Obito and Kakashi stood on either side of Gekko Chizan and Rin, ensuring their safety. The Hidden Mist Technique completely concealed their opponent, leaving them unable to track any movements, forcing them into a purely defensive stance.
Just as Obito and Kakashi knocked down several shuriken, a cold and sharp voice slowly drifted into their ears.
"Water Style... Mist Rain..."
Upon hearing the name of the jutsu, Gekko Chizan's brow furrowed. He already understood what the enemy was trying to do.
With the use of Mist Rain, rain began to fall from the sky, and with each drop, the mist generated by the Hidden Mist Technique grew denser.
"Kakashi, Obito, don't use any other elemental ninjutsu."
"This is a technique used by the Hidden Mist's ANBU—a secret jutsu that weakens all chakra and ninjutsu except for Water Style."
"In this rain, all other elemental jutsu will be heavily suppressed."
"This isn't something the two of you can break."
It was Gekko Chizan's first time witnessing this jutsu. After all, in the original story, this technique could suppress even Super Beast Imitation Drawing and the Rasengan.
Looks like their opponent isn't just some ordinary Hidden Mist ANBU.
"Oh? You figured out my technique—not bad."
"Too bad it won't help you. Prepare to die."
"Water Style: Falling Rain Needles Technique."
Raindrops in mid-air began to condense. In the blink of an eye, countless needles formed and started to fall. A simple jutsu—but often, simplicity delivers deadly effectiveness.
Surrounded by mist and rain, the four became living targets for the needles.
"Tch, one trap after another... Is this bastard really just ANBU? Something's off."
The more Gekko Chizan thought about it, the more he realized something was wrong. This string of attacks far surpassed ANBU level.
He instantly ended his healing jutsu and flashed in front of the three kids. Even with wounds still on his body, he now stood tall and imposing.
An overwhelming confidence radiated from him.
"Kakashi, Obito, dodge!"
"Rin, stop healing—protect yourself."
Because of the Mist Rain's effect, Kakashi and Obito's abilities were heavily suppressed. After all, neither of them specialized in Water Style, and they had barely touched it to begin with.
"You brats, let me show you your teacher's true power."
"When we get back, keep your mouths shut, got it? I don't want those old fogies eyeing me again."
Gekko Chizan pulled out six formula-inscribed kunai and, without even looking, flung them in all directions. Just as the needles were about to fall, he brought his hands together, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Crystal Release!"
Transparent crystals rapidly formed into a massive parasol, shielding all four of them beneath its canopy.
The sudden change caught both the Hidden Mist ANBU and the three kids completely off guard.
Crystal Release?
What kind of jutsu is that?
Wait… Could it be…?
The three kids stared at Gekko Chizan with eyes full of shock and disbelief.
Meanwhile, the Hidden Mist ANBU's expression shifted from contempt to seriousness. Even though he wore a mask, his aura grew increasingly intense.
"A kekkei genkai?"
"Crystal Release? Never heard of it. But it looks like you've got some skills."
His deep voice echoed through the thick mist, reaching Gekko Chizan's ears.
"There's a lot you haven't heard of."
"So you want to play with needles, huh? I'll play with you."
"Crystal Release: Needles!"
Senbon? Gekko Chizan had those too—better ones!
Crystal manifested. Senbon rose. A storm of crystalline needles shot out in every direction.
He had originally planned to use his bug vision to scout, but the mist was too dense—even his bug vision was blocked.
With no other choice, he resorted to a full-range attack.
Under his precise control, the crystal senbon stirred up a fierce wind that blew away some of the surrounding mist.
Visibility immediately improved.
But then something strange happened—despite the intense barrage, there wasn't a single scream of pain from the enemy.
This made Gekko Chizan frown deeply.
By his calculations, even if the attack didn't kill the target outright, it should've seriously injured him.
But the attack landed—and nothing came of it.
"Hmph. Not bad power… Too bad it's useless against me."
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A water dragon surged into the sky, jaws wide open as it lunged at Gekko Chizan.
But that one sentence gave Gekko Chizan the clue he needed.
"Hmph! Turn into crystal!"
Crystal Release activated again—instantly transforming the airborne water dragon into crystal. It crashed heavily to the ground, shattering into glittering fragments.
"I originally thought only two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen showed up. Looks like I was wrong."
"To withstand such a dense attack without injury… That's the Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki Clan, isn't it?"
"Right? The Hozuki Clan prodigy… One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen… Hozuki Mangetsu!"
His words left the three kids stunned, minds blank with shock.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Another one?
And it looked like this one was no pushover either.
Hozuki Mangetsu let out a light laugh. His voice, tinged with amusement, slowly echoed:
"Didn't expect anyone in Konoha to recognize me."
"But judging by your tone… you've already met another one of us? I wonder which one it was."
Gekko Chizan smirked slightly, his tone dripping with mockery.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Clang!
He drew two blades from behind his back—they were the Lightning Blades. In the next second, chakra surged in, and lightning roared to life.
"Damn it! That's the Lightning Blades! Did you actually take down that bastard Raiga!?"
"Correct guess! Your reward? A good old lightning strike!"
Lightning surged out, piercing the mist.
Hozuki Mangetsu didn't even think—he immediately tried to retreat. But no matter how fast he moved, he couldn't outrun lightning.
The Hydrification Technique can nullify all physical damage, and even most ninjutsu to a degree—but it has zero resistance against lightning.
Struck by lightning, Hozuki Mangetsu's face contorted in pain. His body began to collapse and dissolve under the electrical onslaught, black smoke rising from his form.
"Hmph! Now that I know who you are, if I still couldn't deal with you, I'd be a damn fool!"
Gekko Chizan scoffed with disdain and ramped up the lightning output.
Before long, with Hozuki Mangetsu's chakra no longer sustaining them, both the Hidden Mist Technique and Mist Rain gradually came to a stop.
"Oh-hohohoho… Mangetsu, you're not looking so good."
"Need a hand?"
The moment the mist cleared, more than a dozen figures rushed onto the battlefield.
At the front was a man carrying a massive sword, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
And in that moment, Hozuki Mangetsu was crouched low on the ground, panting heavily.