Chapter 119 – General Mifune's Challenge
Suddenly, Kazane seemed to notice something out of place.
Without hesitation, he drew Shusui from his waist and slashed toward the building beneath the Kages feet. A massive flying slash, several dozen meters wide, surged forward along the blade's arc.
The attack sliced diagonally through the structure, and the building beneath the Kages collapsed along the cut, falling at an angle.
The leaders quickly scattered to the rooftops of nearby buildings.
Fortunately, this particular structure held ceremonial significance in the Land of Iron, and open space surrounded it—so there were no casualties among the civilians.
However, as for the unconscious ninja who had accompanied their village leaders—already knocked out by Kazane's Conqueror's Haki—it was unclear how many could have survived the building's collapse.
"Who gave you permission," Kazane said coolly, a frown on his face, "to make me look up at you?"
He had felt it earlier—something was off. Only now did he realize it was the fact he had to look up at the Kage standing atop the highest tower in the Land of Iron.
A bunch of people who didn't even have the courage to fight—how dare they stand higher and look down on me.
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, silently etched the moment into his memory.
Until now, everything he knew of Kazane came from intelligence reports and the previous Kages discussions.
Everyone had insisted Kazane was a minor threat—someone who could easily be crushed if the Kages so chose. They had even bragged that if Hiruzen didn't hand him over, they would simply march into Konoha and take care of it themselves.
Hah... they made it sound so real I believed it.
But now, seeing it all with his own eyes, Rasa realized just how foolish those words had been.
Here was Kazane, the very man they had talked about defeating so casually—and none of the so-called leaders around him dared speak.
Just moments ago, they had been shouting about war.
Now they stood frozen like cowards.
Rasa couldn't help but wonder—with a man like Hatake Kazane in Konoha, can Hiruzen even rest easy as Hokage?
In Sunagakure, just one meddlesome elder like Chiyo made things unbearably complicated. His own orders were constantly obstructed.
But compared to Kazane's unyielding dominance, he'd take Chiyo any day. At least she wouldn't endanger his life.
Everything that had just happened made Kazane lose all interest in staying here.
These so-called tigers had long since had their fangs and claws dulled. Nothing more would come from remaining in this place.
He was confident that even after his departure, none of these so-called honorable Kage would dare utter another word about demanding Konoha hand anyone over.
Let Hiruzen waste time arguing with them.
Kazane had other matters to deal with—back in the village.
He turned to call Orochimaru and the others, preparing to leave the Land of Iron and return to Konoha.
"Lord Kazane, please wait a moment."
But just then, Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron, called out to him.
The surrounding Kage all shot him glares.
This god of death is about to leave and you're stopping him? Haven't we embarrassed ourselves enough already?
But Mifune had his reasons.
He had noticed that since arriving in the Land of Iron, Kazane had not harmed a single civilian. It was clear—this man was not a bloodthirsty killer.
And just moments ago, Mifune had personally witnessed Kazane's overwhelming dominance.
He had seen the aura of the strongest man in the ninja world.
As the greatest samurai of the Land of Iron—and a famed swordsman—Mifune couldn't ignore this opportunity.
With the strongest swordsman in the shinobi world standing before him, he had to test his own strength.
"Lord Kazane, I am Mifune, General of the Land of Iron," he said respectfully.
"I know this is sudden, but as a swordsman… when I stand before the strongest blade in the world, I cannot suppress the will to draw my own sword. Please—grant me the honor of a duel."
There was no arrogance in his gaze—only pure fighting spirit.
Despite his age, Mifune looked at Kazane as a junior would look upon a master.
But Kazane felt nothing.
He had already done so much here—slashed down their most sacred building—and yet this so-called general hadn't dared say a word.
And now, seeing that he wasn't killing anyone, he wanted to borrow Kazane's fame to boost his own behind the excuse of a duel between swordman?
Fine. He'd give him a chance.
Kazane reached into the necklace around his neck and pulled out a small blade.
With a casual gesture, he motioned for Mifune to approach.
A swordsman who lacked the courage to fight to the death didn't deserve to face Shusui.
Drawing that blade for this would only sully its name.
"This is an insult, isn't it?" Mifune's face flushed red.
Did Kazane think he wasn't even worthy of a proper sword?
"If you can force me to draw my sword, I will. But if you can't even muster the courage to strike… you're just here to humiliate yourself."
Kazane spoke as he casually trimmed his nails with the small knife, barely sparing Mifune a glance.
If this had been a different kind of elite fighter, Kazane might have shown some respect. Anyone who had reached the top had their own strengths.
But a so-called master swordsman from the peaceful Land of Iron? Kazane didn't feel any pressure at all.
His own strength had been forged in blood—every leap in power carved through the deaths of strong enemies.
He didn't believe someone could become a top-tier swordsman through mere training in peace.
Moreover, he didn't sense that signature confidence—the unwavering belief that your sword could cut through anything.
Without that, Mifune wasn't even worthy of the title "swordmaster."
In this world, where even flying sword strikes required chakra, Mifune's blade wasn't worth Kazane's full strength.
"If you're so confident, Lord Kazane," Mifune replied, "then please—prepare yourself."
Though anger brewed in his heart, Mifune's discipline as a samurai remained. He would prove himself with his blade.
He stepped forward and assumed his iaido stance.
Every top-tier fighter had a title, and Mifune was known throughout the ninja world as the "Legendary Master of Iaido."
His blade was lightning fast. Many shinobi had been struck down before they could even form hand seals.
Now, he would unleash his strongest iaido strike upon Kazane.
"Issen—One Flash!"
In an instant, Mifune's blade gleamed like a flash of lightning.
As the steel sliced through the air, Mifune felt a thrill—this was his fastest, sharpest strike yet. His absolute peak.
This strike… might even kill him!
Clang!
But before the thought could even finish—
A sharp clang rang out.
Kazane's small knife had tapped the blade mid-swing.
Mifune froze, staring in disbelief.
Impossible…
His strongest attack—
Blocked so easily.
"This… can't be!"
At that moment, everything Mifune believed about himself came crashing down.
He slashed again. And again.
Again.
Desperation filled his heart. He swung wildly, dozens of strikes in seconds.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
The observers could barely keep track of the flashing sword light.
But Kazane?
He blocked each and every strike effortlessly with his small knife—and even yawned mid-duel.
Thanks to his Observation Haki, Kazane knew exactly where each strike would land before it even began.
Mifune's so-called fast blade… was utterly useless.
As time passed, Mifune's predictable, repetitive slashes began to bore Kazane.
Then, his knife gleamed with a dark light—
Armament Haki.
Kazane coated the entire blade with black Haki and swung.
A sharp black arc sliced forward.
It cleaved straight through Mifune's katana, shattering it—
—and carved a deep wound across Mifune's chest.
"This scar I leave you—someday, you'll be proud of it."
Kazane didn't even glance at the fallen samurai.
He simply turned and walked away.
But his voice echoed in Mifune's ears.
As he lay on the ground, Mifune's eyes filled with tears.
He had been defeated—utterly.
And the one who had defeated him… had never even seen him as a threat.
The onlookers were stunned into silence.
At that moment, the truth could no longer be denied.
The old kings had fallen.
A new king had ascended.
And the name Hatake Kazane—undisputed strongest—would never be questioned again.
(TN/ I don't know where the sword necklace came from but OK, and this is likely Mihawk and Zoro's first duel reference. It'll be really funny if Mifune suddenly became Zoro and challenge Kazane, as Mihawk.)