The Ninja of Ninjas

However, compared to the one hundred points gained instantly, Rasa valued the subsequent +1+1 points that trickled in slowly; he assumed this was the result of the butterfly effect.

Constantly killing or stirring up trouble was not a sustainable solution. The Shinobi World was only so large, not enough for one person to run wild, and eventually, the plot-relevant characters would run out.

Once his influence on the Shinobi World became sufficiently high and the subsequent +1+1 point accumulation became substantial enough, this portion of points would become his true, reliable source of income.

Brushing this matter aside, Rasa turned his gaze toward Kisame Hoshigaki, the shark-faced man he had intentionally avoided attacking from the very beginning.

At this moment, Kisame Hoshigaki still looked somewhat green—perhaps using "green" to describe a shark-faced man was strange, but that was the general idea.

Under Rasa's stare, Kisame Hoshigaki did not show fear; he met the gaze, his eyes burning with intensity.

In the original plot, Kisame Hoshigaki joined the Akatsuki and partnered with Itachi Uchiha, clashing successively with Asuma, Jiraiya, Might Guy, and the AB Brothers of Kumogakure.

He had a significant role; finishing off Kisame Hoshigaki here would certainly yield a massive amount of points, perhaps even several thousand, but from a long-term perspective, it did not align with Rasa's interests.

Lying on the ground, Ringo Ameyuri saw that Kisame Hoshigaki was fearless and staring back at Rasa, and she felt anxious for him, desperately trying to signal him with her eyes.

Ke Zhen'e: Watch my eyes and act accordingly.jpg

Why are you idling around, staring down a Kage-level powerhouse like that? He doesn't seem to have any intention of killing you, wouldn't it be better to just play dead?

Perhaps because they both possessed a row of shark-like teeth, Ringo Ameyuri and Kisame Hoshigaki had a fairly decent relationship.

Most importantly, she was currently severely injured while Kisame Hoshigaki was unscathed; if Kisame Hoshigaki also ended up dead, she might not be able to return to Kirigakure alive.

Rasa smiled, causing Ringo Ameyuri's heart to tremble; such a ruthless man could actually smile—was he thinking about how to torture them?

"You are a ninja of Kirigakure, aren't you? A ninja is like a blade, and the superior is the one holding the hilt.

Now that your superior has been slain by me, so, what do you intend to do?"

After a long silence, Rasa asked softly.

Kisame Hoshigaki was startled, not expecting Rasa to ask this, and he fell into deep thought for a moment.

Baring his shark-like mouth, he replied: "According to the village regulations, when a captain dies and the squad is nearly wiped out, the remaining members must prioritize completing the mission.

Second to that is bringing the intelligence back to the village."

Passion only exists in the protagonist's group; most of the time, ninjas are just emotionless mission machines.

"Then what is your choice?" Rasa tilted his head, curious about Kisame Hoshigaki's decision.

In the original plot, Kisame Hoshigaki was the purest type of ninja—valuing emotions, keeping his word, and possessing professional integrity, yet he was forced time and again to stab his own teammates for the sake of the mission.

After joining the Akatsuki and forming a pair with Itachi Uchiha, the two had a good relationship, yet he was forced to take orders from Obito and monitor Itachi Uchiha's every move at all times.

The blade of loyalty is still a blade, and every blade requires a master.

"I still want to complete my mission."

Kisame Hoshigaki's shark eyes glinted with ferocity, eager to try. He certainly knew the strength of the red-haired man before him—killing two elite jonin in one strike and commanding all the blades...

But he believed that this was what being a ninja was; sometimes, one must do things even when knowing they cannot be accomplished.

Dying under the blade of a Kage-level powerhouse, rather than being ambushed by some small fry or killed by a betraying teammate, could be considered a good end.

Kisame Hoshigaki thought as much, his battle intent rising steadily, viewing Rasa as the strongest opponent he had encountered to date.

"Interesting."

Rasa nodded, bending down to rummage through the corpses of Suikazan Fuguki and Biwa Juzo. He fished out several storage scrolls and probed them with chakra, finding they were indeed packed with a large quantity of ninja tools.

There were even more than what was recorded in his Mission Manual; besides the portion from Sunagakure, there should also be the portion originally purchased by Kirigakure.

Tucking the scrolls into the belt behind his waist, Rasa planted the Kubikiribōchō into the ground and squinted, saying: "Your mission is to bring these ninja tools back to the village, right?

I grant you a chance—a chance to complete your mission.

Bring out all your strength and attack me. If you can wound me, you may take these scrolls and leave.

You only have one chance to strike, and if you cannot satisfy me, both you and she will die."

Points +1... +1...

The rate of increase sped up. As expected, one must act arrogant, influence these plot characters, change their convictions, and thereby alter the plot.

Rasa wanted to carve an indelible mark into the heart of Kisame Hoshigaki.

Hearing this, Ringo Ameyuri couldn't help but grumble inwardly. That shark-face is truly troublesome; she didn't have to die originally, but now she might end up dying alongside him.

Doesn't he have a brain? Three elite jonin-level captains didn't last two moves, and you, a shark-face barely at the jonin level, what are the odds of surviving after one move?

Kisame Hoshigaki remained silent, pondering Rasa's words and his intentions in his heart.

The gap in strength between the two sides was like heaven and earth. He had already prepared himself for death, but now it seemed there was still a sliver of opportunity.

As long as his next all-out strike could wound him, and if he could keep his promise, he would be able to complete the mission.

So, what kind of attack could wound the Himura Kenshin before him? Kisame Hoshigaki racked his brains, his mind spinning frantically.

Shuriken and kunai were definitely out—child's play. Conventional ninjutsu didn't have much hope either; all his previous Water Style techniques had been cleaved apart by him.

Kisame Hoshigaki's shark eyes locked onto the great sword Samehada lying quietly to the side, his heart stirring. Perhaps he could try that.

He looked up at Rasa, reached for the hilt of Samehada, and seeing that Rasa had no reaction, he felt relieved enough to grip the hilt and lift it.

"A decent idea," Rasa praised.

Squeezing every cell in his body, Kisame Hoshigaki poured his chakra frantically into Samehada. Sensing the taste of that chakra, the feigning Samehada gradually stirred, casting the fear of death to the back of its mind.

Its body expanded rapidly, its spikes standing on end as Samehada transformed into a giant piranha, wrapped in a layer of deep red chakra resembling a Tailed Beast Cloak.

As his chakra drained away madly, Kisame Hoshigaki grinned with his shark-like mouth. The great blade Samehada in his hands was cheering and leaping, anticipating a gluttonous feast.

Perhaps, by relying on Samehada, his full-power strike could truly wound the enemy before him.

Ringo Ameyuri was completely shocked by Kisame Hoshigaki. She found it unbelievable that this guy's compatibility with the great blade Samehada actually surpassed that of Captain Suikazan Fuguki.

This strongest strike, fueled by all his chakra, might perhaps truly be able to injure Himura Kenshin—perhaps.

Rasa took a pair of nail clippers from his robe, pinched them between two fingers, pointed them toward Kisame Hoshigaki, and said calmly, "Come."

Thank you all for your recommendation votes; I still have to keep asking for them~