For a human being, parents were the heavens, and faith was the earth.
Han's ultimate wish was to learn about her origins.
"Is it... too difficult?"
Han's eyes were red now, a touch of softness added to the cold aloofness of someone alone in the world.
Han knew Liumu was a Konoha ninja, and investigating her origins would be exceptionally difficult for him.
The events of decades past had long been buried by history. Bringing them back to light would undoubtedly take considerable effort.
Moreover, throughout the process, he would have to remain constantly wary of the eyes of Kirigakure's ninja.
Liumu looked at Han's resolute expression, then turned a cold smile toward Kirigakure in the distance and replied somberly, "I don't like bullying the weak, but when it comes to my convictions and the things I stand by, I don't mind crushing the stones in my path."
"Ding! Hidden mission activated. 'The Sealed Family Letter' has officially been linked. Host, please find the corresponding item within three days."
Just then, the Template System in Liumu's mind suddenly issued a mission.
Looking at the bright red "0" written after "The Sealed Family Letter" beneath the mission, he found that the final reward was actually one additional random item from a category of his choice.
In other words, as long as Liumu completed this mission, he could choose a category from character templates, ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, or even summoning beasts, and the system would then randomly select a corresponding reward.
"Random again!"
Liumu spat inwardly, but on reflection, this reward method gave him considerably more say than the roulette wheel.
At least choosing the category he needed was better than drawing the Kizaru template after already obtaining the Saitama template.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are basically responsible for searching for Kekkei Genkai bloodlines in the village, and they report directly to Kirigakure's leader."
After listening to the information Han gave him, Liumu nodded lightly.
"I may have to send you back to that place from before."
With Han's agreement, Liumu opened the Time House again and took her inside.
The Time House could be opened seven times in total, and Liumu had already used up two of them on Han.
Though it pained him somewhat, Liumu did not hesitate.
Liumu did not remember much about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, but Kirigakure should still have been in the era of the first generation of swordsmen.
To uncover Han's origins, Liumu would have to focus his efforts on them.
Inside Kirigakure.
Han had been missing for over half a month, and her disappearance had long since stirred unease among Kirigakure's higher-ups.
"Could she have run away?"
Inside the office of Kirigakure's leader, a man wearing a white fox mask spoke quietly.
"Perhaps." In the chair in the center of the office, a black-haired man narrowed his eyes and told him, "I'll leave the investigation to the six of you. If you find her... there's no need to bring her back."
"Lord Third, about the broken blade..."
"I've sent the ANBU to investigate the broken blade. As for dealing with a missing-nin... I imagine you know what awaits him."
Meanwhile, Liumu had used the Transformation Technique to take on a different appearance.
After putting away his Konoha forehead protector, he pushed straight through Kirigakure's gates.
"Who's there!"
"Yasakani... no Magatama!"
Confronted by Kirigakure's patrol, Liumu leaped straight into the air without a word. Countless photons immediately gathered around him and, under his control, destroyed Kirigakure's gates in a barrage of dazzling light bullets.
The bombardment lasted nearly a minute. Only when Liumu saw several figures speeding toward the village entrance from afar did he gradually withdraw his attack and drop to the ground.
"Boy, you've got some nerve, charging straight through the gates of Kirigakure!"
As the man finished speaking, a black shadow flashed like lightning with a sharp whistle. Looking at the steel wire at his chest, Liumu smiled. "The longsword, Nuibari, right?"
Seeing that the stranger he had struck head-on seemed perfectly normal, Kushimaru Kuriarare immediately grew wary.
"You... you're actually unharmed?"
Liumu gave a faint smile at his words and said, "You know Han, don't you?"
"Han?"
Hearing that name from Liumu's mouth, Kushimaru Kuriarare immediately demanded, "What's your relationship with her?"
Liumu replied, "Looks like you know her, then. Good, I won't waste any more time. I'll give you six hours. I want all the information on her."
With that, Liumu made to leave, but after just two steps, he suddenly turned back and added, "Of course, I could investigate myself. It's just that things might get a little louder then."
Kirigakure's bloody mist scourge was indeed alarming, but after the Fifth, Mei Terumi, the village would undergo a completely new transformation.
Liumu knew the truth of the matter well, so he did not want to destroy Kirigakure outright over Han's affairs.
As subordinates of Kirigakure's Third, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had always been known for their brutality.
Although Liumu had given Kushimaru Kuriarare six hours to investigate Han's origins, he did not actually believe Kushimaru Kuriarare would obediently do as he said.
His main purpose in doing this was simply to draw out all the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Investigating would certainly be much easier then.
Sure enough...
An hour later.
What awaited Liumu was not information on Han brought by Kushimaru Kuriarare, but encirclement by the entire Six Ninja Blade Users, including him.
"Why does it look like someone's missing?"
Liumu examined the weapons around him and, after comparing them carefully with the information in his memory, confirmed that the missing man was Juzo Biwa, wielder of the broken blade, Kubikiribōchō.
The Third Shinobi World War hasn't broken out yet, and Juzo Biwa hasn't been beaten by Might Duy's Eight Gates. He should still be in Kirigakure.
Before Liumu could think any further, Kushimaru Kuriarare attacked directly. The constantly flashing longsword, Nuibari, pierced Liumu's body, gradually forming a trap of steel wire beneath his feet.
"Hah!"
With a fierce shout, Kushimaru Kuriarare swiftly pulled in the steel wire in his hands. Under his continual guidance, the trap severed Liumu's ankles, turning them into flecks of light that spread across the ground.
"..."
Seeing that the composed Liumu appeared unharmed, Jinin Akebino, wielder of the blunt blade, Kabutowari, leaped over and swung the great blade in his hand straight down at Liumu's face.
"Ame no Murakumo!"
At the sight, Liumu gave a quiet cry. Light immediately gathered in his hands, and as he brought his palms together, a gleaming sword of light appeared, blocking the blunt blade outright.
Jinin Akebino chuckled and raised the enormous hammer in his right hand above his head, sneering, "There's no sword in this world that Kabutowari can't cut through!"
The giant hammer slammed down, and the sound of scraping blades rang through the air. The instant Jinin Akebino got a clear look at the blunt blade in his hand, his expression changed drastically.
"How could this happen? Why is your sword still intact?"
Liumu ignored his opponent's confusion. The Exploding Blade Shibuki was already close, and Munashi Jinpachi had quietly swung its blade, covered in explosive tags, into Liumu's back.
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