In Naruto with the Flame-Flame Fruit

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had caused heavy casualties on the front lines. After their surprise attack on the Fire Country's border, they vanished without a trace—only to reappear now, bringing yet another round of destruction to Konoha's forces.

Kiyosuke's team was dispatched not only to confront them, but also to provide much-needed support.

During this time, that infamous group had killed quite a number of Konoha shinobi.

...

Dawn had just broken. In a forest thick with mist, three figures were sprinting at full speed, not daring to stop for even a second.

If one looked closely, they'd recognize the bowl-cut youth among them—Guy.

Their jōnin squad leader had already been killed. His final order: run!

The camp they'd been stationed at was practically annihilated. Those who hadn't died had fled. After all, their enemy was none other than Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

This elite unit was composed of seven jōnin, each a master of a unique sword. Though their numbers were small, their coordinated attacks made them more deadly than entire squads. Even veteran jōnin struggled to survive against them.

Guy's teacher had been slaughtered on the spot. Many others had fallen soon after. With no choice, the survivors abandoned the camp and scattered.

"Damn it! They're still following us!" Guy growled, glancing over his shoulder at the distant but steady shadows tailing them.

His teammate, Genma Shiranui, gritted his teeth. "They're treating us like toys."

It was like a cat playing with mice. A cat never kills the mouse right away—it toys with it first, lets it struggle, and only finishes it off once it's bored.

That's exactly what they were—cornered mice.

And the predators behind them?

It stung, but... that was the reality of their strength.

"I don't want to run anymore!" Guy shouted.

"We have to! Keep going—faster! Head toward the main camp. Maybe we'll run into other Konoha shinobi!"

Genma's voice was firm, the only thing keeping their panic in check.

All they could do now was hope for reinforcements.

But just as they turned a corner—they hit a dead end.

Behind them, seven men stood calmly atop rocks and tree branches, swords strapped to their backs, each wearing a cruel smile.

"Run. Why'd you stop?" came a mocking voice.

It was Jinpachi Munashi, the wielder of the explosive sword—Kabutowari. He grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.

"Let me skewer all of you together," said Kushimaru Kuriarare, master of the long needle blade Nuibari. Tall and lanky, he wore a Kirigakure Anbu mask and spoke in a flat, casual tone, as if he were talking about dinner plans.

"They should be sliced clean in half by my executioner's blade," Jūzō Biwa muttered, his voice low.

"Do what you want," rumbled the massive Fuguki Suikazan. "Their chakra will be good food for my Samehada."

With his two-and-a-half-meter frame, shark-like teeth, and the monstrous sword slung over his back, Fuguki's mere presence was suffocating.

They spoke casually, treating the three as if they weren't even there.

Suddenly, a green blur shot out from the forest behind them, positioning itself in front of Guy.

"Made it in time!" the man said.

Guy's eyes widened in disbelief. "Dad?! You're just a genin—what are you doing here?!"

"No time for that! You three, run! I'll buy you time!"

"They're all jōnin! And not just any jōnin—the Seven Ninja Swordsmen! You can't take them alone!"

Might Duy gave his son a thumbs-up.

"I have the Eight Gates. Don't worry about me!"

"But—!"

"You don't need to fight to the death. Reinforcements are here!"

A clear voice rang out.

A moment later, a massive black cloud came sweeping over them—an overwhelming swarm of insects. The buzzing filled the forest as the cloud shifted, neatly avoiding Guy and the others as it surged toward the Swordsmen.

"What?!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were momentarily stunned, though not panicked. Jinpachi Munashi raised his Kabutowari, activating the explosive tags along its blade. Each swing triggered an explosion, scattering and destroying the bugs in his path.

Not every swordsman had an area-of-effect weapon, however. Jūzō set aside his Executioner's Blade, formed hand seals, and unleashed a Water Release jutsu to wash away the attacking insects.

The swarm split apart—and standing in the middle of the chaos were three new figures.

"Huh?! Kiyosuke?! What are you doing here?!" Guy shouted in surprise.

"Yo! Long time no see, Guy, Genma, Ebisu. We're your backup," Kiyosuke said with a casual wave.

Torifu glanced at Duy in surprise.

"The Eight Gates? Not many in Konoha practice that technique. You're the only one I've seen who's mastered it to this degree."

As a disciple of the Second Hokage, he was naturally familiar with such forbidden techniques. Though others in Konoha had trained in it, none had reached the same level of mastery as the man standing before him.

"I'm nothing special," Duy said, scratching his head shyly. "I've got no talent for ninjutsu—just a bit of taijutsu."

"And you are...?"

"Duy-san," Kiyosuke said, stepping in, "this is Akimichi Torifu, head of the Akimichi clan. He's here as part of our reinforcements."

A glance at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen made it clear: if they'd arrived even a moment later, the Swordsmen might've been celebrating their victory by now.

"Thanks for coming," Duy said, visibly relieved.

With reinforcements here, he wouldn't have to open the Gate of Death.

Living... was always better than dying, wasn't it?

"Think nothing of it."

Torifu patted his belly, eyes narrowing slightly as he opened his small eyes and scanned the Swordsmen.

"They won't be easy to handle."

"I'll take the lead," said Kiyosuke, stepping forward. He was, after all, the main attacker of their squad.

"Be careful. Shibi and I will provide backup and cover."

Kiyosuke nodded, tightening his grip on the iron staff in his hand.

"Got it. Shadow Clone Jutsu—Multiple!"

A dozen flaming clones appeared in an instant.

"Go!"

With his clones at his side, Kiyosuke charged forward.

"You arrogant brat!"

The first to move was the wielder of the Lightning Blades: Kiba—Raiga Kurosuki.

Electricity crackled along the serrated twin blades in his hands. Kiyosuke snorted and sent three clones racing toward him.

"Cheap tricks!"

Raiga didn't hesitate. With a vicious arc of his blades, he slashed toward two clones—

—only for them to explode in a burst of flames before he even made contact.

The blast hurled him backward. Blood sprayed from his mouth.

He'd reacted just in time—any slower, and he would've been dead.

"Be careful. Those clones explode," Jūzō warned as he finished forming hand seals.

From the lingering puddles left by his previous jutsu, the water condensed and took shape.

Water Clones!

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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