Just as the sphere of light was about to reach Yagura, a sword suddenly flew in from the distance.
Clang!
A violent sound of collision rang out.
Then, two halves of a blade were seen flying apart.
The upper half flew toward a giant boulder. Sparks flew immediately, and a massive dent appeared on the rock, but that half of the blade also shattered into countless fragments.
The other half flew toward a Mist ninja.
The Executioner's Blade, broken!
Squelch!
The blade cut deeply into him.
The Mist ninja's eyes widened, looking in disbelief at Juzo Biwa, who had just arrived as reinforcement.
"Lord Juzo?"
Juzo Biwa wore an apologetic expression.
"Sorry."
Then, he looked at the other Mist ninja.
"Go!"
Back at the Mist army encampment, both Yagura and Juzo Biwa wore very serious expressions.
Yagura was serious because he had heard the news of the Kaguya clan's declaration.
Juzo Biwa, on the other hand, was serious because of the situation regarding the Mist Village and Fuguki Suikazan.
Juzo Biwa actually didn't believe that Fuguki Suikazan had defected.
When pursuing Fuguki Suikazan, Juzo Biwa didn't have the intention of killing him, but wanted to bring him back to the Mist Village.
Juzo Biwa believed there might be some misunderstanding in between.
If the misunderstanding was cleared up, Fuguki Suikazan could return to the Mist Village.
This would be a good thing for both Fuguki Suikazan and the Mist Village.
However, Fuguki Suikazan didn't think this way at all.
Juzo Biwa recalled the scene from not long ago.
Fuguki Suikazan stood on one side of the river, and he stood on the other.
He asked Fuguki Suikazan to stop and return to the Mist Village with him.
But all he got was Fuguki Suikazan's cold sneer.
"Juzo, I know what you're thinking, but I just want to say, you know too little about the village."
"You know too little about that person sitting in the high position."
"However, we have been blinded by the concept of 'ninja village' for far too long. I only truly recognized the appearance of this world not long ago. I cannot possibly return to the Mist Village."
"And the Mist Village has no place for me."
"The moment the butterfly died, the past me died too."
"The current me is a brand new me."
"I have already figured out what I want to do in the future. The village? It's too narrow-minded."
"The only pity is that the beast Jinin Akebino didn't die by my hands."
"Juzo, go back. Don't come again."
"If you are still in the Mist Village the next time we meet, we will be enemies."
"But I believe that one day, you too will see the true nature of the Mist Village."
"The Mist Village is already beyond saving!"
After speaking, without waiting for Juzo Biwa to reply, Fuguki Suikazan suddenly used a Water Style jutsu, repelling all the other Mist ninja who had caught up. When the Water Style ended, Fuguki Suikazan's figure had disappeared again.
Juzo Biwa didn't continue the pursuit.
Because Juzo Biwa had already received the Mist Village's order.
Just now was merely Juzo Biwa's final attempt.
While rushing toward the location of the Mist army at full speed, Juzo Biwa thought about the content of the Mizukage's order.
Juzo Biwa really couldn't believe that Jinin Akebino and the other three would die in the same battle, at the hands of the same person, all within one day. Those were the dignified Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Top elite ninja of the Mist Village.
Elites directly under the Mizukage.
Candidates with hope of succeeding the position of Mizukage.
"Is that Rasa's strength really that strong?"
And Juzo Biwa couldn't understand why Jinin Akebino and the other three would be isolated there.
The death of the four would undoubtedly deal a huge blow to the Mist Village.
It would consequently cause the reputation of the entire Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the ninja world to be greatly discounted.
Previously, when people mentioned the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, they thought of powerful strength and the special abilities of those ninja swords.
But now, when people mention the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, they would only think that four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were completely wiped out by Rasa alone.
"Yagura, what is the situation now?"
Yagura's eyelid twitched slightly.
He had already become the commander, yet this Juzo Biwa still addressed him by his name directly?
But at this time, Yagura wasn't in the mood to fuss.
"Have you heard about the rumors regarding the Hyuga clan, Juzo?"
"I heard. It says Konoha sold out the Hyuga clan and gave us the Byakugan to achieve an alliance. But as far as I know, this time it was our Mist Village begging to ally with Konoha, right?"
Yagura nodded.
"Correct. Therefore, this is a rumor. The person spreading this rumor just wants to drive a wedge between the Hyuga clan and Konoha, and further drive a wedge between Konoha and our alliance."
"These people of the Hyuga clan were already dissatisfied with our Mist Village."
"That Main Family member of theirs indeed died at the hands of our Mist Village. Moreover, the rumor described Ao's situation in great detail, with absolute certainty."
Juzo Biwa said, "But this is a rumor after all. Konoha should have ways to control it. The Hyuga clan is different from the Uchiha."
"Indeed."
Yagura looked grim.
"However, just now, I received news that the Kaguya clan issued a declaration, stating that they verify the content of the rumor is all true. You should know what this means."
"The significance of the Kaguya clan to the Hyuga clan is extraordinary."
Juzo Biwa's expression also became serious.
"Does this mean the alliance between Konoha and our Mist Village might break?"
Yagura looked in the direction of Konoha.
"Once Konoha ends the alliance with our Mist Village, given our current situation, we can no longer be a match for the Sand Village and will inevitably be pursued and attacked fiercely by the Sand Village."
"We will become the Sand Village of before."
Thinking of this, Yagura couldn't help but hate Jinin Akebino and the others so much his teeth itched.
If not for the sudden death of these four, the Mist Village wouldn't be at such a huge disadvantage at all.
"I wonder what the situation will be on Konoha's side?"
Yagura frowned tightly.
The entire Mist Village was uneasy because of this news.
Their hatred for the Kaguya clan grew even more intense.
"This Kaguya clan is truly beastly!"
"Already defected, yet they still want to oppose our Mist Village!"
"Nonsense!"
"Absolutely cannot let them go. When the war ends, we must kill them all, exterminate their clan, and make them like the Beni-yama clan of the Sand Village, erasing even their surname from this world."
As everyone expected, when the Kaguya clan's declaration spread, the Hyuga clan exploded instantly.
A member of the Hyuga clan clenched his fists tightly.
"The rumors are actually true?"
"Even the Kaguya clan verified it. They have been on good terms with us for generations; it's impossible for them to lie to us about such a thing."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi is too shameless. Konoha is too shameless."
"Even selling out their own people!"