Chapter 174
2-in-1-chapter
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Mangetsu looked at him in surprise. "Zabuza, you want to give up on the Executioner's Blade?" He remembered well how long Zabuza had set his sights on Biwa Jūzō's Executioner's Blade, swearing time and again he would take it.
Even after Jūzō failed in his assassination of the Fourth Mizukage and fled with the Executioner's Blade, Zabuza had not given up.
"But isn't the Executioner's Blade in Konoha's hands now? And wasn't it the weapon used to kill the Third Hokage? Do you really think you can get it back?"
"Well…"
Zabuza was left speechless for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "It won't be easy. The chances are slim."
Biwa Jūzō, now branded a rogue, had assassinated the ailing Third Hokage—
That was the story the Konoha-nin had told them. Zabuza thought it nonsense. He knew Jūzō, and he could believe that even as a rogue he might still have carried some loyalty to the village, but to claim his devotion had been so deep that he would risk everything to assassinate the Hokage for its sake? That he could never accept.
Yet however much deceit lay hidden in that story, they could not challenge it. Konoha's account was not theirs to dispute. Whether they accepted it or not in their hearts, publicly they had no choice but to acknowledge that Jūzō had assassinated the Third Hokage.
Because of that, the Executioner's Blade, as the murder weapon, had also been sealed away by Konoha. Mangetsu had raised the issue several times, asking if it could be returned, but every time he was brushed aside. In the short term, it was unlikely the blade would ever be handed back.
"Konoha won't simply give the Executioner's Blade back. And even if they did, I would not take it." Zabuza's voice was calm. "The Executioner's Blade will not help me grow stronger. Once, I wanted it because it was perfect for severing heads. But now I need a weapon that can help me push further."
Mangetsu scratched his head.
As one blessed by the Seven Swords, he knew better than anyone that although each blade had its own specialty and could not be ranked neatly, nevertheless, there was still a hierarchy.
The Great Blade Samehada, the only living sword among the Seven, with its ability to absorb chakra and return it to the wielder, was without doubt the strongest.
The Twin Swords, Hiramekarei, and the Thunder Blades, Kiba—among the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, they were the only paired weapons.
Hiramekarei possessed the ability to store chakra within itself as it accumulated kills, growing stronger the longer it was used in battle. It was said to increase in power with each fight. The only reason it was considered inferior to Samehada was that it could not return chakra to its wielder.
As for the Thunder Blades, Kiba, their ability to draw in and generate lightning could greatly amplify the power of any shinobi skilled in Lightning Style. Through their use, a swordsman could safely and steadily strengthen their own body's speed and physical prowess, achieving the same effect as Kumogakure's secret Lightning Release: Chakra Mode. Ringo Ameyuri had chosen this very path, focusing on enhancing speed—just as the current Fourth Raikage had done.
The next tier consisted of three swords: the Long Blade: Nuibari, the Blunt Blade: Kabutowari, and the Explosive Blade: Shibuki.
Each had unique properties and could display impressive effects in battle. However, the aid they provided to their wielders was less significant than that of the first three blades, thus ranking them in the third tier.
Last came the Decapitating Blade: Kubikiribōchō.
Ranked at the bottom of the Seven Swords, its only notable feature beyond its massive blade was its ability to absorb iron from the blood of those it cut, using it to repair itself. It had no other special abilities. In Hōzuki Mangetsu's view, the Decapitating Blade existed only to fill the roster. Yet, for reasons beyond him, there were still many within the village who idolized it.
"If you want to try, go ahead and see if you can handle those three swords. No one in the village has managed to master them yet," Mangetsu said with a shrug.
"Aren't you still here?"
Momochi Zabuza glanced at Mangetsu.
This prodigy, loved by the swords themselves, could wield all seven without difficulty. Even Samehada, the most selective of the blades, had not resisted him during its trial. The others were even less of an issue. He could use even the Long Blade: Nuibari, the hardest to master, with complete ease.
"Hiramekarei is enough for me."
Mangetsu shook his head.
He could indeed use Shadow Clones to wield all seven swords in combat, but after losing Samehada—the key sword capable of replenishing chakra—dividing his chakra seven ways was an extravagant waste.
Moreover, after witnessing the power of Uchiha Rēn and Uchiha Shisui, Mangetsu realized that even mastering all seven blades would only broaden his techniques, not elevate his strength to a higher level.
He was now devoting himself to perfecting the secret techniques of the Hōzuki clan. Compared with the swords, the clan's inherited arts could make him far stronger.
"I see. That's fine, then."
Zabuza nodded slightly, already considering which sword to choose among the Long Blade: Nuibari, the Blunt Blade: Kabutowari, and the Explosive Blade: Shibuki. He might not be able to control all seven like Mangetsu, but he was confident that mastering any of those three was within his reach.
"I wonder where Ameyuri is right now."
Mangetsu leaned against the railing and sighed. "How nice. I wish I could fight someone right now."
"At her pace, she's probably already near the border of the Land of Earth," Zabuza replied casually.
As one of the representatives sent from Kirigakure to aid Konoha, the talented kunoichi Ringo Ameyuri, known for her mastery of Lightning Style, was currently not in the village. She had been reassigned to a covert mission requiring infiltration into the Land of Earth.
At the thought of Ameyuri possibly clashing with Iwagakure's shinobi, Mangetsu's blood stirred with excitement. He was eager to test the results of his recent work on the clan's secret arts.
"Oh? Mangetsu, you seem rather eager for battle."
The voice came from behind him. Mangetsu froze for an instant, then turned his head to see Uchiha Rēn standing there. He quickly straightened and greeted him respectfully. "Clan Head Uchiha."
Technically, as Kirigakure's envoy, his rank was not lower than Rēn's.
Even so, Mangetsu was always unfailingly courteous toward him.
The reason was simple—Rēn was stronger. Mangetsu's respect came naturally, without any resentment or pride. In fact, the younger Rēn's superior strength only deepened that respect.
"So, what do you think? Our Hokage's inauguration ceremony is lively, isn't it?"
Rēn walked to the railing and looked down at the bustling streets below.
"It's impressive. I've never seen anything this lively in Kirigakure."
Mangetsu spoke honestly.
"Haha, is that so? I thought you might say we were just putting on a show. About seventy percent of the spectators down there are clan members from around the village. They were organized in advance to attend today's ceremony, just to make sure nothing unexpected happens." Rēn revealed the truth outright.
Zabuza remained silent.
Mangetsu had no words in reply.
He could not discern Rēn's true attitude about such matters. It seemed safer to stay silent than to risk saying something wrong.
"Not speaking? Smart choice. It's not that I dislike this kind of event. What bothers me is that our Uchiha clan cannot be part of it—that we're treated like outsiders, excluded from our own village. That is what truly displeases me."
Rēn's expression was calm, but in his eyes shimmered a reflection like the depths of Mahābhadra Hell itself, cold enough to make one's skin feel as though it might crack into crimson frost.
Mangetsu remained silent. At that moment, anything he said would have been wrong. He could only sigh inwardly, realizing that every village had its own turmoil. Even Konoha, it seemed, was riddled with internal conflict. If he had not seen it for himself, he would never have believed that the Uchiha clan—Konoha's most prestigious family—was so deeply estranged from the village it helped create.
"Forget it. I won't trouble you about it."
Rēn lost interest in pressing further. "Mangetsu, I came to tell you something. Once the inauguration ceremony is over, it won't be long before you're deployed. You'll be heading northwest to join Jiraiya-senpai in the campaign against Iwagakure."
"Against Iwagakure?"
Mangetsu blinked, momentarily taken aback.
He had not expected that. Until now, he had viewed Kumogakure as the main threat. Konoha had never shared intelligence about Iwagakure's potential movements, and he had been preparing for battle against lightning users, since his clan's secret techniques were at a natural disadvantage against them.
But recalling that Ringo Ameyuri had been dispatched in that same direction, his surprise faded. Regaining composure, he asked, "Clan Head Uchiha, will we be serving under your command?"
"That has already been decided. There will be no changes to the plan."
Rēn shook his head.
"I understand. We will fight with everything we have," Mangetsu replied solemnly.
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