The moment their blades met again, Malenia understood him.
His strength was real. His control was refined. But his timing—
—Nah, he didn't come even close.
He came in with another heavy swing, confident in his reach.
Malenia didn't block.
She stepped inside it.
Her blade slid along his, guiding the massive sword past her shoulder as she turned her wrist sharply. Steel scraped. Sparks burst. The force he put into the strike worked against him.
Before he could recover, her knee struck his thigh.
His stance faltered for half a second.
That was enough.
Her sword snapped up and sliced his neck smoothly.
His head fell on the ground. Seeing his body without a head, he didn't feel remorse but grinned, thinking, 'Well, death was worth it.'
The mist dispersed.
His body, without a head, fell limply on the ground.
Malenia stood and said," It's a shame I didn't get your name."
She inwardly thought, "How much strength he lacked compared to seven swordsmen?
"Mist shinobi truly are interesting", she muttered, "if some random guy is this strong in this, how powerful will the seven swordsmen?"
Malenia then sealed his body and his sword in a scroll.
Then she went back to Uzushio...
Malenia returned to Uzushio before dusk.
The sea was quiet, the tide low. The outer patrol barrier parted for her without pause, recognizing her chakra instantly. She then reached the gate
There was dried blood on her blade.
She stopped at the wash basin near the guard post and cleaned it carefully. When the steel was clear again, she sheathed it and continued on.
The guards noticed.
But none stopped her.
She reported directly to her father.
The room was small, used for briefings and mission reports. Maps lay rolled against the wall. A single lantern burned between them.
"You're back early," her father said.
"Enemy encounter," Malenia replied. "One Mist shinobi."
Her father's expression didn't change. "Outcome?"
"He's dead."
Silence followed.
"What kind?"
She thought for a moment. "Kenjutsu specialist. Heavy blade with two handles. High control. Not a scout."
Her father nodded slowly, absorbing that. "Was he strong?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
"You're injured?"
She shook her head. "No."
Her father studied her face, searching for cracks. There were none.
Her father exhaled once. "You did your duty."
Malenia inclined her head slightly. Nothing more.
"Go, you are dismissed," he continued. "Tomorrow, you'll write a full report. Routes, timing, terrain."
"Yes."
As she turned to leave, he spoke again. "Malenia."
She stopped.
"I'm proud of you," he said
She nodded and left the room.
Malenia then reached her room and opened the scroll. She then poured chakra into it, and a big blade with two handles sat there in smoke.
she picked up the blade and said, "Hmm, this is not a normal blade. Should I keep it?" She tried to swing the blade and came to one conclusion: this blade isn't meant for her. She then put it back in the scroll and went to her bed for sleep.
A few days later
The report came in at dawn.
Fog still hung low over Kirigakure as a shinobi knelt in the audience chamber, head bowed.
"Report," the First Mizukage said.
"Shiguru," the shinobi began. "Bearer of the Twin Blades. we lost all contact with him."
The Mizukage's eyes lifted slightly. "How long?"
"Seven days," came the reply. "There has been no news about him since."
Silence followed.
Another shinobi stepped forward. "His last recorded movement placed him near the eastern sea lanes. Close to the Land of Whirlpool."
That drew attention.
The Mizukage folded his hands. "Uzumaki clan."
"Yes," the shinobi said. "He entered the area alone."
The Mizukage did not react immediately. He waited, letting the room settle.
"Search efforts?" he asked.
"Conducted," the shinobi answered. "No body recovered. No blade trace detected. The area shows signs of combat."
The Mizukage closed his eyes briefly.
Shiguru was not careless.And he was not weak.
After a moment, the Mizukage spoke again.
"Then we presume him dead."
No objection was raised.
"One of the Twin Blades is unaccounted for," an elder said quietly.
"That is the priority now," the Mizukage replied. "Not the man."
He looked back at the reporting shinobi. "Was there evidence of multiple enemies?"
"No," came the answer. "Only one opponent."
That caused a pause.
The Mizukage stood. "We can't attack them yet due to lord Hashirama, so we have to get back the blade peacefully."
No anger. No threat.
"If they have the sword," he continued, "we will offer compensation to get it back."
The meeting ended there.
In the Mist, Shiguru of the Twin Blades was marked missing.
And far away, in Uzushio, the one who had ended him still did not know even his name yet.
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