Muramasupremacy

[Sia]

All Targets All Middle - Muramasa, Hisayo and Murasma Kayoko

It was an open request for absolutely anyone of absolutely any rank to go to the designated training grounds and fight absolutely everyone else there. The last man standing would receive a generous reward.

The designated arena was in the middle of Water Country, just outside of the village, literally just outside, conjoined.

It was a single island, very perfectly crafted to be one hundred and sixty meters in radius, to the east of the village.

It was a free for all, of course. Many had shown up for the gladiator match, and of course there had been many spectators and bets made on the fights.

Muramasa, Hisayo, and Muramasa, Kayoko were in the fray.

Wielding Kayoko as a large thirty meter long flaming claymore, Hisayo swung her wildly and cleaved a path through the mist that terrified those that saw her. Nearby opponent's ran immediately. "Shit, shit, shit she's going to kill us."

She didn't, but she cut their legs and made them stumble and fall and scramble as they screamed and plead for be spared. She oddly did.

She was not inflicting lethal blows today, as part of her training. This was a Hunter exercise as well a seven swordsmen exercise. Hisayo and Kayoko had to be the last standing whilst also trying to leave as many targets alive as possible, to give them another chance to fight for the reward.

Kayoko began to surge with doton and katon chakra, a secondary thirty meter long sword forming and moving through the air towards Hisayo's left hand.

The flames shot out and Hisayo began igniting the training island.

[Zao]

A well-built young man entered the battlefield from the opposing side, his five black tails swaying behind him. Twin swords rested in an X-shaped cross on his back, their polished handles untouched. The arena had been meticulously crafted—a fusion of the Hidden Mist Village’s unique terrain and the combat philosophy of the Seven Swordsmen. It was a proving ground designed for both refinement and spectacle, where fame, glory, and money enticed participants and onlookers alike. Shady businessmen whispered bets in the shadows, wagering on who would fall, who would endure, and who might emerge as champion.

Hisato Tsukino, an up-and-coming Dagger of the Seven Swordsmen, let a faint smile grace his usually stoic face. This was an opportunity—a chance to sharpen his skills and push his limits after the grueling missions in the lands of Heart and Tea. From across the arena, the sounds of combat echoed sharply in his ears. Despite the distance, the clashes between Hisayo and Kayoko filtered into his enhanced hearing, courtesy of the sensitive hairs concealed in his large, black-furred fox ears. Hisato tilted his head, pale gray eyes narrowing as he focused on the fiery display erupting far ahead.

“She’s really going all out,” he murmured, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. “Not that I’d expect anything less.”

With that, Hisato leaped from the rooftop he had been perched on, landing silently just outside the fighting zone. His clawed fingertips—elongated and canine-like—scratched the misty ground as he crouched, rolling his neck from left to right. The audible crack of joints echoed faintly, his head bowing forward momentarily. His jet-black hair, disheveled as though he’d just rolled out of bed, framed his sharp features. His appearance was almost lackadaisical—loose-fitting clothes barely concealing the defined muscle of his lean, powerful body. His five long, scaled black tails, a stark mutation from consuming the essence of a hydra spirit, unfurled behind him. Their armor-like surface gleamed dully in the muted sunlight filtering through the mist, making him a striking figure in the haze.

When Hisato finally moved, he seemed to dissolve into the mist itself. No sound betrayed his steps as he darted through the battlefield, closing the distance on his first targets. Two young men were locked in a heated exchange of sword strikes; their movements precise but frantic. Hisato materialized from the fog like a ghost, his presence unnoticed until it was too late.

The first man didn’t see the clawed hand that struck him. Hisato’s open palm slammed into his chest with brutal force, sending him flying into a nearby tree. The impact shattered the trunk, and the man collapsed to the ground, motionless. The second fighter reacted instantly, swinging his katana in a horizontal arc. Hisato’s response was fluid, almost animalistic—he slid beneath the strike, his body low and graceful. He darted past the man, his movements so swift they left the swordsman spinning to track him. Before the second fighter could counter, a thick, black tail struck like a battering ram. It smashed into the man’s face and chest with crushing power, launching him backward. He collided with a boulder, the impact cratering the stone and leaving him embedded in it, unconscious and battered.

Hisato straightened, his expression calm as he glanced at his handiwork. Neither man had been killed, though both were gravely injured—unable to continue without medical intervention. Entering this arena full of predators had been their choice, and facing the consequences was a lesson they’d have to endure. The mist swirled around him as he turned his gaze toward the distance, where the fiery clash of Hisayo and Kayoko continued to rage. His lips curled into a sly grin.

“Guess it’s time to join the fun.”