Chapter 23: Refusing a Toast Only to Drink a Forfeit
"Don't be impulsive."
Uehara Naraka nonchalantly held a card between his fingers.
The thin card in his hand blocked the edge of the Executioner's Blade. This sight sent a chill down Zabuza Momochi's spine. Could a mere ordinary playing card block the Executioner's Blade?
Uehara flicked his wrist, throwing the card at Zabuza Momochi!
Zabuza Momochi hastily withdrew the Executioner's Blade to defend. He saw the card pierce into the Executioner's Blade, getting stuck in the blade's surface!
Uehara Naraka looked up and continued slowly, "Mr. Zabuza, people who know too many secrets usually don't live long..."
In reality, these words could only fool ordinary people.
Looking across the entire ninja world, the more one knew, the longer one lived, like Black Zetsu; muddle-headed fools like Zabuza Momochi, conversely, often died young.
"Hmph!"
Zabuza snorted coldly, his expression arrogant, "Who do you think you are? Kid, reveal your identity and purpose for going to the Land of Water now, and you might suffer less!"
"Are you sure you want me to reveal it?"
A mysterious smile played on Uehara Naraka's lips. He looked mockingly at Zabuza Momochi and said word by word, "My purpose in going to the Land of Water is to guide one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen to assassinate their Mizukage. Is this... what you wanted?"
"..."
Zabuza Momochi's mind reeled, killing intent pouring from his body. He stared deadly at Uehara Naraka, his sharp gaze seemingly wanting to cut the boy into a thousand pieces!
Because Uehara Naraka had hit precisely upon his secret ambition.
Every ambitious ninja in Kirigakure (Village Hidden by Mist) could see how much harm the Fourth Mizukage Yagura's Bloody Mist Policy was doing to the village; none didn't want to change this situation.
Zabuza Momochi was precisely one of them.
During his time at the Ninja Academy, he had resolved to change the Village of the Bloody Mist, even going so far as to brazenly kill all his classmates during the kill-each-other graduation exam, forcing the Kirigakure higher-ups to abolish this assessment method that threatened to deplete Kirigakure's ninja ranks.
After Zabuza Momochi reached adulthood, he joined the Mist ANBU. His strength grew continuously, earning him the title "Demon of the Hidden Mist" in the ninja world. Not long ago, he had just taken possession of the returned Executioner's Blade, becoming one of the second generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Since obtaining the Executioner's Blade, new thoughts had stirred in Zabuza Momochi's heart. He believed his strength was now sufficient, so for the past few days, he had been plotting to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage Yagura and change all of Kirigakure.
If the plan succeeded, everything would naturally go smoothly.
If the plan failed, then he had to prepare to flee.
Zabuza Momochi appearing in the Land of Waves this time was precisely to find an escape route. After he returned, he planned to find an opportunity to assassinate the Mizukage.
The boy before him seemed to have seen right through his thoughts! Clearly, this plan had always been hidden in his own heart, never mentioned to anyone.
Zabuza Momochi felt very panicked. He wanted to chop off Uehara Naraka's head with one blow, yet also wanted to find out from his mouth which of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen the kid intended to incite to assassinate the Mizukage.
If Uehara Naraka said his name, Zabuza Momochi would risk his own life to cut off his head with one slash...
If Uehara Naraka said someone else's name, Zabuza Momochi would probe that person upon returning to the village, see if they could act together...
Of course, regardless of whether their future assassination of the Mizukage succeeded or not, he would eventually have to chop off Uehara Naraka's head. As for whether he could chop it off, they'd see when the time came.
He was just that kind of ninja who acted swiftly on grudges and favors.
Thinking of this, Zabuza Momochi stared at Uehara and said contemptuously, "Hmph, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are the seven strongest swordsmanship masters in our village, the ninjas most loyal to Lord Mizukage. How could they assassinate the Mizukage because of a kid like you?"
Changing the subject, Zabuza Momochi's eyes instantly filled with killing intent, "Or perhaps, you kid have already colluded with one of the traitors... Kid, tell me his name, and maybe I'll be willing to spare your life!"
"I can't tell Mr. Zabuza the name just yet."
Uehara Naraka leaned back against the boat cabin, sitting down. He gently shook his head, a mocking smile reappearing on his face, "Whether the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are loyal... doesn't Mr. Zabuza himself already know the answer?"
The first generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen were beaten into laughingstocks by a Konoha Genin. Raiga Kurosuki and Jūzō Biwa defected, and the only one remaining, Fuguki Suikazan, harbored other intentions.
The second generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen only had four people. Mangetsu Hōzuki and Ameyuri Ringo died young due to serious illness. Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi both chose to defect.
The third generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen only had two. Suigetsu Hōzuki was born a rogue ninja. Chōjūrō, however, remained in Kirigakure.
Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen had an unusually high defection rate.
"Looks like I'll have to use some force..."
Zabuza Momochi brought his fingers together.
Kirigakure's second batch of Seven Ninja Swordsmen currently only had three people: Mangetsu Hōzuki, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Zabuza Momochi. The problem was, apart from himself, Zabuza saw the other two as loyalists to the Fourth Mizukage.
Since Kisame Hoshigaki killed Fuguki Suikazan, he seemingly grasped real power in the village. Mangetsu Hōzuki was a relative of the Second Mizukage, capable of using all the ninja swords, and a genius in whom everyone placed high hopes.
Zabuza Momochi didn't quite dare to gamble. He wanted to get a name from Uehara Naraka, to confirm a potential partner.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
A bank of fog appeared over the sea, gradually enveloping the small boat.
Zabuza Momochi took a few steps back, his tall figure disappearing into the fog. His voice came from all directions within the mist, "Kid, are there any parts of your body you don't want? I can help you chop them off..."
"Idiot..."
Uehara Naraka cursed inwardly, slowly brought his fingers together, and said softly, "Zabuza, there are some people in the ninja world you absolutely cannot provoke, but you just happen to like provoking those very people!"
Like him, this cheater.
Like that future team of Genin cheaters from Konoha.
"Lightning Release: Slicing Maelstrom!"
Within the sea fog, a massive thundercloud storm appeared. A bolt of lightning struck accurately towards Zabuza Momochi's position; fortunately, he dodged it in time using Mist Body Flicker!
However, within one second, two more bolts of lightning struck down consecutively!
"This kid actually specializes in Lightning Release ninjutsu..."
Zabuza Momochi gritted his teeth, quickly brought his palms together, endured taking a lightning strike, and formed the seals for a technique: "Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
Water surged up from the sea surface, forming a hollow water sphere that enveloped Zabuza Momochi. A lightning bolt struck down, the electricity traveling along the water sphere and into the sea.
After hiding inside the water prison, Zabuza Momochi barely managed to breathe a sigh of relief, but his expression was extremely ugly. The little guy used just one ninjutsu, and his position was instantly exposed.
Uehara Naraka walked across the seawater, step by step towards Zabuza Momochi's location. The boy's voice still sounded somewhat young, "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit..."
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