Kurobei and Mifune

Nightview City, General's Residence, Outer Court.

Compared to the Inner Court, the Outer Court's layout was more complex and meticulous. Nearly every building served a military function.

Rather than a residence, it was more like an enormous military fortress.

Training Ground No. 1.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Kakuzu's powerful voice rang through the air.

Empowered by Earth Release Ninjutsu, his right arm rapidly darkened, becoming even harder than steel.

While maintaining formidable defensive power, it also possessed tremendous destructive force.

Clang!

A katana collided fiercely with Kakuzu's blackened arm.

A stream of incomparably sharp, tangible chakra flowed at high speed across the surface of the swinging katana like rushing water.

Because the tangible chakra flowed along the blade at such astonishing speed, it rubbed violently against the air, producing a faint, piercing screech.

Although Kakuzu's right arm, hardened far beyond steel by Earth Release, successfully blocked the katana's attack, the blade still cut a deep gash into it.

Yet before the deep wound could remain for long, it began healing at a visible rate.

The man wielding the katana and fighting Kakuzu was Kurobei, a man in his thirties with long hair tied in a single ponytail.

He was the leader of the Land of Night's samurai, the general's right-hand man, a war-demon samurai whose powerful battle instincts erupted the moment he stepped onto a battlefield.

During the war that founded the Land of Night, he had been a terrifying presence second only to Yayoi in terms of slaughter.

Even Kakuzu, a ninja, felt somewhat ashamed when it came to killing efficiency.

In terms of raw strength, Kurobei was also a powerful opponent Kakuzu had long desired to surpass.

Kurobei has grown even stronger at chakra infusion. Close combat was a mistake. The best way to fight him is to keep him at range and kite him, never letting him get close...

Having made up his mind, Kakuzu quickly retreated, preparing to put some safe distance between them.

However, Kurobei clung to him like a bone-deep parasite. The instant Kakuzu moved, he suddenly flashed in front of him, gripping his sword in reverse and fiercely driving its point toward Kakuzu's body.

With no other choice, Kakuzu used Earth Release: Earth Spear again, refining a considerable amount of chakra at once to completely harden the area about to be pierced.

Clang!

He blocked Kurobei's attack again, though a wound was still pierced into his body. Then water marks appeared beneath his feet as he rapidly shook Kurobei off.

Having used Water Release: Water Body Flicker, Kakuzu was far faster than before.

Once he landed, he rapidly formed hand seals and slammed both hands against the ground.

"Earth Release: Cracking Earth Palm!"

The earth tore apart. Rocks sank or jutted upward, and in an instant, the ground became uneven terrain of varying heights.

Kurobei, charging at Kakuzu, was impeded for a moment by the suddenly altered terrain. Then he swung his katana, carving a cold, tangible sword aura through the air that slashed toward Kakuzu at astonishing speed.

The flying sword aura roared like a beast. The wind pressure it carried made Kakuzu's clothes flutter wildly.

The wind pressure that came roaring alongside the sword aura was equally intimidating. It was a fierce gale meant to lock down the enemy's body and make movement difficult.

It was not Ninjutsu, but by controlling the airflow with tangible sword aura, it created a restraining effect similar to the Golden Binding Technique.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Realizing the danger, Kakuzu immediately unleashed powerful chakra and blew away the intense wind pressure that had arrived ahead of the sword aura.

Then he rapidly formed hand seals, struck the ground with his palms, and cast an Earth Release technique.

A towering earthen wall one meter thick rose from the ground before Kakuzu.

Boom!

The sword aura that flew from Kurobei's katana struck the towering earthen wall, leaving a long, deep mark several meters across. The instant it exploded, vast amounts of dirt and dust sprayed out, rolling up a thick cloud.

The sword aura had cut from the wall all the way into the ground, reaching a depth of half a meter. It was a shocking sight.

"Good thing I used more chakra for the Earth-Style Wall. Otherwise..."

An ordinary Earth-Style Wall was less than half a meter thick. Given the power of Kurobei's sword aura, even if it was weaker than a full-force close-range slash, it could still instantly cleave through an ordinary earthen wall created by Earth Release.

It was precisely because Kakuzu had considered this that he refined more chakra to reinforce the wall's thickness.

"In that case, I'll use the Ninjutsu I took not long ago."

"Water Release: Tengu Cannon!"

Kakuzu's combat instincts and experience were equally formidable. As if he knew Kurobei would appear on his right, he formed hand seals, opened his mouth, and fired a water ball less than twenty centimeters in diameter to the right.

Kurobei, who had attacked from the right, widened his eyes. The keen senses tempered between life and death made him immediately dodge to the side, abandoning the idea of cutting the water ball with his katana.

It looked no different from an ordinary water ball, and its size could not compare at all to the fireball released by Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

But a samurai's instincts told him that something dangerous would happen if he rashly cut that water ball.

Sure enough, boom—

A small mountain used to simulate real combat on the training ground exploded the instant it was struck by the water ball.

Huge amounts of dust and smoke scattered in every direction, nearly filling the entire training ground.

A terrifying shockwave that tore up the ground and swept away boulders rolled outward in all directions.

Some of the small flying stones even struck Kurobei's body with a rustling sound.

When the dust and smoke finally dispersed, Kurobei barely opened his eyes and immediately sucked in a breath of cold air.

A hemispherical crater more than ten meters wide had appeared in the once-solid, thirty-meter-tall mountain, as though a chunk had been gouged out of it.

The mountain's core, where it had been struck directly, had been pulverized into dust and scattered through the air.

The astonishing destructive power made it impossible to imagine that it had been caused by a water ball less than twenty centimeters wide.

If it had been any more powerful, the entire small mountain would have collapsed.

And all of it had been caused by an ordinary water ball whose appearance was wildly at odds with its power.

This Water Release technique was far too deceptive.

"Kakuzu, are you trying to kill me with such a dangerous move?"

Cold sweat immediately appeared on Kurobei's face as lingering fear gripped him.

If his instincts had not been so sharp, he might very well have fallen to that move.

His battle-hardened body would not have been killed, but he would have spent at least half a month in the hospital. The arms he used to wield his sword might even have suffered severe fractures.

"Uh, sorry, sorry. I didn't control the technique's power properly."

Kakuzu smiled awkwardly. He had not expected that using so much chakra on the technique would raise its power to this level. Even he had been startled.

Two months earlier, Kakuzu had finally obtained his first heart through Earth Grudge Fear.

The other party had been a ninja who fled to the Land of Night. His Water Release: Tengu Cannon had caused Kakuzu considerable trouble.

In the end, Kakuzu had relied on having more chakra than his opponent, dragging the battle out until the man was exhausted before barely subduing him.

Afterward, he used Earth Grudge Fear's vascular tendrils to seize the man's heart, obtaining the Water Release: Tengu Cannon Ninjutsu that had captivated him as well.

Its power had not disappointed him. Even a powerful samurai like Kurobei, who could casually cut through Ninjutsu, did not dare take this move head-on.

Against large, thick-skinned summoned beasts, this Water Release could also inflict tremendous damage.

Moreover, because Yayoi had modified Earth Grudge Fear's capabilities, Kakuzu could use even stolen Ninjutsu directly as the main body. He did not need to release a separate body first in order to use techniques he had taken.

"Forget it, I'm done fighting. Your Water Release is too powerful. I don't want to leave myself covered in injuries."

Kurobei sheathed his katana and decided to end the battle.

The corner of Kakuzu's mouth curled beneath his mask. He had clearly seen through Kurobei's guilty conscience.

After all, if they continued, Kakuzu's odds of winning would only grow higher.

Not to mention that he had not yet used Earth Grudge Fear's tendrils to coordinate with him.

Otherwise, under the interference of those tendrils and with that Water Release technique, Kurobei absolutely would not have been able to evade it if caught off guard.

As long as I get three more hearts, I can bring Earth Grudge Fear's power to its fullest. I really am looking forward to that day.

Having finally gained the upper hand over Kurobei, Kakuzu ended the fight in a good mood.

After this, he needed to keep an eye out for ninjas who used powerful Lightning Release, Wind Release, and Fire Release.

Once he obtained their hearts, he could take their techniques and freely wield all five chakra natures.

By then, perhaps he could even try challenging the Tailed Beasts.

"Come to think of it, Kakuzu, you've grown incredibly fast. Only a year has passed, yet you've already caught up to me."

Kurobei sighed with emotion.

In their past sparring matches, Kakuzu had never beaten him even once.

They had sparred a year ago as well, and the result went without saying. Kurobei had chased Kakuzu around, hacking at him everywhere, leaving him no chance to use Ninjutsu.

He just had not expected Kakuzu to advance by leaps and bounds within a single year, surpassing him all at once.

Not only his Ninjutsu, but even his Taijutsu had undergone a qualitative transformation.

In the past, even when Kakuzu used Water Release: Water Body Flicker, Kurobei would chase him into a miserable state.

As for their battle just now, if it had continued, there was no doubt Kurobei would have lost.

"Still, that technique just now wasn't originally yours, was it?"

Kurobei paused, his gaze probing.

Though he sounded doubtful, Kurobei had clearly already reached a conclusion.

"You could tell?"

Kakuzu was slightly surprised.

"I know your level in Water Release. That Water Release technique didn't look like something you could develop, especially not in such a short time. After all, Earth Release Ninjutsu is what you're best at."

Though he was not a ninja, Kurobei's eyesight was sharper than that of many ninjas.

At a normal training pace, it would take Kakuzu at least another two or three years to bring his water-nature chakra transformation to the level of power displayed just now.

"..."

Kakuzu was speechless.

It was true. Though he was talented, a Water Release technique at that level of mastery was not something he could casually develop.

A single strike had left such a crater in a solid mountain more than thirty meters tall, with the core impact point reduced to dust. Even a Tailed Beast would feel pain and grunt if it took that attack head-on.

"This is a forbidden technique Lord Yayoi gave me. That Water Release technique just now was taken from someone else."

In the end, Kakuzu still offered an explanation.

As for any further details, Kakuzu could not conveniently reveal them.

It was not that he distrusted Kurobei, his comrade, but ninjas were simply like that.

The secrets of Ninjutsu could not always be fully disclosed, even to allies.

It was not about guarding against one's own people, but about preventing information from leaking.

"I see. Then it isn't strange. Lord Yayoi really does always pull out strange things that make people stronger. But a forbidden technique... are you really all right?"

Kurobei looked at Kakuzu with concern.

Forbidden techniques always carried enormous risks alongside the power they granted, sometimes even endangering one's life.

"No adverse effects have appeared so far. Unless something unexpected happens, this forbidden technique is highly compatible with me."

Though he said that, a trace of caution still lingered in Kakuzu's tone.

He had now deeply experienced Earth Grudge Fear's power. Using techniques taken from others was no different from using techniques he had cultivated himself, and the results were even better.

Through proficiency, the techniques could even become stronger rather than remaining unchanged.

As for the risks, although none had appeared yet, Kakuzu remained constantly vigilant against the backlash a forbidden technique could bring at any moment.

"I really envy you ninjas. If it were me, I couldn't use something like that even if I wanted to... sigh."

Kurobei suddenly sighed.

If one could become a ninja, who would want to become a samurai?

Samurai were basically half-finished products eliminated from the path of becoming ninjas.

When he was young, he had also dreamed of becoming a great ninja.

Unfortunately, his talent for Ninjutsu and Genjutsu was far too poor. Although Yayoi had taught him some beginner Ninjutsu, he had still been completely lost, unable to understand the principles behind Ninjutsu and Genjutsu at all.

So he simply chose one path and followed it to the end, constantly training his chakra and swordsmanship.

He wanted to prove that even if he could not become a ninja, he could still become a powerful warrior worthy of respect through Taijutsu and swordsmanship alone!

Kakuzu did not respond. Any comfort now would feel like rubbing salt into his friend's wounds.

"So you two are both here. Perfect, that saves me the trouble of finding you one by one."

A voice silently appeared on the training ground.

"Lord Yayoi!"

Following the source of the voice, Kakuzu and Kurobei abruptly turned toward the distance, surprise on their faces.

Yayoi stood there in a traveling ninja outfit, wearing a black coat patterned with red spider lilies.

A young female ninja stood beside him. It was Kicho.

Like Yayoi, she had shed her usual gorgeous and elegant kimono and changed into a light-purple ninja outfit for travel.

White leg wraps bound her blue ninja trousers, whose cuffs fell slightly below her knees. She wore black, low-heeled, strapped ninja shoes that seemed to make her look taller.

Though compared to Yayoi beside her, her figure still appeared petite and delicate.

"Lord Yayoi, are you heading out?"

Kakuzu and Kurobei were curious.

In their memories, ever since conquering the Land of Night, Yayoi rarely went out except under special circumstances. Most of the year, he remained in the Tenshu Tower of the General's Residence.

"There has been some trouble at the border with the Land of Grass. I'm going to deal with it. So, would you two like to come along?"

Yayoi extended an invitation.

Irori had returned to Nightview City a few days ago. While he was away, Irori would serve as the acting general of the General's Residence.

Therefore, even if he left the General's Residence, Yayoi was not worried that anything unexpected would happen here.

If necessary, he and Irori could also support each other using the Summoning Technique or Reverse Summoning Technique.

"Oh, acting together again after so long? The last time we worked together was several years ago, wasn't it?"

Kakuzu was intrigued. Yayoi's words reminded him of days long past.

Though Kurobei was tempted by the proposal, he suddenly remembered something and shook his head helplessly.

"Sorry, Lord Yayoi. You know my boy was just born, so I can't leave right now."

That was right. After the situation in the Land of Night stabilized, Kurobei, commander of the Land of Night's samurai, had found himself a young and beautiful wife more than a decade younger than him a little over a year ago.

Yayoi naturally knew about it. At the time, he and Kakuzu had even attended Kurobei's wedding and personally given him a gift to show how highly they regarded him.

"Then there's nothing to be done. By the way, have you chosen a name for your son?"

Yayoi spoke with regret in his voice, then casually asked another question.

He knew that Kurobei's wife had given birth to a son a few days ago. Though he had not gone in person, he had sent someone with a gift: a samurai sword forged entirely from special Chakra Metal.

A gentle look flashed through Kurobei's eyes, and an unconscious smile appeared on his face.

"I've already chosen one, Lord Yayoi. Mifune. That child's name will be Mifune. I have a feeling that he may one day become an outstanding samurai capable of surpassing me."

(Unless something unexpected happens, updates will be posted at midnight from now on. There will also be another chapter later today.)