Chapter 168: I Acknowledge Your Ability
Purple Cat laid down a code near the reefs and returned to Yoru’s side.
“What’s wrong? Captain?” she asked, seeing Fox lost in thought, staring at the sea surface.
“Nothing, I was just reminiscing about some past events,” Yoru said.
“Before you joined the Anbu, I was initially a regular Anbu Ninja under Captain Antelope.
At that time, our squad patrolled the shores of the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves.
Every mission felt like it could be a life-or-death situation, and indeed, some were.
Horned Ox died, Purple Cat. The previous Anbu who wore your mask died, and Captain Antelope died.
My Squad Leader, Brown Bear, also died.
My later captain, Kurozaru, lost both his arms and retired due to his injuries.
Now that I’m a Jonin, my feelings are different. Back then, the sea itself terrified me. Hearing a single bird call in the sound of the waves would make me jump out from behind a resting reef.”
“Every Anbu Ninja has gone through something like this. When I first joined the Anbu, I felt even surveillance missions within the village were full of danger.
I never felt the village was dangerous when I used to shop and stroll through parks in Konoha Village.
It even felt dangerous within the Senju Clan’s compound.”
“Yes, it’s all different now.”
Several hours later, Flower Deer Squad returned first.
Flower Deer approached Yoru and said,
“Squad Leader, we interrogated a prisoner and obtained intelligence that Hidden Mist Village’s strategy for this war is one of irregular harassment.
Mist Ninja squads, platoons, and companies will conduct multiple harassments with varying strength and frequency, searching for Konoha squads or platoons isolated along the coastline to encircle and slaughter.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, acting as an independent force, are a crucial element of this harassment strategy.
Sometimes the Seven Ninja Swordsmen act together, sometimes in pairs. The lower-ranking Mist Ninja are unaware of their whereabouts.”
“No pattern, that’s a bit troublesome.”
“I understand. You should continue your reconnaissance,” Yoru said.
After Flower Deer Squad left, Yoru took Purple Cat and they moved away from their original spot, patrolling the coastline.
Somewhere on the eastern coast of the Land of Whirlpools.
Special Jonin Shirakumo Hayama and his squad were resting under a leeward reef.
Tejuno, one of his subordinates, watched the other two squad members setting up traps in the distance and approached Shirakumo Hayama, whispering, “Captain, does something feel off?”
Shirakumo Hayama put down his water bottle and immediately looked out at the sea, but found nothing unusual.
“It’s not the Mist Ninja, I mean, the 1,000 reinforcements summoned this time are strange,” Tejuno said.
“Our squad is part of those 1,000 new reinforcements.
Captain, during the War of the Land of Rivers, Lord White Fang rewarded you with a ninjutsu and recommended you become a Special Jonin.
On the way to the Land of Whirlpools, I noticed that all the Special Jonin recommended by Lord White Fang have been sent to the front lines here.
During the War of the Land of Rivers, Lord White Fang recommended a total of 11 Special Jonin, and all 11 are here.
For example, Special Jonin Shinma, whom you are acquainted with, was assigned a coastal section like us immediately upon arrival.
Lord White Fang himself, however, is not here. Is there something problematic about this?”
“Don’t overthink it. Focus on completing the mission,” Shirakumo Hayama said.
Despite his words, he took a large gulp of water, trying to quell his unease.
After the War of the Land of Rivers, Commander-in-Chief Nara Shikaku recommended several Jonin. However, the recommendations for Lord White Fang and Deputy Commander Princess Tsunade were rejected by the Jonin class.
Nara Shikaku stated they were not yet skilled enough to be Jonin and needed to continue growing.
Shirakumo Hayama and others, appreciated by Lord White Fang and recommended as Special Jonin, naturally became his followers.
Lord White Fang himself applied to come to the Land of Whirlpools, but the higher-ups did not agree.
If all these 11 Special Jonin die, wouldn’t Lord White Fang’s strength be severely diminished?
A strange whistling sound echoed through the air!
Shirakumo Hayama threw down his water bottle and immediately drew his long sword.
“Careful! Enemy attack!”
A cold glint pierced the white spray of the waves, shooting rapidly towards the shore.
Shirakumo Hayama saw one of his subordinates with his abdomen impaled.
“Long Sword: Sewing Needle! It’s one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!”
Shirakumo Hayama gripped the hilt of the ninja sword with his palm, formed a hand seal, and swung his long sword.
“Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!”
This was a ninjutsu rewarded to him by Lord White Fang, and he used it with swift proficiency.
A blade of wind shot out with his sword swing, flying towards the steel wire behind the Long Sword: Sewing Needle.
If the wire was cut, the Long Sword: Sewing Needle would be left stranded on the shore.
“Flounder: Release!”
At this moment, a sword light condensed from chakra, shaped like a flounder, plowed through the hard reef, and with a powerful shockwave, it blocked the space between the Long Sword: Sewing Needle and the Vacuum Sword’s air blade.
Shirakumo Hayama inwardly cursed his misfortune. Another Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Twin Blades Flounder?
Chakra materialized; this was one of the highest abilities in the ninja world, the signature ability of Twin Blades Flounder!
Hozuki Ringo, wielding twin swords, cast a contemptuous glance at Kusarinotsurumaru, who had just crawled out of the seawater.
“I won’t repeat myself a third time. Long Sword: Sewing Needle should be aimed directly at the enemy’s head, throat, or heart, not become a tool for you to torture enemies.”
Kusarinotsurumaru tugged on the steel wire, retracting his Long Sword: Sewing Needle.
The Konoha ninja’s abdomen had been pierced twice, back and forth, but he didn’t die immediately. The two puncture wounds were deliberately placed lower in the abdomen.
“Heh heh,” Kusarinotsurumaru said.
“Elder Genshi has already granted me Long Sword: Sewing Needle. I am the first owner of Long Sword: Sewing Needle in Hidden Mist Village. How this blade is used from now on is my own business.
Hozuki Ringo, don’t you dare order me around just because Second Hokage Hozuki Gengetsu forged the Seven Ninja Swords.
The era of your Hozuki Clan is over.”
“The first owner of Hidden Mist Village’s Long Sword: Sewing Needle?” Hozuki Ringo said angrily.
“Within the Hozuki Clan, Long Sword: Sewing Needle has had at least three owners. What do they count for?”
“What do they count for? They count for having stained my blade!”
Shirakumo Hayama listened to the two Mist Ninja bickering, but his tension grew.
They were so powerful that they bickered in front of an enemy, showing no regard for the Konoha squad.
Angered by Kusarinotsurumaru, Hozuki Ringo vented his fury on the Konoha squad.
Twin Blades Flounder could erupt chakra into gaseous light spheres of chakra.
The reefs by the sea were no match for the chakra light blades of Twin Blades Flounder.
“Retreat!” Shirakumo Hayama immediately ordered.
He and his squad were no match for two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Tejuno helped up the comrade whose abdomen had been pierced, while Shirakumo Hayama covered their retreat.
“See? I injured him instead of killing him. Didn’t that slow them down?” Kusarinotsurumaru said.
“Shut up!” Hozuki Ringo said. “Kill that Konoha squad leader. His Wind Release ninjutsu is rather interesting. He’ll be at least a Jonin if he grows.”
Kusarinotsurumaru acted as if he hadn’t heard, bypassing the Konoha squad leader and heading straight for the injured Konoha members in the rear.
Hozuki Ringo’s eyes were filled with disdain.
Piercing enemies with steel wire and feeling the tremors and shudders transmitted through the wire was Kusarinotsurumaru’s favorite pastime.
Every enemy in his hands was tortured to death, played with until they died.
Kusarinotsurumaru had nearly caused missions to fail multiple times for the sake of torturing enemies.
Hozuki Ringo had to take action himself.
Wielding his twin swords, he once again swung a chakra light blade towards Shirakumo Hayama.
Shirakumo Hayama glanced at his injured teammate behind him and had no choice but to endure this attack.
He formed a hand seal and poured all his chakra into his long sword.
“Vacuum Sword!”
Over a dozen wind blades, accompanied by a fierce gale, flew towards Flounder’s chakra light blade.
However, the wind blades were not as strong as the chakra light blade. Vacuum Sword was also not adept at breaking through defenses; it was a swordsmanship style focused on high-frequency attacks and agility.
Flounder’s chakra light blade, bearing the brunt of over a dozen Vacuum Swords, still sliced through them.
Shirakumo Hayama’s face was illuminated by the glow.
At that moment, a figure instantly appeared before him.
After a brilliant burst of light, Shirakumo Hayama saw a person’s back.
His hands were extended forward, palms open, and he had actually blocked Flounder’s chakra light blade with his bare hands?
Black smoke rose from his palms, but his hands themselves only darkened slightly.
Shirakumo Hayama saw the person in front turn around, revealing a fox mask.
“Shirakumo Hayama, leave this to me. You go deal with Kusarinotsurumaru,” Yoru said.
“I am Konoha Anbu Jonin Fox. I have a mission for you: seize Long Sword: Sewing Needle.”
“Understood!”
Shirakumo Hayama quickly turned and charged towards Kusarinotsurumaru.
It was Copper Fox!
Shirakumo Hayama had just withdrawn from the War of the Land of Rivers and had heard Copper Fox’s name many times.
That rising star of the Anbu had performed exceptionally well in several missions.
A portion of the Hokage’s prestige came from the sacrifices made by many Anbu Ninjas who fought for Konoha at any cost.
Copper Fox had killed the daughter-in-law of Elder Chiyo of Hidden Sand Village. His strength had been proven on the battlefield.
Shirakumo Hayama looked at Kusarinotsurumaru. This person seemed easier to handle than Hozuki Ringo.
He had to complete Jonin Fox’s order and seize Long Sword: Sewing Needle.
Yoru retracted his palms, blowing on his scorching hands through the narrow slit of the fox mask’s mouth.
The Absolute Defense Bronze Light on his palms hadn’t been broken, but his hands were burning hot under the attack of the chakra light blade.
Absolute Defense Bronze Light was more suited for dealing with physical attacks. Chakra light blades, which combined energy and impact, were somewhat strenuous for Absolute Defense Bronze Light to handle.
Yoru had personally witnessed Hatake Sakumo bestow Vacuum Sword upon Shirakumo Hayama and knew that Hatake Sakumo had recommended Shirakumo Hayama as a Special Jonin, which was why he intervened to save him.
Shirakumo Hayama was one of Hatake Sakumo’s followers, and judging from the original manga, Shirakumo Hayama would grow into a standard Jonin.
Hozuki Ringo stared in shock at the suddenly appearing Anbu.
Since when could the attacks of Twin Blades Flounder be caught with bare hands?
Hozuki Ringo looked at the Konoha Anbu’s hands, which were still tinged with a reddish-copper color, and immediately recalled a piece of intelligence.
Among the Konoha Anbu, a new prodigy had emerged, a recipient of the title ‘Copper Fox’ from Hidden Sand Village.
Copper Fox possessed an Absolute Defense Secret Jutsu, making him impervious to ordinary attacks.
Yoru instantly moved towards Hozuki Ringo. Seizing Long Sword: Sewing Needle would be good, but if he could also take Twin Blades Flounder, Hidden Mist Village would be even more furious.
Twin Blades Flounder was the second strongest of the Seven Ninja Swords, second only to Samehada, capable of efficiently utilizing chakra and possessing immense attack power.
Seeing Copper Fox approach, Hozuki Ringo rapidly retreated.
Engaging a taijutsu-based ninja with absolute defense in close combat was suicidal.
Hozuki Ringo quickly retreated onto the sea surface and once again swung Twin Blades Flounder.
A chakra light blade shot out. This time, Hozuki Ringo was serious, his aura stronger, his power greater. The chakra light blade slashed fiercely towards Yoru.
Yoru quickly dodged to the side.
The residual power of the chakra light blade was enough to severely injure other ninja, but for Yoru, it only managed to graze his clothes.
Forcefully withstanding the second chakra light blade, Yoru rushed in front of Hozuki Ringo and punched him squarely on the head.
However, Yoru only managed to detonate a ball of water.
Hozuki Ringo could also ignore physical attacks, evading them with Water Transformation Technique.
However, Yoru had a backup plan.
“Karma Seal of Retribution!”
This technique was now revealed.
After forming a hand seal, the curse mark crawled onto Hozuki Ringo’s body.
All his joints were locked.
In the next instant, Hozuki Ringo collapsed entirely and fell into the sea.
Yoru suddenly understood why Five Release ninja were so powerful.
If he knew just one Lightning Release ninjutsu now, he wouldn’t be so helpless against the Hozuki Clan’s Water Transformation Secret Jutsu.
A single finger extended from the sea’s surface.
“Water Gun Technique!”
A seal-less, instantaneous, and extremely concealed water bullet shot from the fingertip, striking Yoru’s throat.
Fortunately, Yoru was cautious and maintained his Bronze Light, so his throat was not pierced.
Water Gun Technique? This seal-less ninjutsu was interesting, perfect for ambushing others, making it impossible to guard against.
Yoru had considered learning Rasengan, but what Rasengan could do, a regular kunai could also accomplish.
Wind Release Chakra was his third element, and developing Rasengan further on the wind element would be extremely difficult.
Water Gun Technique was good; it compensated for his lack of seal-less ninjutsu.
Yoru looked up at the moon in the sky. He hadn’t died during this full moon cycle, and the next full moon was not far off.
If he didn’t die soon, it would be a waste.
Hozuki Ringo’s Water Transformation Technique, or Water Gun Technique, could both improve him.
He took a step back and said,
“Ninja of the Hozuki Clan, I acknowledge your abilities. You are worthy of becoming one of my collections.
Come, unleash your strongest ability and kill me.”
Hozuki Ringo’s eyelids twitched incessantly, clearly enraged. “Your arrogance disgusts me. This is what I hate most about Konoha. Konoha Village always produces some detestable geniuses.”
The two engaged in fierce combat once more.
Under Hozuki Ringo’s chakra, Flounder swelled to the size of Samehada.
The chakra light blade illuminated the sea surface, clearly revealing even the fish swimming at the bottom.
After repeated collisions, Yoru had probed Hozuki Ringo’s limits.
Hozuki Ringo could not kill Yoru, but it wouldn’t be easy for Yoru to kill him either.
One possessed Water Transformation Technique, and the other had Absolute Defense Bronze Light.
It was about time. The intel on Hozuki Ringo’s attack patterns and abilities had been gathered.
At a certain moment, Yoru subtly dispersed the Absolute Defense Bronze Light.
Hozuki Ringo’s Water Gun bullet pierced Yoru’s temple.
Hozuki Ringo was stunned. Such a powerful Konoha Anbu, killed by his carelessness?
Was he really that strong?
【Detected host death, Moon Arc System initializing···】
