#New Seven Ninja Swordsmen

[woodblxssomcrowned]

No but this sword is her baby. 

She'll care for that sword before she cares for her own injuries. 

She have been gifted or offered other swords, new ones made especially for her, but she have either declined them, or they have ended up as decoration.

When Ashina Uzumaki gifted this sword to her when she was just five years old, he did tell her that it had a name Shinku no hana no ame - Crimson flower rain 

The samurai enjoyed giving names to their swords, to further add distinction to them as something alive and a part of their souls. Kaname doesn't talk about her sword with that name though, she thinks it's a bit much. During the era of warring states and the first few decades of the village era, chakra blades were incredibly rare to see in the hands of shinobi. The method of forging such blades had been created and largely safeguarded by the Samurai, and it was a craft that demanded immense skill and rare and expensive materials that few shinobi clans could get their hands on. (A few shinobi clans had by one way or another figured out the method, and were known to experiment with it in combination with ninjutsu to create blades with a far greater variety of characterizations. The samurai, who viewed ninjutsu as detrimental to the soul and a gross bastardization of chakra, were repulsed by these clans and their activities, seeing it as a unimaginable insult of their craft and philosophies, and they would be severely punished for it. This experimentation sometimes created truly deadly monstrosities few could wield, and other times it ended with disastrous results. The swords later posessed by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were swords created by such clans long before the group was formed. ) Few could commission such weapons, and having them was a mark of status. Not even all samurai had them or could commission them, and those who did have them had usually acquired them through inheritance or a battle trophy. In certain regions of the continent it was even illegal for anyone who was not noble or a samurai to be in possession of a chakra blade. When shinobi were able to obtain them, it was usually in the form of payment for a job (these blades were extremely valuable), or picked up from a corpse on the battlefield. When the samurai fell from grace after the founding of the hidden villages, chakra blades started appearing more frequently among shinobi, and with the knowledge how to forge them acquired, were often reforged into other types of weapons aside from the most commonly found katana. Kaname's sword had originally been made for a samurai, but had over time found its way into Ashina Uzumaki's extensive collection of swords and eventually gifted to her. The only thing that was changed for her was the tsuba - hand guard, which he had made to include imagery related to strength, nobility, tenacity and persistence against adversity.

Although she spent her life mastering kenjutsu, in my main verse, Kaname doesn't get much use of it, keeping it on display and carefully looks after it to make sure it stays clean and sharp and free of rust. But in my WS au, it is the only sword she uses, even if she often carries a second one into the field with her. Although she has no intention of letting go of it long enough to need a back-up, and she's more than lethal enough with just one blade. If you get to to touch it, it's probably because she's in a position where she can't stop you for one reason or another. It's her baby. A very deadly baby.

And they make for a very, very deadly pair.

[kaguyasconception]

Konoha Organisations

The Konoha shinobi society is organised into several units placed under the control of the Hokage. Each unit has Jōnin or Special (Tokubetsu) Jōnin in charge of it, and they report to the Hokage and his advisers.

The Hokage sits at the top of the society, discussing issues with their Advisors. The two official advisers of Hiruzen Sarutobi are Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, living through the previous wars together.

The Jōnin Commander supports the Hokage, aiding in directing the villages units and representing the regular forces.

Some groups and units known only the the Hokage and higher ranking individuals. ROOT was one of these secretive organisations, a sub-division of the ANBU initially shut down by the Sandaime, illegally operated until it was finally disbanded after Danzo Shimura’s death during the Godaime reign.

Operations Unit:

In other words, regular shinobi forces which are the backbone of the system. Teams or specific individuals handle the majority of the missions that the village receives, and are also tasked with other duties such as education, administration, etc. Most ninja are in this division, from genin, chūnin, special jōnin and jōnin.

Medical Corps:

The medical teams and medical-nin within this sector support the general shinobi forces through healing the sick and injured whether in village (coordinating with ordinary doctors) or on the battle field. They develop new techniques, study medicines, research diseases and further their anatomy understanding to advance their healing capabilities. They are divided into several groups by speciality, such as emergency staff or technical research. Some medical-nin are skilled enough to join regular forces and are called field medical-nin.

ANBU:

This division is under direct control of the Hokage, and only accept order from them. They are covert operatives who specialise in spying, assassination, and other difficult or risky missions. The Hokage selects them personally, regardless of age or gender, and they are meant to be the most elite of the forces. The individual units are composed according to the goal and difficulty of their missions.

Konoha Intelligence Division:

This organisation within the village is composed of many sub-divisions, such as the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force which is a special division headed by Ibiki Morino. Prior to the fourth shinobi war, they worked alongside the Analysis Team which was headed by Inoichi Yamanaka. Prisoners or the dead are kept here here to extract information from them for the benefit of Konoha.

- Chūbu appears to be a modern ranking in Konoha given to Sai, and implies it may be a type of support unit.

- The Twenty Platoons (Nijū Shōtai) were created by the Godaime, Tsunade Senju, to search for the Akatsuki. It consisted of twenty teams of four individuals.

—————————————-

Outside of Konoha, other lands follow their own customs and culture which creates a different type of organisation within the individual villages.

*Shinobi Ruler/Head Shinobi - A rank found within Kumo above jonin, they’re given the authority to represent their village’s interests.

*Kinkaku Force was an elite team of twenty shinobi from Kumo, which is now disbanded.

*Hunter Squads - A special unit of Kiri’s own Hunter-nin, created solely to hunt down and dispose of rogue shinobi/missing-nin, they possess medical and assassination training to aid their goals.

*Twelve Guardian Ninja are a group of twelve elite shinobi invited by the Land of Fire’s Daimyo to become his body guards.

*Puppet Brigade was a division in Suna of skilled puppeteers during the Second Shinobi War.

*Explosion Corps was an organisation within Iwa composed of individuals holding the explosion release kekkei genkai.

*Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist is an organisation of seven skilled individuals who wielded the legendary blades of Kiri.

(Fourth Shinobi War Divisions to be covered at a later date)

[midnightowlgames]

I'm back with new D&D items. This time I made a few items inspired by Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and their swords from Naruto Shippuden.

[me-like-sonic]

Denki gallery

Episode 29 | The New Seven Ninja Swordsmen!

ft. Iwabe Yuino!

♪ two bros, chilling in a hot tub, two feet apart, cuz their not gay ♪

[heiyodream]

After I watched the School Trip arc, I found myself thinking that Kagura is so... naive? AND HE IS REALLY STILL LIKE A CUTE LITTLE BABY. How old is he, actually? There is a statement that he is not far from the age of Boruto and friends, but how old Boruto and co. are not very clear there. In the description of kagura on the naruto wiki, it is recorded that the arc occurred 13 years after the war, which means that Boruto was 10 years old. Still, it happened after Naruto Gaiden/Sarada arc, where Sarada was already 11 years old. So I assume that Boruto is actually 11, 5 years old, and is in the last year of the Academy. Kagura's face is still very childish, but her grandfather, Yagura, also has the same look even though he is an adult. I thought at first he might be around 15/16, but at the end of the arc, I thought he wasn't really possibly more than 15 years old. About 14 years old?

I think because of growing up being shunned, Kagura becomes isolated and... very easy to trust other people? Like, you give him a little love or recognition, and he will follow you like a loyal puppy. Well, that's what happened to him and Shizuma.

And yes, Shizuma is a very creepy and manipulative person, although, in my opinion, the manipulation is not very subtle at all. I think Ichirota (grey hair, wielder of the Shibuki sword that Iwabee fought) could be the more dangerous leader of the bunch. Who is scarier among these seven new swordsmen from Kirigakure is Hebiichigo (a short girl who wields the Nuibari sword) because of her sadistic tendencies.

I found Hassaku (the person who first confronted Boruto with broccoli-shaped brown hair) and Kyoho (a big stature boy with a mask covering his face except for his eyes) not very interesting. They're just there... well, filling up space, I guess.

What is most interesting after Kagura among these seven people is Kurosuki Buntan. She had story potential to develop, even more so than Shizuma. I think it's because she's the only one given the background; depreciate mother, absent and/or dead father, and the belief that something has to be earned, so kekkei genkai is disgusting. I was amused when she confessed to Sarada that her father, Raiga, 'never knew she existed' and that Sarada didn't know what it was like to grow up with a parent not around.

(Kurosuki Raiga is the missing-nin from the left that Naruto and Team Gai met in the filler at the end of Part I--it's unknown whether Buntan was born after Raiga died or he just doesn't know.)

This is, well... funny, because we just got through the arc where Sarada chases and meets her father after all his absent years.

I think this is what makes Boruto less... interesting. The (most) antagonists in the story don't seem to have a solid footing, to begin with, and don't feel like three-dimensional characters. They exist to get in the way of the protagonist (aka, Boruto). After that, they were forgotten (at least I covered the antagonists in the anime-only arc).

Yes, the Shizuma gang wants to return Kiri to the bloody phase again. They value violence more--it seems to be a recurring topic in the series, how difficult it is for shinobi to come to terms with years of peace without war. Shizuma seems hurt by the notion that her family is considered a nuisance and not placed in the memorial. Why is his family deemed a nuisance? I thought because maybe, the Hoshigaki clan might have been pro-Yagura during his reign, and judging by how ruthless Shizuma was, I thought it was a product of his environment as well. But these things are just speculation; as the leader of the antagonist gang in that arc, Shizuma doesn't even have a solid background and motive.

We have Orochimaru, Zabuza-Haku, Gaara (for the time being), Madara, Danzo, and the members of Akatsuki as antagonists. You can include Sasuke too if you want, and Hiruzen with two of his Council members. Each of them has a different background but is solid. They are not just criminals; they are human too. This makes for an exciting story to follow.

Well, there are always exceptions for Kaguya and Black Zetsu. The first one is basically... alien. Which suddenly appears to tie the whole plot together, less neatly, I might say. And Black Zetsu is not human--he is an entity. Naruto himself said he couldn't empathize with Kaguya because she seemed heartless. And Naruto really EMPATHY everyone, including Obito, who indirectly caused his parents' death, so. It should count as something.

And as we travel through Boruto, we see that... the original Ootsuki clan is indeed... aliens. Which is strange, inhuman. Oh my God, I really wonder what Jigen was up to during that millennium. Yes, gathering Inner and Outer members for Kara, but then... what? He can't get scientists to do body modifications and so on. A millennium ago, there was no electricity, no laboratories.

Hah, wondering what Black Zetsu knows about Jigen and Isshiki in Jigen's brain.

Well, we can always wait for the Boruto manga to be continued every month and see the development of the antagonists in the series and this strange alien clan. Hoping the plot's ending will be tied nicely and neatly so that there is no need to bring up something kaboom kaboom alien parasitic horned celestial beings, as people sometimes joke; at Saruto--Boruto Next Generations.

[nyanberri]

College AU versions of the New Seven Ninja Ninja Swordsmen(minus Kyoho, sorry Kyoho). Edit: I have no idea how it happened but I got Shizuma’s hair backwards, whoops. Individual versions under the cut:

[tgirlhawkins]

IT’S RAIGA

that wig lasted twelve whole minutes i could not see a single thing. i will be making improvements in the future, and they will be hair clips. and as you can see my shoulder wraps did not last very long! muslin wraps worked for the rest of my body but for such a round part as a shoulder i really needed something stretchier.

also i had a buntan with me! i’m not goign to show pics of her at her request but it’s important for u to know. someone cosplayed both kurosuki, it happened and hopefully it will happen again >:3

[zabuza-thee-demon-of-the-mist]

WIP Sketch | “Year of the Cow Ox” 🧧

I can’t believe I never shared this sketch on here before, shame on me! I sketched this awhiiiiile back ago (October???) and this is personally one of my favorite drawings of Zabuza and now seems like the most appropriate time ever to share it.

I’ll most definitely color this in before the month is over, it’s so cute I might consider turning this into a print!

[thefreshbender96]

Shizuma is pretty war crazy, but if he was actually in a war he probably wouldn’t see then end of it, unless plot armor. He did beat Boruto tho, you know the guy the show is named after, that should count for something right. Honestly all things considering,I think he would be a good ally for the hidden mist village.

- Boruto Next Generations

[narrative-critical-understanding]

Suigetsu’s reasons to be part of Cell Hebi/Taka

Suigetsu was actually the most complex (compared to Karin and Jugo). He wanted to be part of the cell first and foremost because of possible better opportunities to collect the seven Kirigakure swords (the weapons of the seven ninja swordsmen of the mist) in order to create a new generation of the seven ninja swordsmen, which he wanted to be the leader of. His second reason is because he loves to meddle (for example getting between Karin and Sasuke) because he wants “to break everything in two” (or into more parts) and he needs a challenge because he’s ambitious. Also, he understandably can’t stand Karin because she experimented on him. Both reasons have interconnections.

Note: The following panels are in chronological order. Those that show his first reason gets the number 1) and those that show his second reason get the number 2).

0) Sasuke got him out of the watertank. He was experimented on by Orochimaru and Karin:

1) His interest in everything about the seven ninja swordsmen of the mist and his goal of collecting the seven Kirigakure swords:

2) Spreading “A man is now among us who will bring stability and peace.” even though Sasuke didn’t tell him anything of the sort, and his “Hee Hee...” afterwards (which shows later up as “Heh Heh!” again in regard to his love of breaking everything):

Generally) “I’ve got my own reasons. [...] It’s a mutually advantageous relationship.”

1) collecting one of the seven Kirigakure swords:

Generally) His childhood behavior: “habit of chopping of the arms and legs of his opponents ... before beheading them.”

1) and 2) “Hoshigaki Kisame ... and the broadsword Samehada” “Waiting around  [...] would just be so boring... So care to play around with me ...”

1) and 2) “My objective is his Samehada. I’ve been hanging with Sasuke only so I could get near it.”

Also: I cut out a panel. It was Obito who stopped him with just one arm.

1) collecting the seven Kirigakure swords in order to create a new generation of the seven ninja swordsmen, which he would be the leader of [also kind of 2)]

2) Jugo: “Just keep collecting blades?” Suigetsu: “Naw, we’re going to meddle of course. My second favorite pasttime after blade-collecting.”

2) “Heh Heh! I would love to break those two losers up for good! I want to break everything in two! I can’t help it!!” 

He also wants to get involved in the war, but only after joining with Sasuke. “This intel... It could change the whole outcome of the war!” “This is exactly what Sasuke needs!!”

2) “Now Team Taka can take over the entire shinobi world!”

2) “We’ve only now surpassed our mentors. This is our time!!”

[kishimotomasashi]

Why did the Boruto anime have a whole plotline where the New Seven Ninja Swordsmen wanted to restore Kirigakure to its old ways when the old ways sucked so bad that the village had numerous people defecting like actual old people who lived through the era apparently did not like it

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Hc for a Swap!KakaGai relationship? ( Kakashi acts like Gai and lead a similar life to Gai and same thing with Gai but he experienced Kakashi's life )

We do have a skill swap au, and this idea would go with that mashed up with road to Ninja.

Kakashi's the son of one of Konoha's most powerful shinobi, but so far he hasn't shown much skill of his own in ninjutsu and genjutsu. By the age of five, the only thing he can do for certain is summon the hounds, and at this moment he can only really summon Pakkun.

on the other side, Gai is the son of Konoha's perpetual genin but he's incredible talented in ninjutsu and genjutsu. His skills are incredible and praised by many people, but Gai doesn't much care. he knows people's words are pretty empty, and he hates hearing the praise with backhanded insults to his father.

when they're five, Dai takes his own life. Ashamed of the way his son is being dragged down because of him, he decides the best course of action is to save Gai from having to be connected to him any longer. Gai comes home to find his father laying on the floor in a puddle of his own blood.

Shortly after, Gai becomes a genin. The youngest of his generation.

Ever since their first meeting, Kakashi has declared himself Gai's rival. Decided that the best way to get stronger is to challenge himself to beat Gai, and show that he can be just as strong as the prodigy of his generation even without all of his natural talent.

Gai's not super hyped about the rivalry at first, but Kakashi keeps asking. determined to prove himself. That's how their friendship started, and Gai will never forget the happy look in Kakashi's eye the first time he actually managed to kick Gai to the ground.

because he graduates early, Gai is given Minato as a sensei. Minato trains him solo until others from his generation graduate, at which point he's put on a team with Obito and Rin. Obito and him are always arguing, while Rin is trying to play peacekeeper between the two of them.

Hatake Sakumo is a known name, so it's no surprise when Kakashi's older and finds himself and his teammates cornered by the seven deadly swordsmen that they know who they're facing off against as soon as Sakumo shows up. But Sakumo's not facing low-level shinobi, and the numbers are horribly against him.

So when he tells his son to run for it that day, he holds little to no hope of getting home alive, though he makes sure that none of the seven deadly shinobi do either.

Not even a week later, team Minato gets the Kannabi bridge mission. When Gai comes back missing one team member, and a new eye, Kakashi worries for him. He's immediately by his side, trying to cheer Gai up and assure him that none of this was his fault. that he couldn't have changed anything, no matter how much he thinks he could have.

Gai refuses to listen to him.

[manga2day]

Zabuza Momochi

Are you here to learn more about Zabuza , the incredible Swordsman in the Naruto animated series ? So do not move, you are indeed in the right place! ⚔ Zabuza Momochi (桃 地 再不 斬, Momochi Zabuza) is a fictional character from the Naruto manga. He is a mercenary with the nickname of Hidden Mist Demon (霧 隠 れ の 鬼 人, Kirigakure no Kijin). He was a missing ninja from the Seven Mist Swordsmen of Kirigakure. A powerful ninja endowed with new special skills, this hired killer, also known as the demon of the village of the bloody mist , marked the Naruto series thanks to his cold and scathing character traits and his legendary sword so imposing, the Kubikiribôchô . In this guide you will discover: - A complete biography of the character - Zabuza's story during his appearances in Naruto - Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Kenjutsu Prediction Skills - Some interesting facts about Zabuza So young ninja, are you ready to start this ultimate guide? Let's get started without further ado! 💨

HISTORY OF ZABUZA

Before the end of the fourth Mizukage , Yagura Karatachi, the village of Kirigakure began pitting the graduates of Kirigakure Academy against each other in death matches so as to result in a final exam. The most qualified students were named the Top 7 Mist Swordsmen. After Zabuza, not yet a student himself, killed over one hundred Academy students, the practice was discontinued and he would later be known as the "Demon of the Hidden Mist". His fame grew over the years, he became an Anbu , killing Konoha Kumade Toriichi's ninja at that time, before finally joining the Clan of 7. 🔪 At one point, he discovered Haku , a child with a very special hereditary kekkei genkai , began training him to become the ultimate weapon. In the anime, he and Haku saw the Kaguya clan attack Kirigakure but chose not to help the village. Soon after, they met Kimimaro , the next survivor of the Kaguya. Although Haku wanted to talk to the boy, Zabuza forced him to leave Kimimaro alone. 😥 During the Fourth Mizukage's reign over Bloody Mist Village, Zabuza found himself at odds with how the village worked. He assembled a group of supporters and attempted a coup against the Mizukage , which resulted in an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Yagura. Zabuza then subsequently fled accompanied by his weapon "Haku" and with other disciples, including the Demon Brothers, becoming mercenaries in order to raise funds for a second attempt in the future, which is why he worked with Gatō. With his departure, he took the Kubikiribōchō with him, causing Kirigakure to lose one of his famous swords. 🗡️  

ZABUZA PERSONALITY

Zabuza was initially described as a very brutal character, devoid of any empathy, going so far as to be arrogant and cold, yet ambitious nonetheless. He tries to do everything to become the main hit man to Gato to earn enough money to launch a second coup on the Mizukage, and thus kill anyone who stood in his way, including the plot to kill Gatō once he received sufficient funds from him. His reputation for his unparalleled cruelty began as a child, when he killed all applicants for Kirigakure Academy, which earned him the nickname "Demon of the Hidden Mist" (霧 隠 れの 鬼 人, Kirigakure no Kijin). He has a habit of using his own henchmen as pawns to achieve his ends and to satisfy his ambitions.

For example, he raised Haku to be an effective tool, to be rejected when he had no use to exploit; though unlike future antagonists, he was outspoken about the purpose for which he needed his recruits, forgoing any form of manipulation by pretending to be benevolent to inspire loyalty. This fits with his cynical view of the world, which only includes users and users, as well as shinobi's view of being nothing more than tools. Despite himself, Zabuza grew up caring deeply for Haku and seeing him as more than a tool. 👶 Zabuza is a very insightful and observant opponent, able to analyze his opponent's innermost skills after observing him just once, but becomes overconfident if he sees technique as useless. Despite his cruelty, Zabuza possessed a softer side that he himself largely ignored. After Haku's death, while Zabuza initially scoffed at his usefulness, Kakashi notes that Zabuza is no longer able to fight to his true potential as he is secretly distraught by the loss of Haku. In his final moments, Zabuza realized how much he really cared for Haku, and after being convinced by Naruto Uzumaki, he sacrifices his life to kill Gatō.and will die a little later, wishing to have the possibility of accompanying Haku in the afterlife. 💀 Nonetheless, he seems unwilling to tell others about it, barking at everyone to shut up. Kakashi also noted that he had hesitated for a long time before suggesting the idea of ​​going to Haku during their battle on the bridge. This lack of hesitation during the Fourth Shinobi War made Kakashi realize that the Zabuza who had come back from the dead was completely different. Zabuza also showed a more honorable side of him after his reincarnation, when he showed his aversion to fighting in the ranks of someone who stooped so low that he used words as fighters, at the same time rendering the resurrected immortal. His sense of honor is even more powerful when he pleads with Kakashi to prevent him and Haku from causing harm, wishing his death as a human being preserved.

APPEARANCE OF ZABUZA

Zabuza was a tall man, rather muscular because of his giant sword and with light grayish skin. He had short black hair spiked to the side, dark brown eyes, and small eyebrows. In the anime and manga, he was mostly seen wearing bandages like a mask on his face. Later, we can observe that under his mask he had a rather slender face, with a special characteristic reminiscent of sharks: he has  jagged teeth , a trait he shares with his fellow swordsmen. He wore his forehead guard to the side on his head, and before his disappearance from Kirigakure, donned the Anbu uniformof the village and the bulletproof jacket. After his desertation, and during his first appearance, he was seen shirtless, with his chest covered only by a belt to which he attached his Kubikiribōchō (his great sword), wearing baggy pants with the striped pattern typical of his village, Kirigakure, and stained patterned wrist warmers extending to the elbows, as well as matching leggings. ⚔️ During his second appearance, we could see him wearing a sort of black sleeveless shirt and pants of the same color, with a waist guard, and once again, with his wrist warmers and striped leggings. by Kirigakure. Other swordsmen of his generation wore an outfit identical to this one, implying that it may have been clothing related to the group. While wearing this outfit, just like his fellow swordsmen, he had bandages tied around his neck like a scarf. As a child, Zabuza's outfit  was a dark sleeveless shirt with light suspenders and a circular mark on the back, emblazoned with the kanji indicating "demon" (鬼, oni). He also wore dark pants with two straps covering the bottom and a hip pocket, as well as black shinobi sandals and black mitten gloves. 🧒

ZABUZA'S ABILITIES

As Kiri's former high-ranking ninja, Zabuza was a very powerful fighter. Vicious and offensive in combat, his talent has been observed more than once, since his early childhood, even before he started at the Academy yet, as he alone was already killing more than a hundred. of trained students. As an adult, even severely injured and both arms paralyzed, Zabuza has proven to be a dangerous opponent, capable of taking down dozens of men specially hired by Gatō and even Gatō himself. 💥 CHAKRA & TECHNIQUES Zabuza was very strong physically, able to effortlessly wield his Kubikiribōchō greatsword for long periods of time undisturbed, even with one hand. He was also incredibly quick and equally proficient in taijutsu , able to match Kakashi in disciplines and with the latter able to fight and kill dozens of Gatō's men despite losing both of his arms, using blows from well coordinated foot and while having a kunai in his mouth ... During these adventures, he showed remarkable levels of endurance, able to continue to fight effectively despite the injuries he received from Kakashi and the large number of blades that pierced it. 🔪 Zabuza was also a powerful  master of stealth and assassination.  This killer was also known in other countries for his talents and his great facility to kill his opponents in the most total fog. Kakashi noted that his silent killer prowess was second to none. This ninja skill develops tremendous pressure in his opponent even before Zabuza attacks, as it is noted that even the slightest movement of the eye was enough to alert Zabuza of his victim's location. 👀 True to his nickname, Zabuza possessed an incredibly strong chakra, which could be visibly seen when released, taking on the image of a demon. Even barely standing, a single glance from Zabuza left the rest of Gatō's thugs stiff with fear. Likewise, Zabuza has very advanced chakra control, able to perform a second technique while maintaining another. Even more interestingly, he is able to do this by performing one-handed seals. 👋 NINJUTSU KENJUTSU

During his time as Kiri's ninja, Zabuza was one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist,  a team made up primarily of the village's top sword-wielders. This generation of swordsmen he was fortunate enough to exist was considered the most incredible ever to be created in Kirigakure, another testament to Zabuza's impressive skills. Zabuza's signature weapon was the Kubikiribōchō.It is a sword that has marked the fans, it is very long and wide, even oversized. Its shape was designed to easily behead enemies. This great weapon has a unique ability: to absorb iron recovered from the blood of its victims to repair itself if damaged or melted. Zabuza was a master at his wielding, being able to send many opponents to their deaths in just one circular motion, and claiming his sword "never cuts a second time". This retort certifies that it only needed one single attack to easily liquidate its victims. 🤺 Despite his build, the weapon's weight didn't seem to slow Zabuza at all, as he could use it in combat for long periods of time without any visible pressure on himself, which Suigetsu Hōzuki failed to realize. As well as handling it very skillfully, Zabuza could also spin her around at several of her victims with enough power to lodge in a tree trunk. 🌳

He also wielded a kunai with a sharp protrusion on one side (which in the anime is a variation of Kiri's standard kunai), designed to stab and stab instead of slicing, which fits his stealth attributes perfectly. Zabuza could also use the fūma shuriken in the same way, using them in melee combat by rotating the weapon in his hand to attack his opponent. 🔪 TRANSFORMATION OF NATURE

Zabuza had great skill in water release techniques. He could perform several while keeping another active, as seen when he kept Kakashi trapped in his Water Prison technique while continuing to titillate the other members of Team 7 with the through an aqueous clone. He therefore had the possibility of creating and launching several clones at the same time, in order to use them as a diversion technique in the face of threats. He has also shown his mastery of highly destructive aqueous attacks by launching powerful torrents, shaped like a towering dragon and giant waterfalls at his opponents. 🚿 Zabuza was particularly adept at the technique of camouflage in the mist as it made his assassination silent and even easier to perform. By covering the area with thick fog, Zabuza was able to blind his targets, making it even more difficult for them to defend against him. In this way, Zabuza had the obvious possibility of launching stealth assaults, both in tight spaces and open. He could then suddenly disappear from sight of an opponent, while hitting them repeatedly without being visible. His skill with this technique was such that he could create an impenetrable mist, without even needing to recharge himself in the water nearby. Even Kabuto Yakushikept Zabuza's use of the technique in high regard, as seen when he was ready to sacrifice other reincarnated shinobi to protect Zabuza, and thus keep the technique as it is. 💨 INTELLIGENCE Despite his attraction to using piercing and direct attacks on his enemies, Zabuza was also very capable of intellectually leading and overseeing things. Through his days as Anbu, Zabuza possessed a deep knowledge of the pressure points of the human body and the most vulnerable organs. Zabuza also knew foreign techniques and the kekkei genkai, knowing the Sharingan and instantly recognizing the technique of Multiclinage. Zabuza was also a qualified teacher, as it was under his supervision that Haku was able to become such a powerful shinobi / ninja despite his young age. 👨‍🎓  

THE BEST TECHNIQUES FROM ZABUZA

- Kiri Gakure no jutsu Ninpô (霧 隠 れ の 術, Camouflage in the mist): Technique which allows Zabuza to camouflage himself from his opponents in a thick and dense fog. It is impossible to discern a single movement there, which makes dôjutsu such as Byakugan or Sharingan ineffective. - Suiton - Mizu bunshin no Jutsu (水分 身 の 術, Aqueous Cloning): Technique that creates an aqueous clone that can only be controlled at close range. - Suirô no jutsu (水牢 の 術, Technique of the aqueous prison): Technique which allows to imprison an opponent in a kind of aqueous prison. - Suiton - Suiryûdan no Jutsu (水 遁 ・ 水 龍 弾 の 術, Suiton - The Watery Dragon): Technique that allows Zabuza to create a cascade of water having the appearance of a Dragon to fall on an enemy. - Suiton - Suijin heki (水 遁 ・ 水 陣 壁, Suiton - The water barrier): Very powerful technique which allows the accumulation of a large mass of water in the form of a wave to be knocked down on his opponent. - Suiton - Daibakufu no Jutsu (水 遁 ・ 大 瀑布 の 術, Suiton - The great cataract): Technique allowing to form a large watery amat in order to project it on its enemy with a significant force.

HISTORY OF ZABUZA IN NARUTO

Part i PROLOGUE: THE LAND OF WAVES In order to earn money to plan a second coup, Zabuza became a mercenary assassin for hire. As part of one of his jobs, he was hired by Gatō to kill a bridge builder named Tazuna, who poses a threat to his employer's business. When the Demon Brothers failed to take out Tazuna - intimidating an enraged Gatō with his sword - Zabuza decided to deal with the Bridge Builder personally. While tracking down his target, Zabuza discovered that Tazuna was protected by Kakashi Hatake and his students. Wanting to test his ability, Zabuza challenged Kakashi to a battle, and Kakashi obeyed by revealing his Sharingan . 👁‍🗨 Soon after the start of the battle, Zabuza managed to catch Kakashi off guard and trick him with his water prison technique. Needing to stay with Kakashi to keep him imprisoned, Zabuza sent a water clone to kill Tazuna and the rest of Kakashi's team, believing it to be a simple mission to complete. However, Naruto Uzumaki created a plan and, with the help of Sasuke Uchiha, managed to sneak up on Zabuza, forcing him to free Kakashi. So Kakashi and Zabuza resumed their fight, although Kakashi's Sharingan quickly gave him the upper hand. By copying Zabuza's technique, Suiton - Suijin heki before he could use it, Kakashi was able to defeat Zabuza. 🌊

Before Zabuza could be killed by Kakashi, Haku appeared, disguised as a ninja hunter, and threw two needles in Zabuza's neck, apparently killing him. Taking Zabuza's body away, under the pretext of having to destroy it, Haku resuscitated Zabuza, the needles having been used to temporarily paralyze him. Although Zabuza's life was saved, it took him a week to recover, and he was planning to return to kill Tazuna and Kakashi.A week later, Zabuza and Haku appeared in front of Team 7 for a rematch. While Haku took care of Kakashi's students, Zabuza took care of Kakashi. Having learned how the Sharingan works through Haku's knowledge, Zabuza covered the area with a thick mist and kept his eyes closed to nullify the Sharingan's two abilities. In doing so, Zabuza was able to cut off Kakashi's momentum with his sword, severely damaging his opponent. However Kakashi allowed himself to be attacked and summoned his ninken to sniff the blood, now on Zabuza's sword and thus took advantage of the fact that Zabuza was keeping his eyes closed in a thick fog to launch a surprise attack and finish him off with the low. 💥 Unable to retaliate, Kakashi prepared to kill Zabuza with his Slaying Bolt and charged at Zabuza. Before Kakashi's technique could meet its target, Haku appeared as a human shield and took full force of the attack, fulfilling his promise to be only a tool for his master. Freed following Haku's intervention, and not wanting to allow the opening created by Haku to be wasted, Zabuza attempted to pass through Haku's body to kill Kakashi, but Kakashi was able to avoid him and injure Zabuza in the middle. arm. With Zabuza no longer able to fight, Gatō arrived and revoked their agreement so he could ask his own minions to kill Tazuna instead.. With no more reason to kill Tazuna, Zabuza ended his battle with Kakashi, although Naruto was not satisfied with it. Irritated Read the full article

[recentanimenews]

OPINION: These Naruto Filler Episodes Are Worth Your Time

  Filler in anime often has a negative stigma, and Naruto is no stranger. With approximately 40 percent of a whopping 720 episodes being filler, Naruto has among the highest numbers. And while filler can feel like a nuisance when the mainline story is gaining traction, there is redeemable content within it. Especially in a series with such a large cast, where filler episodes can help us explore backstories and offer more screen time to some of our favorite characters. One of the community’s favorite jokes has always been “Naruto’s swing gets more screen time than TenTen” and I hate to be that guy … but with filler reinforcements, TenTen reigns supreme.

  Let's take a look at some of my personal favorite filler episodes and arcs to discuss what makes them so substantial:

  Laughing Shino (Episode 186)

    Shino Aburame was a character that I felt lacked emotional depth due to the lack of attention given to him. In this fun episode, when he’s asked to stand-in at a funeral, he falls victim to a very potent laughing poison and needs Naruto to take his place. In the end, it’s revealed that the funeral is a farce enacted to humble a greedy family. It ends with Shino begging Naruto to remain quiet about the song and dance he performed.

  Kakashi Hatake, the Hokage (Shippuden: Episode 219)

    When Tsunade is unconscious and Danzo is dead, Kakashi is tapped to become the next Hokage. Upon receiving the news, his best friend and eternal rival Might Guy challenges him to one last race — arguing that it will become much more difficult for Kakashi to do something so freewheeling once he takes the job. This non-stop fun episode is especially brilliant because it somewhat foreshadows how Guy’s great sacrifice in the ninja war actually makes him the restricted one.

  Blaze Away, Byakugan! This Is My Ninja Way! (Episode 151)

    All things considered, Hinata got the short end of the stick before the time-skip … until this filler episode! She redeems her Chunin Exams fight with Neji by facing three ninja while her team is captured. We then see her unveil the Protective 8 Trigrams 64 Palm technique to ward off an enemy swarm of bees. Just like Naruto, she pushes her limits with admiration for her future husband.

  Run! The Curry Of Life! (Episode 157)

    Team Guy? Seven Swordsmen lore? Drunken Lee? What else could one want in a filler episode? In this comical tragedy, we see a mourning villain with immense power release his rage against Team Guy. Ultimately losing, we see more of the team’s dynamic, with some hilarious sequences from Rock Lee.

  Kakashi's Anbu Arc (Shippuden: Episodes 349-361)

    Outside of gaining more backstory on Kakashi, we explore events such as Orochimaru’s betrayal, the Nine-Tailed Fox’s attack, and the Uchiha Clan’s slaughter. It’s hard to believe it’s really even filler when the arc provides so many puzzle pieces. Additionally, Yamato’s backstory is touched on as well.

  The episodes I’ve mentioned are even better in hindsight because they can initially be skipped so that the main story goes uninterrupted, then circled back to and salvaged when you long for more of the series. This small sample of fillers provides exceptional world-building and I’d recommend you explore them in your spare time. There's most certainly one that you'll resonate with.

  What's your favorite filler moment? Let us know below!

    Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features! 

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[ofrolysdogs]

HUGE HEADCANON & seven swordsman childhoods :0

bruh i have this REALLY huge idea, i really want to animate it but i have little 2 no experience with animation (i can draw tho thats like the least i can do) and i watched the S2 Glitchtale series and it gave me such a huge inspiration for something!!! (warning this post is *very* long)

so the seven ninja swordsmen weren't always ruthless, matter of fact, they were never ruthless, they were only trying to protect kirigakure from enemies, the reason why it started was because during the 1st mizukage's reign there was a huge human trafficking rumor going around which turned out to be true, enemy villages were kidnapping children from kiri & the seven ninja swordsman was formed, throughtout the years the seven ninja swordsman were labled as this ruthless group of people who killed just because they wanted to & that wasn't the case.

the swords have a mind of their own much like samehada and in most cases the blade's souls would take over their weilder and have them do ruthless & heartless shit.

the last generation (y'know ameyuri ringo mangetsu hozuki and those guys) were the best at keeping a distance between the swords souls & themselves, making them the strongest generation ever, but, why were they so ruthless during the 4th great ninja war?

kabuto had the help of a friend who terroized many of the last generation when they were younger (especially kushimaru for one sole reason: his power), and had extracted their original souls in replacement of the blade's souls.

during their lifetime, they were all branded as ruthless, heartless, coldblooded thugs outside of the village, but in kiri, they were known as heros, loving, and protective over their village, the fourth mizukage was not always ruthless, when obito had placed him under genjutsu and controlled him, thats when the "bloody mist era" began.

ameyuri ringo worked as a scientist alongside her lover, ace (an oc of mine :3) and specialized in lightning style which she had no effort in, her mother & father, alongside her elder brother had died around the end of the 2nd shinobi war, now homeless without a family, she was adopted and raised by them, a pretty decent childhood, she was playful & confident, can get a bit too overconfident at times but still, she was loved by everyone around her, ameyuri eventually met ace, and the two of them fell in love, as they were scientists, the two were responsible for the electricity in the mist, ameyuri was then drafted to fight in the third great ninja war, killing over 100 chunin and 50 jonin after kiba, her blade, had taken over her soul completely, ameyuri knew how to control kiba's soul, but kiba found other ways to take over ameyuri, eventually with the help of ace & kushimaru, ameyuri was finally feeling better, but was fatally ill, and soon, passed.

kushimaru kuriarare, being apart of this clan as the most strongest of all, despite having ptsd & major anxiety, still tried his best to make his life better after his traumatizing childhood, his clan was slaughtered at the hands of a shimogakure shinobi named mujōna which will later then start the war between kirigakure and shimogakure, in haunt for his soul, as it possessed an inhumane amount of dark chakra passed down by his mother, mujōna had created a sensei for him, which in turn had abused him constantly, his sensei and mujōna worked together to "power" him, having him tied down being bit by venomous spiders which gave him a huge amount of arachnophobia later, over the years he was staying with jinpachi's parents, and the two future swordsmen will later become like brothers, the two moved in together and kushimaru then later had a child out of wedlock which turned him into a single father, with the help of jinpachi, the two of them worked together to raise the child (don't judge me this is my favorite ship) in a household where there is no conflict & hatred. the third great ninja war had started and kushimaru was on the battlefield, while fighting might dai who was in his 8th gate form, kushimaru had a dark chakra sealed inside of him, whilst loosing control and also loosing control over nuibari's soul, inserting inside of kushimaru's body, he became a monster and killed everyone in his path, including jinpachi & jinin were were also fighting against might dai, kushimaru survived but was terribly injured, and for the rest of his life spent in a hospital bed, dying peacefully.

jinin akebino was known as a hero fighting in the 2nd shinobi war as a teen, deadly on the battlefield and showed no mercy, never letting kabutowari's soul take over him, a brave young man with a heart of steel. after the war had ended, he decided to settle down and become an academy teacher for a short period, while also taking care of his son & sick wife who was fatally ill with lung cancer, after his wife had died, he was now a single father taking care of his now 13 year old son, training him to become like him someday, his son grew older and eventually moved a new path, jinin now teaches young chunin how to control their jutsus and looks after the other swordsman on his team, the third great ninja war starts & jinin is fighting against might dai, noticing one of his teammates lost control of his soul in the process, being killed before might dai even makes a move on him

mangetsu was raised by the sea alongside his younger brother, the goddess of the sea had taken the young boys as her own after their parents had died in the 2nd war, they were then trained to fight to become one of the seven ninja swordsman, suigetsu had accidentally let his blade's soul take over his body, which had stayed attatched to him for the majority of his life, mangetsu on the other hand, had learned how to control his emotions and not let the sword's soul take over him, but mangetsu wasn't satisfied, he wanted to weild all 7 blades, in which he almost died while doing so, since the last person who wanted to weild all 7 swords had died in the process, while he tried to use shibuki, it would blow up out of nowhere, even when he wasn't even using it to train or fight, nuibari's wire would cut him deep & the other swords would even try to attack him on his own, hiramekarei (well, one half) was the only sword that didn't have an evil soul, which he kept by his side, eventually he got the ability to weild all 7 swords which also in the end, costed him his life.

[ im thinking of more headcanons soon so this is part 1 for now. ]

[ohayohimawari]

NartYasha Not!Fic

I’ve had NartYasha on the brain thanks to Sloaners’ server, and I present a post of purely self-indulgent snippets and scenarios of a day in the crossover world of my imagination.

I’d put the rating at G-T; no TW content.

I hope it makes you laugh! Nonsense begins below the cut.

“Ugh—hurry up, Dad, Mom!” Kakashi stood in front of the opened door to the Hatake home, one foot outside of it, and both arms folded across his chest. “I don’t want to be late!”

“I know that you’re excited, Kakashi, but you’re not supposed to meet your team for another hour,” Kaguya called out to her son. “Besides,” she turned her attention to her husband, “your father still needs…to get ready.”

Sakumo sat with his back to her, but his sporadic sniffing and shaking shoulders betrayed the emotions he tried to hide.

“Sakumo, your face will be all red and puffy when we go to meet them,” Kaguya soothed as she neared her husband.

“I know,” Sakumo sighed in resignation, “I know.”

“You don’t want to be confused for Maito, do you?” Kaguya made a gentle joke about their dear family friend, Dai.

It worked, and Sakumo chuckled through his drying tears. “No, I don’t. It’s just, he’s growing up so fast, Kaguya! It seems like only yesterday that he was falling out of trees instead of walking up them—”

“That was yesterday,” Kaguya interrupted Sakumo to remind him of the previous day’s installment of adventures in parenthood.

“—and today he’s meeting his Genin team and Jōnin leader,” he spoke over his wife, fresh tears welling up in his eyes.

Kaguya watched two new tears fall when her husband blinked as he returned his gaze to their son’s Pre-K art project that he held in his hands. Sakumo ran his fingers across the handprint that a five-year-old Kakashi had pressed into clay and then ran his thumb over the inverted “s” of their son’s signature.

“Sakumo,” she cooed his name, “if you keep this up, your tears will blind you to the memories that are forming now,” she reached for the clay keepsake. He handed it over and nodded, discerning the sense in her words.

Kaguya smiled at Sakumo and brushed his bristling mane from his eyes. “I worry about how you’ll react when Kakashi goes on his first mission,” she chuckled lightly.

Sakumo gaped at her, wide-eyed, and his bottom lip began to quiver once again.

 ***

 Though it was later than Kakashi would’ve liked, the Hatake family was still the first to arrive at the training grounds (with a rehearsed and believable excuse involving allergies for Sakumo’s red eyes).

“See, Kakashi? There was no need to rush. We’re here before your sensei has arrived,” Sakumo gently scolded his son in a thick voice.

“‘A shinobi must prepare before it is too late to,’” Kakashi recited in a pious tone.

Before Sakumo could caution against following the shinobi rules too strictly, one of Konoha’s most accomplished Jōnin materialized out of thin air, literally.

“Hello Mr. Hatake, Mrs. Hatake,” he bowed to them, “it’s an honor to teach your son.”

“Namikaze,” Sakumo addressed the Jōnin through a relieved smile. “I’m happy to know he’ll be trusted to you.”

“I’m right here, you know,” Kakashi grumbled.

“You’re right. Hello,” the Jōnin issued a warm, gentle smile that was in direct contrast to the dangerous shinobi he was known to be within the Leaf, and beyond. “You can call me Minato-sensei.”

“And you can call him Bakashi,” a raven-haired boy cackled as he ran toward the group.

“Don’t be rude, Obito,” an elderly woman scolded from where she trailed behind him.

“Ah, you must be Obito Uchiha,” Minato turned his smile to the new arrivals.

“Yep, that’s me!” Obito beamed, and then jerked his thumb at Kakashi. “I’m the one you should focus on training, Minato-sensei because I’m going to be Hokage!”

“Is that so?” Minato tilted his head in amusement.

“You bet! I can already see my face carved into the mountainside,” Obito bragged.

“I think you need to clean your goggles then—”

“Kakashi!” Kaguya said his name sharply, causing her son to visibly wince above his mask.

“My grandson deserved that,” the elderly woman had reached the group, “please excuse him. Now then, Obito, will you introduce me to your friends?”

“Oh, right, sorry,” Obito scratched at the back of his head. “This is my Granny, Kaede. She’s a priestess from uh,” he hesitated and stole a glance at her, “somewhere else. But she moved here because she didn’t want me to live alone,” he smirked at her when he finished.

Kaede smirked back at him briefly and then raised her one-eyed gaze to the others. “I wasn’t about to let my grandson become a victim of this village’s ‘orphan care program,’” she said, sarcastic.

Minato and Sakumo shifted uncomfortably, but Kaguya was the first to speak. “It’s awful, isn’t it? I’m also a transplant to Konoha, and I can’t believe they’ve let it get this bad—”

“How did you lose your eye?” Kakashi interrupted his mother, unable to contain his curiosity and unaware that such an awkward question was impolite.

Kaede chuckled, easing Sakumo and Kaguya’s embarrassment. “In battle,” she said, low and dramatic, “against a fearsome yōkai.” She leaned over to meet Kakashi’s eyes. “He got much worse than he gave, I promise you,” she added in a dangerous voice for effect.

Kakashi stood unblinking for a few moments, clearly deep in thought, but kept them to himself. Then, he closed one eye and looked around him to test how it altered his vision.

Sakumo cleared his throat to distract from his son’s latest social faux pas. “So, do you know who your third student is, Namikaze?”

“I haven’t met her yet, but I hear she made quite an impression on Lord Third. Lady Kaede brought her along when she first came to Konoha, correct?” Minato asked.

“Yes,” Kaede nodded. “I offered to look after her while her guardian was away because we take care of orphans where I come from. She and Obito became fast friends, and it seemed cruel to part them, so I signed her up to be a Genin.”

“Wait—what do you mean you ‘signed her up’? Genin have to graduate from the Academy first,” Minato lost a little of his serene countenance.

“Money talks,” Kaede shrugged. “Apparently, Konoha is broke. That might explain all the orphans running around,” she muttered. “Anyway, her guardian is bringing her from my world so he can sign off on the paperwork.”

“Your…your world?”

“Whoa!” Kakashi exclaimed, with both eyes opened wide again.

The others followed his gaze upwards to find a massive white dog soaring overhead. It circled a few times as it descended and touched down gracefully on the training grounds. A man with long white hair and dog ears jumped down immediately, then reached up to lift a young girl off the back of the dog.

“Rin!” Obito shouted and ran off to greet the newcomers.

The little girl waved enthusiastically back at them, as the large white dog transformed into a man right before their eyes.

“Wh-where did you say you were from?” Minato stuttered.

“Another dimension,” Kaede gestured one hand as if to brush her cryptic confession off as trivial, “the Bone-Eater’s well acts as a portal to just about anywhere.”

“Excuse me, the what?”

“I wasn’t expecting Sesshōmaru to bring Inuyasha with him,” Kaede squinted at the approaching figures and ignored Minato’s question.

“Are they the girl’s guardians?” Kaguya asked.

“Sesshōmaru is, yes, and Inuyasha is her uncle. This could be troublesome,” Kaede sighed and then offered a bit more by way of explanation. “Sesshōmaru is a dog demon, as you can probably guess, and his brother is a half-demon.”

Kakashi continued to stare at Sesshōmaru in reverent awe until they were near enough to speak, though no one knew what to say.

Eventually, Sakumo broke the shocked silence. “My wife is from the moon,” he announced, unsolicited.

Kaguya stood beside her husband and placed one hand on her son’s shoulder. She then opened her third eye in the middle of her forehead.

Minato fainted.

***

 Minato recovered in time to issue the bell test, and pass his first team of Genin, to his delight. After receiving the applause and praise from the small crowd in the parents’ section, the newly formed Team Minato set to kunai practice.

“I don’t know how they can consider those tiny things ‘weapons,’ even Sesshōmaru’s Tenseiga is more dangerous than—”

“Silence, Inuyasha!” Sesshōmaru punctuated his reprimand with a sharp blow to his half-brother’s head, knocking him to the ground.

“Some ninja are trained with swords,” Sakumo offered, “I carry the White Light Chakra Sabre on my missions. And, of course, there are the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, each of whom carries a powerful, renowned blade.”

“Is that so?” Sesshōmaru arched an eyebrow, the only hint at how impressed he was. “Perhaps it would be worth extending our visit in your world,” he said through a slight, but very dangerous, grin.

 ***

 “Minato! I found another one.”

A red-haired woman stormed onto the training grounds with a furious expression on her face, and a terrified, tiny ninja in tow.

“Ah, Kushina, can this wait? We’re in the middle of kunai practice—Nevermind,” he quickly changed his mind when her temper visibly mounted.

“This one hasn’t been able to speak at all,” Kushina’s voice came more gently as she presented the small shinobi to Minato. The young boy turned his large, almond eyes at her, and then to Minato in apparent confusion. “It’s okay,” Kushina soothed as she ran a hand through the boy’s long, mousey brown hair, “stick out your tongue.”

The tiny ninja’s eyes, made impossibly larger through his hesitant expression, darted between Kushina and Minato. After some time and coaxing, however, he tentatively stuck his tongue out at Minato.

Kaguya gasped at the black symbol on the boy’s tongue. Sesshōmaru turned to Kaede and spoke in a chilling voice. “You said that Konoha was overrun with orphans; you didn’t say the village branded them.”

“I had no idea they’d do something so cruel,” Kaede replied, astonished.

“This is highly unusual, I assure you,” Sakumo sputtered. “At least, I hope it is,” he added, under his breath.

Minato began to weave signs silently and with a solemn expression, drawing everyone’s attention. He then pressed his thumb to the boy’s tongue, who shrieked, jumped back, and covered his mouth with both hands.

“I’m sorry that hurt, but it’s the only way to remove the seal,” Minato said, heartbroken.

“Ithss s’okay,” the boy lisped his response which was further muffled by his small, pudgy hands.

“Now then, what’s your name?”

“I-I don’t know. They call me Kinoe, but I’m not sure if that’s what my parents named me before...”

The whole crowd in the parents’ section melted.

Kushina dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the boy. She turned her head to face Minato and stared at him with wide, imploring eyes.

Minato buckled under the weight of so many pairs of pleading eyes and then sighed. “Alright, let’s go talk to Lord Third.” He pointed at Inuyasha. “You, dog demon—”

“Half-demon,” Sesshōmaru corrected.

“Whatever. Can you oversee their target practice until I get back?”

 ***

 “Gah-gah-gah, zu-bah-bah, KUNAI!”

“It’s definitely helping Obito to focus on the target, but I thought that ninja were supposed to be stealthy, aren’t they? This isn’t exactly conducive to sneaking up on an opponent,” Kaede assessed Inuyasha’s teaching techniques aloud.

Inuyasha was helping Rin improve her grip on her own kunai under Sesshōmaru’s careful watch.

Kakashi stood off to the side, attempting to channel his chakra to replicate the Wind Scar. “You can do it, Sweetie!” Kaguya called out to him, causing him to blush above his mask.

“Everyone, this is Tenzō.”

Kushina returned to the training grounds with the tiny ninja on her hip. “Hello, I have a new name,” he waved with a bright, broad grin that melted the crowd in the parents’ section all over again.

Minato followed close behind, looking a bit paler than he had when he left. “Congratulations!” Sakumo met him with a hearty handshake. “Let me guess, she named him before you reached the Hokage’s office, huh,” he added in a hushed tone.

“Yeah, Lord Third pulled out the adoption papers as soon as Kushina walked in carrying him.” Minato’s gaze drifted to his new team of Genin and their chaotic training session. “What the actual fuck is happening here?”

“You left a dog-demon in charge of their training—”

“Half-demon,” Sesshōmaru corrected.

“Inuyasha, their sensei has returned now so you can stop not helping,” Kaede instructed.

“Whaddya mean ‘not helping’?  These brats are so weak Shippo could take them—”

“Inuyasha, sit down.” Kaede revealed the depth of her authority and untold power so effectively in those three words that not only Inuyasha but all three Genin and even Sakumo sat down on the training field in absolute obedience.

“Right, next time, I’ll put you in charge,” Minato said, awed. Then he addressed his team while Sakumo did his best to seem casual as he stood up. “We’ll cut the training short today; it is your first day, after all. We’ll just consider this an orientation, and start over fresh tomorrow,” he finished.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin cheered as they ran to receive the adoration of their respective number one fans after completing their first day as real ninjas.

“Did you see me, Granny?” Obito asked, eager for recognition.

Kaede realized it immediately and chuckled as she smoothed one hand over his spiky hair. “Yes, I did, and I think you’ll be a Ho-ka-ge in no time,” she smiled.

“Do we have to leave right away, Lord Sesshōmaru?” Rin asked as she slipped her hand into her Guardian’s.

“No,” Sesshōmaru spoke in a gentler voice when he addressed his ward, “we will stay as long as it takes for me to complete my quest for the seven swords of the Mist.”

“You can live with us while you do…that,” Kakashi stared wide-eyed at Sesshōmaru as he offered the invitation without consulting his parents. Kaguya and Sakumo exchanged a confused look behind him.

Then Kakashi reached a hand out to pet Sesshōmaru’s fluffy, white fur trim as if he couldn’t resist it any longer, but Kaguya snatched it away, and furthered distracted him by saying, “how should we celebrate your graduation to Genin?”

“Count me out,” Inuyasha turned his back to the group. “As long as we’ll be here, I’m gonna look for jewel shards. Catch you later, losers,” he yelled over his shoulder as he leaped from view.

“I’m afraid I can’t join you either,” Minato lamented. “I have to go buy everything a child would need this afternoon.” Sakumo patted him on the shoulder reassuringly as Minato waved and walked away.

Kushina, however, remained behind with the rest and shifted Tenzō to her other hip. “We could go bowling,” she considered aloud.

“Yeah!” All three Genin shouted.

“What do you think; do you want to go bowling?” Kushina asked Tenzō directly.

He gasped. “Can I really go too?” He asked, melting even Sesshōmaru’s heart this time.

“Let’s go bowling,” Kaede said in her authoritative voice as she turned and strode back to the village, with the rest of the group trailing behind her.

The End