Thunder Blades Kiba

Clover Gold Mine, Land of Rivers!

Hōzuki Mangetsu appeared outside a curry shop.

According to the Naruto storyline, a few years later, the protagonist Naruto would come here with the Taijutsu class Genin and defeat Raiga Kurosuki, the wielder of the Thunder Blades Kiba who had taken over the area.

After Raiga Kurosuki died, the Thunder Blades Kiba fell beneath a cliff. Yakushi Kabuto had probably collected them, which was why they appeared on the battlefield during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

But Hōzuki Mangetsu had already gotten there first.

"客人, what kind of curry would you like?"

As soon as Hōzuki Mangetsu entered, an old woman hurried over to greet him. She was the owner of the curry shop, Granny Sansho. A little boy stood behind her—her grandson, Kaishi.

"I heard you've been making a special kind of curry, Granny, called the Curry of Life?"

Hōzuki Mangetsu asked.

He had disguised himself and wasn't carrying anything marked with the Hidden Mist insignia.

"You've heard of the Curry of Life too, 客人?"

Granny Sansho smiled.

She was never satisfied and had always pursued perfection in curry with almost unreasonable standards.

She had been researching the Curry of Life for a long time, but unfortunately, she still hadn't made much progress.

Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled.

He knew that Granny Sansho and her grandson would eventually create the Curry of Life.

But for now, they were probably still working on it.

"I want to try the Curry of Life now. I hope you can figure out how to make it as soon as possible. Remember, it has to be black!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu took out some money and placed it on the table.

The reason he'd come here, besides reclaiming the Thunder Blades Kiba, was to find the powerful support he needed: Red-Eyed Ranmaru.

This bloodline was even more impressive than the Byakugan.

In the original story, Ranmaru had used his eyes to toy with the Hyuga prodigy Neji. If you wanted to know whose vision was best, these Red Eyes took the prize—and they were the natural enemy of both the Byakugan and the Sharingan.

"Don't worry, 客人. We'll get started right away!"

Granny Sansho was thrilled.

It wasn't because of the money Hōzuki Mangetsu had offered, but because someone had finally recognized the merit of her curry.

And so, the grandmother and grandson threw themselves into researching the Curry of Life.

A faint smile appeared on Hōzuki Mangetsu's lips.

The Curry of Life was tied to Ranmaru's life. Since the two of them had invented it in the original story, given enough time, they would eventually make it.

Unfortunately, Hōzuki Mangetsu knew next to nothing about curry. He only vaguely remembered that it was a black, disgusting-looking lump.

After defecting, Raiga Kurosuki had traveled to many places, but in the end, he settled in this small village.

The village was remote, but it produced a lot of gold. That was probably why Raiga Kurosuki had stayed.

Hōzuki Mangetsu quietly headed toward Raiga Kurosuki's hideout alone.

Raiga Kurosuki was also one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and he was no pushover. Defeating him would be difficult for Hōzuki Mangetsu, especially since Red-Eyed Ranmaru was with him.

After thinking it over, Hōzuki Mangetsu decided he had only one option.

"Summoning Technique!"

He bit his finger and formed a few hand seals.

A gigantic clam appeared before Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Was this the Second Mizukage's clam? It really was huge—practically the size of a small house.

"Kid, did you summon me?"

The Giant Clam extended two tentacles and puffed out a cloud of smoke. "Since the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki died, this is the first time I've been summoned!"

"Mr. Clam, my name is Hōzuki Mangetsu. I'm a descendant of the Second Hokage, and I inherited the contract from him. This is my first time summoning you. I hope we can work well together."

Hōzuki Mangetsu spoke respectfully.

The Giant Clam puffed out two clouds of smoke.

"I'm pretty annoyed to have been summoned by a kid. But since you're a descendant of the Second Hokage and you've signed the blood contract, I'll let it slide. So, what do you need me for?"

"I'd like to use Mirage!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu said quietly.

To defeat Raiga Kurosuki, he first had to fool Red-Eyed Ranmaru. But Ranmaru's ability to see through things was exceptionally powerful. After thinking it over, Hōzuki Mangetsu realized that Illusionary Technique was his only option.

The original Hōzuki Mangetsu knew a little Illusionary Technique, but against Red-Eyed Ranmaru's ocular power, it was nothing.

The only technique that could help was the Second Hokage's most powerful Illusionary Technique: Mirage.

But to use the Second Hokage's strongest Illusionary Technique, Mirage, he had to work with the Giant Clam to extend its range.

"Ha ha ha! Excellent, excellent! Mirage can reach its full potential only when I work with you."

The Giant Clam seemed quite talkative, perhaps because it hadn't been summoned in so long.

Ninja Art: Mirage!

Hōzuki Mangetsu didn't have time to chat with the Giant Clam. He was in a hurry to deal with Raiga Kurosuki.

Soon, the Giant Clam and Hōzuki Mangetsu disappeared into the mist.

The Illusionary Technique Mirage made use of the refraction of light, allowing it to project phantom images anywhere in the

thick fog.

That way, the enemy saw nothing but illusions, throwing them off their aim.

The thick mist quickly engulfed Raiga Kurosuki's camp.

"What's going on?"

Raiga Kurosuki came out with a group of his men.

Was it the Mist Concealment Technique?

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Had people from the Hidden Mist come after him?

Kirigakure's Anbu had a pursuit unit. Raiga Kurosuki had once served in it, so he knew the village would never let defectors like them go.

No, this wasn't an ordinary Hidden Mist jutsu!

Without the right weather and terrain, an ordinary Hidden Mist technique couldn't produce such a vast expanse of fog.

Just then, a figure suddenly approached.

"Raiga Kurosuki!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu stepped out of the thick fog.

It's you!

Raiga Kurosuki's pupils contracted.

Hōzuki Mangetsu!

They were both members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, so they knew each other.

"Did you come to hunt me down? Where are the others?"

Raiga Kurosuki sneered and tightened his grip on the Thunder Blades Kiba.

From the moment he defected, he'd accepted that he might die. The Thunder Blades Kiba and Red-Eyed Ranmaru behind him were everything to him.

He wouldn't just surrender without a fight.

Hōzuki Mangetsu might be known as a genius, but Raiga Kurosuki was no pushover either.

Lightning Style: Thunder Gate!

Raiga Kurosuki drove both blades into the ground. Countless lightning strikes rained down from the sky, densely enveloping Hōzuki Mangetsu.

He knew what Hōzuki Mangetsu could do, so he'd opened with a killing move.

After the smoke cleared, Hōzuki Mangetsu was still standing there, looking perfectly relaxed.

What?

Raiga Kurosuki was stunned.

Thunder Gate had a huge range. Even if Hōzuki Mangetsu was skilled with the Thunder Blades Kiba, there was no way he'd escaped unscathed.

"Ranmaru!"

Raiga Kurosuki suddenly called out to the bundle on his back.

"Lord Raiga, I didn't see anything."

Ranmaru's voice suddenly came from behind him.

An Illusionary Technique?

Raiga Kurosuki formed a few hand seals and shouted.

When he opened his eyes, Hōzuki Mangetsu was still standing before him.