Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

"You three, find a chance to leave later. I'll hold them off."

"Report to Hokage-sama as soon as we get back!"

Uchiha Fugaku drew a kunai from his pouch, gripping it tightly, and spoke to the three people behind him with a heavy expression. Their opponents were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and seeing the seven gathered together, Fugaku didn't have confidence in victory. Speaking as though leaving his last instructions, he said to the children behind him:

"Senior Fugaku, how could we leave you behind?!" Might Guy grabbed the back of Fugaku's armor and exclaimed anxiously.

However, Shiranui Genma quickly calmed down. Slapping Guy's hand away, he said in a deep voice, "Without us, Senior Fugaku might survive. For now, our priority is to leave quickly without burdening him. That's true team spirit!"

"How can we do that? The opponents are all Jōnin, seven of them, and they're the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Even Senior Fugaku can't defeat them alone!"

"Leave Captain behind?!"

"I'll never do such a thing!"

Might Guy clenched his fists and lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Oh! My blade's getting rusty!"

"I'll have to let it drink some blood, add some iron, and upgrade it again!"

At that moment, Kubikiribōchō wielder Jūzō Biwa readied his weapon, slinging it across his back with a smirk before moving to attack. Seeing this, Fugaku growled, "Go!"

He then quickly began weaving hand seals.

"Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!"

In the next instant, a massive fireball shot from Fugaku's mouth, engulfing the seven in front of him. The intense flames raised the temperature dramatically, blocking the enemy's vision.

"Here's our chance!" Shiranui Genma, seeing the opening, grabbed Guy's hand and tried to pull him away. But despite pulling with all his might, Guy wouldn't budge.

"Guy?!" Shiranui Genma turned to look at him. Gritting his teeth, he hesitated briefly but ultimately refused to leave Guy behind.

Meanwhile, Ebisu stood up, trembling, attempting to maintain his composure. Despite his fear, he also showed no intention of leaving.

"You all?!" Fugaku glanced at them from the corner of his eye, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. But then, sensing something, he turned quickly toward the aftermath of his fire attack.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Hiding in Mist Technique!"

Not far away, Jūzō Biwa countered Fugaku's flames with an overwhelming surge of water. The mist thickened as the long-blade wielder Kuriarare Kushimaru cast the Hiding in Mist Technique, blanketing the battlefield in dense fog and reducing visibility to mere meters.

"What's this? Silent Killing of the Mist?" Fugaku took a step back, assessing the situation. The three behind him formed a defensive circle, standing back-to-back, readying themselves for any attacks.

"This is bad."

Fugaku's tone was calm, but his knitted brows betrayed his concern. The mist was infused with chakra strong enough to obscure the Sharingan, reducing its range to only four or five meters.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, Fugaku reacted, deflecting a thin weapon with his kunai. But in the next moment, a scream erupted from behind.

"Ahhhh!"

Ebisu clutched his thigh, blood pouring from a deep wound. The attack had come without warning, piercing through the mist. The crimson stain on the ground marked him as a target.

"This can't go on!"

As Fugaku prepared a wide-range jutsu to dispel the mist, a roar erupted near him. A massive blade, cloaked in wind, came crashing down toward his neck.

"Damn it!" Fugaku barely managed to block with his kunai, but the sheer force of the blow from the Kubikiribōchō sent him flying.

"Captain Fugaku?!"

The three shouted in alarm, only for another burst of killing intent to send chills down their spines.

"Die!"

A blade covered in explosive tags streaked toward Shiranui Genma. As the explosion loomed, a green blur dashed past Fugaku.

"That's...?" Fugaku's eyes widened in surprise. Where the three had stood moments before, only a crater remained as a massive explosion ripped through the area.

"Boom!"

The shockwave dispelled part of the mist, revealing Fugaku's fierce resolve. Forming hand seals quickly, he unleashed another jutsu.

"Fire Style: Storm Dance!"

A vortex of spiraling flames erupted, sweeping away the remaining mist and igniting the nearby trees into a raging inferno.

"Duy, why are you here?" Fugaku asked as he rushed toward the clearing he had just created. Behind him, Might Duy, cloaked in vibrant green chakra, had set down the three children.

"Finally caught up," Duy said, exhaling sharply. "Fugaku, forget the distractions. Focus on the fight."

"You three, leave immediately!"

Duy's sudden arrival had saved Genma and the others from certain death. Placing the children down, he turned to his son.

"Dad?! Why are you here?" Guy asked, his voice filled with both surprise and worry.

"Stop talking and run! Fugaku and I will hold them off!"

Shiranui Genma and Ebisu exchanged silent glances before nodding grimly.

"Father, you want us to escape? But they're all high-ranking ninja! You and Senior Fugaku—"

"Enough!" Duy interrupted. "Don't forget, I still have the Eighth Gate."

"But...!" Guy faltered, his voice breaking.

"Guy, these are my rules!"

Duy flashed a thumbs-up and a brilliant smile. Before Guy could respond, Fugaku spoke firmly.

"Go. We're strong."

"Even against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, we won't lose!"

Forming seals, Fugaku unleashed another attack. "Fire Style: Flame Dragon Song!"

Dozens of dragon-shaped fireballs lit up the sky, crashing toward the mist. Behind him, Genma and Ebisu finally managed to pull Guy away.

With the children gone, Duy sighed in relief. Clenching his fists, he bent forward, roaring:

"Eight Gates: The Sixth Gate of View, Open!"

(End of Chapter)