Chapter 63
At that moment, Sakumo continued:
"Power itself has no right or wrong. The blade in my hand can kill the enemy before me, but it can also protect the comrades behind me."
He pointed to Asuma and Kurenai, who were training on the lake, struggling to walk on water.
"Just like them, training hard, falling repeatedly into the water, only to get back up again."
"Are they training to kill people?"
"No, they just don't want to fall too far behind you. They don't want to be powerless to protect the ones they love during a mission."
"And that is the meaning of chakra, the true purpose of power."
Haneda reflected on the purpose behind his own training and suddenly realized everything. He wasn't just trying to survive for himself—he was fighting for his friends, for Obito, for Kakashi.
And that is the meaning of power, the essence of being a ninja.
...
Three nights later.
A small boat approached the coast of the Land of Waves, coming to a stop. Four cloaked figures disembarked, stepping onto the shores of the Land of Waves.
"Captain, what's the mission target?" one of them asked.
"A merchant named Sakamoto, and four shinobi from the Leaf Village—one Jonin and three Genin."
The leader raised his hood slightly, revealing a forehead protector with the symbol of the Hidden Mist.
He exhaled deeply and recalled the orders from the Fourth Mizukage before continuing:
"Sakamoto can be dealt with later. Our main target is the Leaf shinobi, especially one named Uchiha Haneda. His Sharingan is quite valuable."
As he mentioned killing, the Hidden Mist Jonin's face twisted into a sinister grin. Trained in the "Bloody Mist," he considered himself far superior to the shinobi from the sheltered Leaf Village.
A Jonin and three Chunin against a newly graduated team? There was no way he could lose.
The Mist Jonin could not imagine any scenario where he would be defeated.
Just then, another cloaked figure approached and tossed a scroll to the Mist Jonin before leaving silently.
Taking the scroll, the Mist Jonin squinted. Upon reading its contents, his earlier confusion cleared up.
It seemed there had been a traitor among their ranks after all.
...
At dawn, in the northern outskirts of Toyohama, Haneda and his team were training.
Ten of Haneda's shadow clones were scattered around, practicing the shape transformation of lightning chakra. This drew envious glances from Asuma.
"Haneda-nii! How can you make so many shadow clones? I can barely manage three!"
"It's an A-rank jutsu, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. It explains how to create more clones," Haneda replied.
"Haneda-nii, but why can you use clones to train while I get headaches after making just one or two?"
"I'm just that talented."
"Haneda-nii..."
"Can you be quiet for a bit?" Haneda responded, clearly annoyed.
"Haneda-nii, I just want to get stronger," Asuma laughed awkwardly.
As Asuma pestered Haneda, Sakumo arrived.
"Someone's infiltrated the area, at least three of them," Sakumo said gravely.
Hearing this, Haneda immediately recalled his shadow clones and stopped training.
Memories surged into his mind, but Haneda's exceptional mental strength processed them quickly. The chakra he had spent was also rapidly replenished thanks to the support of his basic Sage Body.
After a moment, Haneda opened his eyes, and the three-tomoe Sharingan spun into view.
A faint mist rolled in, and the silhouettes of four armed shinobi appeared in Haneda's vision, standing on tree branches, looking down at him and the others.
...
Meanwhile, in all four districts of Toyohama—east, west, south, and north—riots began to erupt.
Rebels rose up, armed with makeshift weapons, attacking Sakamoto's men. Others took advantage of the chaos to loot. In the markets selling rice, oil, and salt, people smashed and grabbed, scattering goods everywhere. The crowds were in total disarray.
Suddenly, it was as if the entire city had received some signal, plunging into chaos.
Yet the powers controlling the city remained indifferent.
At the Yamano clan's estate, Sakamoto paced anxiously in the heavily guarded hall, waiting for word from his steward.
At the Daimyo's court, officials held banquets, indulging in wine and dance as they awaited news from the Daimyo.
It seemed the aristocrats all knew the real battle wouldn't be decided within the city.
The true contest was unfolding in the northern outskirts, where the shinobi fought.
...
"A Jonin and three Chunin."
Haneda quickly assessed the enemy's chakra levels and abilities.
He turned to Sakumo and said, "Sakumo-ji, I'll take on the Jonin. You handle the two Chunin, and let Asuma and the others deal with the remaining one. What do you think?"
"Agreed," Sakumo nodded. His intention all along was to let Haneda and the team grow stronger, and now the perfect opportunity had arrived.
Hearing this, Haneda grinned.
He gestured forward with his hand and taunted, "What are you waiting for? Come and fight me."
The Mist Jonin bared his sharp teeth in a cold smile. "Such an arrogant brat. Let's see if you're still this cocky when you're begging me for mercy."
With that, he drew his long blade.
Due to the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, almost all Mist ninjas specialized in kenjutsu. Swords had become their signature weapon.
"Heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs—tell me, brat, which one do you want me to carve up first?"
The mist thickened, quickly enveloping the area in white fog. Visibility dropped to less than three meters.
For the Mist ninja, killing at such close range was child's play.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" Haneda smirked.
His three-tomoe Sharingan kept track of every movement the four made.
He drew the short blade from his back, and lightning chakra instantly surged along its length, emitting the shrill sound of chirping birds.
"Let's see how long you can last against me."
With those words, Haneda moved!
In a flash of lightning, Haneda appeared behind the Mist Jonin almost instantly.
*Ssss!*
The blade sliced through the Mist Jonin's body, but he exploded into a splash of water.
"A water clone?"
Haneda turned and reached out again, the sound of chirping birds echoing once more as a beam of lightning pierced through the real Mist Jonin behind him.
But then, the Mist Jonin grinned wickedly, flipping the situation in an instant.
The Mist Jonin, who had initially dissolved into water, suddenly reformed and pressed his blade against Haneda's back.
"Brat, didn't your elders teach you about the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique?"
"It's over."
The blade cut through, but not a drop of blood spilled.
Instead, the sound of cawing crows filled the air.
Where the sword had struck, Haneda's body dispersed into a flock of crows, swirling upward into the sky.
Soon, the crows merged into Haneda's face in midair.
"Why are you so sure that what you're seeing is real?"
Haneda's cold voice echoed around the battlefield.
To onlookers, it seemed as though the two hadn't even moved, standing still the entire time.
***
To read an advance 75+ chapters
Support me at p@treon.com/NahinS77
Change @ to a
Or go to that website and search NahinS77