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The little old man’s arrogant laughter grated on their ears, utterly dismissive.
But considering who this ninja likely was, it made sense he wouldn’t take a few academy brats seriously.
That strange “blade” on his back.
If Yagura remembered correctly, that should be the blunt-sword Kabutowari.
“Are you… Kushimaru Kuriarare?”
Hearing his own name, Kushimaru Kuriarare let out a long, puzzled “Hah?” He looked Yagura up and down like some country bumpkin who knew nothing of the world.
“Is there even a need to ask, kid? You want to test whether the blunt-sword Kabutowari is sharp or not?”
The blunt-sword Kabutowari.
Though called a sword, it was actually a wooden hammer paired with a short axe.
Said to cut through any defense.
Yagura stared at the blunt-sword Kabutowari.
Even without fighting it personally, he could see how sharp that axe blade was.
His right hand beneath the stool clenched, tense and itching.
Yagura said solemnly, “If possible, I’d very much like to test whether the blunt-sword Kabutowari is truly as sharp as the rumors say, Kushimaru-senpai.”
“Hey!”
Mangetsu appeared behind Yagura, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him back.
His expression was horrified.
“Are you insane?”
He knew Yagura was strong.
He’d admit that.
But this was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
The seven strongest ninja in Hidden Mist below the Mizukage!
At least according to Mist’s official rankings.
Even if you were a freak, Yagura, you couldn’t possibly match a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
And the Seven had a fearsome reputation.
They wouldn’t necessarily hold back!
Yagura lowered Mangetsu’s hand and smiled.
“Relax, Mangetsu. I know my limits.”
Then his battle-hungry eyes locked onto Kushimaru Kuriarare.
Ever since arriving in this world and learning his identity, from the moment he could refine chakra, he hadn’t dared slack off for a single day.
At home he’d challenged plenty of Karatachi clan ninja.
Wins and losses both.
Grandpa Karatachi had called him the greatest genius since the clan’s founding.
But family was still family.
They all held back to some degree.
Right now, Mangetsu and Zabuza were too weak for him.
(Both: Hey!)
Now he’d encountered a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen by chance.
He wanted to use this rare opportunity to test exactly what level his strength had reached.
“Interesting.”
Kushimaru Kuriarare was somewhat drunk, but it didn’t affect him much.
He looked at Yagura with keen interest.
Years of combat experience told him this little fellow was no ordinary child.
“Your name?”
“Karatachi Yagura.”
“Yagura… good name.”
Mangetsu was still uneasy.
Meeting Kushimaru Kuriarare’s gaze, he steeled himself and stepped forward.
“Hello, Kushimaru-senpai. I’m Mangetsu Hozuki. This guy doesn’t know his place. He’s offended you…”
“Cut the crap!”
Kushimaru Kuriarare raised a hand, cutting Mangetsu off.
No deference to the Hozuki name.
“Mangetsu of the Hozuki… I’ve heard of you. Everyone says you’re the most outstanding genius of your generation. Looks like the rumors were wrong.”
Mangetsu froze.
“I…”
Zabuza, silent the whole time, sneered inwardly and turned his head away from this fool.
Instead he watched Yagura’s back with a burning gaze.
Even the relatively quiet Kimeme Kaede did the same.
Mangetsu fell silent.
Gradually, the look he directed at Yagura became tinged with desire.
He wanted to know too.
How strong was Yagura?
How vast was the gap between them?
Having shut up the meddlesome Mangetsu Hozuki, Kushimaru Kuriarare pinched the small tuft of goatee on his chin, looking at Yagura with great interest.
Incredible.
At this age, the chakra he sensed was already greater than an average chunin’s.
And this kid’s chakra actually gave off a dangerous feeling.
This kid—could it be his mother was teaching him to refine chakra while he was still in the womb?
Kushimaru Kuriarare trusted his years of combat intuition.
He lowered his head and let out a chilling laugh.
“Then I’ll play one move with you. Let’s go. Outside.”
Yagura immediately jumped off his chair, afraid Kushimaru Kuriarare might change his mind the next second.
The noodle shop owner panicked, running after them out the door.
“L-Lord Kushimaru, please don’t fight right in front of my shop.”
“Relax. Just testing one move. If your shop gets wrecked, that kid pays! The Hozuki family isn’t short on money!”
Mangetsu looked left and right, pointed at himself, then confirmed he hadn’t misheard.
“?”
Everyone listen!
Listen!
Listen!
Was that even human speech?!
…
Just testing one move?
Yagura ran through his current skill set in his mind.
The most suitable, and strongest, could only be that one move.
He placed his hand on the hilt at Zabuza’s waist.
“Lend me your sword, Zabuza.”
Zabuza, wordless but cooperative, drew back.
The sword, sheath and all, left his waist and landed in Yagura’s hand.
“Thanks, bro~”
The airy words drifted into his ear.
Zabuza snorted and turned his head away.
Once Kushimaru Kuriarare had leisurely walked over to stand opposite him, Yagura focused his attention entirely on Kushimaru Kuriarare.
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Kicking at the dust beneath his feet, Kushimaru Kuriarare picked at his ear.
“Whatever ninjutsu you’ve got that can scratch my itch, bring it on, kid.”
Yagura didn’t move.
His slightly hesitant gaze bypassed Kushimaru Kuriarare to look at the Kabutowari still on his back.
Seeing what Yagura was thinking, Kushimaru Kuriarare curled his lip in disdain.
“Me, use Kabutowari against a snot-nosed brat like you? If word got out, my colleagues would drown me in spit.”
Underestimated.
“In that case, I’ll definitely make you draw Kabutowari! Kushimaru-oji!”
Lightning Release!
As his voice fell, Lightning Release chakra covered Yagura’s body!
He bent forward, planted his right leg back against the ground!
Gripped the sword!
BOOM!
He increased his chakra output further, enhancing the stimulation to his body to the limit!
The ground beneath his feet exploded from wild lightning bolts scattering in all directions!
Facing a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, an elite jonin with no pretense, Yagura held absolutely nothing back and unleashed his true full power from the very start!
They’d anticipated this, but to actually witness it, to personally feel the gap…
Damn it!
Zabuza clenched his molars so tight they creaked.
Mangetsu and Kimeme Kaede were equally in disbelief.
Compared to this, Yagura’s earlier spar with Zabuza had been no different from playing around.
Kushimaru Kuriarare’s expression grew excited too.
He dropped his casual attitude.
WHOOSH,SHHHHHHH—
Air inhaled deeply.
Yagura exploded into motion!
His rear foot thrust out, charging straight at Kushimaru Kuriarare!
Focus on a single point!
Draw!
“Thunderclap Flash!”
Speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
Vision clear.
Vision shared.
Kimeme Kaede immediately activated her dojutsu, sharing the sight so Mangetsu and Zabuza could track their speed and movements.
The flash of swift lightning and iai slash streaked past!
Yagura passed Kushimaru Kuriarare, planted his feet solidly, but unable to contain his momentum, he slid a long furrow in the earth before stopping.
He exhaled a long breath and sheathed the sword.
Having unleashed a strike that pushed his body to the limit with all his strength, Yagura panted with exhaustion.
Tsk!
No sensation of hitting solid target.
He’d slashed damn air.
Kushimaru Kuriarare had dodged it.
Completely unharmed.
“Thunderclap Flash. Good name. Never heard it before. You develop it yourself?”
Recalling the speed he’d just witnessed, Kushimaru Kuriarare connected it to the fact that this sword technique had been developed by a 7-year-old brat!
A smile of excitement and appreciation curled on his lips.
Kushimaru Kuriarare shouted his praise from the heart: “Impressive speed! To keep up with me? Train for another 2 or 3 years!”
➤ Next: Try It and Die