Chapter 167: Seven Ninja Swords
Seeing the Fox’s confusion, Kiiroinu said:
“The Seven Ninja Swords are the seven famous blades forged by the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu. The Hozuki Clan possesses the summoning scrolls for the Seven Ninja Swords.
Whether the Seven Ninja Swords are the heritage left by Hozuki Gengetsu to the Hozuki Clan, or the heritage left by the Second Mizukage to the village, there is endless debate inside the Hidden Mist Village.
The current high-ranking officials of the Hidden Mist Village believe that the materials for the Seven Ninja Swords were all provided by the village, so they rightfully belong to the Hidden Mist Village.
The internal conflict and infighting in the Hidden Mist Village are much more severe than in our Konoha. The selection of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen is fiercely competitive inside the Hidden Mist Village, with frequent deaths.
The Hidden Mist Village does not recognize Hozuki Clan ninjas as inheritors of the Seven Ninja Swords and has been demanding that the Hozuki Clan hand over all of the Seven Ninja Swords.”
Yoru thought to himself, you know that our Konoha has severe internal conflict too.
But in the Ninja World where everyone is rotten, the Hidden Mist Village is indeed even rottener than Konoha.
Kiiroinu continued:
“The elder Yuan Shi, who is currently in power in the Hidden Mist Village, has been pushing for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to become the Hidden Mist Village’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen, rather than the Hozuki Clan’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
After the Second Hozuki Gengetsu died, under pressure from the village, especially the demands of the Third Mizukage and Yuan Shi.
The Hozuki Clan handed over the less important ninja swords: the broken blade Kubikiribocho, the long sword Sewing Needle, and the blunt blade Kabutowari—these three ninja swords to the village.
The powerful ninja swords—the great sword Samehada, the twin blades Kiba, the explosive blade Shibuki, and the thunder blade Nuibari—these four ninja swords remain in the hands of the Hozuki Clan.
Around the Seven Ninja Swords, the jonin inside the Hidden Mist Village fight fiercely. Obtaining one of the Seven Ninja Swords grants the strength and status of an elite jonin—who among the jonin wouldn’t be tempted?
What we need to do is seize one of the ninja swords. If handled well, it can even ignite the internal conflict in the Hidden Mist Village.”
Yoru pondered it over. If it were against ninja swords like the long sword Sewing Needle or Kubikiribocho, which mainly rely on physical attacks, he wouldn’t be afraid.
The scheme proposed by Kiiroinu was not entirely unfeasible.
Kiiroinu’s great merit for promotion to vice minister could indeed be built upon the Seven Ninja Swords.
Tsunade led the support troops into the front line camp.
Yoru followed Kiiroinu into the headquarters tent.
On the presidium of the headquarters tent, Danzo sat in the center.
Danzo was always expressionless, his right eye wrapped in bandage, revealing nothing.
Uchiha Kane beside Danzo had a very ugly expression.
Uchiha Kane and the Uchiha Clan were not having an easy time on the front line.
Fire Release is countered by Water Style, and Sharingan is countered by the Mist Technique.
Uchiha Kane saw Tsunade, and there was a hint of expectation in his gaze.
For a Uchiha to expect the arrival of a member of the Senju Clan—this was absolutely impossible before.
After Danzo briefly spoke a few words with Tsunade, Tsunade left with several medical jonin to take over the front line medical post.
After Tsunade left, Danzo looked toward Kiiroinu.
Kiiroinu stepped forward proactively and said:
“Lord Danzo, the War of the Land of Whirlpools cannot be delayed any longer.
Oonoki and the Hidden Cloud Village held secret talks, but had no intention of any negotiations with our Konoha.
The Hidden Cloud Village could withdraw from the Land of Earth at any time and turn to attack the Land of Fire’s vassal, the Land of Hot Water.
The Hidden Cloud Village is the strongest ninja village among the five great ninja villages besides Konoha. The Hokage believes that Konoha must go all out to counter the threat from the Hidden Cloud Village.
Therefore, the War of the Land of Whirlpools should end as soon as possible.
After analysis, the Hokage believes we can start with the Seven Ninja Swords, widen the cracks within the Hidden Mist Village, incite internal conflict in the Hidden Mist Village, and thereby end the war.
My battalion came to the front line only to carry out the Hokage’s mission.”
Kiiroinu used the Hokage as an excuse everywhere, leaving Danzo unable to say anything as he looked at the scroll handed over by Kiiroinu.
The scroll contained a mission document personally written by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo said:
“As the Anbu Minister, I approve your action.
The Crocodile Turtle Captain is dead. I recommend Otoyo to replace Crocodile Turtle as captain. Did you bring back Hiruzen Sarutobi’s approval scroll?”
Kiiroinu brought the Hokage-assigned Seven Ninja Swords mission, representing the Hokage directly interfering in the front line command.
Danzo said nothing about it, instead bringing up the matter of making Root’s Otoyo the Anbu Captain.
Danzo’s meaning was: you Hiruzen Sarutobi can interfere, and I even know your little schemes—you just want to promote an Anbu vice minister to power.
But, one Anbu battalion must belong to Danzo.
Danzo directly controls the Lynx and Bay Leopard battalions. If Otoyo becomes captain and dons the Crocodile Turtle mask, then Danzo would command three Anbu battalions.
In that case, giving Kiiroinu the Anbu vice minister position wouldn’t be impossible.
Danzo asking Kiiroinu if he brought Otoyo’s captain appointment was negotiating terms with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Yoru discovered that Kiiroinu wasn’t afraid of Danzo at all.
Kiiroinu raised his head and said:
“Lord Danzo, the Hokage agrees for Otoyo to temporarily act as captain, serving as the temporary captain of the original Crocodile Turtle Battalion.
As for the official captain selection, after the War of the Land of Whirlpools ends, the Hokage will decide together with you.
This is the Hokage’s appointment scroll for the temporary captain of the Crocodile Turtle Battalion.”
Otoyo nearby slightly shook his head, staring directly at Kiiroinu.
Yoru turned his head to stare at Otoyo, supporting Kiiroinu Captain with his action.
Yoru did not hesitate to speculate on Danzo with the greatest malice.
Danzo came to the Land of Whirlpools this time without bringing his direct subordinates Lynx or Bay Leopard Battalion, but brought the Crocodile Turtle Battalion.
Now that Crocodile Turtle is dead, it’s hard to guarantee it wasn’t Danzo’s secret design.
Hearing that Hiruzen Sarutobi did not agree for Otoyo to formally become Anbu Captain, Danzo did not erupt on the spot. After a few seconds of silence, he said:
“Kiiroinu, go execute Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mission first.”
Yoru followed Kiiroinu out. When turning his head, he glanced at Uchiha Kane, who had been silently standing by the side.
Poor Uchiha Kane—being in the same tent with Danzo must feel like falling into an ice cellar.
After leaving the headquarters tent and briefly resting in the Kiiroinu Battalion’s tent area, the battalion headed straight for the coastline and spread out along it.
Yoru said to his three squad leaders, Aries, antelope, and Hanashika:
“The three squads spread out and patrol the nearby 30 kilometers of coastline.
Your mission is to search for the Seven Ninja Swords.
When encountering Mist ninjas, capture and interrogate them if possible to obtain intelligence on the Seven Ninja Swords.
If you capture valuable prisoners, bring them to me so Purple Cat can extract intelligence.
If you encounter the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, do not rashly charge in—contact me as soon as possible.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are to be dealt with by the entire battalion; they are not something we can handle.”
After the three squads departed, Yoru stood on a reef, gazing at the sea surface under the night sky.
Wave after wave rolled toward the shore.
During the day, sea breezes blew by the seaside; at night, land breezes blew by the seaside.
The wind blew from behind him toward the direction of the sea.
Yoru recalled when he had just transmigrated and was sent to the Land of Waves for a mission, patrolling the seaside and encountering many dangers.
His squad leader at the time was Brown Bear, and his second squad leader was Kurozaru.
Now he was a squad leader too, and had also scattered three squads along the coastline.
He wondered if the Brown Bear Squad Leader back then had the same mood—irritated yet expectant.
