Chapter 90: Is This Swordsmanship?

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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"Everyone, move!"

Might Duy shouted, motioning for his son and the others to fall back.

Without hesitation, they turned and ran toward the base camp, where Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato were stationed.

"Dad, is Guts really going to be okay?"

Might Guy glanced back, concern heavy in his voice. Though the name "Guts" had become a legend among whispers, he had never seen him fight with his own eyes now.

Their enemy wasn't some ordinary group, it was the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Guy's anxiety wasn't misplaced.

Might Duy didn't falter. Turning around, he gave a firm thumbs-up.

"Don't worry, Guy! Guts is just as strong as Lord Hokage. He'll be fine!"

"He's really that strong now?"

Guy clenched his fists.

"Then I'll chase after him with everything I've got! Even if there's a gap between us, I'll catch up! I swear it on my youth!"

With renewed determination, he helped the injured Ebisu and followed his father toward the base.

"Damn it!"

Ameyuri Ringo snarled as she forced herself to stand, blood trickling from her split lip.

Her face still throbbed from Guts's earlier punch. Cracking lightning surrounded her Thunder Swords as she snarled through broken teeth.

With a surge of chakra, she struck

Boom!

A thunderbolt crashed straight onto Guts's head.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

Jūzō Biwa, wielder of the Kubikiribōchō, had already formed his seals. A massive tidal wave surged forward, timed perfectly with the bolt of lightning.

The combined attack of Lightning and Water Style was as lethal as Fire and Wind, a deadly synergy.

But...

"Iron Fist."

Guts didn't move.

He simply threw a punch into the air.

BOOM.

The sheer force of his strike sent out a violent airwave, forming a dome of pressure around him. The water and lightning crashed into the invisible barrier, and shattered.

The Seven Swordsmen stared, dumbfounded.

That... wasn't chakra. That was raw force. His punch had created a literal shockwave that repelled two B-rank jutsus.

"You call yourselves, the seven ninja swordsmen?"

Guts tilted his head and cracked his knuckles, eyes locked on them with disdain.

"More like Seven Ninja Trash. I've seen better swordplay from Zoro in early One Piece."

Both of his arms shifted, his elbows downward to his wrists darkened, wrapped in Armament Haki.

In a blink, he vanished.

"What—?!"

Mangetsu Hōzuki barely raised Samehada in time to block the oncoming blow.

BOOM!!!

The ground trembled as Guts's fist collided with Samehada. Mangetsu started laughing proudly.

"Pointless. Samehada absorbs chakra,even from Tailed Beasts. You're just another meathead using chakra to power your punches."

"Your strength means nothing if your chakra is drained."

But the next second...

Samehada screamed.

"Wh-what?!"

Mangetsu's smirk vanished.

"Why isn't it absorbing his chakra?!"

Samehada's scales twisted. It recoiled.

"Submit."

Guts's voice was low, commanding.

BOOM—!!

An unseen force rippled through the battlefield. Conqueror's Haki.

"Aghhh!!"

Mangetsu stumbled back, clutching his hand, pierced by Samehada's own barbs.

He stared in horror at the blood streaming from his palm. Samehada… had betrayed him?

Samehada shuddered, and slithered from Mangetsu's grip.

With a wet snap, it wrapped itself gently around Guts's hand like a loyal hound.

The barbs retracted slightly, brushing against him in approval.

The other five swordsmen hesitated.

Then they charged.

Five blades from five directions, aimed straight for Guts.

Guts had already seen through them using his observation haki.

He raised Samehada with one hand and smirked.

"This... is how you use a sword."

Samehada's dark blue barbs suddenly deepened, turning black as obsidian, glowing faintly with danger.

"RAAAHHH!!"

Guts roared and swung the blade with brute force. He didn't need technique. His strength was his technique.

CLANG!!

Samehada, coated in Haki, collided with the incoming swords.

All five enemies were blasted backward like rag dolls.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

They hit the ground hard, gasping, their weapons scattered around them.

"W-what kind of monster is this?!"

"Samehada… is that strong?!"

"No—" Mangetsu muttered, clutching his bleeding hand.

"It's him. That power isn't human."

Suddenly, Samehada shivered with excitement. Its black scales pulsed, sharper and more alive than ever before.

"It's… excited?" Mangetsu said, stunned.

Guts glanced at the blade in his hand.

"Looks like this guy's enjoying being wielded by someone strong. He may be a traitorous breast, but at least he knows quality."

As if to agree, Samehada buzzed and twisted in his grip, eager for more blood.

"Let's go, buddy."

With a flick of his wrist, Guts exploded forward again. Samehada spun midair, its power peaking.

SLASH!

The first one to fall… was Mangetsu Hōzuki.

Cut down by the sword he once wielded.

[Achievement Unlocked: "The Original Sword Kills Its Master"]

[Template Character: Monkey D. Garp

Completion: 63.77%]

"Shit!"

Jūzō Biwa gritted his teeth, raising the massive Kubikiribōchō.

But before he could react, Guts was already swinging again.

"AH—!!"

With a single devastating blow, Guts smashed the needle blade Nuibari straight down the middle.

The sword shattered, and so did Kushimaru Kuriarare, its wielder.

Eyes wide, mouth agape, he fell in silence.

Blood painted the earth.

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