Hozuki Mangetsu

The massive Ninja Blades clashed and sprang apart. Zabuza panted heavily, his face grim as he stared at the shark-faced Kisame Hoshigaki across from him.

"Bastard, Kisame Hoshigaki, do you know what you're doing?"

As a senior member of the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame Hoshigaki was unquestionably one of Kirigakure's finest, both in his attitude toward missions and in his strength. The young Mist Ninja regarded him as the perfect ninja.

Not only did he possess unfathomable reserves of Chakra and astonishing mastery of Water Release Ninjutsu, he had also obtained Samehada, the great blade that could absorb Chakra. He was worthy of the title "Tailless Tailed Beast."

But Kisame Hoshigaki had always been a loyal supporter of the Mizukage, making him Zabuza's greatest obstacle now.

Kisame Hoshigaki bared his razor-sharp shark teeth and contemptuously lowered Samehada. "I'm merely carrying out Lord Mizukage's orders to kill the rebels!"

"That bastard Yagura isn't fit to be Mizukage. He's just a piece of trash being controlled by someone else."

Zabuza cursed him out, silently cursing Kaguya and her brainless lot as useless too. Despite the intelligence that all three had been sent out of the village on missions, they had still shown up here. He could only find a way to persuade this stubborn fellow.

Kisame Hoshigaki merely gave a disdainful sneer. Of course he knew Yagura's true situation; he had even met the person pulling the strings.

But in this hopeless world, what did any of it matter?

The girl's smile and resolve before her death surfaced in his mind, and his face turned cold at once.

"Enough talk!"

Seeing the disappointment written all over his former comrade's face, Kisame Hoshigaki planted Samehada in the ground and swiftly formed Hand Seals. In an instant, a towering wave burst from his shark mouth.

Almost at the same moment, the Hidden Mist Technique Zabuza had used to conceal himself was swallowed up completely. Even Zabuza could only struggle to keep his footing in the raging wave, and now he had to face the Tailless Tailed Beast's blade head-on.

But Kisame Hoshigaki had no intention of showing mercy. He formed Hand Seals one after another. "Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"

Zabuza's expression changed dramatically. He looked up at Yagura, standing high above, with some reluctance, and the urge to retreat surged in his heart.

"Senior Zabuza never disappoints, does he? The worse he is, the more he loves to play!" Dōmeki said, turning to Hozuki Mangetsu, who was straining to press Hiramekarei down.

Hozuki Mangetsu spat blood and nodded in considerable agreement. "I've always thought Kubikiribōchō was wasted in Senior Zabuza's hands. He might as well toss it to my good-for-nothing little brother as a toy."

"And who might you be, young man?" Having felt the youth's monstrous strength, Hozuki Mangetsu withdrew his Ninja Blade.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm the top recruiter for an obscure orphanage. I sensed the intense atmosphere here and was drawn over." Dōmeki laid his right hand elegantly over his chest and bowed, then smiled at Kimimaro, who had been smashed to the ground by Kabutowari.

"Hey, kid, I think you've got potential. How about becoming my son-ahem, my little brother?"

"Me? Kid?" Kimimaro stared in confusion at Dōmeki, who had appeared out of nowhere and saved him. A little dazed, he asked, "But shouldn't you be younger than me?"

"Hahaha! What an amusing fellow!" Hozuki Mangetsu was in no hurry to attack. He stood there at ease, enjoying the show.

Dōmeki's face darkened. This kid was far too straightforward. It seemed he would have to teach him the proper conduct expected of a little brother someday.

"You can't tell someone's age by their looks. If you don't believe me, look at the Mizukage's baby face. Just remember to call me big brother from now on!"

After the youth fed Kimimaro that line, Kimimaro glanced at Yagura and obediently nodded. Satisfied, Dōmeki turned his head toward Hozuki Mangetsu, who was watching the show.

"Mr. Hozuki, I see you don't have long to live either. How about entrusting little Suigetsu to me too, before he becomes an orphan for the second time?"

Hozuki Mangetsu's face darkened at once. "That useless Suigetsu isn't worth much, is he? Besides, young man, you'll have to show me what that so-called orphanage of yours can do, won't you?"

As he spoke, Hozuki Mangetsu took the scroll from his back, and an aura completely unlike the one he had displayed earlier burst forth.

"A brother complex?"

Dōmeki seemed to see through the man at a glance. He scratched his head with some exasperation. "I'm a pacifist!"

Hozuki Mangetsu unfurled the scroll in his hands. Of the seven large characters on it, "Sever," "Great," and "Lightning" had dimmed, while the other four suddenly lit up. Then four Ninja Blades of different shapes appeared, embedded in the ground before him.

The red-haired youth's eyes swept over a weapon consisting of an axe and a hammer joined together. It was Kabutowari, one of the seven Ninja Blades, a weapon said to be capable of smashing through any defense. It had been used to destroy Kimimaro's sturdy forest of bones.

"What a shame it's not a sickle!" A trace of disappointment flashed in Dōmeki's eyes as a black iron short blade gradually formed in his hand.

Hiramekarei leaped back into Hozuki Mangetsu's hands, and in a flash, the two figures collided.

Amid excited laughter, Hiramekarei whistled down in a vicious slash, carrying a fierce and overwhelming force. The short blade rose to meet it, crashing hard against the Ninja Blade.

The two weapons scraped past each other with a piercing screech, scattering a shower of scorching sparks where their edges met.

Clang!

A trace of gravity flashed in Hozuki Mangetsu's eyes, but the smile on his face grew even brighter. "It's been a long time since I met someone with such superb swordsmanship!"

Before the words had faded, he appeared behind Dōmeki, bringing his two blades down at the youth's back and neck.

Dōmeki whirled around. The short blade spun once in his right hand, knocking aside the blow aimed at his back before rising to block the edge of the other Ninja Blade.

After locking for only a moment, the two men's blades traced dazzling arcs of light through the air.

One wielded his twin blades with consummate skill, while the other moved with agility and made heavy blows look effortless.

Sensing that the youth was faster, Hozuki Mangetsu forcefully knocked his short blade aside. Hiramekarei vanished, and a weapon shaped like a long needle appeared in his hand. It was Nuibari!

The white-haired youth's speed abruptly increased by several degrees, and the youth's short blade thundered up to meet him.

Their sharp blade tips clashed several times a second. A left hand covered by a hand guard tore at the coiling steel wire, and amid flying sparks, sword energy swept over their bodies, leaving countless fine cuts before either knew it.

Before the dumbstruck Kimimaro's eyes, their movements grew so fast that their figures gradually blurred.

Their bodies flickered in and out of view, and blood splashed with every appearance.

A contest of speed!

A sharp light flashed in Dōmeki's eyes, and layers of electricity surged across the surface of his body. In almost an instant, yellow lightning covered him, circling rapidly around his body.

His short red hair rose without a breeze. A closer look would have revealed that his feet had lifted slightly off the ground.

In an instant, countless blade shadows burst forth, their radiance almost stinging Hozuki Mangetsu's eyes.

Then blood splashed. Hozuki Mangetsu planted Nuibari against the ground, and a scarlet line of blood appeared on his cheek.