In the Hidden Mist Village, to become Mizukage, sheer strength was once a major requirement, especially during the bloody eras. Though the tradition softened under Chōjūrō's rule, the legacy still lingered.
For the Hōzuki Clan, which had produced the Second Mizukage—Hōzuki Gengetsu—respect for strength was deeply ingrained.
On this day, many of the strongest members of the clan, including seasoned jōnin and near-jōnin, had gathered.
"One, two, three... seven of you want to take me on?" Suigetsu scoffed, flexing his fingers as he rested the Kubikiribōchō on his shoulder.
Leading the group was Hōzuki Muzuki, only slightly older than Suigetsu.
"You think you can just take Mangetsu-nii's relics without a fight? Don't make me laugh. You'll be crawling home."
Suigetsu surveyed his opponents. All were skilled swordsmen, and more importantly, fellow Hōzuki—meaning they all understood each other's techniques intimately. This wouldn't be easy.
"I'll help you," Ranmaru offered softly.
But the Clan Head interrupted. "Suigetsu, if you need help, I'll just send in more."
Suigetsu smirked. "If he helps, it won't matter how many you send. You'll all lose."
"Oh? Who is he?"
"He's going to be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The wielder of Kiba, the Thunder Blades. You all know how our Hydrification Technique fares against Lightning Release."
The older clan members tensed. Ranmaru might not have been physically strong, but his latent dōjutsu and affinity made him an absolute counter to Water-based bodies.
The Clan Head narrowed his eyes. "So, you're really planning to revive the Seven Swordsmen?"
"Of course. That's been my goal since the beginning."
"Then why not wield Kiba yourself? With lightning release, no one here would last more than a few seconds."
Suigetsu shrugged. "Too boring. The Executioner's Blade suits me more. Something about a massive cleaver just feels right."
The Clan Head chuckled. "What ambition. Tell me, Suigetsu... do you plan to run for Mizukage?"
That question silenced the room. The Clan Head wasn't joking. Gengetsu had once stood at the top. Perhaps Suigetsu could too.
"I haven't thought about that. Rebuilding the Seven is all I care about. The politics? Too much of a hassle. Watching Kimimaro work all day makes me tired just thinking about it."
"Well then, enough talking. Let's see how far you've come."
Suigetsu grinned and launched forward, the Kubikiribōchō cleaving through the air.
But his opponents were no pushovers. Muzuki and the others drew their blades in unison. "Don't forget, Suigetsu—swords are our clan's pride!"
The clash began. Metal rang out in rapid bursts. Despite being outnumbered, Suigetsu didn't falter. His sword swings were heavy, his movements refined, far more precise than they once were.
"He's improved," the Clan Head muttered. "In raw swordsmanship, he's not far above the others... but his strength and endurance are well beyond them. Could he already be approaching Elite Jōnin level?"
Forced on the defensive, Suigetsu activated the Hydrification Technique, dispersing into water to evade multiple strikes.
In turn, his opponents used Water Gun Technique—a sharp, high-pressure jet of water that even his liquid form couldn't ignore forever. Though his body reformed quickly, the cumulative drain was growing.
"A pity," the Clan Head whispered. "No one in our clan has truly mastered Gengetsu-sama's technique—transforming water into oil and then using Steaming Danger Tyranny. Suigetsu's strong, but against so many with the same hydration abilities, he doesn't have a clear edge."
But then everything changed.
The temperature in the air shifted.
Frost began to form on Muzuki's blade. The ground beneath their feet crackled with thin ice.
"What the—? Freezing?!" the Clan Head stood up in disbelief.
Thin shards of ice spread across the field, immobilizing several of Suigetsu's opponents.
The Clan Head leapt forward. "Stop! The match is over. Suigetsu, you've won!"
Suigetsu lowered his blade. "So? Can I enter the clan's secret realm now?"
"Of course. But tell me—how did you do that? Gengetsu-sama could only produce hail at best. This... this is freezing. Ice Release?"
The Clan Head hadn't fully processed it yet. Ice Release was a kekkei genkai, combining Water and Wind. It was believed to be unique to the Yuki Clan, and extremely rare.
Suigetsu's expression darkened. "I can't tell you that. And I'd prefer you didn't tell anyone else either. If you do, don't blame me for cutting family ties."
The Clan Head stared at him silently, then nodded. "Understood. Suigetsu, from today onward, all clan resources are at your disposal. But still, consider becoming Mizukage. If not now, then maybe someday."
Suigetsu chuckled, pulling Ranmaru along. "Maybe. I'll think about it when I'm bored enough."
As they entered the misty depths of the Hōzuki Clan's secret realm, Suigetsu glanced at Ranmaru.
"Be careful. This place is full of old traps and dangerous seals."
He paused, then muttered to himself,
"Kimimaro wants to change the shinobi world... but change doesn't come easy. If I really became Mizukage, and used the Mist to support him... maybe it could work. Ugh... but being Mizukage sounds like such a pain."
"Don't worry, my Red Eye isn't just for show. And now, with Magnet Release, I can handle most threats. But why are the Seven Ninja Swords here?"
"You don't understand. Our Hōzuki Clan has special summoning scrolls tailored for the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist. These scrolls need to be stored somewhere safe. When needed, we use summoning ninjutsu to retrieve the scrolls first, and then extract the blades from them. My brother, Mangetsu, sealed those scrolls within the clan compound. No matter where he was, he could summon them using space-time ninjutsu."
"So, what we're looking for are the scrolls themselves?"
"Not necessarily. We might also find the blades directly. Mangetsu hid them in a secret location—what we call the clan's 'hidden realm.' They could be there."
"I see."
In truth, there are different types of ninja scrolls with distinct purposes.
Storage scrolls use sealing techniques (fūinjutsu) to compress objects into a scroll's internal space—basic items like weapons or supplies.
Summoning scrolls, however, are more advanced. They serve as a medium to summon entities or items across dimensions, not just stored contents. The item doesn't have to be physically inside the scroll—it can exist in a linked summoning realm.
This distinction is crucial when dealing with sentient or semi-sentient beings—or in this case, legendary weapons.
The Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist aren't ordinary weapons. Each blade has unique chakra properties, and some even seem to resonate with their wielders. Because of this, Mangetsu couldn't seal them the normal way. Instead, he bound them to summoning scrolls that connected to a secret dimension—likely one accessible only through specific Hōzuki ninjutsu.
It's not unlike how Jiraiya summons Gamabunta from Mount Myōboku. The toad isn't sealed in a scroll—he's summoned through a contract. Similarly, Mangetsu established a way to summon the blades as if they were contracted partners, hiding them away in the clan's forbidden domain.
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