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The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-Lord_Clamiral
-Cain
-Shahzaam
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-Nathan king
-Varun Madhu
-Sombra Rey
-Ruzzzy
-Notraa
-Sarabjeet Seehra
-heavenascendance
-sean collins
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
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When Midorima returned, his journey mirrored his outbound trip—first by train, then by ferry, taking two full days before he finally arrived back in Kirigakure.
Mei Terumī rejoined her squad, while Zabuza headed back to the Anbu. The responsibility of submitting the mission report to the Mizukage thus fell squarely on Midorima's shoulders.
Truth be told, Midorima knew exactly why those two had bolted so quickly—neither wanted to deal with the hassle of expense reimbursements and paperwork.
Back when he was just reading the manga, ninjas from the major villages seemed to have no qualms about spending on travel, lodging, medical fees, or consumables (including kunai and explosive tags). But now that he was actually living in this world, Midorima realized just how much Kishimoto had glossed over.
In his past life, the people he least wanted to deal with were the finance department. Every receipt and expense had to be meticulously documented in a specific format, or reimbursement would be denied.
The ordeal was no less agonizing than solving a few calculus problems. Before he knew it, an hour or two would vanish into thin air.
Then there was the mission report itself. In short, it required detailing the time and location of the mission, whether there were any casualties or injuries, a thorough account of events, the duration of travel, and even the name of the inn they'd stayed at.
Nothing was too trivial to include.
What was even more terrifying was that the Anbu or sensor units sometimes conducted investigations—or even surveillance—not necessarily because they were worried about expenses, but because they feared missions might be exploited to harm Kirigakure's interests.
Officially, that was the reason. In reality, it was about preventing Kirigakure ninjas from making contact with other villages and potentially betraying their own.
For someone like Zabuza, who had little patience for writing, he'd rather kill a few more people than sit at a desk and dutifully recount a mission's events.
Mei was slightly better.
She was, after all, an exemplary "product" of the ninja academy in every respect.
But Midorima had gone through years of rigorous exams in his past life. In combat, he might still have room for improvement, but when it came to paperwork? He could probably outwrite every graduate from the academy combined.
"The capable bear more burdens."
With that single phrase, Mei dumped the entire task onto Midorima.
He knew full well that "the capable bear more burdens" was just a euphemism for one thing—laziness.
Expense reimbursements and mission reports weren't difficult, per se, but they were undeniably tedious. For someone unfamiliar with the process, it was pure suffering.
Incorrect formatting, what to attach on the front, what to write on the back, which expenses were reimbursable and which weren't—every time Midorima dealt with Kirigakure's "finance department," he had to relearn the entire process.
It was excruciating.
After spending over an hour sorting out the reimbursement and mission report, Midorima finally knocked on Yagura Karatachi's door.
The Mizukage, in the middle of his work, smiled as he accepted the report from Midorima. Skimming through it, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You collaborated with Konoha ninjas?"
"Yes. The situation was critical—the three of us alone would've had a hard time escaping. And since our missions overlapped somewhat, we decided to cooperate."
Since Kazahana Sōsetsu had already written to the Mizukage, detailing the general course of events, there was no point in hiding it.
The Mizukage tore open the envelope, pulling out photographs and a thick stack of documents. According to Sōsetsu, the photos were of unidentified ninja corpses, while the documents listed the names of confirmed rogue ninja casualties.
"Apologies. Given the number of rogue ninjas involved, some may have escaped," Midorima said.
"I expected you to apologize for working with Konoha," Yagura remarked, amused.
"If Kirigakure can't move past that history, then why did we agree to a ceasefire with Konoha in the first place?" Midorima countered.
"Fair point." Yagura set the documents aside. "I'll consider this S-rank mission a success. Good work. Get some rest."
Midorima nodded slightly and took his leave.
The moment he stepped out of the Mizukage's office, he spotted two figures approaching.
One was a massive man with a round face and an even rounder belly, his reddish-brown hair tied into two small buns. Green, tooth-like markings were painted across his face.
Beside him stood a tall, dark-skinned man with three markings under each eye and pupils that resembled those of a fish.
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Fuguki Suikazan, and his subordinate, Hoshigaki Kisame.
This was Midorima's first real encounter with Kisame, and a certain tune involuntarily played in his mind.
-What's wrong with me, Kisame? What's wrong with being greasy? Didn't you watch Naruto as a kid…?- (T'N: I have no idea what it mean)
No, no, no—
Kisame was no comedic relief character. He was the man who had personally killed Suikazan.
And as for Hoshigaki Kisame himself…
Well…
He wasn't exactly a saint either.
Midorima mentally labeled both of them.
Suikazan glanced at Midorima, closed his eyes in thought, then reopened them before striding past him into the Mizukage's building.
Kisame also gave Midorima a once-over but said nothing, following his superior without a word.
Midorima shook his head. Running into these two—was it good luck or bad?
He bought some fish on the way home. Just as he was about to unlock his door, a sudden gust of wind shot toward the back of his neck.
Who—?!
His heart lurched. He'd just gotten back, and someone was already ambushing him? Was it Iwagakure's ninja again?
Even as the thought crossed his mind, his body reacted instinctively. He rolled aside, dodging the strike, then swung his right leg upward, aiming for the attacker's wrist. But something felt off—his kick met almost no resistance, as if he'd struck water.
Huh? Hydrification Technique?
Since the [Cell Laboratory] hadn't prompted him to analyze a new jutsu, Midorima deduced it could only be the Hydrification Technique. As he moved to stand, his assailant pressed the attack, thrusting a blade toward his face.
Now that he knew the technique being used, the attacker's identity became obvious.
Hōzuki Mangetsu wouldn't pull something this childish. Besides, if he wanted a fight, he wouldn't resort to a sneak attack.
"Hōzuki Suigetsu!"
Knowing Suigetsu could liquefy his body, Midorima adjusted his aim, this time kicking the hilt of the blade instead. The weapon flew into the air.
In the same motion, Midorima lunged forward, tossing the fish in his left hand as a distraction. As Suigetsu flinched, Midorima seized his throat with one hand and caught the falling fish with the other.
"Cheater! Using projectiles!" Suigetsu yelled.
"Says the one who ambushed me. You haven't even mastered the basics, and yet here you are, trying sneak attacks," Midorima retorted, glaring.
"My brother's not around, so I've got no one to spar with… Besides, I've never beaten you in a straight fight anyway," Suigetsu grumbled.
"And you thought a sneak attack would work?"
"How would I know if I didn't try?" Suigetsu shot back, turning his head away.
"Where is your brother?" Midorima hadn't had the chance to meet up with Mangetsu since returning.
"It's a long story," Suigetsu said, his eyes flickering toward the fish in Midorima's hand.
Midorima resisted the urge to sigh.
This kid had eaten everything under the sun. Why was he so fixated on a few fish?
"How about we eat first?" Midorima suggested.
Suigetsu nodded eagerly. "We can talk over dinner."
"..."
This guy's mood swings were something else.