Chapter 44: A Person Whose Strength Doesn't Match His Ambition
The thing Mangetsu Hōzuki was most dissatisfied with about his younger brother, Suigetsu Hōzuki, was that Suigetsu actually aimed to surpass Zabuza Momochi.
Mangetsu Hōzuki believed that as long as Suigetsu Hōzuki inherited a ninja sword, his strength should be able to surpass Zabuza Momochi's.
This goal was simply shameful.
Although this was the truth, saying it on this occasion was somewhat inappropriate.
Because the other party mentioned by Mangetsu Hōzuki was still present.
Zabuza Momochi was still relying on the Hidden Mist Technique to tangle with Kisame Hoshigaki. Hearing Mangetsu Hōzuki's words, he finally couldn't help shouting, "Hey, Mangetsu Hōzuki, what do you mean!"
"Caught you!"
Before Mangetsu Hōzuki could respond, Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, the hilt of Samehada in his hand extended and flew towards a position in the mist, "Samehada: Flying Chain Slash!"
"Bastard!"
Without the Executioner's Blade in hand, Zabuza Momochi could only watch helplessly as Samehada slashed him out of the mist. He fell miserably to the ground, spitting out bloody foam!
A trace of awkwardness filled the air.
Mangetsu Hōzuki watched this scene, spread his hands helplessly, and said, "Sorry, Zabuza-senpai, I didn't mean to offend, but your strength really is somewhat lacking."
"..."
Zabuza Momochi glared viciously at him, then looked at the Executioner's Blade on the ground, of which only the hilt remained, and cursed coldly, "Isn't it because you kid borrowed my Executioner's Blade!"
Mangetsu Hōzuki retorted, "Even if Zabuza-senpai had the Executioner's Blade, the chance of defeating Kisame-senpai wouldn't exceed thirty percent, right?"
"Bastard!"
"I'm just stating the facts."
"Kid, you think I can't kill you!"
"Even without Hiramekarei, Zabuza-senpai's chances of defeating me are very low!"
In the span of a few sentences, the fragile alliance between Mangetsu Hōzuki and Zabuza Momochi shattered, and the two began arguing irritably.
"Stop arguing!"
Uehara Naraka impatiently interrupted them, surveyed everyone present, his gaze stopping on Mangetsu Hōzuki and Zabuza, "You two have already lost. Will you choose to join Akatsuki with me, or shall I bury your corpses in your homeland..."
Everyone present understood in their hearts that Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki no longer had the power to choose. Their only option was to surrender somewhat gracefully.
Zabuza Momochi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, snorted coldly, "My goal was to kill Yagura and end the Village of the Bloody Mist. Anyway, the goal has now been achieved. Then I'll go with you to check out that organization called Akatsuki!"
Such euphemistic words.
Unlike Zabuza Momochi who had no ties, Mangetsu Hōzuki directly stated his demand, "If Your Excellency can do as you said, allow Suigetsu to revive the Hōzuki clan, then no matter what you ask me to do, I will agree!"
"...Fine."
The smile on Uehara Naraka's lips was almost uncontrollable. He didn't make sweeping promises, just saying, "If your younger brother really is that kind of utterly hopeless trash..."
"Suigetsu's talent is greater than mine."
Mangetsu Hōzuki confidently promised, "As long as he can be guided, Suigetsu will definitely surpass all past ancestors and become the strongest ninja in the history of the Hōzuki clan!"
It would have been better not to say this.
Now that he said it, Uehara actually felt somewhat unsure.
Because Uehara knew very well, the Hōzuki clan didn't possess a powerful Kekkei Genkai, and the ninja world happened to be a world that emphasized bloodline theory... except for Konoha's Emperor of Effort.
Uehara Naraka sighed, looked at Mangetsu Hōzuki, "Then let's tentatively try my method first, and leave the rest to fate... At least you can set a loftier goal for your younger brother, let him desperately chase after his older brother!"
"...I understand."
Mangetsu Hōzuki gritted his teeth, seemingly having made his decision.
This year, his younger brother Suigetsu Hōzuki was already eight years old, performing very well in Kirigakure's Ninja Academy, even eligible to apply for early graduation.
Mangetsu Hōzuki had always been very worried; if Suigetsu wasn't guided properly, he would probably remain unmotivated and follow Zabuza Momochi's crooked path.
These words couldn't be said now, otherwise it might lead to fatalities.
Uehara Naraka leaped up and sat on a tree branch, "Since you have surrendered to me with sincerity, then I shall mercifully accept!"
Hearing Uehara's words, the faces of Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki visibly darkened. This guy they were surrendering to was terrifyingly strong... but his intelligence was also frighteningly low!
At this moment, Uehara Naraka's expression wasn't too good either. He looked somewhat helplessly at Mangetsu Hōzuki, because he had received the worst defeat reward ever.
Side Quest: Defeat Mangetsu Hōzuki (1/1). Reward: 100 Gold Coins.
Mangetsu Hōzuki was clearly an incredibly strong ninja. Uehara believed defeating Mangetsu would be even harder for others than defeating the Fourth Mizukage!
Perhaps because Mangetsu Hōzuki died young prematurely and had too few appearances in the ninja world storyline, not many people paid attention to him, so the system directly issued the minimum task reward.
Was this really treating him like a beggar?
However, the gain from defeating Mangetsu Hōzuki wasn't just 100 gold coins, because Uehara Naraka saw the completion progress of another quest.
Side Quest: Defeat members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen (6/7). Reward Unknown.
Uehara hadn't expected that for the quest to defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on the system panel, because Mangetsu Hōzuki held four ninja swords [in his scroll], it actually counted directly as four headcounts.
The last Seven Ninja Swordsman needed to complete this side quest should be the Raiga Kurosuki mentioned by Kisame Hoshigaki, the first-generation Seven Swordsman who defected carrying the Lightning Swords: Kiba.
When Uehara happened to see another quest, his eyelids couldn't help twitching, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant.
Side Quest: Possess three subordinates (2/3). Reward Unknown.
Now, Kirigakure's three Seven Ninja Swordsmen were nominally Uehara's subordinates. Kisame Hoshigaki was the first ninja to choose loyalty to him. So who was the second?
No, rather, between Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki before him, who didn't genuinely want to submit to him?
Uehara Naraka wasn't particularly concerned about who the second genuinely surrendered subordinate was. What he truly cared about was who the one unwilling to genuinely submit was...
This was actually very easy to find out.
Because Uehara Naraka saw the last quest.
Side Quest: Possess two subordinates with Kage-level chakra power. Mission Complete. Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.
This quest directly proved that the second person who chose to submit to Uehara Naraka was a ninja possessing Kage-level chakra.
Did he even need to think about it?
Who present had the weakest strength!
Uehara Naraka's gaze swept over Mangetsu Hōzuki, and he couldn't help but praise inwardly, Truly worthy of being someone even Kisame Hoshigaki couldn't see through...
Mangetsu Hōzuki, possessing Kage-level chakra at thirteen!
No wonder he died so young; being alive would surely steal too much spotlight!
Uehara Naraka's gaze slowly settled on Zabuza Momochi. This man Zabuza Momochi had always possessed his own ambitions.
He also possessed strength that didn't match his ambition.
Uehara tilted his head, looking at Zabuza Momochi. Should he take him back just as an extra, or just dig a pit right here and bury him?
(End of Chapter)
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