Mifune and Kyuzo

Three days later, a black-haired youth carrying a longsword on his back appeared in the Land of Iron.

"Are they planning to make a move when I head back?"

The youth muttered to himself, staring at the road he had come from.

This person was naturally Neji.

Neji found a barbecue restaurant, ordered some small dishes, and then asked the owner.

"Excuse me, where does Senior Mifune live?"

The owner paused, sizing up Neji with curiosity.

Neji wasn't wearing a ninja headband, and his Byakugan was shielded by goggles, but a Chakra Blade hung at his waist, and Kyuzo's sword was strapped to his back.

The owner seemed to grasp something and said in a low voice, "Looking for Lord Mifune—I take it you've come to apprentice as a disciple?"

"Yes."

"I deeply admire Senior Mifune's swordsmanship. I've traveled a great distance hoping to become his student and learn a technique or two."

Neji was slightly taken aback, then nodded.

Being misunderstood was safer.

So he had no intention of explaining.

"Ah."

The owner sighed and said, "With the rise of ninja, the samurai are fading more and more. Fewer young people are willing to become samurai these days."

After his lament, the owner got back to the point.

"Lord Mifune's residence is at the end of the first left turn on that street ahead. There are two bamboo swords hanging by the door—very noticeable."

"Thank you." Neji said solemnly.

"No need to thank me. I hope you succeed in becoming his disciple." The owner said with a smile, then turned to attend to other customers.

After eating, Neji followed the owner's directions and arrived at the residence with two bamboo swords hanging by the door.

He knocked hard on the gate and called out, "Is Senior Mifune home?"

Before long, a middle-aged man opened the door.

He was lean, with slender hands—steady, strong, and covered in calluses.

And Neji sensed a sharp aura from him.

This was a master of the sword.

Neji studied Mifune; his face was younger than the one in his memory.

Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron, the most representative samurai.

As the barbecue owner had said earlier, with the rise of the ninja profession, few people chose the samurai path anymore.

But the samurai of the Land of Iron were different from those of the era before chakra appeared.

Though they couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, they occasionally used chakra in battle.

Mifune looked at Neji and asked curiously, "Young friend, you're looking for me?"

Neji nodded: "Yes. I was entrusted by Kyuzo, a chunin from Kumogakure, to bring you his sword."

"Kyuzo?"

Mifune's face showed confusion as he frowned in thought. Then, as if recalling something, he said in surprise, "So he's still alive—and became a ninja?!"

"Senior Mifune, Senior Kyuzo was gravely ill. When I left, his condition was terminal. By now, I'm afraid he's already..."

Neji trailed off into silence, but Mifune understood his meaning.

Mifune let out a long sigh and said with emotion, "How unpredictable life is. I never thought that fellow would go before me."

Neji took the longsword from his back and handed it to Mifune.

He had examined it earlier.

This longsword was the standard type used by ordinary samurai in the Land of Iron, with nothing special about it except for the unique pattern carved into the hilt.

Mifune took the sword and slowly drew it from the sheath.

The blade was rusted and covered in cracks.

It seemed, like its owner, its days were numbered.

"Senior Mifune, the sword has been delivered. This Humble One takes his leave."

Neji gave a slight bow to Mifune.

But unexpectedly, Mifune sheathed the sword and stopped him, saying, "Young friend, it's already late. Why not stay the night at my humble home and set out tomorrow? What do you say?"

Neji turned and carefully studied Mifune.

With the goggles in the way, Mifune couldn't see his eyes, and he calmly "met" Neji's gaze.

Neji detected nothing unusual and said in a low voice, "In that case, I'll impose on your hospitality."

Mifune never meddles in disputes between samurai.

Given his character, he would never harm me.

"Please follow me."

"Much obliged."

Mifune's residence was clean, simple, and a very typical example of Japanese architecture.

The only thing that left an impression was that the house was filled with swords hanging everywhere, each one unique and distinct from the others.

"Young friend, please sit here."

Neji followed the instruction and sat cross-legged on the cushion. "Thank you!"

"Young friend, tell me about Kyuzo." Mifune asked.

Neji's expression turned somewhat awkward, and he gave a wry smile. "Senior Mifune, I have no connection with Senior Kyuzo. I don't know much about his past."

Mifune's face showed regret. "Young friend, don't blame yourself. That fellow Kyuzo had a strange temper. Back in the Land of Iron, I was his only friend. Would you be willing to hear the story between us?"

Perhaps seeing the object stirred memories of the man; Mifune had a lot on his chest and needed someone to confide in.

Neji nodded. "This Humble One is all ears."

A look of nostalgia appeared in Mifune's eyes. "Over thirty years ago, Kyuzo and I were the most ordinary samurai in the Land of Iron. I was determined to uphold the way of the samurai and bring peace and stability to the Land of Iron in this chaotic world. He felt the same. We trained together and forged a deep friendship."

Neji remained silent.

In their early years, Mifune and Kyuzo were like-minded partners, both committed to the way of the samurai.

Though he couldn't understand what was so worth upholding about the samurai way, he didn't casually judge the paths of others.

Mifune continued. "Later, war broke out. The Land of Iron was invaded by Amegakure. To protect our homeland, the general led the samurai to resist the Rain Ninja, but before long, he was poisoned to death by Hanzō."

Neji took a light sip of tea and fell into thought.

The Land of Iron had no fertile land and was scarce in natural resources.

Moreover, the vast Land of Fire lay between it and the Land of Rain.

What purpose Hanzō had in crossing the Land of Fire to invade the Land of Iron was unknown.

But considering the Third Shinobi World War, where Sunagakure, separated by the Land of Fire and a vast ocean, could still fight Kirigakure, Neji suddenly found it much more plausible.

"After the general died, the samurai were all panicked and uneasy."

Mifune went on. "That day, the ninja squad led by Kyuzo and me suddenly encountered Hanzō. I bravely drew my sword and stood before my comrades. Kyuzo fled."

"..."

Neji looked up, observing Mifune's expression.

The middle-aged man's face showed reminiscence and contemplation, and Neji detected not a trace of hatred.

I see.

This man, Mifune, was willing to sacrifice his own life in exchange for Hanzō sparing his comrades.

He was just as "foolish" as that guy Naruto.

A man like that wouldn't harbor hatred.

Neji didn't understand, but he respected it.

Of course, as long as he didn't do anything as stupid as Naruto.

"I lost to Hanzō, but not only did he not kill me, he fed me the antidote. I survived by luck."

"After that, I never saw Kyuzo again. I thought he died in that war."

"Perhaps like all those samurai who switched paths halfway and took up the way of the ninja, Kyuzo craved power in his heart and ultimately chose to become a ninja."

"But that fellow, all these years, he never came back to see me."