Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza led a squadron of shinobi onto the beaches of the Land of Water.
Nara Shikaku had accepted a mission: the Seven Ninja Swordsn Hunt. He was responsible for eliminating Kirigakure's strongest combination, the Seven Ninja Swordsn.
He took an extra glance at the very back of the group, at the only one without a flak jacket, still a Genin: Might Dai. If Lord Fox placed such importance on Might Dai, there must be a reason.
Not long after landing, two scouts returned from ahead.
"Jōnin Shikaku! The Seven Ninja Swordsn are fleeing east! They encountered a Konoha Genin squad! Those three Genin are Might Gai, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu!"
Before Nara Shikaku could say anything, Might Dai from the back of the group suddenly rushed forward.
"What! Squad Gai encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsn?"
Nara Shikaku quickly said, "Might Dai! Don't act impulsively, we—"
Before he could finish, Nara Shikaku saw Might Dai had already charged off.
Yamanaka Inoichi stepped forward and said, "Shikaku, why have you been insisting on bringing this Genin along?" Shinobi valued obedience above all; they must unconditionally follow their squad leader's orders. The Nara clan, fad for their strategies, placed even greater importance on their subordinates' compliance. The Nara clan particularly despised shinobi who acted on their own, as they could disrupt the overall plans the Nara formulated. This dangerous Seven Ninja Swordsn Hunt mission—Shikaku insisted on bringing the Genin Might Dai, which had puzzled everyone. The weakest among the Seven Ninja Swordsn was an Elite Jōnin; a single Genin couldn't even buy ti.
But Shikaku said, "Go! Follow him!"
It seed Shikaku didn't plan to hold Might Dai accountable for his unauthorized action. While it was out of concern for his son, there were many fathers and brothers on the battlefield. If everyone ran around like Might Dai to save their family mbers, how could the war continue?
After chasing for a while, Yamanaka Inoichi said, "That's strange... Why is Might Dai so fast?" Their hunting squadron was all elites; apart from Might Dai, they were at least Tokubetsu Jōnin. Yet now, they couldn't even catch up to Might Dai. Had they gone the wrong way?
Yamanaka Inoichi looked at Hyūga Hizashi in the team. Hizashi, who had been using his Byakugan, said, "The chakra within Might Dai is increasing in stages. Every so often, his chakra quantity surges explosively!"
Nara Shikaku thought to himself, Excellent, finally a mystery is about to be solved. Why Lord Fox values Might Dai so much—perhaps we'll see the answer soon.
In the distance, Might Gai and his two teammates were paralyzed with fear by the Seven Ninja Swordsn.
On rocks and tree trunks in the distance, standing or sitting, were seven terrifying Kiri-nin. Each held a bizarrely shaped ninja sword.
Kuriarare Kushimaru, who wielded the Longsword Nuibari, had his own terrifying legends by the sea, but even he couldn't rank among the top three within these seven.
Every one of those swords filled the three Konoha Genin with dread. Every one of the Seven Swordsn made their hearts quail.
Might Gai grabbed his knees, trying to make himself move. "Co on... move..."
However, the Seven Swordsn had locked onto every weak point of Might Gai. It felt like if he moved even a muscle, he would instantly be cut down by seven blades.
Ebisu said despairingly, "Konoha keeps winning... yet the three of us are going to die here..."
Just then, a green figure descended from the sky, landing between the Seven Swordsn and Might Gai's trio. The three looked; it was actually Might Gai's father, Might Dai.
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu exchanged a look, both finding it unbelievable. Why would the village send a Genin with no ninjutsu talent so deep into the frontline?
Might Dai turned his head and said, "You three, run! I'll buy ti. The elite squadron led by Jōnin Shikaku isn't far behind."
Might Gai quickly said, "Father! These aren't ordinary Kiri-nin, they're the Seven Ninja Swordsn!"
Might Dai looked at the seven bizarre swords and said, "I may not have left the village much, but I recognize the Seven Ninja Swordsn. Gai, no more talk. I will use the Eight Gates Released Formation."
"But father, that technique..."
Might Dai turned back, giving a thumbs-up. "Now is the ti to release the bonds. Lately, the village has shown great favor. First, I entered Princess Kushina's guard squadron, and now I'm in the Seven Ninja Swordsn Hunt squadron. I'm deeply honored, but now is the ti to protect what I hold dear!"
Blue steam began to emit from Might Dai's body.
The Seven Ninja Swordsn stopped their casual postures of sitting or standing, each becoming serious.
Hoshigaki Kisa jumped down from his rock, staring cautiously at Might Dai.
Another Konoha Anbu Body Flickered into existence. "Wait!" Leaf Monkey said. "Might Dai, Lord Fox orders that you are only permitted to open the Seventh Gate! You are not to open the Eighth Gate!"
Might Dai was stunned. He had been prepared to die here, never expecting an Anbu to appear specifically to instruct him to only open the Seventh Gate. Considering Jōnin Shikaku's squadron wasn't far behind and Anbu had now appeared, Might Dai felt he didn't need to go all out. Unlike in the original story where Might Dai fought alone and died against the Seven Swordsn, here, Might Dai had the powerful Konoha behind him.
"Seventh Gate of Shock! Open!"
With the Seventh Gate activated, Might Dai charged recklessly forward.
Jinin Akebino, holding an ax in one hand and a hamr in the other, was the first to leap out. He swung his ax at Might Dai.
To the surprise of Jinin Akebino and the others, Might Dai dodged the ax. Jinin Akebino hastily swung his large hamr at Might Dai.
What happened next was unbelievable to both sides. Might Dai's fist t Jinin Akebino's hamr head-on in a clash of raw power.
The Blunt Sword hamr was sent flying by the punch, and Jinin Akebino himself was knocked backward, smashing into a large rock and shattering it.
Ebisu found the scene utterly bizarre. Wasn't Uncle Dai the Eternal Genin? How could he punch away the Blunt Sword wielder, the strongest in raw power among the Seven Swordsn? If Uncle Dai counted as a Genin, then what were they?
Hoshigaki Kisa frowned, his fish-like eyes filled with seriousness. "Everyone attack together! Finish this freak quickly!" In Kisa's view, a Konoha shinobi who could overpower the Blunt Sword in strength was a freak among freaks.
The Seven Swordsn attacked simultaneously, charging at Might Dai from different directions. Even the recently blasted away Jinin Akebino, who had stuffed so dicinal herbs into his mouth and was holding his breath, rejoined the fight. Too humiliating—to be sent flying by a single punch from a Konoha Genin without even a flak jacket.
Might Dai was hard-pressed, defending awkwardly. The Seven Ninja Swordsn, especially the Great Sword Sahada and the Twin Swords Hirakarei, were too strong. Sahada could absorb chakra, and Hirakarei could materialize chakra. Might Dai was quickly put at a disadvantage.
Knowing they were being pursued by Nara Shikaku, the Seven Swordsn fought desperately, wanting to quickly dispose of this Konoha nuisance. Among them, Kuriarare Kushimaru, wielding the Longsword Nuibari, slipped past Might Dai, sneaking towards the weaker Might Gai trio.
Might Dai grew anxious. He forgot the Anbu's instruction, forgot Lord Fox's order to only open the Seventh Gate.
"Eight Gates! The Eighth Gate! Gate of Death—"
Before the word "Open" could leave his lips, a hand suddenly pressed down on Might Dai's shoulder.
"Unnecessary, unnecessary. Do a favor, there's no need to open the Eighth Gate."
Might Dai felt the chakra in his ridians solidify as if frozen, no longer under his control.
Turning his head, Might Dai saw a fox mask!
Lord Fox had also entered the Land of Water?
(End of Chapter)
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