully contain."

Yamanaka Chujiu appeared at the edge of the battlefield, explaining to the Four Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist: "Since it is excess, unneeded chakra, no matter how much your Samehada absorbs, it won't affect Senior Duy's strength."

"Am I right, Senior Duy?"

Might Duy looked exhausted, but he still smiled and gave a thumbs-up: "You're absolutely right!"

"But young man, you should leave quickly; I don't have much time left to hold them off..."

Yamanaka Chujiu said: "I am a Jonin, a Konoha Jonin!"

Might Duy choked, then said a moment later: "A Jonin won't do either; these are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist..."

The more he spoke, the less confident he felt; he was just a lousy Genin who had killed three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, yet now he was telling a Jonin that they were too terrifying and dangerous.

Hmm, why did it feel like there was a hint of sarcasm?

Fortunately, Yamanaka Chujiu knew Might Duy meant no harm; he smiled and said: "I know Senior Duy isn't mocking me, and I truly cannot beat the Ninja... Four Swordsmen."

"Don't worry, I'm not alone; I also brought my teacher."

Yamanaka Chujiu revealed a confident and mysterious smile: "My teacher is much stronger than any Four Ninja Swordsmen."

"A ninja stronger than a Konoha Jonin?"

Duy and the others looked back, wanting to see who Yamanaka Chujiu's teacher was, that he could so confidently declare the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist as nothing.

"Oh hehehe... the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are all here; my luck really isn't ordinary today."

Amidst the unique laughter, Orochimaru strolled out from behind Yamanaka Chujiu, his golden snake-like pupils sweeping over the Four Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and a cold, intimidating killing intent permeated the air.

"Orochimaru!?"

The surviving Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist gasped, collectively taking two steps back and breaking their encirclement of Might Duy.

Orochimaru was a big figure who shook the Ninja World; even in the isolated Kirigakure, his name was like thunder to the ears.

Although the mission of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was to find Orochimaru and behead him, when they actually saw Orochimaru appear, they were still overshadowed and all assumed defensive postures.

After all, they knew very well that Orochimaru could easily toy with any one of them; this gap was the difference between a Kage and a Jonin.

The massive gap between them and a ninja of the level of the Legendary Sannin could not be easily bridged just by seven Kirigakure Jonin forming the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist also suspected that Orochimaru was an impostor.

But the aura of a Shadow-level powerhouse like the Sannin, who stood at the pinnacle of the Ninja World, was not something one could imitate just by wanting to.

Jinin Akebino endured the intense pain and said: "Why would Orochimaru appear here?"

Suikazan Fuguki roared: "Shut up! We, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, are gathered together, and our mission target is Orochimaru; is it a bad thing that he appeared?"

His words instantly halted the decline of the Mist Ninja and ignited the morale of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Biwa Juzo immediately came to his senses: "Indeed, the seven of us gathered here specifically to behead Orochimaru. Now that he has appeared before us like this, even if Orochimaru is formidable, can the four of us not take his head if we attack together?"

Ambition flickered in the eyes of Kurosuki Raiga as he said excitedly: "If we can take Orochimaru's head, our Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are destined to become famous throughout the Ninja World."

"The Konoha commander is alone out here, with only a student who claims to be a Jonin by his side; there could be no better opportunity than this."

As the four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist spoke, their gazes changed; timidity faded and ambition surged, and in their eyes, Orochimaru was no longer a powerhouse who shook the Ninja World, but a stepping stone for them to achieve fame.