Chapter 179: Advent of the Swordsmen

Sakumo moved quickly upon seeing a slight disturbance in the mist, with him blasting straight into the person he detected.

However, the person merely blocked his blow with what he could only assume was a club of some kind, making Sakumo pay close attention to the man.

He grew even more wary as he realized he was facing the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Fuguki Suikazan.

"Oh, it seems I got lucky. I get to hunt the prestigious 'White Fang'. I didn't think your Village were dumb enough to send you straight to your death." Fuguki said while smiling viciously, as if he found easy prey.

"I'm afraid you won't get the chance. I'll be eliminating this threat to my Village now, so that I don't have to worry about the Leaf Shinobi who may die by your blades tomorrow." Sakumo said as his blade crackled with so much electricity that it seemed to come alive.

That seemed to be the signal that was needed to signal the beginning of their battle, with Sakumo beginning by sending a barrage of slashes towards the large man, making him dodge each narrowly while accumulating slight wounds.

Sakumo then delivered a powerful slash toward him, though the blade he had in his hand seemed to absorb the Lightning from the attack, negating a large amount of its damage.

Fuguki seemed to wish to take advantage of blocking the attack as he slammed Samehada down onto him, in an attempt to crush him.

However, Fuguki vastly underestimated the speed that Sakumo possessed as he appeared behind him and delivered a swift slash at his neck, with him just barely able to dodge a fatal blow with it only grazing him.

Fuguki jumped back as the wound began to bleed due to the attack, though Sakumo seemed to not be satisfied with barely that as the lighting around him thickened even further before he began the barrage of attacks again, though this time the attacks seemed far swifter and more dangerous.

'So this is the Legendary Blade Samehade? It's negating the lethality of my attacks and absorbing large amounts of my Chakra. I'm already down about forty percent just from engaging him this long.' Sakumo though grimly. 

Fuguki could only rely on the ability of Samehada to absorb a vast amount of the lightning to lessen the attacks, though he didn't know how long he could keep up, as Sakumo wouldn't even allow him to gain distance to perform any Jutsu.

Using Samehada, Fuguki spun and slammed the blade into the ground again, giving him some distance to breathe.

Realizing the danger he was in, Fuguki began preparing his trump card to allow him to merge with Samehade, yet he noticed the new stance that Sakumo had taken, sending shivers down his spine.

"Hatake Sword Style: White Wound!"

Sakumo's speed increased to unparalleled levels as he delivered a devastating slash to Fuguki's chest, sending him flying backward into a tree.

The attack left Fuguki with multiple critical wounds, with him assuming that he wouldn't survive another minute if he didn't merge with Samehada.

However, he didn't think he would get that opportunity as Sakumo charged at him as if a force of nature.

But, both were surprised when another bolt of lightning appeared and blocked the attack.

"Hurry up, Fuguki! We already lost Fushigumo!!" Raiga yelled in panic.

These few precious seconds gave Fuguki the time to perform the handsigns needed to merge with Samehade, transforming him into an entirely new type of creature.

He stood with his wounds healed as he looked at Sakumo, a smile now gracing his face. 

"Time to die, White Fang."

However, it was then that a man engulfed in a green aura appeared beside Sakumo, the aura he emitted being immense.

"Sorry, Sakumo. I eliminated one of them but I was unable to catch that one in the Sixth Gate."

~Flashback~

Duy stood in the mist warily as he eyed the Mist around him, with him being cautious to leave the others.

"There are two of them in that direction. Duy, you should deal with them." Akari said as she sensed two of the swordsmen.

Duy nodded as he immediately opened the Sixth Gate, with him immediately taking off, leaving nothing but a crater where he previously stood 

Just as moved in that direction, his instincts screamed at him to move, making him dodge the incoming attack and send a powerful kick toward whoever attacked him.

"Well Fushigumo, looks like you need a bit of help. I'll help you take out the Green Beast of Konoha." Raiga Kurosuki said as he held his blades.

However, before Fushigumo could say a word, Duy blurred and appeared before him, delivering a powerful punch that completely shattered the man's ribcage inward.

Raiga could only widen his eyes before charging to aid him, however, Duy exhibited superior speed to anything he had seen before, with him delivering a powerful kick that sent him flying back.

"Run Raiga." Fushigumo said. 

He could feel his death was imminent as he sent all of his Chakra into the Hiramekarei, turning it into a giant mallet in an attempt to crush the man.

But, he could only look in shock as Duy caught the mallet and threw it off of him, with him then ending Fushigumo's life by kicking him in his head, snapping his neck.

Duy immediately turned his attention to the fleeing Raiga, as he began chasing him at full speed.

~Flashback End~

Raiga stared cautiously at the two men, with Fuguki seeming to be confident in his ability to win the battle in his new form.

"Duy. Fuguki possesses the ability to absorb Chakra-based attacks. I'll leave his defeat to you." Sakumo said while his friend merely nodded.

"I'm afraid both of your deaths are guaranteed at this point!" Fuguki said as he began to emit a massive amount of Chakra.

"The Green Beast of Konoha will now transform into the Blue Beast, so beware of my newfound Youth!" Duy said as he suddenly grew serious. 

"Seventh Gate of Wonder: Open!!" 

His aura suddenly transformed from a green aura into a massive blue one, with the chakra being so dense that it was visible.

Sakumo's blade crackled with lightning once again as he set his sights on Raiga, the Lightning specialist of the Mist who boasted of having the sharpest blades in the world.

A Hatake and a member of the Maito family would stand side by side once again as they dealt with the remainder of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Unbeknownst to them all, the other four swordsmen had already fallen in battle.