UCHIHA LIBERATOR (NARUTO X MALE UCHIHA OC)

Chapter 18

3RD POV

Kushina stepped forward without hesitation, her golden chains of chakra snaking out from her back, glowing ominously in the dim light. Her presence was as commanding as it was protective.

"To what do we owe the honor of having all seven swordsmen invade the Land of Fire?" she asked, her voice laced with biting sarcasm.

The swordsman who held Kubikiribōchō, the Executioner's Blade, stepped closer, his expression calm but deadly. He was a tall, slender man with no eyebrows and sharp, spiky grey hair. His tan skin bore a cross-shaped scar on his cheek, and his jaw was marked with a red grid-like tattoo. His eyes, dark and cold, studied the group like a predator sizing up its prey. His attire—sleek, dark, and practical—gave him an air of lethal efficiency.

"We weren't planning on stopping you," he began, his voice deep and measured. "We could've let you pass without a word... but your little sensor over there just had to notice us." He gestured toward Fuyumi with his sword, his smirk sending a chill through the group.

Ryuichi's fists clenched at his sides. He glanced at Fuyumi, whose face remained impassive, though her hands trembled slightly.

"And now?" Kushina asked, her voice calm but laced with menace. Her chains coiled and tensed behind her, ready to strike.

"Now," the swordsman continued, his smirk widening, "we've decided you're worth the trouble. After all, it's not every day we run into Konoha shinobi, let alone a squad escorting injured comrades. Makes for a nice bit of sport."

His words drew laughter from the others as they stepped forward, their infamous swords glinting ominously. Each carried their own aura of danger, their reputations preceding them.

Might Dai stepped forward slowly, his presence steady but resolute. The tension in the clearing was palpable as the group of Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist turned their attention toward him. The air seemed to hum with impending violence.

"Kushina-san," Dai said, his voice calm yet firm, "I will take down four of them. Do you think you can handle the remaining three?"

The swordsmen erupted in laughter at his words, their mocking tones cutting through the air like the blades they wielded. Among them, the wielder of Nuibari, the Sewing Needle Sword, sneered and spoke up.

"Take down four of us? You're out of your mind, old man. With your pitiful chakra levels, you'd be lucky to take down a single genin, let alone one of us."

Despite the taunts, Dai remained unshaken.

"Dad, stop!" Gai's voice cracked with desperation as he stepped forward, his hands trembling. His youthful eyes were wide with panic as he stared at his father's back. "You can't fight them! Please, don't do this!"

Dai turned slightly, offering his son a warm smile. "Gai," he said softly, his tone filled with love and pride, "watch closely. This is the ultimate technique of taijutsu. This is the fruit of twenty years of hard work, perseverance, and unwavering spirit."

Kushina's crimson hair swayed as she turned to face Dai. Her golden chains hovered protectively, ready to spring into action, but she could sense something unyielding in him. "Are you sure about this, Dai?" she asked, her voice steady yet tinged with concern.

"Yes, Kushina-san. I am confident," Dai replied. He turned back to Gai, his gaze lingering on his son's tear-streaked face. "Gai, you must never give up, no matter the odds. Remember this moment."

He straightened and looked back at Kushina one last time. "Take care of my son, will you?" he said, his voice low but filled with conviction.

Dai took a deep breath and shouted, his voice ringing through the clearing like thunder.