The Land of Water was surrounded by seawater on all sides, its geography riddled with jagged peaks and mist-covered highlands. Due to its distance from the mainland and the ocean acting as a natural barrier, the country had historically remained isolated, rarely involving itself in ninja wars. Among the Five Great Nations, it had seen the least devastation from such conflicts.
Kirigakure Village lay deep within the mountains, perpetually shrouded in thick, eerie fog. The entire shinobi village was sealed off from the outside world, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate without being noticed.
And yet, for Obito—once Yamato Arata, now living in Uchiha Obito's body—there was no other way to reach the Land of Lightning except by passing directly through Kirigakure territory.
Three days had passed since Obito, Zetsu, and Mao Yue Xiyang entered the Land of Water. Despite the journey, they had encountered no Kirigakure shinobi thus far. Ninjas, after all, were a minority compared to civilians. But the closer they came to the hidden village, the higher the chances of confrontation.
In a soaked forest, the trio raced across a flooded marsh, their steps sending up splashes of water.
Obito glanced over at Mao Yue Xiyang, noting her labored breathing.
"If you're tired, we can rest," he offered.
"Don't underestimate me!" she snapped, gritting her teeth and surging ahead.
Suddenly—whoosh, whoosh!—a barrage of kunai flew at them from ahead.
"Huh?" Mao Yue Xiyang quickly drew her blade, striking down the incoming kunai with a sharp clang. But then she noticed something horrifying: one of the fallen kunai had a tag—a paper bomb.
"Oh no!" she gasped.
In the next instant, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her out of the danger zone.
Boom!
The explosion splattered water high into the air.
Still dazed, Mao Yue Xiyang found herself in Obito's arms.
"I told you not to show off," he said calmly.
She scowled, quickly breaking free and turning to face the foggy woods ahead.
A squad of Kirigakure shinobi emerged from the mist. Leading them was a man with sharp, triangular teeth, no eyebrows, and a cross-shaped scar over his right cheek. Bandages wrapped around his neck and ears, and his lower jaw was painted with red streaks. On his back he carried a massive, broken broadsword—the iconic Executioner's Blade.
"That outfit and that sword… he must be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Loquat Jūzō," Mao Yue Xiyang said gravely.
Though not well known to casual fans, Obito knew him well. Jūzō had wielded the Executioner's Blade before Zabuza Momochi and was the first of the Seven Swordsmen introduced in the original timeline. At this point in history, Jūzō hadn't yet defected from the Mist Village.
He was also one of the only three swordsmen to survive Might Dai's Eight Gates Formation.
"You're not from around here," Jūzō said coldly, stepping forward.
"Ugh, what rotten luck," Zetsu groaned sarcastically. "We run into a celebrity. I just wanted a peaceful stroll."
Jūzō's gaze shifted to Mao Yue Xiyang and the Konoha forehead protector she still wore.
"A Konoha rogue..." he muttered, unslinging his blade. "Speak! What are your intentions in the Land of Water? Tell the truth, and maybe I'll let you die with dignity—after I extract all your ninjutsu secrets. That's the Blood Mist way."
"Ooh, scary!" Zetsu said with mock horror.
Obito glanced back at Mao Yue Xiyang. "Go stand with Zetsu."
Though reluctant, she obeyed.
"Can he really handle this many Kirigakure shinobi on his own?" she muttered.
"Beats me," Zetsu replied. "But hey, ever wonder what it feels like to poop underwater?"
Mao Yue Xiyang rolled her eyes. Talking to Zetsu was like talking to a brick wall made of nonsense.
"You're not letting your teammates flee?" Jūzō asked Obito.
"No need," Obito replied calmly.
"You're right. Because you'll all be together… in your graves!" Jūzō formed a hand seal.
"Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Fog billowed out in all directions, blinding and disorienting. In such conditions, only Mist ninja could sense their enemies clearly.
Obito muttered, "This technique disrupts my vision, but any attack still makes sound..."
Suddenly, lightning chakra surged around his right hand—and he struck behind him with precision!
Crack! The strike pierced Jūzō—or so it seemed. The body exploded into water.
"A water clone..."
Gush!
Water surged around Obito's feet, rising rapidly to trap him in a spherical prison.
"Huh. So the clone was rigged to cast a Water Prison on destruction," Obito mused.
Whoosh!!
Jūzō dropped from the air, both hands gripping his massive blade, aiming to split Obito in half.
"You're finished!"
BOOM!!
The water prison burst apart as the Executioner's Blade slammed into the ground. But something felt wrong. Jūzō hadn't felt the impact of flesh and bone.
"What just happened?!" he gasped, trying to lift his weapon.
"Too late."
Obito was behind him, foot on the blade, right hand on Jūzō's shoulder.
"Game over," he said, his Sharingan spinning.
A vortex opened up, sucking Jūzō into the Kamui dimension.
In a single breath, the elite swordsman was gone.
The mist vanished. Kirigakure shinobi stood frozen in shock.
"Captain Jūzō... was killed instantly?!"
"What was that technique?!"
Obito bent down and retrieved the Executioner's Blade.
The Sharingan flared again. One by one, the positions of all surrounding enemies locked into his vision.
Whoosh!
Obito vanished.
Uchiha Style: Kenjutsu!
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
In a blur of steel, Kirigakure shinobi fell under the blade.
Mao Yue Xiyang could hardly believe her eyes.
A minute later, the ground was soaked in blood.
Obito stabbed the sword into the dirt and raised his head.
"Enough hiding. Come out."
Silence.
Then...
"Jūzō was a disgrace. Just like that sword of his."
A woman emerged from the west. She had long auburn braids, sharp teeth, and wore two electrified blades on her back. It was none other than Ringo Ameyuri, wielder of the Thunder Swords: Kiba.
"Konoha again, huh? Bad memories. But Uchiha aren't usually known for physical prowess..."
From the north, a large man waddled out. He had long orange hair, green facial markings, and carried the Samehada blade—wrapped in bandages.
Fuguki Suikazan, the first wielder of Samehada. Beside him stood a younger shinobi: Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Still," Fuguki said, "those eye powers are infamous. Jūzō's death wasn't in vain. He gave us useful intel."
From the south came a white-haired boy with sharp teeth and a scroll on his back. He didn't carry a sword, but Obito knew who he was.
Mangetsu Hōzuki, the Ghost of the Mist.
A prodigy of the Hōzuki clan, Mangetsu could summon all seven ninja swords. Three had no current wielder: the Blunt Sword Kabutowari, the Long Sword Nuibari, and the Explosive Sword Shibuki. Mangetsu carried them all in scrolls.
Together, these three—Ringo, Fuguki, and Mangetsu—represented the deadliest core of the Seven Swordsmen.
Obito raised his head, eyes cold.
"You watched in silence while your comrade died. Typical... of the Blood Mist."
He reached for his blade again.
"Now that everyone's here... shall we begin?"