Chapter 23: The Hard Way
Chapter 23: The Hard Way
“Don’t be impulsive.”
Uehara lift up a card lazily.
The thin card in his hand blocked Kubikiribocho’s edge. This scene was like pouring a bucket of cold water down on Zabuza’s head.
‘How could a trifling card block theKubikiribocho?’
Uehara threw the card at Zabuza!
Zabuza hurriedly withdrew the Kubikiribocho to defend himself, only to see that the card had penetrated the Kubikiribocho and got stuck in his blade!
Uehara lifted his head and continued slowly, “Mr Zabuza, if a person knows too many secrets, most of them won’t live long…”
In truth, these words were only useful on ordinary people.
Throughout the entire Ninja World, the more you knew, the longer you would live, such as Black Zetsu. Foolish Ninjas like Momochi Zabuza, on the contrary, would die an untimely death.
“Hmph!”
Zabuza coldly-snorted, with an arrogant expression he said, “Who do you think you are? Kid, now explain your identity and the reason you’re going to the Land of Water. Tell me now and you’ll suffer less!”
“Are you sure you want me to explain?”
Uehara’s mouth was twisted into a mysterious smile, and he looked at Zabuza mockingly and spat out one sentence after another, “My purpose in going to Land of Water is to guide one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist from the Kirigakure into assassinating their Mizukage. That’s it… what you want?”
“…”
Zabuza’s mind was filled with murderous intent as he stared at Uehara. His sharp eyes seemed to be trying to slice the young ninja boy ten-thousand times with a thousand blades!
This was because Uehara happened to say what was on his mind.
Every aspiring ninja in the Kirigakure could see how much damage the blood mist policy implemented by the Fourth Mizukage Yagura had done to the village, and they all wanted to change this situation.
Momochi Zabuza was one of them.
While he was at the Academy, he had the conscience to want to change the Blood Mist and even went so far as to kill all of his comrades in the graduation exams so that the top brass of the Mist would have to abolish these kinds of assessment methods that would cause the Mist to break due to internal turmoil.
Zabuza joined the Hidden Mist Anbu as an adult. His strength never stopped increasing. He was hailed as the Ghost of the Hidden Mist by Ninja World. Not long ago, he took the returning Kubikiribocho and became a second generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Since getting Kubikiribocho, Zabuza had a new thought in his heart. He felt that his strength was sufficient, so he had been planning to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage Yagura over the past few days and change the entirety of the Kirigakure.
If the plan was successful, everything would go smoothly.
If the plan failed, then he was prepared to escape.
Zabuza appeared in the Land of Waves, as he was looking for a way back. Once he returned, he intended to find an opportunity to assassinate the Mizukage.
His plan had been hidden deep in his own heart, and he had never mentioned it to anyone, yet the youngster in front of him seemed to have seen through his thoughts!
Zabuza panicked and wanted to cut off Uehara’s head with his sword and dig the truth out from the little demon’s mouth.
If Uehara said his name, Zabuza would kill him, and he would use his sword to cut off Uehara’s head…
If Uehara said someone else’s name, Zabuza would return to the village to test the man and see if they could act together…
Of course, no matter whether they succeed in assassinating Mizukage in the future or not, he would eventually have to chop off Uehara’s head. As for whether he could kill him off, he would just try when the time came.
He was such a happy ninja.
Thinking of this, he no longer looked at Uehara and said contemptuously, “Huh, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are the seven strongest swordsmen in our village and the ninjas who are the most loyal to Mizukage, how could it be a little kid like you assassinate the Mizukage?”
As soon as the conversation changed, Zabuza’s eyes were suddenly filled with a murderous aura, “Unless, you have already colluded with one of the traitors… kid, if you say his name, I might be willing to spare your life!”
“His name cannot be told to Mr Zabuza yet.”
Uehara was sitting leaning back on the boat as he shook his head lightly, a mocking smile reappeared on his face, “The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are loyal, huh? Doesn’t Mr Zabuza know the truth of the matter?”
A Konoha Genin kicked the first generation of Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to death, Kurosuki Raiga and Biwa Juzo, defected, and only Suikazan Fuguki had other thoughts.
The Second generation of Seven Swordsmen of the Mist only had four people. Hohzuki Mangetsu and Ringo Yuliu died due to severe illnesses while Hoshigaki Kisame and Momochi Zabuza both chose to defect.
There were only two third-generation Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Hohzuki Suigetsu was born as a missing-nin, and Chojuro was still in Hidden Mist Village.
The proportion of defections amongst the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist in Kirigakure was generally not high.
“It looks like something has to be done…”
Momochi Zabuza raised his finger.
In the second batch of Seven Swordsmen of the Mist from the Kirigakure, there were still only three people, namely Hohzuki Mangetsu, Hoshigaki Kisame, and Momochi Zabuza. The problem was that, aside from Momochi Zabuza himself, the other two seemed to be loyal to the fourth Mizukage.
Since Hoshigaki Kisame killed Suikazan Fuguki, he had grasped part of the real power within the village. Hohzuki Mangetsu was the clansman of the second Mizukage, who could use all kinds of ninja swords and was also a genius that everyone had high hopes for.
Zabuza did not dare to bet his life on who would turn traitor. He wanted to get a name from Uehara and determine a partner to choose from.
“HIDDEN MIST JUTSU!”
A cloud of mist appeared on the sea and gradually enveloped the boat.
Zabuza stepped back a few steps, and his tall figure disappeared into the mist. His voice came from all directions of the mist, “Little devil, are there any parts of your body that you don’t want? I can cut them off for you…”
“Idiot…”
Uehara secretly cursed, slowly closing his fingers, he whispered, “Zabuza, There are some people in Ninja World that you definitely shouldn’t provoke, but you just love to provoke those people!”
For example, Orochimaru.
For example, Konoha’s future team of Genin.
“LIGHTNING-RELEASE ·MYRIAD HEAVENLY THUNDER PRISON!”
A massive thundercloud appeared above the mist on the sea, and a clap of thunder and a bolt of lightning smashed towards where Zabuza was. Fortunately, he escaped in time through the mist!
However, within one second, two consecutive bolts of lightning fell!
“This little demon is actually so good at Lightning-Release Ninjutsu…”
Zabuza clenched his teeth, quickly clasped his palms, forcibly received a bolt of lightning, and formed a hand seal, “WATER-RELEASE · WATER PRISON TECHNIQUE!”
The waves on the sea surged up and formed a hollow ball of water, which wrapped around Zabuza, and a bolt of lightning struck it down. The lightning surged through the water and into the sea.
After hiding in the ball, Zabuza barely managed to sighed in relief, but his expression was still awful. The little fellow only used a single Ninjutsu and managed to expose his position.
Uehara stepped on the seawater and walked towards Zabuza’s position step by step. The youngster’s voice sounded a little immature, “Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit ….”