"Water Clone?"
Juzo Biwa's face turned pale.
A simple water clone was actually able to use Wind Release techniques. Such mastery of ninjutsu was beyond his understanding. If the one before him was a water clone, where was the real Sarutobi Hiruzen? His eyes started darting around as he quickly pondered the situation.
At that moment, a torrent of water rushed down, clearing the mist that filled the narrow space. Kakashi and Sarutobi Asuma, who had been fighting, were forced to stop. Kakashi quickly used an Earth Release jutsu to sink underground, easily avoiding the raging flood.
Asuma, however, wasn't so lucky. Specializing in Wind and Fire Release, he didn't have the ability to burrow underground. He had no choice but to leap onto the rock ceiling, fleeing from the water as it chased after him. Once the water dispersed into the corridors, reducing its strength, he began running back the way he came.
"Kirigakure... The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"
Kakashi peeked his head out from the rocky wall, suspiciously eyeing Juzo Biwa, who was wielding the executioner's blade. He had overheard the conversation between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Juzo earlier, but honestly, he didn't really believe Juzo's claims of working with the Uchiha.
If the Uchiha were that dumb, they would've been wiped out long ago!
But still, he couldn't help but wonder why Juzo was here. Why try to assassinate Hiruzen instead of targeting the current acting Fifth Hokage? It didn't make sense.
Of course, it didn't need to make sense to him. He had no intention of dwelling on it. He reminded himself why he was here. His mission was revenge, to kill Hiruzen and honor his father's memory. It was also to release the frustration that had been festering in his chest.
"Fine! Let this guy keep testing the waters!"
Revenge was his own mission. He didn't want to rely on anyone else, much less work with someone from Kirigakure.
Just then...
The sword light flashed again.
"Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
From the flood below and the walls on both sides, three Sarutobi Hiruzens leapt out, each wielding a wind-infused sword, attacking Juzo from three directions—left, right, and above. This was one of the secret techniques of Konoha's swordsmanship, a deadly move where the user and two clones strike the enemy's vital points simultaneously.
It was an incredibly dangerous technique, especially in such a confined space with little room to maneuver.
"If it's a sword fight, I'm not afraid of anyone!"
Juzo was from Kirigakure.
In that bloodthirsty village, he was among the elite, having climbed to the top of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen by leaving countless corpses in his wake. Although Sarutobi Hiruzen's power made cold sweat drip down his back, the sense of danger only fueled the killing intent swelling within him.
Worst case scenario, he dies! There was nothing to fear!
Having made up his mind in an instant, Juzo swung his executioner's blade and, with a body-flicker technique, slashed at the Hiruzen on the right. His powerful strike cleaved through the water clone, but the real Hiruzen, in the middle, took the opportunity to leave a deep, bone-exposing wound across Juzo's back.
Blood sprayed like a fountain.
Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon was not so easily countered, especially when executed by Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as "The Ninjutsu Master."
But it wasn't over yet.
"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears!"
Just as Juzo landed on the wall, a premeditated attack struck him. Rock spears shot up from the ground, piercing through Juzo's foot and skewering his calf. Blood and flesh were ripped apart by the jagged rocks, and the air was instantly filled with the stench of blood.
This brilliant attack decided the outcome of the battle in an instant.
Both water clones disintegrated into puddles.
It turned out that the entire Dance of the Crescent Moon had been executed by water clones. The real Sarutobi Hiruzen had been hiding underground the entire time. Now that the fight was settled, he slowly emerged, holding his wind sword, standing on the rippling water, maintaining a safe distance from Juzo, who had lost the use of his legs.
"The fight is over."
Hiruzen stared at Juzo. "Tell me, who sent you to kill me? Answer truthfully, and I'll make your death quick!" He didn't truly believe in any conspiracy between the Uchiha and Kirigakure. As a seasoned politician, he suspected Juzo's earlier claim was just an attempt to sow discord within the village.
What he really wanted to know was the identity of the mastermind. Not knowing who wanted him dead would leave him constantly on edge.
As he spoke, Hiruzen subtly cast a genjutsu.
But—
When his genjutsu took hold of Juzo, an unexpected reaction occurred.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Juzo let out a heart-wrenching scream! Blood gushed from his eyes, which turned from black to a glaring crimson, forming a strange, six-pointed pattern like a windmill. Hiruzen froze in confusion for a split second, then felt a chilling cold run through his body.
Uchiha!
It really was the Uchiha!
"Uchi—"
All of Hiruzen's words, anger, and frustration were crushed under the overwhelming power of the Uchiha's eye technique, pulling him into an inescapable illusion. At the same time, Juzo's right eye ruptured completely, like a rotten grape, mixing with blood as it fell.
In the final moment before being pulled into the illusion, Hiruzen threw his wind sword with all his might, piercing Juzo's abdomen.
"Urgh—"
Juzo coughed up blood.
With his right eye gone, both legs crippled, and his abdomen pierced, his consciousness began to fade. His mind, now foggy, tried to recall why he was fighting Hiruzen. Ah, that's right... He had to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen. Only by doing so could his village win the coming war against Konoha!
He had to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen. He had to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen...
The obsession planted deep in his mind kept him standing.
Juzo squeezed out the last of his strength, ignoring the pain all over his body, and with a final effort, he leaped, swinging the heavy executioner's blade down toward Hiruzen's neck!
This time, Hiruzen wouldn't be able to harden his body with Earth Release.
And so...
Blood splattered in the air.
Kakashi, arriving just moments too late, stood frozen, staring at the scene before him, unable to say a word.
(End of Chapter)