On a secluded island shrouded in thick fog in the southeastern sea of the Land of Lightning, the damp sea breeze, carrying a salty smell, swept through the impenetrable jungle.
Hozuki Suigetsu slumped on a rock at the edge of the Training Ground, his Ninja Blade stuck in the sand, looking like a pool of melting water, panting heavily without any regard for his image.
"I lost again... I lost again!" He frantically scratched his silver-white hair, glaring at the black-haired boy not far away who hadn't even broken a sweat. "Hey, Sasuke! Did you secretly train extra? Last time you could barely last ten minutes, but this time you didn't even last eight!"
Sasuke Uchiha glanced at him indifferently, a hint of purple flashing in his black pupils, as the Cursed Seal slowly faded from his neck. He didn't bother to answer, simply flicked his wrist, and turned to walk out of the Training Ground.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Suigetsu was so angry she jumped up and down, but Sasuke had already walked away, his back as cold as ice.
(Damn the Uchiha!)
Suigetsu inwardly grumbled, but then she couldn't help but sigh.
(However... this guy is ridiculously strong.)
Ever since Orochimaru released him from the lab, his only task has been to be Sasuke. At first, he was quite resentful, after all, he was an elite member of the Hozuki Clan, and his Hydrification Technique was a renowned secret technique in Kirigakure. But what happened? Sasuke's progress was simply inhuman!
(However, the future projected on the Heavenly Screen —this guy's fight against that blond ninja is absolutely devastating...)
Thinking about this, Suigetsu suddenly felt that her loss wasn't entirely unjust.
(Oh well, following him is better than being locked up in the lab.)
He stretched and was about to go to the beach to soak in the water and regain his strength when he suddenly heard heavy footsteps behind him.
"Suigetsu." A deep, hoarse voice rang out.
Suigetsu froze, mechanically turning her head, and sure enough, she saw Jūgo's scarlet eyes staring straight at her.
"Hey, Jūgo... you're not thinking of hitting me again, are you?" Suigetsu chuckled dryly and subconsciously took a step back.
"Sasuke's gone." Jūgo's voice was filled with suppressed rage. "You, keep training with me."
"Huh?! Wait—I just got beaten up by Sasuke!"
"It's alright." Jūgo grinned, the Cursed Seal marks beneath his skin beginning to spread. "Anyway, you... won't die."
"Hey! Wait! Jūgo! Wake up! We're teammates! Teammates!!"
Suigetsu watched in despair as Jūgo's fist, crackling with violent Chakra, hurtled towards her. She could only awkwardly turn into a puddle of water to dodge it.
(When this guy goes berserk, he can't tell friend from foe!)
Having barely escaped Jūgo's frenzied attacks, Suigetsu collapsed on the beach like a stranded salted fish.
"Is there not a single normal person on this island?" he sighed, looking up at the sky.
Sasuke is a training fanatic, Jūgo is a madman who can go berserk at any time, and Kabuto Yakushi is always smiling, but the thought of him turning into a snake-like figure in the Heavenly Screen makes Suigetsu get goosebumps all over.
As for Orochimaru...
Suigetsu turned her head to look at the gloomy experimental base deep in the island and couldn't help but shiver.
(That guy's been holed up in his bedroom lately, never even showing his face. Who knows what kind of weird experiments he's up to this time?)
He sighed, lay back, and gazed at the gray sky.
(This is too difficult...)
(I'm the only normal person on this island!)
Suigetsu lay sprawled on the beach, letting the cool seawater wash over his calves. He gazed at the gray sky, a piece of seaweed he had casually picked dangling from his mouth, chewing it listlessly.
(Seriously... why do we have to stay stuck on this crappy island?)
He rolled over, resting his chin on his hand as he looked towards the sinister experimental base deep within the island. Orochimaru was always acting mysteriously, and Sasuke was a training fanatic; all he did was beat him Jūgo or make him take beatings with Jugo. Nobody explained the current situation to him.
(Heavenly Screen? Alliance of the Five Great Shinobi Villages? Hunting down Orochimaru?)
Suigetsu pursed his lips. He had pieced together this information by overhearing conversations between Kabuto Yakushi and Sasuke. After being locked up in the laboratory for so long, he was immediately dumped on this island. He had no idea what was happening in the outside world.
(Never mind, it has nothing to do with me anyway...)
(But--)
He sat up abruptly, his eyes narrowing to slits as he stared at Sasuke's figure on the Training Ground in the distance. The black-haired boy was practicing Chidori alone, lightning crackling in his palms, each thrust incredibly precise.
(This guy's progress rate is ridiculously fast!)
Suigetsu scratched her wet silver hair, feeling a little resentful. She was clearly a genius too, but she was always crushed in sparring with Sasuke, and this time she couldn't even last eight minutes!
(No, I need to become stronger!)
His eyes darted around, and suddenly he thought of something, a sly smile spreading across his face.
(Seven Ninja Blade...)
The seven legendary Ninja Blade of Kirigakure each possess unique abilities. As a descendant of the Hozuki Clan, Suigetsu grew up hearing legends of these Ninja Blades. If only he could obtain one of them—
(Kubikiribōchō? Samehada? Twin Blades - Hiramekarei?)
Just imagining himself wielding Ninja Blade and slaughtering everyone in his path made Suigetsu burst out laughing.
(Hehehe... Isn't Sasuke being given special attention by Orochimaru? Let him go and get me one!)
He jumped up abruptly, brushed the sand off his clothes, and strode towards the Training Ground, his mind already rehearsing the perfect excuse—
"Sasuke!" Suigetsu crossed her arms and stood in front of him with a serious expression. "I think our training efficiency is too low."
Sasuke put away Chidori and gave him a cold glance. "So?"
"So—" Suigetsu grinned, revealing her sharp canine teeth, "I need a suitable weapon! If I had Ninja Blade, my strength would increase by at least 30%! Training with you then would definitely be even more effective!"
Sasuke frowned, seemingly genuinely considering the suggestion.
Seeing this, Suigetsu immediately pressed her advantage. "Look, Lord Orochimaru values you so much, could you ask him to help me get a Ninja Blade? It shouldn't be too difficult, right? Kirigakure is in a lot of chaos right now, getting a lost Ninja Blade will be a piece of cake!"
Sasuke remained silent for a few seconds, then finally gave a faint "hmm" and turned to Earth Flow.
Suigetsu was stunned for a second, then overjoyed.
(Success!)
He stood proudly with his hands on his hips, inwardly praising himself wildly:
(My brain is amazing, no doubt about it!)
(Once I get the Ninja Blade, let's see if Sasuke still dares to underestimate me!)
(Hehe, if that madman Jūgo again, I can still chop him back to his senses with one strike!)
Just as Suigetsu was immersed in his beautiful fantasy, an unusual ripple suddenly appeared on the distant sea. He turned his head sharply and squinted at that area of the sea.
(Illusion?)
The waves remained calm, as if the ripples had never occurred. Suigetsu shrugged, humming a little tune as she walked towards the beach, completely unaware of—
Beneath the deep sea, a pair of cold eyes silently watch over the island.