Encounter Battle

The year's plan starts with spring, and the day's plan starts with dawn; Mizuki didn't run into anything good this morning, but he did stumble into a moderate amount of trouble. Playing nanny is hardly the job for a man in his twenties. He was tall, and though his body felt frail from the severe depletion following his injuries, he still carried himself with spirit.

Having decided to fully relax, Mizuki took advantage of the early hour and the mild temperature to head up to the Hokage Rock alone to catch some air. Since his transmigration, this was the first time he had viewed Konoha Village from this perspective.

From this angle, Konoha Village was absurdly large for a village, resembling a massive urban center. In a human settlement of this scale, one would be hard-pressed to find many places larger or more prosperous than Konoha. The entire village fanned out from the Hokage Rock, with rows of buildings arranged neatly and with distinct character. There was none of the pollution from his past life, and the greenery was astonishingly lush. Living in such a garden-like, livable place must be a joy.

Judging by the feel of it, the village's style was currently in a transitional phase between steampunk and the electrical age, so one could see products of different styles that didn't quite match, yet when combined, they lacked any sense of awkwardness, instead exuding a unique cultural atmosphere.

Just as Mizuki was leisurely admiring a village that might not look this peaceful and prosperous a month from now, a guy who always radiated an untrustworthy aura walked over.

Is that Kabuto Yakushi? What is he doing here? Is he looking for me?

Although it was a narrow encounter, Mizuki wasn't afraid.

While I'm likely no match for him in a one-on-one duel, and running into Kabuto without preparation is unwise, if it really comes to a fight, escaping shouldn't be a problem if things go south.

The current Kabuto was already strong, but he lacked the power and presence he would possess later when he fought the world alone. Besides, Mizuki didn't dare bare his fangs at Orochimaru, but he wasn't intimidated by Kabuto. In fact, fighting him and sustaining a minor injury might be a better way to prove his loyalty to the village.

That said, as Kabuto approached, Mizuki grew wary. He couldn't afford any mishaps due to carelessness; he had finally cleared his name and was preparing to become a partner of justice and a mentor to his first love. Getting killed here would be a huge loss.

Kabuto stopped about ten paces from Mizuki, adjusted his glasses, and said with a smile, "Senior Mizuki, you've been hard to find lately. I heard you were seriously injured, so I'm relieved to see you're okay."

"Cut the crap, Kabuto," Mizuki said bluntly. "Has no one ever told you? Your smile is too fake."

Kabuto didn't mind Mizuki's words; in his original impression, Mizuki was just a guy who was fierce in appearance but faint in heart, with ambitions that exceeded his talents.

I really don't understand how Lord Orochimaru could have taken a liking to such an incompetent fool.

Thinking this, Kabuto still maintained that signature, duplicitous spy smile. "You can't say that, Senior. Regardless, I've had a hard time tracking you down."

"Speak up. What is it?"

"It's nothing major. Lord Orochimaru has issued a mission to kill Sasuke Uchiha. I hope you can assist me in assassinating the target. You just need to create a distraction at Konoha Hospital to draw the attention of the Anbu."

"Why would I help you?" Mizuki refused. "That has nothing to do with me, and there's nothing in it for me."

"Don't be like that, Senior. If the mission is completed and you gain Lord Orochimaru's appreciation, you might receive a reward. Haven't you already been granted power?"

"Don't come to me for things like being a scapegoat to draw attention. As for the granted power, I don't have the fortune to enjoy it." Mizuki raised his voice, "I know my standing in Orochimaru's heart, so don't spout nonsense. If you really want something from me, bring out something real. Don't give me empty promises like a con artist, and don't offer that power that kills you the moment you use it. I'm saying this to you, and if you feel it's necessary, you can pass it on to Orochimaru."

Only then did Kabuto realize something was wrong.

"Are you planning to betray Lord Orochimaru?" Kabuto dropped the "Senior" honorific.

"Don't make it sound like I'm one of you," Mizuki said with disdain. "You, as his right-hand man, must know exactly how little Orochimaru cares about me. I only discussed the possibility of defecting, but I never took action, and Orochimaru surely never gave me a second thought. So, from start to finish, I have never been his subordinate, so there is no such thing as betrayal. Furthermore, I don't have to follow your orders. If you want to recruit me, show some sincerity and name your price. There is nothing in this world that cannot be traded, provided you can pay the cost."

With that said, the situation became clear.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Senior, but you've really opened my eyes," Kabuto abandoned the idea of deceiving Mizuki. "I didn't expect that a serious injury would increase your intelligence so much."

"Lying in a hospital bed with nothing to do, I could only let my mind wander. Things I didn't understand before became clear after thinking about them," Mizuki bluffed.

"In that case, there's no helping it. To prevent leaks, I can't let you go. What a pity." Kabuto pulled out a scalpel and prepared to strike.

"Then give it a try. Honestly, this place is very conspicuous. I'm curious how you plan to make me shut up without making a sound?"

Although he spoke with confidence, this kind of encounter was quite unfavorable for Mizuki. The environment on the Hokage Rock wasn't suited for his specialties. If they were in a complex jungle, he could have used his tactical advantages in genjutsu, sealing techniques, barriers, and summoning to test his level against Kabuto. Now, he could only hope that the opponent would be wary of the location and retreat if he couldn't take him down quickly.

Given the fighting styles of Mizuki and Kabuto, neither was the type to cause a massive commotion. Kabuto, using a short, sharp blade like a scalpel, fought aggressively, while Mizuki, wielding a massive Fuma Shuriken, fought and retreated. He didn't engage Kabuto head-on, focusing on parrying and avoiding close contact—a strategy entirely meant to stall for time. After all, Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel and Mystical Palm Technique were too destructive to the body; it wouldn't be worth it to capsize the boat through carelessness.

Close-quarters combat actually has few tricks. Although Kabuto was talented, Mizuki was a battle-hardened chunin. If one side wanted to stall for time, it was almost impossible to decide the winner in a short period. If they used ninjutsu, the commotion would be too great, which would be too passive for Kabuto, a spy operating in a place where he was already under suspicion.