Chapter 128: Chapter 128
Haruki squinted his eyes, feeling the essence of the Void Sword Realm.
His chakra hadn't increased, but his strength had significantly improved.
Miyamoto Musashi's Niten Ichi-ryu represented the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Any weapon or technique, when mastered deeply, is as simple and efficient as dripping oil through a coin slot, with no waste whatsoever.
Haruki waved his hand, generating a chakra shield.
The two semi-transparent crystalline walls, glistening with water droplets, collapsed with a roar.
The sea surface surged.
The sailboat remained immovable.
"Kakashi."
Haruki tossed his short sword back to him.
Still in shock, Kakashi almost got pierced by the sword.
Fortunately, he reacted in time.
"Teacher... what was that just now?"
Kakashi, fumbling, caught the short sword, still staring at the storm-ravaged sea.
"Swordsmanship. Niten Ichi-ryu."
Haruki sat back on his fishing platform, smiling, "It's what you'll be learning next."
Kakashi's eyes widened, his usually aloof face breaking into a smile.
He said joyfully, "Thank you, Teacher!"
"Teacher! Teacher! What about me?" Obito suddenly panicked.
If Kakashi mastered such swordsmanship, wouldn't he be as fragile as paper under his sword?
He might never recover from such a blow.
He shouted, "I want to learn too!"
"You're not suited for it."
Haruki shook his head, rejecting Obito's request.
His strength lay in his Mangekyo Sharingan, essentially making him a mage, not a warrior.
Learning swordsmanship would be a waste of time.
Besides, not everyone could reach Musashi's level.
Unless Haruki had more instances of gifting abilities.
"Ah?" Obito's face showed disappointment.
"Your future won't be any less than Kakashi's." Haruki comforted him.
The backflowing seawater finally settled down.
The sailboat continued its journey.
Kakuzu sat silently on the boat.
He felt more and more that his future was bleak.
Haruki was just too mysterious.
Like an onion, peeling layer by layer, only to bring tears.
Wood Release, Flying Thunder God, Swordsmanship.
Each alone could make a top-tier ninja, but combined in one person, it was terrifying!
Kakuzu began to miss his free past.
After they left, another boat arrived.
Leading was a samurai, wrapped in a headscarf, with a thin beard on his chin.
Mifune.
He stared at the now calm sea.
But in the unseen realm of spiritual perception, it was a different scene.
Countless sword auras crisscrossed, filling the water's surface.
He frowned slightly, feeling a dizzying sensation in his mind.
It was as if someone had slammed a door on his head.
"Leader?"
Next to him, another samurai, Rikaku, didn't have Mifune's level of insight and didn't understand what he was seeing.
Mifune didn't speak, drawing his sword, releasing a burst of blue chakra.
Instantly, a tsunami arose.
The massive steamship slid back a hundred meters under the impact of the waves.
At this moment, the other samurai sensed the clashing sword auras in the air and couldn't help but be astonished.
But it didn't last long, returning to peace.
Mifune stood at the bow, his heart unable to calm.
He thought he had seen the end of the sword path, but it seemed he was only halfway up the mountain.
...
Konoha's eerie underground base.
Danzo Shimura reviewed the latest information.
There was a knock on the door.
"Sir."
A masked Root ninja knelt before him.
"Any news on Kakuzu?"
Danzo put down the scroll, asking.
After receiving permission from Hiruzen Sarutobi to resume Root activities, he had returned to the peak of Konoha's power.
What excited him most was the allowance to act against Haruki.
Old grudges and new hatred made him want to directly dispatch Root for an assassination.
But Sarutobi might have complaints.
Hmph, such indecisiveness!
If I were Hokage, I would have made Konoha great again.
But he had to concede to superior power.
Danzo, considering his old comrade's nature, had hired the best bounty hunter from the black market, Kakuzu.
After increasing Haruki's bounty, Kakuzu finally accepted the job.
It should be about time.
"There is news."
The Root ninja hesitated, saying, "We followed Kakuzu. He incited five rogue ninjas from Kirigakure to join him, but then a barrier rose. We don't know the outcome of the battle."
"Did he die?"
Danzo frowned. Kakuzu's track record was impressive, which is why he was willing to pay a high price. Was he all show and no substance?
"He didn't die." The Root ninja cautiously glanced at him, saying, "Not only didn't he die, but he was chatting and laughing with Haruki."
"...?" Danzo was stunned, looking shocked, "You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Damned fool!"
Danzo slammed the table, shattering it into pieces.
Two other Root ninjas appeared, swiftly replacing it with a new desk.
After venting, Danzo gradually calmed down.
What a useless so-called top black market hunter.
He shook his head, unreliable.
He tapped his finger on the desk, pondering the next move.
...
After days of drifting, Haruki and his group set foot on the Land of Iron.
The weather suddenly cooled, as if entering autumn.
"Kakashi."
Haruki casually bought a watermelon and tossed it to Kakashi.
A flash of white light split the watermelon into six pieces.
Haruki surveyed the bustling port city.
Due to its neutral stance and agreements with the Five Great Nations, the Land of Iron avoided many wars and remained relatively peaceful.
He took a bite of the watermelon.
Considering the next steps.
Originally, he intended to let Kakashi experience different swordsmanship styles.
The system upgrade made him master Musashi's Niten Ichi-ryu.
Haruki could teach Kakashi himself.
But since they were here, they shouldn't waste the trip.
He had read about it before; the metropolis of the Land of Iron was in Mt. Sanrō.
Mifune and others should be there.
Haruki thought for a moment, not leaving immediately.
The past few days on the boat had been tough.
Although he cooked well, eating fish three times a day got tiresome.
Haruki's eyes rested on an inn.
Three stories tall, elegantly decorated, resembling an enhanced izakaya.
Inside, the warm yellow lights welcomed them.
He was surprised to see a middle-aged man with a paper fan in the main hall, telling a story.
"Speaking of the Land of Waterfalls, it's made of many waterfalls. Inside the waterfalls are various caves, filled with treasures. I heard of one item, called the Hero Water..."
Hearing about the Land of Waterfalls, Haruki looked at Kakuzu.
"I remember you're from Takigakure, adjacent to the Land of Iron. Want to visit?"
"No."
Kakuzu answered without hesitation, not even pausing to think.
Takigakure was his past.
Besides, his acquaintances were either killed by him or had died of old age.
Weekly Power Status
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