Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 264 The Seven Ninja Swordsmen

desert.

hot.

Whoosh... A dozen sharp kunai were shot out, their targets aimed directly at the six people fleeing ahead.

"Wind Release: Wind Wall Technique!"

The six who escaped were Sand Village ninja wearing Sand Village headbands. One of them turned around, formed hand seals, and spat out a wind wall from his mouth to block the kunai that was shot at him.

However, this caused him to fall behind and be caught up by the enemy.

"Da Xiong!!!" The five people walking forward stopped in their tracks. Before they could react, they immediately heard their companions shouting a reminder.

"Don't stop, keep going!"

The man lagging behind had his back to his companions, his expression crazed, and he was prepared to cover their retreat and sacrifice himself.

"Walk!"

The five men ahead understood the resolve in their companions' words and realized that someone needed to cover their retreat. They immediately suppressed their grief and quickened their pace to leave, determined not to waste the opportunity their companions had given them.

"Too late to leave!"

The six were being pursued by Kirigakure ninja, about twenty in number. The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a mask. At that moment, he sneered and, taking advantage of the moment the five paused to close the distance, immediately formed hand seals and unleashed a large-scale water-style ninjutsu.

"Water Release - Great Waterfall Wave!"

Like a bursting torrent of water from a great river during the rainy season, it appeared instantly in the scorching desert, rushing toward the six members of Sunagakure with a violent momentum.

"He can actually unleash such a powerful water-style attack!"

Da Xiong, who was covering the rear, changed his expression. To be able to unleash such a large-scale water-style ninjutsu in the desert, this guy from Kirigakure must be a strong ninja even among Jonin.

"Earth Release-Earth Formation Wall!"

"what……"

Da Xiong frantically channeled his chakra and unleashed an Earth Release ninjutsu, creating a thick earthen wall that rose from the desert, blocking the surging waters.

The five Sand Village ninjas in front took advantage of this moment to escape, creating some distance between themselves and the Mist Village, and continued running deeper into the desert.

puff!

A sharp blade pierced through his chest. Sunagakure Daiki looked down at the dripping, sharp needle, a familiar glint in his eyes. Then, as if remembering something, his expression changed, and he turned his head, opening his mouth as if to loudly warn his companions.

But... pfft!

The only response Nobita received was the continuous flow of blood from his mouth.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"

On his deathbed, Nobita saw a ninja with long, yellow, spiky hair and wearing a mask characteristic of the Hidden Mist Anbu. This ninja was none other than the wielder of the long sword, Sewing Needle, from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

呲!

In the distance, Kushimaru Kurihara pulled back the wire in his hand, and the long sword - Sewing Needle - was pulled away from Nobita's body and returned to his hand.

"Hopefully, that Pakura with the Scorch Release technique will be somewhat interesting!"

Pipa Juzo, carrying a guillotine, quickly passed by Kurihara Kushimaru, his words full of mockery.

Kushimaru Kurihara turned and followed without saying a word. Coming from the Anbu, he was like a ruthless killing machine, mechanically carrying out missions without uttering a word of nonsense.

"Don't be careless. The fact that the opponent can send seven of us from the fourth generation to surround and kill them means that their strength must be considerable."

*Thump...* Behind them, Suigetsu Hozuki deactivated his transformation jutsu, turning back into his original form from a middle-aged man. He caught up and glanced at his companions beside him, saying...

He was the one who used a large-scale water-style ninjutsu in the desert just now.

The greatsword Samehada gave him a massive amount of chakra, allowing him to use large-scale water-style ninjutsu even in places without water.

He is also the strongest among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Of course, his strength was limited, and the other six people didn't have much respect for him.

Upon hearing this, Muli Jinba, who wielded the explosive blade-flying spray, sneered, "As long as you don't hold me back, I can take care of that little woman by myself."

Upon hearing this, the hot-tempered Juzo Biwa immediately said, "My Executioner's Blade is already thirsting for blood. Just wait and see how I feed it with that little woman's blood."

"Heh..." The others responded with a cold laugh.

Seeing that the six people were becoming increasingly tense, Suigetsu Hozuki quickly said, "Don't forget, this is a mission assigned by the Fourth Hokage."

The fourth generation still held a high position in the hearts of the people, and upon hearing this, they all calmed down.

Regardless, the task takes precedence.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to the fourth generation.

The Fourth Mizukage, who can perfectly control the Three-Tails, is also a Kage-level powerhouse who is proficient in various Water Release techniques. The strength he can unleash is too great.

The seven who had experienced the Fourth Mizukage's suppression of the village's internal strife were all aware of his terrifying strength and dared not disregard the Fourth Mizukage's orders.

The five Sand Ninja, who were being hunted by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen mixed in with the pursuing ninja, were unaware of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's existence, let alone that they were there to ambush and kill Pakura.

They were still foolishly thinking that finding Yekura would save them.

It's no wonder they trusted Yekura so much.

Over the past year, Scorching Descent: Leaf Village has risen to prominence.

Her Scorching Release was too effective against the Water Release techniques that the Hidden Mist ninjas were good at, and it was far different from the Scorching Release in the original work, which was extinguished by a ball of water.

No matter what kind of water-style technique it is, it will all be evaporated in front of Yekura's scorching style.

In close combat, Pakura's Scorching Release fireballs are deadly to anyone who touches them; neither kunai nor longswords can stop them.

In addition, Yekura herself is very strong in physical combat.

This created a terrifying battlefield killing machine.

Ordinary Jonin are no match for Pakura.

In the past year, more than fifteen Kirigakure Jonin have died at her hands.

It's important to know that each Jonin not only has no obvious weaknesses in ninjutsu and taijutsu, but also possesses powerful secret techniques or abilities in a particular area.

Even the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are only Jonin.

This shows that the strength of each Jonin is not as simple as it seems.

To kill a Jonin, unless you are a Kage-level ninja, it's not easy for a Jonin to die in a fight between people of the same level.

The fact that Yekura was able to kill so many Kirigakure Jonin shows that her strength has reached the Kage level.

If we don't surround and kill her now, she'll become too dangerous for Kirigakure once she grows to Kage level.

That's why the Fourth Mizukage dispatched the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to join forces and kill Pakura, who was using the Scorching Release technique, thus eliminating this future danger in advance.

……

"Hurry! Hurry!"

On the desert, Yekura led a team of ten Sand Ninja at breakneck speed.

An hour ago, she received news from the front that her two companion squads, who had gone to scout the enemy's stronghold, were being hunted down by the Hidden Mist.

She immediately led three squads away from the stronghold to provide support.

"Eek..." High in the sky, a gray eagle was leading Ye Cang and his group when it suddenly cried out.

Upon hearing the eagle's cry, Ye Cang's expression hardened, and he warned, "The enemy is ahead; prepare for battle."

"Yes."

The three Sand Ninja squads responded immediately, each drawing their kunai and longswords in preparation for battle.

soon.

The figures of three companions came into view ahead. After a chase, two more were left behind to cover the retreat and died.

Now, the three survivors have finally seen the person they longed to see most.

"Yes, Lady Yekura!"

"Great! Lady Yekura is here!"

The three of them wept with joy and quickened their pace even further.

Once Yekura arrives, the numerous Kirigakure pursuers behind her will certainly be no match for her.

This is the confidence that Yekura has instilled in the Sand Village ninja over the past year on this battlefield of the Hidden Mist.

soon.

The five met up with Yecang and his group.

In the instant they met, six people from three squads behind Ye Cang stepped forward. Their hand seals were already complete, their chests suddenly expanded, and they released wind and fire ninjutsu from their mouths.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Technique!"

"Wind Release: Wind Blowing Technique!"

Three used Fire Release and three used Wind Release. The wind fueled the fire, and with the help of the wind, the Fire Release techniques that the three of them could only cover a range of 100 meters instantly expanded to cover a range of 500 meters, forming a sea of ​​fire that surged toward the Kirigakure group that was chasing them from behind.

(End of this chapter)