Chapter 171. Hanekawa vs. Kuriarare Kushimaru

Chapter 171 - 171. Hanekawa vs. Kuriarare KushimaruThe endless ocean stretched far and wide as Hanekawa emerged, his head breaking through the surface of the water. He took in a deep breath of fresh air and slowly exhaled. It had been a week since his conversation with Tsunade, yet he still hadn't located the main base of Kirigakure. Although he had discovered several supply points and even caught distant glimpses of Mei Terumī twice, no substantial leads had emerged. "I wonder if today will bear any fruit," Hanekawa thought, gazing at a distant island before submerging himself back into the water. Forming seals with his hands, he closed his eyes. With his Mind's Eye active, he swam steadily toward the island. Kirigakure was highly cautious of the Hyūga clan and sensory ninja, having set numerous traps in the area. However, with the Mind's Eye, most traps could be detected in advance. If he accidentally triggered one, escape would be his only option. Ten minutes later, Hanekawa reached a point a thousand meters away from the island. Any closer, and he'd risk being detected by Kirigakure's sensory ninja. He looked toward the island and activated his long range vision. Hanekawa's heart suddenly skipped a beat. It was Fuguki Suikazan! Though he had never met him in person, his distinct features—orange hair and an enormous physique—were unmistakable at a glance. After a week of searching, he had finally found Kirigakure's main base. But caution was paramount. After waiting for a moment, he spotted another member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Kuriarare Kushimaru. Like Fuguki Suikazan, Kushimaru's appearance was highly unique. With yellow, spiky, fluffy hair, an ANBU mask covering his face, and white bandages wrapped around his neck, he was impossible to miss. Two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen being present confirmed it—this was Kirigakure's main base. Hanekawa submerged himself deeper and swam toward the shore. To prevent Kirigakure from relocating their base, swift action was necessary. Once he was out of the island's vicinity, Hanekawa surfaced and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique. A blur remained in the air where he had stood moments before. On the beach, Tsunade stood gazing intently at the endless sea. She was waiting for Hanekawa's signal flare. If Hanekawa were discovered, he would launch the flare to alert Tsunade. With his strength and Yin Seal, unless overwhelmed in a one-sided battle, Hanekawa could easily launch the flare. If he couldn't, he would summon Katsuyu during the fight. Of course, if even summoning Katsuyu was out of reach, the chakra fluctuations from their battle would still alert Tsunade—though it would take some time. A small Katsuyu rested on Tsunade's shoulder, ready to sense any signals from its larger counterpart summoned in battle. "This brat moves so fast," Tsunade muttered, spotting Hanekawa's figure. Her spirits lifted. "Could it be he's found something?" "Sensei." Hanekawa stopped before her, panting lightly. "That island is Kirigakure's main base!" "Excellent!" Tsunade's face lit up with a smile. Without hesitation, she called, "Lady Katsuyu!" Both she and Hanekawa understood the importance of time. Finding Kirigakure's main base was no easy feat—they couldn't afford to let it slip away. "Yes, Lady Tsunade," Katsuyu replied before vanishing in a puff of smoke. Tsunade had stationed another Katsuyu at the camp. By disappearing, this one would relay orders to its counterpart to use the Reverse Summoning Technique. "Hanekawa, wait here for me," Tsunade instructed, turning to her. She needed to return to the camp to gather reinforcements. Though she and Hanekawa were strong, Kirigakure's main base housed not only the Seven Ninja Swordsmen but also numerous other ninja. The two of them alone couldn't handle such a force. More importantly, if the Seven Ninja Swordsmen escaped, it would be nearly impossible to capture them again. "Understood." Hanekawa nodded. Moments later, Tsunade vanished into thin air. An hour passed. Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind filled the air. Hanekawa looked up to see a group of ninja landing in front of him. Scanning the group, he recognized several elite jōnin, including Might Duy. "What's the situation?" Tsunade approached Hanekawa and asked. "No anomalies. They haven't relocated," Hanekawa replied. "Good." Tsunade exhaled in relief before addressing the group with a stern voice. "Our primary targets are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Do not let them escape alive!" "Understood!" The group responded in unison. "We'll form pairs and attack from different directions," Tsunade instructed after a brief pause. "Hanekawa, you're with me. Everyone else, form your pairs freely." The group exchanged glances and quickly formed pairs based on proximity. "Move out!" With a wave of Tsunade's hand, the group disappeared in a flurry of motion, dashing toward the island at high speed. Given their strength, there was no need for stealth. Speed was of the essence to catch their enemies off guard. Within minutes, they reached the island. Without needing any orders, the allied ninja charged forward. Screams erupted. "What's happening?" Inside the main tent, Fuguki Suikazan's expression changed drastically as he hurriedly stepped out. He instinctively glanced around and was immediately alarmed. It was the ninja from Konoha and Sunagakure. "Enemy attack!" Fuguki Suikazan shouted at once. At that moment, he suddenly froze, his expression turning extremely serious. "Princess Tsunade, a pleasure to meet you." Fuguki Suikazan stared at Tsunade, who stood before him, reaching back to grasp the hilt of his great sword, Samehada. This living blade could absorb an enemy's chakra and transfer it to its wielder, making it one of the most formidable weapons among the Seven Ninja Swords. Samehada had a prominent role in the original series, primarily due to its second wielder, Kisame Hoshigaki. As for Kisame now, he was just a young boy who had yet to make a name for himself. Tsunade wasted no time. She threw a punch straight at Fuguki Suikazan. He swiftly drew Samehada to block the attack in front of him. The tremendous force sent him and Samehada skidding backward, demolishing the main tent in the process. "Impressive, Princess Tsunade!" Fuguki Suikazan gripped Samehada tightly and charged at her again. Tsunade frowned slightly. She could feel some of her chakra being drained upon striking Samehada. "Eight Gates: Open!" Might Duy's roar momentarily drowned out the chaos of battle. Green energy surged from his body, a clear sign of opening the Third Gate. "What kind of technique is this?" Jinin Akebino, his opponent, looked on in surprise. This was his first encounter with such an enhancement jutsu that doubled the user's combat power in an instant. Jinin Akebino was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the wielder of Kabutowari, the Blunt Swords. "Leaf Strong Whirlwind!" Might Duy delivered a powerful kick. A terrifying shockwave swept outward, forcing even Hanekawa to retreat a few meters. As he regained her footing, he noticed several shuriken flying toward him. Hanekawa unsheathed his Thunderfire Sword, casually deflecting the projectiles with a swing. The Kirigakure ninja was momentarily startled but didn't stop his assault. He inhaled deeply and spat out a stream of water. Konoha Style: Willow! Hanekawa twisted his body to evade the water attack effortlessly. "What?" The Kirigakure ninja exclaimed in shock. Before he could react, he found himself unable to move. A flash of cold light followed. The Thunderfire Sword slashed across his throat. Hanekawa stepped back, avoiding the spray of blood. To be certain, he plunged the sword into his heart as well. Hanekawa scanned the battlefield. The remaining five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were engaged in one-on-one battles with Konoha and Sunagakure's jōnin. At their level, ordinary ninja couldn't interfere. The rest of the jōnin were locked in fierce combat with Kirigakure's forces. Suddenly, the ground beneath Hanekawa rose, forming spears of earth aimed at him. Body Flicker Technique! Hanekawa leaped into the air and spotted the Earth Release ninja targeting him. Crescent Moon Dance! In mid-air, Hanekawa created two shadow clones, all of them rushing toward the enemy simultaneously. The Earth Release ninja was caught off guard by her skill. Though he managed to block the first Hanekawa, the other two clones drove their Thunderfire Swords through him. Hanekawa dismissed his clones and immediately activated Chidori Stream. Brilliant arcs of lightning enveloped his body, enhancing his speed further as he began cutting down nearby Kirigakure ninja like a storm. At that moment, he resembled a weaker version of Sakumo Hatake, mercilessly overwhelming chūnin and genin with lethal precision. Minutes later, a thick mist suddenly enveloped the island. Not good! Hanekawa's heart sank. Other than the Hyūga clan's jōnin, the rest would be affected by the mist, while the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—elite jōnin—would exploit this to shift the battle in their favor. Wind Release: Gale Palm! Hanekawa formed hand seals, releasing compressed air from his palms to create a powerful gust. The mist was blown away briefly but quickly reformed. He realized what was happening. A group of Kirigakure ninja was maintaining the Hiding in Mist Technique. Mind's Eye! Hanekawa closed his eyes, activating his sensory technique. On his left, he detected eight ninja clustered together, continuously generating the thick mist. Lightning Release Armor! Hanekawa knew the situation was urgent and decided not to hold back anymore. In an instant, his body vanished and reappeared in the midst of the eight Kirigakure ninja responsible for creating the dense mist. Chidori Stream! A surge of lightning erupted from him, spreading wildly in all directions. Screams filled the air. Hanekawa was too fast. The eight Kirigakure ninja, focused on maintaining the mist, didn't even have time to react. Crescent Moon Dance! With a loud bang, three Hanekawas swung their swords simultaneously. Blood splattered as the Kirigakure ninja fell one after another. "Damn it!" The last remaining Kirigakure jōnin noticed him, his expression darkening with murderous intent. He formed hand seals and spat out a massive water sphere. Hanekawa dispelled his clones and used the Body Flicker Technique. The water sphere, missing its target, crashed to the ground, sending water splashing everywhere. Wind Release: Turbulent Dance! Instead of attacking immediately, Hanekawa focused on dispersing the mist. From his palms, two gusts of compressed air shot out, hitting the ground and spreading rapidly. In an instant, the mist was blown away. "Well done!" The jōnin from Konoha and Sunagakure heaved a collective sigh of relief. Those few seconds of being shrouded in mist had been perilous for them. Tsunade glanced at Hanekawa briefly before returning to her own battle. "Die!" The Kirigakure jōnin, furious over the failure of his mist strategy, charged at Hanekawa with a short sword, aiming for his neck. Clang! Hanekawa parried the blade with his Thunderfire Sword. Gripping the hilt tightly, he channeled his strength into the sword. The Kirigakure jōnin's expression shifted, and he instinctively stepped back. What monstrous strength! Realizing close combat was unwise, he abandoned his short sword and used the Body Flicker Technique to create distance. The Kirigakure jōnin began forming hand seals, but he was too slow. Hanekawa clapped his hands together, casting a genjutsu. Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique! The jōnin froze as his deepest fears materialized before him. He quickly realized he was under a genjutsu and dispelled it. But as the illusion faded, a cold gleam from Hanekawa's sword greeted him. The Kirigakure jōnin instinctively clutched his wound, but blood poured out uncontrollably. He stared at Hanekawa in disbelief, his expression filled with confusion. How could he execute genjutsu so quickly? Darkness consumed his vision as he collapsed, never to rise again. At that moment, a piercing scream drew Hanekawa's attention. Turning his head, he saw a Sunagakure jōnin who had died gruesomely, his legs severed into pieces by sharp steel wires. "Kid, not bad." A Kirigakure ninja standing nearby smirked. Hanekawa's expression turned serious as he identified the newcomer—Kuriarare Kushimaru, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. In his hand was the Longsword: Nuibari, a giant needle-like blade connected to razor-sharp steel wires. "If I'm not mistaken, you're Hanekawa, Tsunade's student," Kushimaru said with a cold smile, flicking Nuibari as droplets of blood dripped from its tip—the blood of the slain Sunagakure jōnin. "That's me." Hanekawa smiled faintly. "Am I that famous now?" "Perfect," Kushimaru replied, raising Nuibari. "Killing you will avenge Jūzō and Raiga." As his words fell, he infused chakra into his feet and disappeared in a blur. Nuibari shot forward at terrifying speed, aiming for Hanekawa's forehead. A faint tingling sensation alerted Hanekawa. He didn't hesitate, raising his Thunderfire Sword to deflect the attack while slashing horizontally. Kushimaru frowned slightly. This strength is absurd. Twisting his body mid-air, Kushimaru evaded the slash and thrust Nuibari toward Hanekawa's abdomen. Clang! Once again, Hanekawa's Thunderfire Sword intercepted the blade. In the brief stalemate, Hanekawa clenched his left fist and threw a punch directly at Kushimaru. A loud shockwave erupted. Kushimaru's mind raced—he remembered Tsunade's strength. This is her student! Not daring to take the hit head-on, Kushimaru retreated, lifting his knee to counter with a chakra-enhanced kick. The moment his leg collided with Hanekawa's fist, his expression twisted. The overwhelming force sent him flying backward. Kushimaru managed to steady himself mid-air, but his right leg throbbed with pain. If not for the chakra reinforcing it, his leg might have been crippled on the spot. Kushimaru gazed at Hanekawa, his earlier contempt replaced with solemn focus. 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