Born To Rise In Konoha
Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Chapter 126

"This is the border. That side is the Land of Fire... and over there lies the Land of Bears."

Saitama stood at the front of a formation of Konoha shinobi. Tension crackled in the air. On the other side, a contingent of Hidden Mist (Kirigakure) ninjas—Silent and watchful—faced them with killing intent.

Tsunade wasn’t present for this battle. The command was held by Uchiha Amama and Hyuga Shin. Despite the traditional rivalry between their clans, the two commanders stood united in the face of war.

"Kitada! Why are you still hiding back there? Scared of getting crushed by Konoha?"

Uchiha Tenaki’s voice boomed across the battlefield.

The forward commander of the Hidden Mist forces, Kitada Jiro, remained where he was. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, had not yet arrived.

This time, four of the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had been deployed to the battlefield. Among them were Kushimaru Kuriarare and Jinpachi Munashi, both of whom had previously suffered injuries at the hands of Saitama. The other two—Zabuza’s predecessor, Juzo Biwa, wielder of the Kubikiribōchō (Executioner’s Blade), and Kisame’s senior, the monstrous Samehada wielder—had only recently arrived, but had already inflicted heavy casualties on the Konoha side.

"Hmph!" A gruff voice rose from the Mist ranks as the soldiers parted. A burly, bald man in blue-white armor with a long beard stepped forward—it was Kitada Jiro, Mist’s field commander.

"That’s him? The brat they say electrocuted two of ours? The so-called ’Lightning Blade Messenger’?"

A deep voice growled. It was the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost—Kisame Hoshigaki’s predecessor. He carried a massive, bandage-wrapped blade on his back—Samehada, the chakra-devouring sword.

He had wild orange hair, sharp teeth, and bandages loosely wrapped around his neck. His eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he stared down Saitama.

"Don’t underestimate that kid," muttered Jinpachi Munashi, who had mostly recovered from his previous injuries. "Even you might not come out on top."

The Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost scoffed and patted Samehada with his right hand, unfazed. "Close combat? I fear no one."

Jinpachi snorted coldly, but said no more. He knew Samehada’s abilities, but also remembered the sting of underestimating Saitama.

"If we’re gonna fight, hurry it up. I don’t have time for speeches," growled Juzo Biwa. His eyes burned with killing intent as he glared at Kitada, unimpressed by his command.

"What do you say, Uchiha Tenaki? Should we just get started?"

Kitada seemed indifferent to Juzo’s tone—he was used to the Swordsmen’s arrogance.

"Hah! Let’s go!" Uchiha Tenaki grinned, raising his hand to signal Konoha’s troops.

Saitama tracked the intense chakra signature aimed at him. He smirked and brushed a hand over the handle of the chakra blade sheathed at his waist.

"Kill them!"

With a shout, the Mist troops surged forward. Their formation scattered into an aggressive charge.

"Engage!"

Uchiha Amama and Hyuga Shin gave the order, and the Konoha forces charged to meet them. In battles of this scale, strategy quickly gave way to raw strength and survival instinct.

"Tch," Saitama exhaled and sprinted straight for the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost. It was clear the enemy had marked him as a priority target.

In a flash, he became a streak of lightning across the battlefield—plunging into the Mist ranks like a thunderbolt.

CLANG!

Samehada blocked Saitama’s blade, devouring the lightning chakra instantly. Sparks fizzled out, consumed by the blade’s chakra-eating ability.

"They say you’re impressive, but this is all?"

The Watermelon Pufferfish Ghost sneered. He expected to see confusion or fear in Saitama’s expression—but saw none.

Saitama had already anticipated Samehada’s ability.

"Hmph!"

Saitama twisted his stance, dodging a counter-slash, then struck back with a precise jab aimed at the Mist swordsman’s midsection.

The enemy didn’t flinch—he raised Samehada again, letting the massive blade block the blow.

BOOM!

Saitama followed up with a chakra-enhanced kick, lightning crackling at his heel. The impact scorched the bandages on Samehada.

SKREE!

The sword let out a strange, beastly noise. Even Samehada flinched.

The Watermelon Pufferfish Ghost snarled, pressing his assault.

WHOOSH!

Saitama vanished in a flicker of lightning. He reappeared behind his foe in an instant—leaving a shallow gash across the enemy’s back.

But before he could finish, Samehada twisted unnaturally, slamming toward his chest.

THUD!

Saitama leapt back, skidding across the battlefield, gouging a trench in the dirt with his sandals.

"You’re dead!"

The Pufferfish Ghost snarled, blood trickling down his back. Though the wound wasn’t deep, his rage boiled over.

He began forming hand seals with terrifying speed.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

ROOOOAR!!

A massive dragon formed from spiraling torrents of water rushed toward Saitama, its serpentine body twisting with precision and fury.

Saitama narrowed his eyes and side-stepped—only partially evading. The dragon’s wide arc forced him to counter.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Despite elemental disadvantage, Saitama poured raw chakra into the technique. The fireball exploded from his lips, enormous and searing.

BOOM!

The two jutsu collided in midair. Steam exploded outward, cloaking the battlefield in thick fog.

The temperature spiked, then plummeted.

Mist covered the land like a suffocating curtain.

The surrounding shinobi instinctively gave the two duelists space—no one wanted to be caught in the crossfire.

FWUMP!

A silhouette emerged from the fog—the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost, completely unfazed by the steam. He lunged forward, eyes burning with ferocity.

"HAHA!"

He laughed—closing in once more.

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