The S-Rank missing nin that Zoro finds isn't someone he knows from the story. Probably because it's still years before the main story starts, so he doesn't see many familiar names.
Though this missing nin still should be strong enough or he won't get that rank. So Zoro needs to be careful when hunting this missing nin.
The missing nin is from Kumogakure, a man who is wanted after trying to assassinate Killer B. Though it isn't explained why he wanted to assassinate B, Zoro can guess that it's because of the 8 Tails.
"For him to have the confidence to assassinate someone at B's level. He must be really strong. Furthermore, he tried to steal an S-Rank ninjutsu scroll. This guy is determined to go against his village, didn't he?"
Right now, that ninja is making a living as an assassin that takes illegal jobs from black market. Zoro finds him by chance when visiting a black market in the Land of Wind.
He remembers the faces of most S-Rank missing nins because there aren't that many of them, that's why he recognizes him when seeing him by chance.
Torao has confirmed that this guy is the correct target after spying on him from the shadow. So Zoro doesn't need to worry about targeting the wrong person.
While he won't go out of his way to find and chase S-Rank missing nins, he will still target them if he knows they are close by. Their bounty rewards are too alluring to be missed, after all.
Torao keeps tailing their target from the shadow and Zoro also observes him from afar using Observation Haki.
When tailing, Zoro realizes that he is not the only one targeting the man. There are 5 other people tailing him. But their stalking abilities are quite bad because Zoro can tell that the target has realized their intention.
Although, the target seems very nonchalant about those 5 and just does his activities normally. Zoro guesses that it must be a usual thing for him to be targeted as an S-Rank missing nin.
"That and this guy must be very confident with his abilities. He might even be able to sense their power level to be that confident."
Thankfully, Zoro can hide his presence and even conceal his power. He learned to do those from scrolls he bought in black market. Those scrolls were very expensive, but they're worth the prices for him who often needed to tail ninjas like this.
Furthermore, he found out from Instructor Marimo in the Genjutsu World that Observation Haki can be used to hide one's presence although he doesn't know how and won't learn it even if he knows.
The original Zoro was a proud swordsman who also thought of honor even though he was a pirate. Hiding, sneaking, and attacking his enemies from the shadows like cowards are not his style.
But he as Instructor Marimo in the Genjutsu World never forbids Zoro from learning it because everyone has their own principles. Also, this is a ninja world. Sneak attacks are very common here, so it may be better for him to learn it.
Anyway, Zoro and Torao keep tailing the S-Rank missing nin without being detected like those 5. Then after tailing for 4 days, the S-Rank missing nin finally leaves the town.
As Zoro thought, the 5 stalkers also chase the missing nin. Zoro chases them through the shadow with Torao's ability.
They can't travel long distances with this ability, but it's fine to use it for this because they're sure those people will fight soon before getting too far.
His prediction is correct because then one of the 5 pursuers gets caught in the S-Rank nin's landmine trap.
The missing nin sets a big landmine trap using paper bombs on a tree branch. They create a series of very powerful explosions that destroy some trees around them.
The one who triggered the trap dies on the spot with his body destroyed to pieces while the other 4 are only lightly injured because they put some distances with each other when running, so the explosions didn't hurt them too much.
"CRAP! HE FOUND US."
"OH NO! BIG BRO IS DEAD, WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW?"
"DON'T PANIC! Let's just return to the town and treat our injuries. We are still not too far from there."
The 4 injured bounty hunters are panicking. It seems their "Big Bro" is the strongest among them and they can't do much without him, so they want to retreat.
"You want to run now? Do you think I will just let you go?"
However, running away doesn't seem to be easy for them. Their target suddenly appears in front of them, looking at them while grinning widely.
They shiver and don't think twice to run away after throwing numerous smoke bombs to block the enemy's sight.
But the missing nin just grins while making some hand seals.
"Lightning Release: Black Sparrows!"
Zoro who hides in the shadow is surprised to see the missing nin create numerous small birds made out of blackish-blue lightning to chase the 4 injured bounty hunters.
He is surprised because the only one he knows to use black lightning is Darui and if he remembers correctly, then it should be passed down from the 3rd Raikage to Darui alone.
Not even the 4th Raikage learned black lightning, which means the ninjutsu that this guy tried to steal was this black lightning.
It also seems like he has learned a part of it seeing how his normal blue-colored lightning already has a black aura covering it.
Although it's not a perfect black lightning, it seems to increase his jutsu's power considerably high because the lightning sparrows are killing the 4 injured hunters immediately and even destroy the trees they stepped on.
"Hmph! Just small fries thought they could get my head."
"Then would you like me to take it from you instead?"
The missing nin wants to continue his way when he suddenly hears a voice from his left. He jumps away in surprise while taking out a kunai from his ninja bag as he looks at Zoro who suddenly appears without him noticing.
"Nice reflex you got there."
"Who are you?"
The man asks a question, but Zoro ignores it and walks forward.
"Former codename: E. Contributed a lot to Kumogakure but then tried to assassinate the 4th Raikage's brother and even tried to steal an S-Rank ninjutsu scroll. I see that you didn't completely fail to steal the scroll there. But it seems you couldn't fully learn it either."
Zoro just keeps walking forward while rambling, ignoring E's threats.
"Tch! You are looking down on me! Fine! Let me beat the crap out of you. You will regret ignoring me like that."
E makes some hand seals again.
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
He uses Black Panther jutsu, just like Darui. But unlike Darui's black panther that is completely made of black lightning, his black panther is still mostly made of blue lightning with black aura.
The "Black Panther" is quite big and it charges toward Zoro. It almost hits Zoro, but Zoro jumps at a very high speed to another tree, so the "Black Panther" hits the tree where he stood before and destroys it.
The "Black Panther" doesn't disappear and it chases Zoro again. But Zoro is already in a rather low stance with his left hand holding Wado Ichimonji.
"Ittoryu Iai: Shi Shishi Sonson!" (1 Sword Style Acting Draw: Death Lion's Song!)
Zoro disappears from his spot right before the "Black Panther" hits him. Then he suddenly appears behind E with his sword slightly out of its scabbard.
But unlike usual, he has a surprised expression on his face now. E's jutsu disappears and he falls from the tree. But then he lands on the ground, standing just fine.
E actually managed to block Zoro's attack just now which surprises Zoro. He was very quick to move the lightning that controlled the "Black Panther" to block Zoro's sword.
Furthermore, he jumps back, so Zoro's sword couldn't slash him perfectly. The sword still managed to cut his clothes and created a shallow wound on his chest, but it won't affect him too much.
"Great! It seems like this fight won't be boring. Chasing you is a correct decision."
Even though his attack failed, Zoro is getting excited instead. After all, he never hates a proper battle that can help him grow.
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Chapter 65. Kirigakure
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