The outer seas of the Land of Whirlpools were now within the scope of Konoha's surveillance and reconnaissance network.
The scouts under Orochimaru, including several Hyuga members, had truly encircled this small island from the perimeter. Any attempt to leave would inevitably alert them. To be more precise, the Hyuga shinobi were the most diligent; after all, this was a matter of supreme importance to their clan.
Through the wind and snow, two blurry silhouettes could be seen moving. These two were, naturally, Kakashi and Hagoromo.
Being on a mission with Hagoromo had its pros and cons. Setting the pros aside for now, Kakashi was currently experiencing the cons. Hagoromo was humming a song—the kind of humming that, in this wind, wouldn't travel far; only Kakashi's left ear could hear it, while his right ear was mercifully spared.
In this environment, the melody sounded quite eerie. Kakashi noted that he had never heard such a song before. Of course he hadn't; Hagoromo was humming a nursery rhyme that felt oddly fitting for the situation:
"Looking, looking, looking for a friend..." "Found a good friend..."
...In short, they were indeed looking for someone.
From this perspective, Hagoromo wasn't particularly tense. To him, this was just a specialized mission. And then, these two "god-tier" individuals actually found their "good friend."
Their feet tapped across the water's surface, creating concentric ripples as they moved from the outer sea toward the inner island. Suddenly, Kakashi came to a halt, signaling Hagoromo to stop with a wave of his hand.
A tall figure had appeared in his line of sight. In this heavy snow, an ordinary person might have ignored such a blurred silhouette, but as shinobi, they could not overlook it. When Kakashi spotted the figure, Hagoromo noticed it as well.
The figure was walking straight toward them. Judging by the build, the person was a giant of a man. As the person came into clearer focus, they confirmed it: he was indeed a brute.
Kakashi's expression had already become focused. He was a young shinobi who placed the mission above life itself—a boy who attempted to sever everything that hindered his efficiency, even if it meant closing himself off emotionally.
The weather showed no signs of improvement, yet as if reacting to this encounter, the wind and snow weakened significantly, making the enemy's appearance crystal clear.
He wore a Kirigakure forehead protector. A massive scar ran across his right cheek. He had short black hair, no eyebrows, and a mouth full of sharp, jagged teeth. He clearly enjoyed "performance art," as he wore no shirt in the dead of winter, instead wrapping bandages around his torso... and then there was the massive blade he carried: the Executioner's Blade (Kubikiribōchō).
Kakashi pulled an intel manual from his pouch, his eyes darting between the sketches and the man's face. After a quick comparison, he spoke with certainty:
"Identity confirmed. He is one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the wielder of the Executioner's Blade. Jonin, Jūzō Biwa!"
Is it really necessary to work that hard? Hagoromo thought, speechless. Can't you tell just by looking at that giant thing on his back?
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, huh..." Hagoromo sighed with a tone that was hard to decipher. His hands were still folded behind his head, seemingly with no intention of making a move just yet.
Jūzō Biwa stopped his advance, looking at the two young Konoha shinobi with a mocking glint in his eyes. One had his face covered, the other wore a mask; both seemed too "shy" to show their faces.
As the captain of the two-man cell, Hagoromo spoke first:
"Per tradition, we need to exchange some nonsense before the fight."
"We are fully aware of your criminal acts. Killing aside, gouging out eyeballs is definitely a crime against humanity..."
"Therefore..."
"First: Do you have the Byakugan with you? If so, please return it to us."
"Second: If you don't have it, please tell us which of your partners has it and their exact location."
Kakashi glanced sideways. What kind of ridiculous script is this?
What Hagoromo said was pure nonsense; it didn't matter what tone or words he used, the enemy would never respond. There was no such thing as a "free lunch." Did he really expect Jūzō Biwa to answer like he was reporting to the authorities?
"Heh, brats. Do you even know who I am?" Jūzō Biwa was clearly displeased with Hagoromo's tone. He swung his great blade, pointing it directly at Hagoromo's chest.
Hagoromo glanced at Kakashi, his eyes saying: See? Told you we couldn't talk it out.
Kakashi didn't even acknowledge him. Did the man have the Byakugan? They would find out once they defeated him.
Hagoromo had no intention of continuing the conversation. The progression of such an encounter was predestined—life or death. There was no need for further words.
Jūzō Biwa swung the Executioner's Blade in a nearly perfect circle, the resulting air pressure leaving a ring-shaped mark on the water's surface. He then dragged the blade to one side. With a sudden burst of chakra from his feet, he charged straight at the two of them!
He clearly looked down on them. Arrogance? Arrogant shinobi don't live long.
Hagoromo's hands naturally dropped from behind his head. His eyes sparkled with an unusual light as he stared at the charging Jūzō.
Carrying a big sword and thinking you're Ichigo Kurosaki? You don't get to be arrogant if you can't use Getsuga Tenshō.
I don't care if you're the 'Seven' Swordsmen or 'Eight'—we'll talk after the beating!
Without needing Hagoromo's command, Kakashi had already made his move. His seal-weaving speed was incredible, and almost simultaneously, lightning crackled across both of them.
Kakashi's Raikiri glowed brilliantly in his hand, while Hagoromo's Chidori Nagashi was an area-of-effect technique spreading across his entire body.
Jūzō Biwa's pupils constricted. He could recognize the intensity and danger of those Lightning Style jutsu. These brats weren't amateurs! He might have a cocky attitude, but did they really think he'd be careless in a fight?
Jūzō didn't retreat; instead, his movement speed surged even further!
But when it came to speed, Hagoromo and Kakashi were as slick as they came. Kakashi led the way with Raikiri, with Hagoromo following closely behind to provide support.
Lightning streaked across the water like a meteor flashing through the night sky. In this environment, it possessed a sharp, cold beauty. If viewed from above, Kakashi's lightning-clad figure was reflected on the water, the electricity tracing the ripples left by his feet—looking like a charged marlin swimming at high speeds just beneath the surface!
Though all three shinobi were moving at high speeds, compared to the vastness of the ocean, it felt almost like a still-life painting.
What do you call this?
Is my Kakashi as beautiful as a picture?