Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bursts of white smoke erupted in front of Shigure. Without hesitation, he raised his hand—Gluttony opened—and the summoned objects were instantly devoured, vanishing into the ability's mysterious space.
They were now safely stored inside Gluttony's Stomach.
He examined his palm thoughtfully.
"This ability is surprisingly convenient… like having my own storage ring."
Then a thought occurred to him. "By the way, does this ability have a storage limit?"
[Great Sage]: Any existence that has been analyzed can be stored indefinitely.
"In other words, unlimited capacity," Shigure mused. "But what if something can't be analyzed?"
[Great Sage]: It will be decomposed and absorbed by Gluttony.
"So basically, if it can't be understood, it gets destroyed."
He frowned slightly. "That's… something to be cautious about. Guess I'll have to check with you before storing anything next time."
He then focused his thoughts inward.
'The task of modifying the ninja swords—I'll leave that to you. Any issues?'
[Great Sage]: No problem. However, the process will consume a small portion of the host's Chakra.
"Chakra consumption isn't a problem," Shigure said confidently. "I've still got the power of three Tailed Beasts sealed inside me."
[Great Sage]: Understood. Beginning modification process.
Inside Gluttony's Stomach, the Great Sage began channeling One-Tail Shukaku's Chakra into the forging of three ninja swords. The process resembled the crafting of divine weapons—slow, intricate, and filled with power.
Shigure didn't need to interfere. The Great Sage handled everything. Even with its parallel computation ability, it could have worked on Bloodline Limit calculations simultaneously—but there was no need.
While the Great Sage refined the weapons, Tsunade's surgery for Ringo was about to begin.
Shigure decided to visit.
At Kirigakure's main hospital, he found Ringo lying on the bed. Her complexion was noticeably healthier; her cheeks had regained color. Clearly, Tsunade's treatment over the past few days had worked wonders.
Seeing her improved state, Shigure felt a touch of regret.
If I'd known, I would've watched Tsunade at work and learned some medical Ninjutsu myself.
But he quickly dismissed the thought. Medical Ninjutsu was as deep and complex as regular Ninjutsu—perhaps even more so. Even with the Great Sage, fully understanding it would take time.
He sighed softly and stepped back as Tsunade began the operation.
Outside the surgery room, Shigure waited with Haku and Chōjūrō.
"Lord Shigure," Haku said gently, "the surgery might take a long time. Perhaps you should return and rest first."
"How long are we talking?" Shigure asked.
"Lady Tsunade estimated around eight hours."
"Eight hours…" Shigure frowned. "That is long." He glanced at Chōjūrō. "You stay and guard the door."
Then he turned to Haku. "You've been looking after Ringo for days without rest. Come with me—you should take a break."
Haku smiled softly. "Thank you, Lord Shigure."
As they walked through the misty streets of the Hidden Mist Village, Shigure glanced sideways.
"How have you been adjusting to life here?"
"For me, it's no different," Haku replied, his tone light but sincere. "But I can tell that Lord Zabuza is happy."
At the mention of Zabuza, a faint smile curved Haku's lips—gentle, full of quiet warmth.
Shigure didn't fully understand the bond between those two, but he respected it.
"Oh, right," he said suddenly.
He raised his hand. Dark energy rippled through the air, and from it emerged a long, slender blade—its form gleaming faintly under the light.
The Longsword: Needle.
A completely reforged ninja blade, newly modified by the Great Sage.
"Do you recognize this?" Shigure asked.
Haku's eyes widened. "It looks like one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist!"
"Have you ever seen it before?"
Haku shook his head. "No, but since Lord Zabuza was one of the Seven Swordsmen, I've heard of all seven. This one resembles the Needle—Kiba's counterpart in precision, not brute force."
"Good eye," Shigure said with a grin. He tossed the blade lightly. "Try it."
Haku caught the weapon and stared at it in disbelief. He remembered Shigure mentioning his intent to rebuild the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. For a while, Haku had wondered if he would be chosen… and now, it seemed that day had come.
He raised the blade. "Lord Shigure… this feels incredible, but… I'm not skilled with swords."
Shigure chuckled. "Who said you need swordsmanship to wield a ninja sword? Besides, this one isn't quite normal."
He tossed a small iron ring to Haku.
"Put it on and infuse it with Chakra. You'll understand."
Haku slipped the ring on—it fit perfectly. As soon as he infused Chakra, the ring began to glow. A thin thread of Chakra extended from the ring, connecting to the end of the Longsword: Needle.
Haku's eyes widened in surprise as he realized—he could control the blade remotely, directing it as if it were an extension of his own body.
"Lord Shigure… this—"
"I made a few modifications," Shigure explained. "Try using your Ice Release with it."
Haku nodded. His Chakra surged, and the air turned cold. With a flick of his wrist, the blade shot through the mist like lightning, embedding itself deep into a distant tree. Instantly, a wave of frost spread outward, freezing the trunk solid.
"The maximum control range depends on your Chakra capacity," Shigure said. "For you, the limit is roughly seventy-three meters. Within that range, you can control the Needle freely. The closer it is, the faster and more powerful it becomes."
Haku raised his hand—the sword zipped back through the mist and landed neatly in his grip.
A smile broke across his face. "Lord Shigure, I… I really like this sword."
"Then it's yours," Shigure said, smiling warmly. "From today onward, you are the new wielder of the Longsword: Needle."
Haku bowed deeply. "Yes, Lord Shigure."
As they continued walking through the quiet rain of the Hidden Mist, a faint smile tugged at Shigure's lips.
Another piece of his plan had fallen into place.
Now, with Zabuza, four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had finally gathered.
Kubikiribōchō was wielded by Zabuza, Hiramekarei by Chōjūrō, the Longsword by Haku, and the Lightning Blade by Ringo. That left only three blades unaccounted for.
"The users of the Bluntsword and the Blastsword are the hardest to locate," Shigure mused as he walked through the mist-shrouded streets. "If all else fails, I might have to select replacements from within the village itself."
As he strolled home, thoughts of potential candidates filled his mind—until a sudden, unfamiliar pulse of Chakra made him stop in his tracks.
Rain began to fall, a gentle drizzle that was as natural to the Hidden Mist Village as breathing. Yet the aura Shigure sensed was anything but ordinary.
Having mastered Sage Mode, his perception of Chakra signatures was unparalleled. He turned his gaze to a small frog perched near the roadside.
At first glance, there was nothing unusual about it. Frogs appeared often during the rain. But this one… this one radiated a faint trace of natural energy.
Shigure narrowed his eyes. "A messenger frog?"
—
Meanwhile, near the Hidden Mist Hospital.
A ripple passed through the puddles as a frog leapt from the shadows. Its throat swelled—and then split open. A hand emerged, followed by the upper body of a man covered in travel grime and drenched by the rain.
Jiraiya the Gallant stepped out of the summoning creature's mouth, brushing himself off before leaning against a damp wall. His breathing was steady, but he kept his Chakra tightly suppressed.
"I finally managed to sneak in…" he murmured under his breath, glancing around the fog-cloaked streets. "I wonder how Kakashi and the others are doing. They should be fine by now."
He began to move, weaving silently through narrow alleys, careful to avoid the Hidden Mist's Anbu patrols. The village was quiet, but not peaceful—there was always an edge to the silence here.
At the far edge of the village, a giant turtle raised its head from a pond, its eyes scanning the misty horizon before sinking back into the depths.
Near the hospital's entrance, a drunkard lay sprawled on the wet ground, snoring softly. Passing Kirigakure shinobi gave him only a passing glance, unaware that the "drunk" was anything but ordinary.
The rain continued to fall, light but persistent—its rhythm masking the silent clash of hidden intentions that had just begun in the Village Hidden in the Mist.
...
TN:
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