The Third Sword Master

Only a little over half of the month Kisame had originally given them had passed, yet they had already completely mastered three ninjutsu.

Kisame was not a rigid man, so under the circumstances, he immediately decided to revise the plan and take on a C-rank mission ahead of schedule to test their skills.

According to the mission ranking rules recognized throughout the Shinobi World, C-rank missions generally involved escorting someone or delivering letters. Combat might occur, but the enemies would not include ninja. Generally speaking, it was the highest-ranked mission genin were permitted to accept.

Not long after Kisame entered the Mizukage Building, he came back out with a teenage boy who looked to be in his teens.

"Let me introduce him. He's the client for this mission, Bando."

Kisame pointed at the boy as he introduced him.

"Hello, I'm Araki!"

"Zabuza Momochi!"

After introducing themselves, the two began listening as Kisame explained the details of the mission.

"Bando is a medicinal herb merchant from Red Province Island in the south. This time, he's heading to Seven Grass Island to gather herbs. Since there's a famous dangerous place on that island called [Hell Valley], he specifically came to request our assistance."

After Kisame finished speaking, Bando gave the three of them a deep bow. "Because [Hell Valley] contains an exceptionally valuable medicine known as [Universal Mud], I came to ask for your help. Please, this herb-gathering trip is extremely important to me. You must help me obtain the [Universal Mud]!"

"You can rest assured. Once we ninja accept a mission, we will complete it no matter what, even if we have to stake our lives on it! The two of you must remember that well too."

Kisame made his promise, then turned to remind Araki and Zabuza.

"Yes, Captain!"

Naturally, they had to take a boat to Seven Grass Island. Though Araki and the others could walk on water, they could not possibly run all the way from one island to another.

After boarding, they discovered that the ship had been brought by Bando himself. There were also around ten sailors and attendants aboard.

"Are you part of a merchant association?"

Bored during the journey, Araki sought out Bando and tried to gather more information.

"Not really a merchant association, just an ordinary trading group."

Bando looked a little embarrassed. "My father is the leader of the trading group, but he's getting old and needs to choose a successor. My older brother and sister are much older than I am, and plenty of people support them. So if I want everyone's recognition, I need to accomplish something big!"

Araki was speechless. So even the world of Naruto had this kind of melodramatic inheritance dispute.

"Then instead of hiring us to protect you while you gather herbs, why not hire someone to kill your brother and sister directly? Wouldn't that be much more convenient?"

"No!"

Bando became extremely agitated. "I just want to prove that I'm not a child anymore and that I can lead everyone forward too! My brother and sister have always treated me well. I would never hurt them!"

"So it's not siblings turning on each other over an inheritance. It's just a brat looking for confidence, huh?"

Araki muttered quietly.

"What did you say?" Bando had not heard him clearly.

"I said, just how dangerous is this [Hell Valley]? Do you really think people will recognize you as long as you bring medicine back from there?" Araki asked curiously.

"Seven Leaf Island is covered in all kinds of medicinal plants, and it's also the place herb merchants from our Red Province Island visit most often. But no one has ever dared to gather herbs in [Hell Valley], even though it supposedly contains the legendary miracle medicine [Universal Mud], which can heal blade wounds and sprains."

Bando explained earnestly.

"If no one dares to go there, then how do they know there's some miracle medicine inside? And even know what it does?"

Araki spotted the flaw and pressed further.

"Well..."

Bando was at a loss for words. After thinking for a long time, he finally said hesitantly, "That's what everyone on the island says. It should be true, right?"

That utterly unconvincing answer made Araki roll his eyes.

After hearing that, it sounds like there's a huge problem!

But since Bando did not know anything either, there was no point asking further. Having gathered all the information he could, Araki said goodbye and returned to the cabin to exchange information with Kisame and Zabuza.

"He dared to post a mission without knowing anything. What an immature little brat!"

Zabuza snorted coldly, clearly very dissatisfied with Bando.

After all, this was their first C-rank mission. If the client's inaccurate information caused the mission to fail, that would be far too unfair!

"It's not that bad." Araki saw what Zabuza was thinking and waved his hand. "Once we escort him into that [Hell Valley], shouldn't the mission count as complete? We can't be blamed if he fails to find the herbs, can we?"

"Heh heh." Kisame wore a vicious smile. "Araki, you're thinking too simply. There aren't that many rules when it comes to ninja missions. If he really can't find that [Universal Mud], then our mission will definitely be counted as a failure."

"That's way too rigid."

Araki stared in disbelief, and the cabin fell silent for a moment.

"Fine, then all we can do is pray that we get lucky. I don't want my first C-rank mission to end in failure!"

After a long while, Araki sighed and returned to his room to rest. They would be sailing at sea for several days, after all, and he needed to keep his strength and focus up.

"I can't practice ninjutsu or swordsmanship on a ship anyway. I might as well try challenging the next opponent in the Book of Sword Masters!"

With that thought, Araki entered the pitch-black, boundless Consciousness Space. The golden, gleaming book floated conspicuously in the very center.

"Hmm, let's check my status first."

At Araki's thought, the Book of Sword Masters slowly opened to reveal the personal panel on its title page.

[Name]: Araki (Yachiru)

[Realm]: Sword Heart Initial Clarity

[Sword Techniques]: Combo Technique (Stardust Splash), Charge Technique (Flash Thrust), Draw Technique (Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu), Dragon Cry Flash

[Other]: Chakra Refinement Technique, Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Body Flicker Technique, Water Release · Water Replacement Technique, Wind Style · Gale Palm

"I've only mastered three more ninjutsu, but my strength has improved by far more than that. I wonder if I can defeat the next Sword Master directly?"

With a trace of anticipation, Araki turned past the page depicting Himura Kenshin. The next moment, an uninhibited Sword Master came into view. Looking at him was like seeing an endless, frigid storm.

He was a tall young swordsman, around twenty years old. His glossy black hair hung straight down before being tied behind his head in a high ponytail, and beneath his sharp sword-like brows were a pair of cold yet profound eyes.

Please bookmark~ Please vote~