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"So, in short, there's no suitable solution right now. Getting angry won't help," Midorima said, spreading his hands.
"Solutions are devised by people. If we truly want to kill him, there's always a way."
Mangetsu's fury showed no signs of dissipating. It seemed that the ambush had angered him far more than expected.
Apparently, Bu had made an extremely poor move.
The current deadlock was this: even knowing Bu was the perpetrator, they still had no way to deal with him openly.
"Let's make a deal," Mangetsu said in a low voice, his expression twisted with malice.
Midorima immediately grew cautious, wary of Hōzuki Mangetsu.
Every shinobi from Kirigakure acted with a ruthlessness that surpassed ordinary imagination—even the seemingly most normal ones, like Mei Terumī and Chōjūrō, were no exception.
Because of this, Midorima was deeply curious about what kind of "deal" Mangetsu had in mind.
"Don't worry, I have no reason to harm you—for now," Mangetsu said dismissively, glancing at Midorima. "Right now, four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen positions are confirmed, but three remain vacant. If you can secure one of them, even Bu won't be able to openly scheme against you."
"Me? One of the Seven? Impossible." Midorima spread his hands.
He had only graduated half a year ago, and he was a medical ninja. Neither in strength nor seniority was he qualified.
"That's why it's a 'deal'," Mangetsu clenched his fist, a cold smile on his face. "I'll propose to the Mizukage that the remaining positions be filled through a selection tournament. You'll need to improve your strength and complete enough missions to qualify. Once you secure a spot among the Seven, we'll work together to eliminate Bu."
"Huh?" Midorima was taken aback. This arrangement benefited him, but it didn't seem advantageous for Mangetsu. "Executing Bu… can't you do that alone?"
"You think Bu is some pushover? That you can crush him however you please?" Mangetsu retorted. "Besides, even if I could kill him, the losses on our side wouldn't be small."
"Fair point."
Hearing this, Midorima realized Bu's influence was far greater than he had imagined.
"But why help me? Even if I become one of the Seven, it doesn't really benefit you, does it?"
"There are pros and cons. But overall, the pros outweigh the cons. You think the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are the village's elite, wielding powerful swords, controlling vast resources, and commanding the respect of ordinary shinobi, right?" Mangetsu countered.
"Isn't that the case?"
"If, during the last conflict with Konoha, the Seven had only been four, how many do you think would've survived?"
Mangetsu's words struck Midorima like a revelation.
The so-called Seven Ninja Swordsmen did indeed hold greater authority and wielded formidable blades, but they also faced extreme danger.
They were tasked with the most perilous missions, so having more skilled members was always better.
And if things went south, others could always serve as shields.
'Better others die than myself.' As long as 'he' survived, did it really matter who perished?
When the first generation of the Seven faced Might Duy, the four who died might very well have been used as sacrificial pawns.
"Bu isn't some pushover. If I go on missions, he might interfere," Midorima pointed out.
"That's not a concern. I'll—"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the air, instantly filling it with dust.
An ambush?!
The word flashed through Midorima's mind, but the falling debris and grit forced him to shut his eyes.
"Hey, I heard your little plan. Something this exciting, and you weren't going to invite me?"
Midorima's blood ran cold at the sound of that voice.
Momochi Zabuza!
As the dust settled, visibility returned, though the air remained hazy.
The guards outside rushed in, weapons drawn, but Mangetsu barked at them to leave.
And so, a private discussion between two became a meeting of three—with the roof now sporting a brand-new skylight.
"I thought you'd been killed off. Didn't expect you to be living it up here," Zabuza said coldly, eyeing Midorima.
If Midorima remembered correctly, this was his first real encounter with Zabuza since his transmigration. The fear and hatred left behind by the original Terachi Midorima surged up in his chest—but he forced it back down.
The one afraid of Zabuza was the 'old' Midorima, not him!
"Still better than being gutted by you. What are you doing here?" Midorima didn't recall having any prior dealings with Zabuza.
"Brought here by Squad Leader," Zabuza sneered.
"He's here too?" Midorima was surprised.
"Yeah. After getting bitten by a dog, he didn't dare come in. Sent me to check if you were dead yet."
"I told you I heard someone shouting earlier," Midorima shot Mangetsu a glare.
Mangetsu merely snorted.
What did he care about Shimomura's fate?
"That… Shimomura-sensei came here for my sake in the middle of the night. We should at least let him in."
Midorima couldn't just ignore Shimomura after he'd gone out of his way to help.
Only then did Mangetsu order a servant to escort Shimomura to a vacant room to rest.
"Seems like I arrived at just the right time. Witnessed something interestin'," Zabuza said with a chilling grin. "I'm very interested in becoming one of the Seven."
'So, even before Fuguki Suikazan is dead, you're already eager to take his place?'
But Zabuza 'was' highly skilled with swords, so his interest in the Seven Ninja Swordsmen made sense.
"Why should I trust you?" Mangetsu wasn't welcoming this uninvited guest.
"I can't stand Bu either. Whether it's killing him or joining the Seven, I'm all for it," Zabuza licked his lips, his expression growing even more sinister.
"But what use are 'you'?" Mangetsu challenged.
"Partnering with 'him'—and helping you kill Bu. With me around, even if Bu himself makes a move, the two of us can escape. Besides, three people working together is always better than two."
"And who's to say you won't just cut him down again?" Mangetsu brought up last year's graduation exam.
"During the 'Pursuit of Katsuramaru' mission, when Midorima was unconscious, "I" was the one who brought him back. If I really wanted him dead, would I have waited until now?" Zabuza shot back.
Mangetsu glanced at Midorima, who nodded in confirmation, before relenting.
"Fine. You're temporarily under consideration. From now on, Midorima has two tasks: first, improve his strength to the point where he can't be instantly killed by other shinobi. Second, complete missions to build his qualifications. The selection tournament will be held in about six months."
"What are the odds it actually happens?" Zabuza pressed.
"High. The current Swordsmen like Ameyuri Ringo and Fuguki Suikazan have lost their drive. The Seven need fresh blood, and the Mizukage knows it. All we need is the right opportunity."
"So, it's settled?" Midorima asked.
Zabuza and Mangetsu exchanged glances, then nodded.