"Hehe, this proves that Kazuki is still incredibly powerful, having created so many impressive inventions! And to think, a genius like Kazuki is the apprentice of Might Guy!"
Just imagining this dynamic filled Might Guy with immense pride.
"Let's go!"
Kazuki leaped onto the back of a mechanical bird he had summoned. Might Guy nodded and, without hesitation, grabbed Tazuna by the collar, hoisting him onto the bird as well.
The metallic wings spread wide, catching the wind before lifting off. As they soared higher, the ground below shrank, with trees, buildings, and people becoming mere specks in their vision.
After several hours, they finally reached the border of the Land of Waves.
The weather was gloomy, as expected. Being an island nation, the Land of Waves experienced frequent rainfall, and although it wasn't raining at the moment, the sky was heavily overcast. A dense fog began to rise from below, making aerial travel too risky.
"We don't have much distance left to cover. If we walk, we should reach our destination in about two hours," Kazuki informed them before dismissing the mechanical bird.
Once on foot, Tazuna took the lead, navigating familiar terrain. Kazuki and Might Guy flanked him, one on the left and the other guarding from behind.
Now that they had officially entered the Land of Waves, they had to stay alert. According to the timeline, Gato's group had already taken control of the region, making an ambush highly likely.
As they walked across a large, stagnant marshland, Kazuki's sharp eyes lingered on the murky water for a brief moment before he looked away, feigning indifference.
What a bunch of amateurs.
Just as they moved past the area, a head suddenly emerged from the water with a splash.
"Shhh—"
The distinct sound of chains being rapidly unfurled cut through the silence, followed by the chilling voice of an attacker.
Two figures appeared behind them, seemingly from nowhere.
"Tch!"
The chains shot forward, aiming to bind Kazuki in an instant.
But before they could even react, a brilliant white light streaked across the air.
The sound of a blade being unsheathed echoed sharply, followed by a flash as swift as a shooting star.
With a precise 180-degree turn, Kazuki's sword cut through both attackers in one fluid motion. The blade gleamed momentarily before he smoothly returned it to its sheath.
The two assassins froze.
A second passed. Then—
Splurt!
Bright red blood gushed from their severed arteries, spraying onto the surrounding ground like a fountain. Even the droplets that landed on Kazuki seemed to vanish, as if washed away by an unseen force.
The attackers' eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
They hadn't expected to die at the hands of a mere twelve-year-old.
But regret was no longer an option.
The life drained from their eyes, and their bodies collapsed backward, lifeless.
"Ugh—"
Watching the gruesome scene unfold, Tazuna, an ordinary man unaccustomed to such brutality, clutched his stomach and retched on the side.
"Kazuki, your fighting style is getting more and more ruthless," Might Guy sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Kazuki smirked. "Why waste a second move when one is enough?"
Might Guy shook his head. "Do whatever you want."
Although the method was merciless, it was undeniably efficient. His student's mental fortitude had grown significantly—a direct result of their training journey together.
While Might Guy usually fostered a nurturing, passionate bond with his disciples, he also knew that in the real world, strength and decisiveness were crucial.
Shifting his gaze to Tazuna, he noticed the older man trembling slightly, eyes averted in guilt.
"Mr. Tazuna," Might Guy said with a sharp yet calm tone, "you seem to have withheld some crucial details about this mission, haven't you?"
Judging from the characteristics of these two corpses, although they were wandering ninja, they at least had the strength of Chūnin.
In Konoha's mission classification system, any task that involves combat against ninja is at least a B-rank mission.
"Why did you lie about the mission level?"
"You… how do you know they were after me?" Tazuna stammered, trying to deflect suspicion. He pointed at Kazuki in desperation, attempting to shift the topic. "They—they attacked him just now!"
Seeing that Tazuna was still unwilling to admit the truth, Might Guy spoke firmly.
"Mr. Tazuna, if you refuse to be honest, we have no choice but to terminate this mission. As Konoha shinobi, we have the right to withdraw if a mission's true nature contradicts the initial information provided. If you don't come clean, this is where our mission ends. From this point on, Konoha will have no responsibility for your safety."
Faced with Guy's unyielding stance, Tazuna fell silent, his expression shifting several times before he finally sighed and lowered his head.
"I did hide something from you…"
At last, Tazuna revealed the true situation in the Land of Waves.
After hearing everything, Might Guy found himself in a dilemma. In addition to the two rogue Chūnin they had just defeated, they could potentially encounter missing-nin at the Jōnin level. This was no longer a simple B-rank mission.
Given the difficulty of the battle ahead, this mission had already reached A-rank status.
A-rank missions were highly dangerous—even for elite ninja like Might Guy, the mortality rate was significant. That alone showed how perilous this task truly was.
"Kazuki, what do you want to do?" Guy asked.
"Guy Sensei, let's continue the mission," Kazuki replied, his eyes flickering with determination.
Might Guy's expression froze slightly. From Kazuki's deep, night-like eyes, he thought he could see… excitement?
Recalling Kazuki's current strength—even capable of battling Jōnin-level opponents—Guy nodded.
"Alright, then we'll proceed with the mission."
The group set off again.
Although they had already reached the Land of Waves, they still had some distance to cover before reaching Tazuna's home.
As they walked through a secluded forest path, both Kazuki and Might Guy remained more alert than before. But staying on the defensive wasn't their style. Since Might Guy lacked sensory abilities, the task of reconnaissance naturally fell to Kazuki.
Kazuki reached into his pouch and pulled out a small bag, scattering its contents onto the ground.
What appeared to be tiny, mouse-shaped toys—each the size of a fingernail—numbered in the hundreds.
Scouting Rats – Three-Star Ninja Tool
Possesses high sensitivity to chakra and elemental fluctuations.
All gathered information is shared in real-time.
These hundreds of scouting rats could quickly map the entire surrounding area and relay detailed intel directly into Kazuki's mind.
With their assistance, Kazuki's reconnaissance abilities rivaled those of professional sensory ninja.
"Guy Sensei, someone's coming," Kazuki reported as the scouting rats transmitted their findings.
Might Guy immediately trusted his words and nodded. "Kazuki, protect Mr. Tazuna."
A strong presence suddenly approached. Even with his lack of sensory abilities, Might Guy could feel the powerful chakra signature closing in.
"Whoosh—!"
A blurred figure darted through the trees before landing on a thick branch ahead of them.
A man with black hair, a massive sword strapped to his back, and a scratched-out forehead protector stood before them. His lower face and neck were wrapped in bandages.
Kazuki instantly recognized him.
The "Demon of the Hidden Mist"—Zabuza Momochi.
"Oh? You don't look surprised. Did you sense me beforehand?" Zabuza mused, unsheathing his massive Kubikiribōchō—the Executioner's Blade.
His gaze locked onto the only one wearing a Konoha headband.
Then, his eyes narrowed slightly in confusion.
Might Guy's bright green jumpsuit and distinct bowl-cut hairstyle were… hard to ignore.
Who was this guy?
Visit patreon.com/shirokendama for more chapters