Kiba (swords)

is one of the famous mystical swords of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

History
Passed down from generation to generation since the First Mizukage's era in Kirigakure, the swords were eventually acquired by Ameyuri Ringo and Raiga Kurosuki, and at some point, the swords were utilised by Mangetsu Hōzuki in his act of mastering all seven swords of the Seven Swordsmen. Kiri lost possession of the swords after Raiga Kurosuki became a Missing-nin, and following his death, the swords remained at the bottom of a ravine in the Land of Rivers. Upon Kiba being collected by Kabuto Yakushi, he had the swords stored within a scroll along with four of the seven Mist swords, which a reincarnated Mangetsu possessed. When Kabuto had him summoned alongside the reincarnated Seven Swordsmen of the Mist during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Mangetsu unsealed all the swords, leading to Kiba returning to Ameyuri's possession.

In the anime, after being trapped in a bottomless marsh, Ameyuri gives the blades to Omoi as a thank-you gift from their exciting battle. At some point after the war, the blades were returned to Kirigakure and stored into a vault along with the rest of Seven Ninja Swordsmen swords with the goal of training a new generation. Years later, a rebellious group proclaiming themselves the New Seven Ninja Swordsmen stole the seven blades to start a revolution against the modernisation and peaceful era of Kirigakure, with Raiga's daughter, Buntan Kurosuki, taking Kiba. Soon after, she and her team was defeated, allowing the village to reclaim the swords. Later, as part of a work-release program, Buntan was allowed to wield the blades again on a mission to reduce her sentencing.

Appearance
Kiba is a pair of swords, each with slim and straight double-edged blades. Both blades also have an upward-curved bladed prong near the tip of one side of the blade and another one near the base of the blade's other side. At their bases are smooth brown hilts with a round, grey tsuba and round, grey hilt. When not in use, Raiga kept Kiba wrapped in bandages.

Abilities
The swords have been imbued with lightning, granting enhanced cutting power in a manner similar to the high-frequency vibrations of lightning-based chakra flow, greatly increasing its penetrating power. It is this capability that has resulted in these being claimed as the sharpest swords in existence. Even without lightning, they are very dangerous in battle, able to be used in combination with agile spinning movements, sweeping through the targets while the user also rotates. This, combined with the jagged nature of the blades, allows for more damaging wounds inflicted.

In the anime, the user can transform and manipulate lightning freely, able to use their Lightning Release techniques without hand seals. They also boost the user's attack power to the highest limit, which allows them to perform high-level Lightning Release techniques, and likewise requires only the smallest amount of chakra. These blades can channel the user's own respective lightning techniques or They can conduct natural lightning, able to launch it from the sky to strike anywhere within a large area. Likewise, as long as there is natural lightning to access, the user can battle continuously without tiring.

While meant to be used as a pair, the user can perform similarly with only a single blade. They can also be connected at the hilts to form a larger double-bladed sword, increasing its versatility as a weapon. They are able to perform various powerful techniques, such as to manipulate the blades from afar, leaving their hands free while attacking the opponent at different directions simultaneously. Even from afar, the user can channel chakra into the blades, amplifying them.

Utilised Techniques

 * Thunderswords Technique: Remote Control
 * Thunderswords Technique: Thunderbolt

Trivia

 * The Kiba are the first anime-only weapons to be adapted into the manga; later, their début wielder, Raiga Kurosuki, was also adapted into the manga. Also, during its original appearance in the anime with Raiga, the swords were depicted without tsuba and single-edged blades. Its later depiction in the anime/consistent manga appearance with Ameyuri added tsuba and double-edges to the swords' design.
 * While the nature of their abilities are fundamentally the same in their manga début, it has yet to be seen if they can be connected.
 * In the anime, although Omoi receives the swords from Ameyuri, he was never seen wielding or even carrying them afterwards.
 * Kiba's name and appearance is most likely based off of an old and rare style of Chinese sword of the same appearance and name.