For the rest of the journey to Red Province Island, nothing unexpected happened. However, on their return trip, they spotted an unmanned ship drifting nearby.
"That looks like the flag of a Merchant Ninja from our island!"
Bando said, pointing at the flag on the ship.
But adhering to the principle that less trouble was better, they did not sail over to investigate. Naturally, they never discovered that it was the ship of the middle-aged Merchant Ninja who had threatened Bando earlier.
Those men had planned to steal the [Universal Mud] while Araki and the others were fighting the pirates. Unfortunately, they had greatly overestimated their own strength. An Explosive Tag shell struck them, and they sank into the sea without even leaving a bubble behind.
Zabuza, meanwhile, had not left the pirate ship. He was guarding the sole remaining pirate while waiting for Araki and Kisame to return from Red Province Island.
Three days later.
Araki and Kisame leaped from the sea and landed on the pirate ship's deck.
"So, Zabuza, did you get the location of their hideout out of him?"
Araki's tone was full of anticipation for the money.
"Of course!"
As he spoke, Zabuza kicked the pirate. "Get the ship moving!"
"Y-Yes!"
The pirate trembled all over, scrambling to raise the sails before running over to the helm and turning the wheel.
As he worked, he timidly said, "Our Warship Island is in that direction. It should take about a day to get there."
"A day, huh? Captain, can you use Water Release to speed the ship up?"
Wind Style would have been the best way to accelerate, but Araki did not know any large-scale Wind Style techniques, and he did not have enough chakra to waste like that. So he could only trouble Kisame to try using Water Release.
"Hehe, of course."
Kisame walked to the stern and rapidly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Wave!"
A massive stream of water sprayed from his mouth and slammed into the bottom of the ship, generating tremendous thrust. The sudden burst of speed nearly made the pirate at the helm lose his footing and fall.
Although Water Wave was merely a C-rank jutsu, it could be used very flexibly. With Kisame's mastery of Water Release, it was effortless for him to abandon its killing power and enhance its impact to propel the ship forward.
Thanks to Kisame's diligent efforts, less than half a day had passed before an island shaped like a towering volcano came clearly into view.
As they drew closer, they saw rows of cannons along the island's shoreline, very similar to those on the pirate ship.
"Looks like you weren't lying."
Zabuza glanced at the pirate prisoner.
"O-Of course not. How would I dare?"
The prisoner forced an ugly, ingratiating smile onto his face.
"Oh, then you're no longer useful."
Before his words had even faded, Zabuza swung his arm, sending a spray of blood flying.
The pirate prisoner collapsed in agony, his face full of accusation.
Zabuza had no intention of explaining, and neither Kisame nor Araki found it strange.
The three did not linger. They jumped straight off the ship and ran across the sea toward the docks.
Sure enough, this island truly was worthy of being a pirate nest. Their vigilance was extremely high.
The moment Araki and the other two entered their sight, cannonballs covered in Explosive Tags came crashing down on their heads.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Columns of water erupted, but aside from making Araki grit his teeth in heartache, they had no effect.
"Damn pirates, that's all my money!"
Araki's heart was bleeding. Outwardly, he directly used [Gale Palm] to enter the [Grace of the Wind] state, and his speed soared!
The distance had not been far to begin with, and he crossed it in less than ten seconds.
Wrapped in fierce winds, Araki charged onto the docks with a murderous expression. Without wasting a single word, he drew his sword and slashed.
Even their Captain Roger could not last more than two moves against Araki, much less these minor lackeys left behind to guard the place.
He did not even need sword techniques. Relying solely on the speed of the Body Flicker Technique and the sharpness of his longsword, Araki's figure flashed and leaped forward. Before the pirates could react, a bright streak of sword light had already sliced through their throats.
After only a few breaths, not a single pirate capable of standing remained beside the dockside cannons.
This was Araki's first time killing continuously and rapidly. In that instant, he seemed to faintly experience the thrill of racing like the wind.
This feeling... I think I've discovered the joy of dashing in and out with E!
He sighed inwardly.
The feeling of moving freely as though he had merged with the wind was truly intoxicating. Especially when accompanied by sprays of bursting blood, it was downright addictive!
Thus, when Kisame and Zabuza stepped onto the docks, they saw Araki wearing an intoxicated expression, with pirate corpses scattered all over the ground behind him.
"This..."
They were not surprised that Araki had killed them all so quickly, but what was with that look of lingering satisfaction?
Was he getting addicted to killing?
That was way too Mist Village!
Zabuza did not know what to say. Though people had given him the title of "Demon," he had never felt any enjoyment when slaughtering those fellow students.
Yet Araki now gave him the faint impression that he enjoyed killing.
"Alright, Araki, wake up. We haven't gotten the money yet!"
At this moment, it was Kisame, the big brother of the group, who spoke up and snapped Araki out of it.
Spurred on by money, the impoverished Araki finally reluctantly set aside his chance to contemplate the true meaning of joy and followed the other two into the island's interior.
This island did not look like a place meant for living. Instead, it resembled a combat fortress, with pirates and weapons of war visible everywhere.
Naturally, against Araki's group of three, those who howled and rushed straight at them were simply delivering themselves to death.
They found what appeared to be the largest and grandest building on the island. After searching it thoroughly, they obtained the following:
One thousand Explosive Tags, various ordinary swords and blades, and a small amount of cash that was practically negligible.
"Just what you'd expect from pirates. They don't keep any cash on hand at all?"
Araki's tone carried a trace of emotion.
"Looks like they exchanged almost all their money for Explosive Tags."
Zabuza's eyes were shining as well.
That was a whole thousand Explosive Tags!
What did that mean?
Each Explosive Tag cost roughly ten thousand to twenty thousand ryo. Prices varied slightly between countries. In the Land of Water, they were somewhat cheaper because Water Release heavily countered Explosive Tags, but they still cost at least ten thousand ryo each.
That was ten million ryo!
The guaranteed reward for an S-rank mission was two million ryo. In other words, they had earned the equivalent of five S-rank mission rewards in one haul!
Now this was what getting rich overnight meant! leans back tactically
Even Kisame was deeply tempted, his sharp teeth beginning to grind against one another.
Even he had yet to come into contact with an S-rank mission!
With this huge sum of money, he could buy quite a few jutsu after returning to the village, and his strength would soon undergo a major surge.
Araki had already begun imagining how much chakra metal he would use to forge his own exclusive longsword.
After all, for a swordsman, the weapon in his hand was equivalent to half of his combat power!
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