NSGT: Chapter 55

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Even hearing that the reforms had brought changes, with those stubborn traditionalists around, not all would have been replaced. The treatment of missing-nin likely wouldn't change much either.

Itachi hesitated for a moment before adding.

"They also don't accept prisoner exchanges, and they have a specialized Hunter-nin unit to pursue missing-nin. That should be about it."

Juzo Biwa nodded, pointing towards Itachi, whose half-face was buried in his Akatsuki cloak.

"Yeah, because your Konoha is soft, you and Orochimaru can still leisurely act as missing-nin."

"Ah... right, if I get caught here, kill me immediately and run. That's tactic C."

"Alright, do you have a plan D? If not, let's just go."

Itachi usually didn't make tactical plans for such things; his ability to adapt on the fly was quite strong.

Itachi lowered his eyes and said softly.

"No more."

The two quickly crossed the border, heading straight for the Land of Water Daimyo's residence.

When Juzo Biwa and Itachi passed through the forest and truly arrived in the current Land of Water, both hesitated slightly.

This place... looked like some kind of vacation resort village.

It wasn't at all like the image in Juzo Biwa's memory!

What Village of the Bloody Mist, terrifying punishments, pervasive fog? None of it.

The atmosphere here was peaceful. The streets were filled with people and shops, bustling with extraordinary noise.

Although the two had been to many places, this level of prosperity, covering such a vast area, was a first.

Juzo Biwa's non-existent eyebrows nearly knitted together. He stepped forward out of the forest, then back again.

Tree shadows fell across his face, making it appear flickering.

Juzo Biwa took a deep breath and muttered hesitantly.

"What's going on? Did we come to the wrong place?"

"Can reforms go this far? The ruler must have suffered at least a grade three concussion, right?"

Although Itachi had never actually been to the Land of Water, the title 'Village of the Bloody Mist' certainly wasn't baseless.

Moreover, during their previous missions back and forth, they had heard that Kirigakure even provided a sanctuary to protect those targeted for assassination.

No matter how you thought about it, it shouldn't look like this, with gates wide open.

Even allowing direct entry just by paying an entrance fee.

Good heavens, entering which village is this convenient nowadays?

"No mistake."

Although Itachi had his own doubts internally, the Land of Water Daimyo's residence, not far from Kirigakure yet separate... clearly stated the location.

"Honestly, I'm actually a bit curious about this place now."

"Who is the new Mizukage after Yagura Karatachi died? To achieve this much in such a short time."

Juzo Biwa raised an eyebrow with interest. He had previously fled Kirigakure and become a missing-nin precisely because he was dissatisfied with its tyranny.

Although life wasn't easy, it was still better than waiting in Kirigakure for someone to kill him.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were originally directly under the Mizukage, carrying out high-difficulty missions.

The main reason they all abandoned the village was that Yagura Karatachi's actions were too outrageous.

If governed in its current state, people would be flocking in; why would anyone defect?

But the splendor of Kirigakure was just something for them to observe; they still had a mission.

After a brief appreciation, the two quickly followed the mountains and silently infiltrated the Land of Water Daimyo's residence.

Assassination, due to its stealthy and illicit nature, usually took place at night.

Not long after sunset, Itachi and Juzo Biwa began to move.

A few scattered Kirigakure ANBU stood outside. Before they could speak, Itachi's Sharingan stunned them.

The pungent smell of blood instantly spread throughout the wooden house. Along the way, not a single person had even managed a proper scream.

Abrupt muffled grunts faded instantly. The two completed the mission with almost no hindrance.

...

While Itachi and Juzo Biwa infiltrated the Daimyo's residence, Mangetsu Hozuki received photos collected by the ANBU.

Although somewhat blurry and shaky due to distance or other factors... a large sword, a huge cross-shaped scar on the right cheek, red stripes vaguely visible on the lower half of the face revealed.

Although Mangetsu Hozuki hadn't been Mizukage for long, he could still recognize his village's own missing-nin.

He hadn't abolished the rules left by Yagura; Hunter-nin units still existed for missing-nin. Once a missing-nin returned, intel would be gathered immediately, and they would be killed.

"I'll go follow these two with you guys."

"Also, send these photos to Kuroshi-sensei. He probably has arrangements."

Just sending ANBU after these two was little different from sending them to their deaths; after all, the reputation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was quite renowned.

However, Mangetsu Hozuki's memory of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen wasn't particularly deep either. When they served the Mizukage, Mangetsu Hozuki was still just a small child.

Itachi and Juzo Biwa finished the mission and slipped into the nearby dense forest, planning to lie low for a while before heading to Kirigakure to inquire about the Three-Tails.

Before the two could take many steps, a series of scattered footsteps suddenly sounded from behind.

After several clinking sounds, kunai pierced the tree branches they had just stepped on.

"Although reforms were made, this aspect hasn't changed at all!"

Juzo Biwa glanced back quickly; behind them was a group of masked ANBU. Their identity was obvious.

Kirigakure's Hunter-nin unit for pursuing missing-nin.

"Hiding in Mist—!?"

Just as Juzo Biwa landed, preparing to blow out mist, he was unexpectedly grabbed by the ankle and yanked downwards forcefully.

Before the Hiding in Mist Technique could be used, he was pulled down to the ground.

There was a small puddle near Juzo Biwa's feet; a hand reached out directly from the water!

"Itachi! Tactic C!"

Juzo Biwa suddenly shouted sharply. The Kirigakure ANBU members' movements instantly paused.

They watched wide-eyed as Itachi's kunai directly sliced Juzo Biwa in half at the waist.

Splattered blood scattered around. Itachi's constantly spinning Sharingan glared fiercely at the surrounding ANBU.

Almost instantly, the hand emerging from the puddle suddenly emitted a childish warning voice.

".~Don't look at his eyes!"

However, many ANBU couldn't help but look directly at the heavily injured Juzo Biwa. Snapped back to reality by the shout, they quickly averted their gaze and attacked Itachi.

But seeing was seeing. Itachi slightly averted his gaze, and the ANBU members beside him collapsed unconscious with several thuds.

Juzo Biwa, seemingly cut in half, instantly turned into a pool of water.

The hand emerging from the puddle on the ground grabbed nothing but air.

Itachi nimbly dodged the shuriken thrown by nearby ANBU, slightly lowered his body, drew a kunai with a reverse grip, and threw it directly at the hand.

As expected, the moment the kunai flew over, the hand shattered and melted back into the water.

Juzo Biwa's real body had already cut down several ANBU who hadn't fallen under the Genjutsu, standing directly beside Itachi.

Seeing the hand about to emerge again from the puddle, Itachi pressed his hand to his lips and suddenly breathed out a large fire.

"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive, roaring crimson fireball instantly consumed the small pool of water completely.

Juzo Biwa nervously tugged at the corner of his clothes; Itachi's fireball almost burned him along with it.

"Didn't burn him."

Itachi watched the shrinking flames, frowning slightly with difficulty.

This ninjutsu allowing movement within water should be a secret technique unique to their Kirigakure.

"How could that kind of fireball burn me!"

A voice, childish like a child's, sounded out. Not far from them, under a tree, a pool of white liquid quickly assembled, forming a human shape.

"A child?!"

Previously, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi was also small in stature, looking like a child.

Of course, that person merely had a youthful appearance; his words and actions were undoubtedly those of an adult.

But the person before them now, whose body looked like melting ice cream, was undoubtedly a real child.

Having seen many people, one could tell just by looking at their eyes.

Mangetsu Hozuki was a genuine child of twelve or thirteen, with a height appropriate for his age.

"What's going on with this person...?!"

Juzo Biwa was also somewhat confused about the situation. The leader of a group of Hunter-nin was a child?!

Itachi frowned, looking around. A child of this age was more than capable of being a Jonin ANBU.

Why would he come out with a group of ANBU to hunt down S-rank missing-nin?

Juzo Biwa snorted coldly, then took out the Executioner's Blade from his back, planting it into the ground with a clang.

"Isn't the Fifth Mizukage out of options? Sending a kid like you out to chase missing-nin."

"Let me be clear beforehand, I won't go easy on you just because you're a child."

As soon as the words fell, Juzo Biwa swung the long sword directly towards Mangetsu Hozuki's waist.

The large tree beside Mangetsu Hozuki, as thick as a person, was instantly severed. The lush tree slowly fell backward.

Emitting a dull thud.

And Mangetsu Hozuki's body should have split directly in the middle.

With a gurgle sound of water, scattered water droplets splashed out from Mangetsu Hozuki's severed body.

What troublesome secret technique. Juzo Biwa couldn't help frowning.

"I am the Fifth Mizukage."

The white-haired child showed no panic despite being cut in half at the waist, even looking at Juzo Biwa with a matter-of-fact expression as he replied.

As Mangetsu Hozuki spoke, his hands quickly formed seals, then he looked up and spat a thin line directly at Juzo Biwa.

"???"

These hand seals are clearly for the basic ninjutsu Wild Water Wave, why does it look completely different when this guy uses it?

Juzo Biwa had no time for shock; after a slight hesitation, he blocked with his large sword.

A piercing sound rang out. That water line actually drilled a small hole directly through the large sword, instantly piercing through Juzo Biwa's chest.

"Ugh?! What was that thing?"

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