In the forest ahead, Uchiha Mikoto was holding one student, and Haruno Teru held two others. All three were the last remaining students from their class, completely unconscious.
Close behind were Maki, Buki Kaisen, and Ebisu Sangeng. The trio raced through the forest at high speed.
Suddenly, everyone stopped in their tracks.
Ahead stood seven individuals—fat, thin, tall, and short—with unusual appearances and weapons in hand. They blocked the group's path.
The Mist Ninja pursuing from behind landed and spoke to these unfamiliar figures, "Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Lords, these are Konoha shinobi who infiltrated our village. It seems they're searching for something."
"Excellent. So we've caught them. And what's this? A female Konoha ninja? Our favorite kind!"
"Hey, this time I get to try first, right?"
"Bullshit! I've been waiting for this longer than you!"
The leading chunin instructor, Haruno Akira, turned pale. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?!"
These seven were the elite of the Mist—each one a top-tier jonin wielding a unique, blood-soaked weapon. Their names were Zabuza Momochi, Jinin Akebino, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Jinpachi Munashi, Ameyuri Ringo, Fuguki Suikazan, and Mangetsu Hozuki.
Seven terrifying figures stood in their path.
Uchiha Mikoto also turned pale. The way these monstrous men stared at her made her feel like prey.
"How can this be? Weren't the Seven Swordsmen captured already?"
"I don't know," Haruno Akira replied in a low voice. "Something must've gone wrong."
"Wrong? If this is a mistake, we're all going to die here!"
Suddenly, Mikoto remembered something: the charm Takayama Haru had given her before departing, telling her to carry it at all times.
She reached into her pocket and pulled it out.
Meanwhile, the newly graduated Maki, Buki Kaisen, and Ebisu were trembling with fear.
"Oh no… we're surrounded."
"There's no way out of this."
The tall, thin man in the front let out a raspy laugh through his mask. "Wow, we're really that famous? Even Konoha kids know us?"
"Your blood might be scarce, but this blade's rusty. It needs iron. It needs blood."
Uchiha Mikoto gritted her teeth and stepped protectively in front of the three students.
"What do we do? It's just us. We're no match for them."
"Haru-kun… where are you…"
At that moment—a figure appeared!
Mikoto's heart leapt. Could it be… Haru coming to save her?
She turned around with hopeful eyes—then froze in confusion.
"Ah! Finally caught up!"
A strange man dressed in green, with a bizarre black hairstyle and glowing green energy around him, appeared before them.
One of the students, Guy, suddenly shouted, "Dad?! What are you doing here?!"
His father? Everyone turned to the corner of the forest, stunned.
It was Might Duy—Might Guy's father, a previously overlooked ninja.
Duy spoke in a deep voice: "No time to explain. Run! I'll buy you time."
Guy cried out, "Dad, you can't! They're jonin! It's the Seven Swordsmen! You can't fight them alone!"
"Run, Guy. Don't forget—I still have the Eight Inner Gates!"
Guy stood frozen for a second. "But… that means…"
Duy turned around, smiled at his son, and gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the essence of restraint. Now is the time to risk everything to protect what matters most."
In Guy's mind echoed his father's words: "True victory isn't defeating the strong—it's protecting what matters most."
On the opposite side, the Swordsmen burst out laughing.
"This is hilarious! A lone Konoha ninja? What a joke!"
"That hairstyle? We haven't seen that in decades."
"Looks like a taijutsu user. Go ahead, hit me with your best punch!"
Duy's eyes locked coldly onto the Swordsmen. One taunted, "A punch from you? That'll kill me, huh?"
Laughter erupted. "He thinks he can kill me with one hit? Come on, guys, he's hilarious!"
But Duy turned to Mikoto and the others and waved them off.
Then, the skies, which had been clear, suddenly darkened with a light drizzle.
Duy's entire body turned red-hot, as though burning iron. His skin sizzled and glowed.
Only then did they realize—it wasn't the rain. It was the intense heat emanating from Duy's body that evaporated the moisture around them, forming a fine mist of steam.
"Open—the Eight Inner Gates Formation!"
Duy roared. A massive wave of energy exploded from him.
"Eighth Gate of Death—OPEN!"
The eight gates—Gate of Opening, Rest, Life, Pain, Limit, View, Wonder, and Death—could unlock immense chakra flow in the body, granting immense strength.
With all eight open, one could exceed the power of the Five Kage… but at the cost of their life.
Boom!
The ground quaked. For a moment, time stood still.
"Jinpachi, RETREAT!" bellowed Fuguki.
"What?!" Jinpachi gasped.
But it was too late.
The blazing red Duy appeared before Jinpachi in an instant and punched.
No one could see what happened—only a red flash.
CRACK!
A heavy, dull thud.
Jinpachi's eyes widened—then his body exploded into a shower of blood and flesh.
Everyone froze.
What… just happened?
One man, alone, had destroyed one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in a single blow?
Might Guy silently shed tears. His father had been right. The Eight Inner Gates truly could kill instantly.
The Seven were now Six.
The remaining six immediately retreated, terror in their eyes. To them, Duy now resembled a demon straight from hell.
Suddenly, a scream came from the woods. "Fuguki-sama! Help!"
Kisame Hoshigaki had just emerged—only to see the red, steaming Duy glaring at him.
"Who… are you?!"
Before he could react, Kisame was sent flying, crashing through countless trees before vanishing from sight.
Takayama Haru and Rin had just arrived in time to see Duy attack.
A man in green, with that strange black hair, shrouded in red steam—skin glowing like fire—looked more beast than man.
Haru's eyes widened.
Guy?
No—Guy's father! Might Duy! The man who destroyed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
Haru couldn't believe he was witnessing this moment firsthand.
Might Duy, opening the Eight Gates and kicking Kisame to death… was this the moment that altered the very course of Hidden Leaf's future?
Without Kisame, the Akatsuki wouldn't be whole. The ripple effect on future events… even Haru couldn't imagine.
[Ding! Based on current circumstances, here are three choices!]
Option 1: Join Duy and kill the remaining Swordsmen as quickly as possible.
Reward: A-Rank Ninjutsu – Eight Inner Gates Formation + A-Rank Taijutsu – Morning Peacock!
Option 2: Remain a bystander and witness the brightest flare of this era. Watch the Eight Gates open, then finish off the survivors.
Reward: A-Rank Ninjutsu – Eight Inner Gates Formation + A-Rank Taijutsu – Night Phoenix!
Option 3: Prevent Duy from opening the final gate and retrieve all seven swords.
Reward: Might Duy Affection +100, Might Guy Collection +100, Uchiha Mikoto Affection +30!
Haru frowned. Something didn't feel right.
A fully opened Eight Gates user like Duy should be a threat on par with a demi-god, maybe even S-Class.
Why then was the Eight Gates Formation listed as only an A-Rank jutsu?
The three choices felt misleading.
Morning Peacock and Night Phoenix were specific taijutsu arts tied to the Eight Gates. And Duy was still alive—why not just learn them directly from him?
But if Duy died, then all his techniques and secrets would die with him.
Haru had a hunch—Duy wasn't just some humble side character. Anyone who could wield such power had to be more than he appeared.
As for Mikoto's +30 affection points? Haru didn't even care.