Chapter 174: Hoshikawa vs. Kushimaru Kuriare
On the endless ocean, Hoshikawa broke the surface, his head emerging from the water.
He took a breath of fresh air, slowly exhaling.
A week had passed since his conversation with Tsunade, and he still hadn't located Kirigakure's main base.
He had found several supply points and even briefly spotted Mei Terumī twice from a distance.
He wondered if today would finally bring a breakthrough.
Hoshikawa glanced toward the distant island before submerging himself back into the seawater.
He formed hand signs and closed his eyes.
Maintaining his Mind's Eye state, he slowly swam toward the island.
Kirigakure was highly vigilant against the Hyūga clan and sensor ninja, having laid numerous traps nearby.
With the Mind's Eye, most traps could be detected in advance.
If he accidentally triggered one, his only option would be immediate retreat.
Ten minutes passed. Hoshikawa was now one thousand meters from the island.
Any closer, and he risked being detected by Kirigakure's sensor ninja.
He focused on the island and activated his amplified vision. Hoshikawa 's heart suddenly jolted: It was Fuguki Suikazan!
Though he had never met the man, the combination of the massive figure and orange, lengthy hair was too distinct to miss.
After a week of searching, he had finally found Kirigakure's main base.
But he needed to be absolutely certain.
He waited for a moment and then spotted another of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Kushimaru Kuriare.
Like Fuguki Suikazan, his features were strikingly unusual—fluffy, spiky yellow hair, a Kirigakure ANBU mask, and white bandages wrapped around his neck.
With two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen present, there was no doubt—this was the core of Kirigakure's operations.
Hoshikawa dove deep beneath the surface and swam rapidly away from the shore.
To prevent Kirigakure from relocating their base yet again, they needed to act fast.
Once clear of the island's sensory range, Hoshikawa surfaced and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique .
In the air, only an afterimage remained.
On the seaside beach.
Tsunade was staring intently at the vast sea.
She was waiting for Hoshikawa 's signal flare.
If he was discovered, he would fire a flare to notify her. Given his strength and the Yin Seal reserve, he should be able to fire a flare unless he was immediately overwhelmed.
If he couldn't fire a flare, Hoshikawa would summon an animal while fighting.
Of course, if there was no time for either, the spike in chakra from the ensuing battle would still be detectable by Tsunade, though it would take a little longer.
Perched on her shoulder was a small slug.
This was specifically for sensing the reverse summoning triggered by Hoshikawa 's combat summon.
"Why is that brat running so fast?"
Tsunade spotted Hoshikawa 's form approaching and instantly felt a surge of energy.
Could he have found something?
"Sensei."
Hoshikawa stopped in front of her, breathing slightly heavily. "That island is Kirigakure's main base!"
"Excellent!"
A smile spread across Tsunade's face. Without hesitation, she said, "Katsuyu-sama!"
Both she and Hoshikawa knew the importance of time.
After finally catching the main base, they couldn't let them escape again.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
The small slug vanished in a puff of smoke.
Tsunade had placed a slug in the main camp beforehand.
The disappearance of the slug on her shoulder would relay the command to the one in the camp, prompting it to use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
"Hoshikawa , wait for me here."
Tsunade looked at him and said.
She needed to return to the camp for reinforcements.
Though her and Hoshikawa 's strength was immense, Kirigakure's main base held more than just the Seven Ninja Swordsmen; it had countless other ninja.
They would be hard-pressed to wipe them out with just the two of them.
Most importantly, if the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were allowed to flee, catching them again would be nearly impossible.
Hoshikawa nodded firmly.
Moments later, Tsunade's body disappeared into thin air.
About an hour later, the sound of movement sliced through the air.
Hoshikawa looked up and saw a group of figures landing in front of him.
He scanned the crowd; they were all Special Jōnin and Jōnin, including Might Duy and Maki.
"What's the situation?"
Tsunade walked up to Hoshikawa and asked.
"No anomalies detected, and they haven't relocated."
Hoshikawa replied.
"Good."
Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and said firmly, "Our primary target is the Seven Ninja Swordsmen! We absolutely cannot let them escape alive!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The assembled ninja responded in unison.
"We'll break into groups of two and land on the island from different directions," Tsunade paused. "Hoshikawa and I will take one group; the rest of you group yourselves up."
The ninja exchanged glances but didn't debate the order, quickly pairing up based on their proximity.
"Move out!"
Tsunade waved her hand.
The entire force instantly blurred into afterimages, rushing towards the island at top speed.
Given their strength, there was no need for stealth; speed was paramount to overwhelm the enemy before they could react.
A few minutes later, the force landed on the island.
Without waiting for any further command, they charged forward.
Screams erupted.
"What's going on?"
Inside the main tent, Fuguki Suikazan's expression changed dramatically, and he quickly stepped out.
He instinctively looked up, and his heart violently shuddered.
It was Konoha and Sunagakure ninja.
"Enemy attack!"
Fuguki Suikazan yelled the warning.
Just then, he suddenly froze, his expression turning extremely serious.
"Princess Tsunade, a pleasure."
Fuguki Suikazan looked at Tsunade before him, reaching back to grip the massive Samehada sword.
This ninja sword was a living weapon, capable of absorbing the enemy's chakra and replenishing its user's reserves.
Samehada had a significant role in the original story, arguably the most useful of the seven swords.
Of course, most of that screentime was thanks to its second owner, Kisame Hoshigaki, who at this time was still a fledgling ninja, not yet making a name for himself.
Tsunade wasted no words and slammed her fist forward.
Fuguki Suikazan instantly drew Samehada to block the blow.
The immense force sent him and Samehada sliding backward, utterly demolishing the main tent.
"As expected of Princess Tsunade!"
Fuguki Suikazan tightly gripped Samehada and lunged forward again.
Tsunade frowned slightly.
She sensed a portion of her chakra being drained when her fist hit Samehada.
"The Eight Gates Release!"
Might Duy's roar briefly drowned out the sounds of slaughter.
A bright green aura enveloped his body—the unmistakable sign of the Third Gate being opened.
"What kind of jutsu is that?"
Tōrō Tenkai, who was fighting him, was astonished.
It was the first time he had witnessed such an amplification technique, doubling the user's combat power in an instant.
Tōrō Tenkai was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the wielder of the Kabutowari.
"Konoha Strong Gale!"
Might Duy launched a kick.
In a flash, a fierce blast of wind swept outwards.
Hoshikawa , who was nearby, quickly retreated several meters.
As soon as he steadied himself, he noticed several shuriken flying toward him.
Hoshikawa drew the Thunderfire Blade and casually flicked it, deflecting the shuriken.
The Kirigakure ninja was startled but continued his attack.
He tilted his head back and spat out a jet of water.
Konoha Style: Willow!
Hoshikawa 's body shimmered, easily evading the water jet.
"What?"
The Kirigakure ninja cried out in surprise.
But as he prepared to retreat, he realized his body was already paralyzed.
A cold flash of light.
The Thunderfire Blade slashed across his throat.
Hoshikawa stepped back, avoiding the spraying blood.
To be safe, he plunged the Thunderfire Blade into the Kirigakure ninja's heart as a follow-up.
Hoshikawa surveyed the battlefield.
The remaining five of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were all pinned down by Konoha and Sunagakure Jōnin.
Most were engaged in one-on-one combat, as at the Jōnin level, general ninja found it hard to intervene in their fights.
The other Jōnin were also busy, locked in a brutal fight to the death with the rest of the Kirigakure ninja.
Suddenly, the ground bulged, and earth transformed into long spears that shot towards Hoshikawa .
The Body Flicker Technique
Hoshikawa leaped into the air, spotting the Earth Release ninja who had attacked him.
Dance of the Crescent Moon!
In mid-air, Hoshikawa split into two Shadow Clones, all three charging towards the enemy.
The Earth Release ninja clearly hadn't anticipated such skill.
Faced with three Hoshikawa s, he became flustered.
Though he managed to block the attack from the Hoshikawa above him in time, the other two Hoshikawa s raised their Thunderfire Blades and skewered him through.
Hoshikawa dismissed his clones and immediately activated Chidori Nagashi.
Brilliant lightning enveloped him, further boosting his speed. Wielding the Thunderfire Blade, he began cutting down the nearby Kirigakure ninja.
He was now like a weakened version of Sakumo Hatake, with Chūnin and Genin having no chance but to be instantly slain.
A few minutes later, a dense mist suddenly rose, quickly engulfing the island.
This is bad!
Hoshikawa 's heart tightened.
Apart from the Hyūga Jōnin, all the other Jōnin would be affected by the fog.
Since the Seven Ninja Swordsmen they were fighting were Elite Jōnin, this slight hindrance could shift the battle's momentum.
Wind Release: Gale Palm!
Hoshikawa formed hand signs. A blast of airflow shot from his palms, compressed to the extreme, and turned into a violent windstorm.
The mist was blown away momentarily but quickly gathered again.
Hoshikawa immediately understood.
A group of Kirigakure ninja were continuously using the Hiding in Mist Jutsu .
Mind's Eye!
Hoshikawa closed his eyes and instantly located them.
To his left, eight ninja had somehow gathered, generating the dense mist non-stop.
Lightning Release Body!
Hoshikawa knew the situation was urgent and held nothing back.
His body instantly vanished, then reappeared in the middle of the eight Kirigakure ninja.
Chidori Nagashi!
A massive surge of lightning erupted, wildly spreading in all directions.
Screams rang out.
Hoshikawa 's speed was too great; the eight Kirigakure ninja, focused on maintaining the mist, had no time to react.
Dance of the Crescent Moon!
Bang!
The three Hoshikawa s struck with their blades, blood splattered, and the Kirigakure ninja fell one after another.
"You bastard!"
The sole remaining Kirigakure Jōnin noticed him, his face contorted with murderous intent.
He formed hand signs and spat out a huge water sphere.
Hoshikawa dispersed his clones and used the Body Flicker Technique.
The water sphere missed its target, slamming into the ground and splashing water everywhere.
Wind Release: Air Flow Dance!
Hoshikawa didn't rush to attack, prioritizing the dissipation of the fog.
Two streams of airflow shot from his hands, striking the ground and rapidly expanding.
In an instant, all the dense mist was blown away.
"Well done!"
The Konoha and Sunagakure Jōnin sighed in relief.
The few seconds the mist covered the area had put them in dangerous situations.
Tsunade glanced at Hoshikawa and returned her focus to the battle.
"You're asking to die!"
The Kirigakure Jōnin saw his mist plan shattered and was enraged.
He drew a short blade and slashed toward Hoshikawa 's neck.
Clang!
Hoshikawa blocked the short blade with the Thunderfire Blade.
He gripped the hilt tightly, putting his full strength into the block.
The Kirigakure Jōnin's face changed, and he involuntarily retreated two steps.
What monstrous strength is this?
He immediately let go of the short blade and used the Body Flicker Technique to distance himself.
Engaging in close combat with such power was clearly unwise.
The Kirigakure Jōnin watched Hoshikawa , quickly forming hand signs, but he was a step too slow.
Hoshikawa clapped his hands together, completing his Genjutsu.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!
The Kirigakure Jōnin's face froze as his deepest fear flashed in his mind.
He reacted quickly, realizing he was under Genjutsu, and immediately broke the illusion.
The phantom disappeared, but what greeted his eyes was a cold flash of steel.
The Kirigakure Jōnin instinctively pressed down on his wound, but the blood was unstoppable, pouring out rapidly.
He looked at Hoshikawa , his expression etched with confusion.
How could the hand sign speed for Genjutsu be so fast?
The Kirigakure Jōnin's vision went black, and he collapsed backward, falling into an eternal sleep.
Just then, Hoshikawa heard a miserable scream.
He instinctively turned and saw a Sunagakure Jōnin who had died horribly.
His legs, in particular, were sliced into pieces by steel wire, scattered across the ground.
"Not bad, kid. Decent skills."
The Kirigakure ninja next to the fallen Jōnin noticed Hoshikawa and gave a faint smile.
Hoshikawa 's expression turned grave as he recognized the newcomer.
It was Kushimaru Kuriare, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
In his hand was the Longsword: Sewing Needle.
It was, simply put, an oversized embroidery needle, connected to an extremely sharp steel wire at the hilt.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are Hoshikawa —Tsunade's student."
Kushimaru Kuriare shook the Sewing Needle, and blood dripped down the needle.
It was the blood of the deceased Sunagakure Jōnin.
"That's me."
Hoshikawa smiled slightly. "Am I that famous now?"
"Perfectly so."
Kushimaru Kuriare raised the Sewing Needle. "Killing you will also avenge Jūzō and Raiga."
The words dropped, and he focused chakra to his feet, his body vanishing in an instant.
The Sewing Needle erupted with terrifying speed, aiming straight for Hoshikawa 's forehead.
A faint sting of pain rushed over Hoshikawa .
He didn't dare be careless. He moved the Thunderfire Blade up, immediately batting the Sewing Needle aside and slicing low at Kushimaru's waist.
Kushimaru Kuriare frowned slightly.
The force behind the blow was indeed surprisingly huge.
His movements were nimble. He twisted his body, avoiding the Thunderfire Blade, while simultaneously thrusting the Sewing Needle forward, aiming for Hoshikawa 's abdomen.
Clang!
Hoshikawa 's Thunderfire Blade blocked the Sewing Needle once more.
In the moment of deadlock, his left fist balled up and smashed directly at Kushimaru Kuriare.
The sound of an air blast rang out.
Kushimaru Kuriare suddenly remembered that he was Tsunade's student.
That's Monster Strength!
He didn't dare to take the punch directly, retreating two steps, then snapping his knee up and launching a kick.
Chakra enveloped his right leg, creating a whistling sound.
However, when his kick connected with Hoshikawa 's left fist, his expression changed dramatically. The enormous power sent him flying backward. He stabilized himself in mid-air, feeling a searing pain in his right leg.
If he hadn't covered his leg in chakra, his leg might have been instantly shattered.
Kushimaru Kuriare looked at Hoshikawa , all traces of condescension gone, replaced by solemn intensity.
.............
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