Returning to the village, Hōzuki Mangetsu couldn't help feeling a sense of relief and joy. Even the cruel Hozuki brothers felt a sense of belonging toward home.
The Hozuki Clan had once been a powerful clan in Kirigakure. Unfortunately, after the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, died, the clan began to decline. By now, it had been completely struck from the ranks of kekkei genkai clans.
Still, their Water Transformation Secret Technique gave them the means to stand proudly among the strongest.
Aside from a few Lightning Release ninja, there was practically no way for the other Kirigakure schools to counter the Hydrification Technique.
As he opened the door, a fist came flying at him.
The angle, force, and timing were all excellent.
Hōzuki Mangetsu didn't even need to guess. This was the work of that little brat, Hozuki Suigetsu.
It was a greeting between brothers.
Children who grew up in the Blood Mist Village had no real concept of affection. All they cared about was pursuing strength.
For that reason, teammates and friends often killed one another.
The Mist Ninja graduation exam required students to kill their classmates. Only the victor was allowed to graduate.
During his graduation exam, Demon Zabuza had killed every one of his classmates single-handedly, forcing Kirigakure to change that cruel rule.
Even so, graduation exams remained bloody.
To survive, many children were trained from a young age to be cold-blooded and ruthless.
The Hozuki brothers were no exception.
When the brothers sparred at home, they always fought for real. Bloodshed and injuries were commonplace.
Before, Hozuki Mangetsu would certainly have fought his younger brother Suigetsu. But now he was Gu Mangetsu, and he had no interest in doing so.
With a splash, he used the Hydrification Technique.
Hozuki Suigetsu's punch naturally came to nothing.
"Big Brother, that's cheating! You can't play like that."
Suigetsu complained.
Seeing the little brat's disgruntled expression, Gu Mangetsu suddenly felt a warmth in his heart.
In his previous life, he had been an only child, with no brothers or sisters. Now that he had come to the Naruto World, he had a younger brother of his own. It made him incredibly excited.
"Suigetsu, I just finished a mission today, and I'm tired. I don't feel like training with you."
Gu Mangetsu spoke gently.
Only then did Suigetsu stop.
"Hand it over."
A pair of small hands reached out in front of Mangetsu.
Gu Mangetsu froze for a moment, confused. "Hand what over?"
Suigetsu grinned. "My present, of course! Did you forget that today's the day I became a Genin?"
Only then did Gu Mangetsu retrieve the relevant memories from Hozuki Mangetsu.
The reason Hozuki Mangetsu had hurried home was to make it in time for Suigetsu's graduation ceremony.
Children in the Bloody Mist Era matured early. By the age of six or seven, they were already being sent into real combat.
So that was it!
Gu Mangetsu smiled awkwardly. Hozuki Mangetsu had surely prepared a present for his younger brother, but lost it while being chased by Orochimaru.
"What do you want?"
Gu Mangetsu tilted his head and looked at Suigetsu.
Suigetsu immediately lit up. "I want your Ninja Blade, Hiramekarei. I'm going to become the strongest of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and I'll definitely surpass you, Big Brother."
Hiramekarei?
Gu Mangetsu couldn't help laughing.
As expected of someone from the Hozuki Clan. They were born with a craving for ninja tools, and Suigetsu was a talented ninja, too.
If properly nurtured, he'd make an excellent ally.
The Hozuki Clan were natural masters of weapons.
Like his older brother, Suigetsu had an extraordinary talent for wielding weapons. Any ninja tool in his hands could be used to inflict maximum damage.
The Seven Ninja Blades could reach their full potential only in the hands of the Hozuki Clan.
However...
Suigetsu wasn't strong enough yet to wield Hiramekarei, a Ninja Blade with such powerful explosive force.
Besides, Suigetsu had only Water and Wind chakra natures, so he couldn't use Kiba, a weapon suited to Lightning Release.
The Great Sword Samehada would suit Suigetsu quite well, but unfortunately, it was still in Suikazan Fuguki's hands.
Of the remaining blades, the long sword required technique, the Blunt Sword required physical strength, and the Blast Sword required precise control. Each had its own merits, but none was suitable for Suigetsu's development.
As for that useless broken sword, Gu Mangetsu hadn't even considered it.
After thinking it over for a long while, he took out the Kusanagi Sword he had gotten from Orochimaru.
It's so beautiful!
Suigetsu held the Kusanagi Sword, unable to put it down. A ripple of excitement passed through his eyes.
"It's yours!"
Gu Mangetsu smiled and ruffled Suigetsu's hair.
The Kusanagi Sword was of little use to him. Besides, he had Hiramekarei, with its tremendous explosive power, which was enough to handle most opponents.
But in Suigetsu's hands, paired with his Wind Release chakra, it could inflict even greater damage. It would certainly take Suigetsu's strength to a whole new level.
"Big Brother, you're the best!"
Suigetsu drew the sword and ran off happily to play with it.
He was a natural with weapons, too. The moment he took the Kusanagi Sword in hand, he understood its properties. Now he was going to practice with it.
That boy!
Gu Mangetsu shook his head, his gaze settling on the Hozuki Clan's crest.
That crest had once been a symbol of the strongest in the Mist. Sadly, the clan had fallen into decline.
Compared with a relatively peaceful village like Konoha, Kirigakure was unstable and rife with danger.
The next few years would be the bloodiest and most brutal in the history of the Mist. Countless kekkei genkai clans would be persecuted, and countless powerful ninja would die in internal strife. This would continue until the Fifth Mizukage took office.
Only overwhelming strength could let someone survive these merciless rules.
Right!
Gu Mangetsu suddenly remembered that the Second Mizukage was also from the Hozuki Clan. His Oil Transformation Technique and Yin Release were both incredibly powerful.
However, the Oil Transformation Technique was a kekkei genkai, so the Mangetsu brothers couldn't use it. But that Yin Release Giant Clam was excellent. It could use a large-scale Illusionary Technique.
With that thought, Gu Mangetsu immediately set out for the Hozuki Clan shrine on the outskirts of the village, where they worshipped their ancestors.
The Second Mizukage's remains were buried there.
As soon as Gu Mangetsu stepped outside, he noticed a shadow following him.
A cold smile touched his lips.
Kirigakure really was full of danger. These were troubled times, and all sorts of factions were stirring. The Hozuki Clan had inevitably been drawn into the turmoil.
Ninja Art: Mist Concealment Technique!
As soon as they left the village, the other person used a jutsu.
Come out!
Gu Mangetsu chuckled. When the other person used that technique, he knew they meant no harm. After all, he was an expert in the Silent Killing Technique.
"You're back, little Hozuki!"
A graceful figure appeared before him, with chestnut hair and a charming smile. It was Terumi Mei, the Flower of the Blood Mist. A tremendously powerful ninja with two Kekkei Genkai. She would one day become the village's Fifth Mizukage, the strong woman who brought the Bloody Mist Era to an end.
Even during the later Fourth Shinobi World War, Terumi Mei had displayed astonishing strength.
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