The old man's arrogant laughter, his utter disregard for them, was grating to the ears.
But considering who he might be, it was only natural that he wouldn't take a few academy brats seriously.
The peculiar "blade" strapped to his back—if Yagura wasn't mistaken, that had to be the Blunt Blade: Kabutowari.
"You're... Jinin Akebino?"
Hearing his name, Jinin raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Hah?" His gaze swept over Yagura like he was staring at a clueless country bumpkin. "Do you even need to ask, kid? What, you wanna see for yourself how sharp Kabutowari really is?"
Despite being called a "blade," Kabutowari was actually a combination of a hammer and a short axe. It was said to be capable of breaking through any defense.
Yagura studied Kabutowari closely. Even without experiencing it firsthand, he could tell the axe blade was dangerously sharp.
Under the table, his right hand twitched in anticipation as he clenched his fingers tightly. Then, with a solemn expression, he spoke: "If possible, I'd like to test whether Kabutowari is truly as fearsome as the rumors say, Jinin-senpai."
"Hey!"
Mangetsu suddenly appeared behind Yagura, gripping his shoulder and pulling him back with a horrified expression.
"Are you insane?"
Sure, he acknowledged that Yagura was strong.
But this man was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! The seven strongest shinobi in Kirigakure beneath the Mizukage himself!
At least, according to the village's official rankings.
No matter how much of a prodigy Yagura was, there was no way he could be a match for one of them!
Besides, the Seven Swordsmen were infamous for their brutality. They weren't the type to hold back just because their opponent was a kid!
Yagura gently removed Mangetsu's hand and smiled.
"Relax, Mangetsu. I know what I'm doing."
Then, his eyes gleamed with battle intent as he fixed his gaze on Jinin.
From the moment he arrived in this world and learned of his identity, he had never slacked in his training for even a single day.
He had already sparred with numerous members of the Karatachi Clan back home—winning some fights, losing others. Even the clan's elder had acknowledged him as the most gifted Karatachi in their history.
But no matter how strong his clanmates were, they were still family. They would always hold back, even if only a little.
Now, Mangetsu and Zabuza were no longer suitable opponents for him.
(The two of them: Hey! What the hell?!)
And now, by chance, he had encountered one of the Seven Swordsmen.
He couldn't let this opportunity slip away. He wanted to know exactly where he stood.
"Interesting."
Jinin was slightly drunk, but not enough to dull his instincts. His years of battle experience told him this kid wasn't ordinary.
"What's your name?"
"Karatachi Yagura."
"Yagura... a good name."
Jinin nodded slightly, committing the name to memory before shifting his gaze to Mangetsu.
Mangetsu still wasn't convinced. As his eyes met Jinin's, he hesitated before stepping forward hesitantly.
"Uh... Jinin-sama, I'm Hōzuki Mangetsu. This guy doesn't know his place—please forgive him..."
"Enough with the nonsense."
Jinin waved him off dismissively, not giving any special treatment to the Hōzuki name.
"Hōzuki Mangetsu... I've heard of you. They say you're the most talented of your generation. Looking at you now, though, I have my doubts."
Mangetsu stiffened. "I..."
Zabuza, who had been silent, snorted in amusement and turned his head away, refusing to look at the fool making a scene. Even the usually reserved Onime Kaede did the same.
Mangetsu fell silent. Slowly, his gaze shifted to Yagura, his eyes filled with desire.
He wanted to know, too. How strong was Yagura? Just how big was the gap between them?
With Mangetsu finally shutting up, Jinin stroked his scruffy goatee, intrigued as he continued studying Yagura.
What a monster.
He was just a kid, and yet his chakra levels were already higher than most Chūnin.
Not only that, but his chakra had an unsettling quality to it.
What the hell? Was his mother teaching him how to refine chakra while he was still in the womb?
Jinin trusted his battle instincts. He had never been wrong before. He chuckled darkly.
"Alright then, I'll humor you with a single exchange. Let's take this outside."
Yagura immediately jumped off his chair, eager to move before Jinin could change his mind.
The ramen shop owner panicked and hurried after them. "L-Lord Jinin, please don't fight in front of my shop!"
"Relax, it's just one move. If anything gets broken, that brat'll pay for it! The Hōzuki Clan isn't short on money!"
Mangetsu blinked. "...Huh?"
Did he just get volunteered to cover damages?
"???!??!??!"
Was this guy even human?!
...
Just one move, huh?
Yagura quickly ran through his available techniques in his mind.
The strongest—and most fitting—option was obvious.
He placed a hand on Zabuza's sheathed sword.
"Lend me your blade for a second, Zabuza."
Zabuza said nothing but instinctively stepped back, allowing Yagura to take the weapon.
"Thanks, man."
A casual phrase, spoken naturally. Zabuza just scoffed and looked away.
As Jinin lazily took his position, Yagura focused all his attention on him.
His presence was intimidating.
Kicking at the dirt beneath his feet, Jinin casually picked his ear and said,
"Come on, kid. Show me if you've got anything that can even make me itch."
Yagura made no immediate move. His eyes flicked past Jinin, toward the still-strapped Kabutowari.
Jinin smirked, immediately guessing what he was thinking.
"You think I need Kabutowari to handle a brat like you? If I used it, my comrades would drown me in their spit from the shame."
So he was being underestimated.
"In that case... I'll make you use Kabutowari!"
Lightning Release!
With that declaration, chakra surged through Yagura's body, electricity crackling over his skin as he bent his knees and planted his right foot firmly on the ground. His grip tightened around the hilt.
Boom!
He unleashed even more chakra, forcing his body to its very limits.
Lightning exploded beneath his feet, scorching the earth as his muscles tensed in preparation.
Against a true elite—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Yagura held nothing back.
Mangetsu, Zabuza, and Kaede watched in stunned silence.
Compared to this, the sparring match against Zabuza had been nothing more than child's play.
For the first time, Jinin's casual demeanor shifted. He was getting excited.
Yagura exhaled deeply.
Then, he moved.
A blinding streak of steel and lightning surged forward, too fast for the naked eye to track.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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