NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: CHAPTER 5
The tension was palpable as the three members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—Jūzō Biwa, Fuguki Suikazan, and Raiga Kurosuki—stood before Yuto and Terumi Mei. Their sharp eyes flickered between the siblings, clearly unimpressed by the casual banter.
It was Jūzō, the current wielder of the Executioner's Blade, who broke the silence. His slender frame loomed over Yuto as he spoke, his tone calm but laced with suspicion.
"Yuto, the flood last night caused quite the stir. From what I hear, you were nearby when it happened. Did you see anything… unusual?"
Yuto met Jūzō's cold gaze with an unbothered smirk. "Not at all."
"'Not at all' or are you lying?" Fuguki Suikazan growled, his massive form towering over the group. His grip tightened on Samehada, the sharkskin sword resting on his back. "If you're hiding something, I'll carve the truth out of you!"
Yuto glanced at Fuguki with disdain. "Who's this oversized fish trying to scare? No wonder he gets taken out by Kisame later," he thought, but his voice was steady and indifferent. "I said no. If you don't believe me, feel free to investigate yourself."
Raiga Kurosuki, ever sharp, narrowed his eyes. "Speaking of suspicious activity… wasn't Momochi Zabuza sent to find you last night? He hasn't returned, and we haven't been able to reach him since. Know anything about that?"
Yuto shrugged casually, though a sly grin tugged at his lips. "Who knows? With a tsunami that big, maybe he was swept out to sea. Feeding fish sounds about right."
"Yuto!" Terumi Mei hissed, glaring at him. Her tone was chiding, but the faint smirk on her lips betrayed her amusement. Her younger brother's calmness in the face of these dangerous men was both impressive and nerve-wracking.
"Still, that's a bold way to phrase it," Mei thought to herself. "Stupid brother… but maybe he learned that confidence from me."
Jūzō's patience was thinning. His sharp gaze locked onto Yuto. "As far as I know, you and Zabuza had conflicts in the past, dating back to your Academy dauys. Did something happen between the two of you last night?"
Yuto's calm demeanor didn't falter. "Nope. And if you think otherwise, bring proof. Otherwise, accusing me without evidence just makes you look like a loudmouth."
The insult was direct, and it didn't sit well with Jūzō. His eyes flashed dangerously. "You've got quite the mouth on you, kid."
In an instant, Jūzō swung the Executioner's Blade, the massive weapon cutting through the air with a deadly hum.
Puff!
The blade connected, but instead of flesh and bone, Yuto's face dissolved into water. The rest of his body soon followed, collapsing into a puddle.
"A water clone?!" Raiga exclaimed, his eyes darting around the flooded area.
"When did he pull this off?" Fuguki growled, scanning the rippling surface of the water for any sign of Yuto's real body.
From behind the group, Yuto's voice rang out, calm but edged with irritation. "You're quick to resort to violence, huh? Let me show you what happens when you pick a fight with me."
"Water Style: Water Blade Jutsu!"
A razor-sharp stream of water erupted from Yuto's outstretched hands, slicing through the air toward Jūzō and the others. The technique was precise, aimed to disarm rather than kill, but the force behind it was undeniable.
Jūzō blocked with the Executioner's Blade, but the sheer pressure of the attack pushed him back a few paces, his boots skidding across the wet ground.
"You little punk…" Fuguki growled, gripping Samehada tightly.
"Enough!" Terumi Mei stepped forward, placing herself between Yuto and the Swordsmen. Her emerald eyes burned with fury. "We're all from the same village. If you want to keep tearing each other apart, do it after we figure out what's really going on here!"
Her commanding presence gave the three swordsmen pause. Though they were dangerous in their own right, Terumi Mei's fiery temper and budding reputation as a skilled kunoichi were not to be underestimated.
Yuto smirked from behind her, lowering his hands but keeping his guard up. "See? My sister's got my back. Maybe you should listen to her for a change."
"Yuto…" Mei muttered, half-exasperated, half-amused.
The sound of air slicing sharply filled the air as Loquat Shizang's eyes narrowed. Five crescent-shaped water jets, each crackling with energy, flew toward him at incredible speed.
"Just a child's trick."
Loquat Shizang sneered, positioning the Executioner's Blade—the infamous sword of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—in front of him, completely confident.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The water jets exploded upon impact, but the blade remained as steady as Mount Tai, blocking the water effortlessly.
"Foolish kid, how can water ever hope to break steel?" Loquat Shizang scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance.
However, before he could bask in his own superiority, a voice rang out, sharp and cold like the edge of a sword.
"You think you're so invincible?"
Loquat Shizang's expression faltered slightly. He turned and saw Terumi Mei—her posture tall, her expression unwavering.
"Terumi Mei?" Loquat Shizang blinked, his smirk fading. Yuto, though troublesome, was still a novice in his eyes. But Terumi Mei was another matter entirely. Young, yet incredibly powerful, she possessed both Boil Release and Lava Release—a rare and dangerous combination. Her strength was widely recognized in Kirigakure, and she was considered one of the village's brightest shinobi.
Yuto spoke casually, seemingly unfazed by the growing tension. "Loquat Shizang is targeting me. Even if you help me now, he'll still go after me when the next order comes."
Loquat Shizang gritted his teeth in irritation, but Yuto continued, his tone mocking. "You've never seen water tear through steel, have you? You'll get an education soon enough."
"Brat, you'll regret this!" Loquat Shizang's anger flared. To him, Yuto was nothing but a pawn. He had the strength to crush him easily—yet this insolent kid wasn't even trying to beg for mercy. What was his problem?
Loquat Shizang's anger only built as he raised his Executioner's Blade, preparing for the next move.
Yuto, however, wasn't intimidated. He formed a new set of hand seals, his focus unwavering. The difference this time was the immense power within him. The Pacific Ocean inside him churned, boiling with chakra.
"Hai Dun—Blade of the Sea!"
With a fluid motion, Yuto opened his mouth, releasing a massive, crescent-shaped jet of water. It was deceptively simple, but the force behind it was overwhelming.
Loquat Shizang's confidence never wavered as he positioned the Executioner's Blade in front of him once more. The thick, heavy sword would protect him from the attack.
The other Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish and Raiga Kurosuki—exchanged skeptical glances. They had seen many forms of water techniques in their time, but none of them had the power to break through a sword like Executioner's Blade.
Terumi Mei, standing off to the side, was silently gathering chakra. If something unexpected happened, she would be ready to intervene. She glanced at her younger brother, who seemed so small and fragile compared to these muscular warriors. Her heart clenched at the thought of them bullying him.
Puff!
A crisp, cutting sound echoed as Loquat Shizang's eyes widened in shock. His Executioner's Blade—the very symbol of his strength—was sliced clean through. The sword's massive blade, usually so immovable, was now reduced to half.
Before he could react, a sharp pain exploded in his left shoulder.
Puff!
Blood sprayed from the wound, soaking his clothing as his body instinctively recoiled from the pain. Loquat Shizang stared in disbelief at his now useless sword, then looked at his shoulder, his expression filled with panic.
"How… How is this possible?!" Loquat Shizang roared, his voice tinged with fear. Not only had his Executioner's Blade been sliced, but his left arm was also rendered useless.
The once-confident and dismissive demeanor of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen member had shattered. He staggered backward, his heart racing in shock and fear. The power Yuto had unleashed was beyond his expectations.