While sparring with Zabuza, Hozuki Kisame asked in his unique drawl,
"Will the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist just hand over their swords?"
Yagyu replied lazily,
"You don't need to worry about that. I believe they will give me some face."
"Speaking of which... Mangetsu, doesn't the Hozuki clan possess a scroll that can summon the ninja swords?"
Yagyu looked at Mangetsu with curiosity. This scroll had appeared in the original story, wielded by the reanimated Mangetsu.
Mangetsu nodded.
"The Seven Swords of the Mist were basically all acquired by our Hozuki clan."
"The ancestors of the Hozuki clan created the summoning scroll. Only those with the Hozuki bloodline can use it."
Yagyu drawled, "Is that so? Then work hard. Your talent is excellent; I believe you can master all seven swords of the Mist."
Mangetsu was stunned, then smiled broadly. "That is my wish as well!"
Just then, Ao's voice suddenly rang out.
"I sense a massive amount of chakra ahead. It seems many ships are heading our way."
Yagyu used his Observation Haki to sense the surroundings, a smile appearing on his face. He whispered,
"Don't worry, it's just a bunch of pirates."
The Naruto world didn't just have ninjas; samurai, pirates, and bandits existed as well.
Moments later, a fleet of pirate ships appeared opposite Yagyu's vessel.
These pirate ships were equipped with large ballistae, and the bolts were strapped with exploding tags.
Once the exploding tags were ignited, the large ballistae fired violently, launching bolts carrying immense kinetic energy toward Yagyu's ship.
"Kinetic damage from the bolts, followed by a secondary explosion from the tags!"
"Pirates with ninja characteristics... ooh, scary!"
Yagyu muttered carelessly. Golden light blossomed at his fingertip, forming a cross-shaped glint that began to rotate.
Flash!
A thick golden laser swept out horizontally, detonating the incoming bolts in mid-air.
"You guys, go kill all the pirates across the way for me!"
Yagyu waved his hand, ordering his disciples and subordinates to take action.
As ninjas, training alone wasn't enough; they had to grow through slaughter.
"The battle I've been waiting for!"
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Zabuza's eyes. He drew an iron sword and charged toward the enemy.
Not wanting to be outdone, Kisame and the others drew their blades and charged at the pirate ships.
Yagura ran across the water, forming hand seals as he moved.
Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
A massive water dragon rose from the sea. Due to the advantageous terrain, the power of Yagura's Water Style was amplified.
The giant water dragon smashed into a pirate ship upon impact, its power unstoppable.
"Water Style, huh?"
Mangetsu glanced at Yagura. His pride as a clan ninja wouldn't allow him to sit back while Yagura stole the spotlight. He immediately used the Hozuki clan's Hydrification Technique.
The Hozuki clan's secret technique allowed them to turn their bodies into water, but it also allowed them to manipulate surrounding water for combat.
In the original story, Hozuki Suigetsu used lake water to form a water monster to contend with Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and even tanked a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Under Mangetsu's manipulation, the sea surged, and the endless seawater condensed into a massive, ferocious water monster.
The water monster opened its giant maw and swallowed a pirate ship whole, submerging the entire vessel within the seawater inside its body.
Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!
Terumi Mei exhaled strong acid. Overwhelming acidic rain fell like a downpour, causing the pirates to cry out for their parents as they scrambled to dodge the corrosive attack.
Ice Release: Ice Senbon!
Minazuki Ao released ice needles, bombarding the pirates with a dense rain of sharp projectiles.
"So many powerful ninjutsu..."
Kisame and Zabuza were filled with envy. Currently, they were still at the level of swinging swords.
However, both were exceptionally talented individuals, so learning ninjutsu wouldn't be difficult.
Yagyu had already prepared a "Silent Killing Set" and a "Water Style Set" for them. He would teach them once they finished their basic skills training.
Zabuza would follow the path of the Silent Killing assassin just like in the original story, while Kisame would become a turret for firing Water Style ninjutsu.
"Ninjas?"
"Damn it, why are there ninjas?"
"So many powerful ninjas... what exactly are they escorting?"
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!"
The captain commanding the pirate fleet turned pale with fright upon seeing the performance of Kisame and the others. He ordered a retreat without hesitation.
If nothing else, those two ninjas skilled in Water Style were enough to give them hell.
This was the ninja world, after all. Fighting Water Style ninjas on the open sea was an incredibly stupid thing to do.
"Trying to escape? It won't be that easy."
"If I let you run away, how can I live up to my Justice Cloak?"
" wearing this outfit, I am a Marine Admiral!"
Yagyu looked at his attire, muttered to himself, and shot into the sky.
He transformed into light particles, reassembling his body in mid-air, and unleashed a barrage of light bullets.
Yasakani no Magatama!
Dense light bullets bombarded the area, turning all the pirate ships into scrap metal and reducing them to floating wreckage on the sea surface.
The pirates jumped ship in panic to escape, only to be met by Kisame and the others running on the water.
"It's over!"
Yagyu landed and spoke slowly.
[Ding! Achievement Unlocked—Eliminating Pirates! Template Character—Kizaru! Unlock Progress 47%!]
The system notification rang out, lifting Yagyu's spirits.
Comparing it to his previous unlock progress, suppressing the Kaguya clan hadn't yielded as much progress as eliminating pirates.
"Is it because Kizaru is a Marine?"
Yagyu muttered inwardly. After thinking about it, that seemed to be the only reason.
However, since the achievement for eliminating pirates was unlocked, continuing to kill pirates wouldn't have the same effect.
"In the name of Justice, confiscate all their treasures!"
After lamenting for a moment, Yagyu suddenly remembered something and shouted to Kisame and the others.