Chapter 433 The Mysterious Powerful Man

After returning to camp, Biwa Jūzō, who was more seriously injured, went directly to seek medical Ninja for treatment, while Kuriarare Kushimaru, who was less seriously injured, reported the mission status to Yagura Karatachi before him.

“We encountered a powerful Konoha squad while on our mission. They had one more person than us. We fought hard but were ultimately defeated, and Suikazan Fuguki was killed during the battle,” Kuriarare Kushimaru said in a solemn voice.

Hidden Mist Village is a Ninja Village with cruel rules, so Kuriarare Kushimaru had to use linguistic art to minimize the impact of their failed mission.

In a sense, Kuriarare Kushimaru wasn’t lying. Kakashi’s team did indeed have one more person than them, even if not everyone in Kakashi’s team was very useful.

“Suikazan Fuguki did not die in vain. Several Ninja from that Konoha squad were also seriously injured by us, but because our casualties were greater, and to avoid affecting the battle, we ultimately chose to retreat. However, at that moment, an Ice Release Ninja appeared and blocked our path.

Fortunately, Haku also came to support us. Since Biwa Jūzō and I were more seriously injured, we retreated to the camp early. The rest of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are dealing with the Konoha Ninja alongside Haku,” Kuriarare Kushimaru briefly recounted the entire battle.

Kuriarare Kushimaru believed that this mission shouldn’t be a big problem. Although they lost a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Konoha’s losses were definitely greater.

It was a genius squad capable of directly defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. If they didn’t die, their future strength was visible to the naked eye.

“A powerful Konoha squad, which Ninja? Ino–Shika–Chō?” Yagura Karatachi thought for a moment and asked.

The full deployment of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was a trump card for Hidden Mist Village. There were very few Konoha squads on the East Bank Battlefield that could defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Yagura Karatachi believed it was only possible if Ino–Shika–Chō or Orochimaru were leading the team.

But if Orochimaru were leading the team, the battle wouldn’t have been a mutual defeat, so Yagura Karatachi directly asked about Ino–Shika–Chō.

Kuriarare Kushimaru’s face under his mask showed a hint of awkwardness, but he still honestly stated Kakashi’s team members’ names, “There’s Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Uchiha Obito, and other Konoha super geniuses.”

Although Shisui’s performance was also astonishing, Kuriarare Kushimaru did not know Shisui’s name.

A look of surprise flashed across Yagura Karatachi’s face. This was not just slightly different from what he imagined; it was completely unrelated.

As one of Hidden Mist Village’s high-ranking officials, Yagura Karatachi was familiar with these three names. He had read the report of the Chunin Exams where Genma led a team and knew that these three were geniuses who appeared during Konoha’s Chunin Exams, even defeating several young geniuses Hidden Mist Village had specifically sought out.

“Are you saying you lost to a few Konoha Ninja who became Chunin less than two years ago?” Yagura Karatachi’s eyes sharpened.

Yagura Karatachi knew that Kakashi and his team were very talented, but that was no reason for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist’s defeat. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were already renowned Ninja; being a genius was their previous stage.

Feeling the immense pressure emanating from Yagura Karatachi, cold sweat uncontrollably appeared on Kuriarare Kushimaru’s forehead.

Unlike their combined debut, Yagura Karatachi was a genuinely formidable powerhouse of Ninja World caliber, with a very high chance of becoming the Fourth Mizukage.

“Lord Yagura, our intelligence is outdated. Their current strength is much greater than it was during the Chunin Exams, especially Might Guy.

Might Guy has mastered a powerful Taijutsu called Golden Skyline. He only used it twice in the battle: the first time, he severely wounded Suikazan Fuguki, who only recovered combat strength with Samehada’s treatment; the second time, he shattered kubikiribōchō and nearly killed Biwa Jūzō,” Kuriarare Kushimaru explained, gritting his teeth.

Although he could have bluffed his way through with a lie, after the battle, the bodies would be recovered. If Suikazan Fuguki’s memories were checked and didn’t match his story, he would truly be in deep trouble. So Kuriarare Kushimaru could only try his best to explain with facts.

“Not all of them are genius Ninja; there’s also a middle-aged Taijutsu Ninja. If he hadn’t blocked Jinin Akebino and Raiga Kurosuki, we definitely would have killed Might Guy and his team.”

Yagura Karatachi showed a pensive expression.

The defeat of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, while infuriating, revealed information that was terrifying to ponder.

A few ten-year-old genius Ninja actually had the ability to contend with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. If they were like this at ten, what would they be like when they grew up?

“But with Haku, they shouldn’t be able to escape,” Yagura Karatachi calmed down at this thought.

No matter how promising their future, it was still the future. As long as they were all killed before reaching that future, ensuring they had no future, then the problem would be solved.

Although Haku was not good at handling affairs, Yagura Karatachi still recognized Haku’s strength.

He was already brainless; if he wasn’t strong enough, how could he have lasted so long in Hidden Mist Village and even become the clan head of a Ninja clan?

After asking some details, Yagura Karatachi dismissed Kuriarare Kushimaru for treatment, then dispatched Hidden Mist Village scouts to check the situation at the battle site.

However, when the intelligence personnel dispatched by Yagura Karatachi returned, he received information he had not anticipated at all.

“Lord Haku is missing, and Lord Suikazan Fuguki and five other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are missing. On the battlefield, there are only the corpses of Village Ninja,” the Hidden Mist Village intelligence officer reported in a low voice.

He kept his head down, not daring to look at Yagura Karatachi’s face, because he knew Yagura Karatachi must be very angry now.

“Haku is missing?” Yagura Karatachi looked at the Hidden Mist Village intelligence officer expressionlessly, his tightly clenched fists indicating that his inner state was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.

The Hidden Mist Village intelligence officer nodded, “There are traces of Lord Haku’s Ice Release on the battlefield, and there’s a large amount of shattered ice on the ground.”

Yagura Karatachi kept a straight face and dismissed the Hidden Mist Village intelligence officer.

“Haku, you good-for-nothing who can’t accomplish anything but ruin everything!” Yagura Karatachi couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

“Missing” was just a nicer way of saying it. On the battlefield, missing only had two possibilities: the first was desertion and defection, and the second was being killed or captured by the enemy.

Given Haku’s status, he certainly wouldn’t defect. He was a clan head of a Ninja clan, one of the vested interests of the Ninja Village. Haku had no reason to defect.

Since it wasn’t defection, then he was either killed or captured. Given Haku’s strength, being captured alive was unlikely, so in Yagura Karatachi’s mind, Haku was already dead.

Yagura Karatachi was truly struggling to maintain composure, because it wasn’t just Haku who died, but also five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist went from seven to two, which essentially crippled them, leaving the remaining two to be used as slightly stronger Jonin.

The death of Haku, coupled with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist being in name only, meant that Hidden Mist Village suddenly lost two major trump cards.

“This is very unfavorable for us. Who is the Ninja who killed Haku? Is there a powerful Ice Release user in Konoha?” Yagura Karatachi’s expression turned grim.

He now wished he could resurrect Haku and beat him up again, and he also wished he could send the remaining Biwa Jūzō and Kuriarare Kushimaru to join them, so the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist could all be together in the afterlife.

Although it was just a simple skirmish, it completely ruined Hidden Mist Village’s advantage in the Land of Fire, and even put them at a considerable disadvantage.

Haku’s death was not simply the loss of a strong individual. Haku had knowledge of many of Hidden Mist Village’s arrangements: camp locations, supply routes, and operational plans—Haku knew it all.

Because of Haku’s death, Yagura Karatachi had to immediately change all of Hidden Mist Village’s arrangements on the East Bank Battlefield, which was no small undertaking.

Feeling the terrifying killing intent within the tent, the Hidden Mist Village guards outside couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat, silently mourning for 0.1 seconds for the person who had angered Yagura Karatachi.

Although Yagura Karatachi really wanted to kill someone to vent his anger, he knew this was not the time to punish his subordinates. Yagura Karatachi quickly ordered a strategy adjustment while summoning Biwa Jūzō and Kuriarare Kushimaru to inquire about the details.

Yagura Karatachi had to first know who killed Haku. If it was Orochimaru or Ino–Shika–Chō, then so be it, but if it wasn’t them, it meant a new Konoha powerhouse had arrived on the battlefield.

“I didn’t see his face, only the Ice Release Ninjutsu he released,” Biwa Jūzō said, shaking his head.

Kuriarare Kushimaru also nodded. They had left too early.

Yagura Karatachi’s face darkened, struggling to resist putting his fist on their faces.

Elite assassination squad? Useless squad!

Kuriarare Kushimaru looked at the furious Yagura Karatachi, feeling very confused, not understanding who had angered the battle commander. He had been fine just a short while ago.

“Did something happen? Haven’t Raiga Kurosuki and the others returned yet?” Biwa Jūzō suddenly remembered something.

It was rare for Ninja to have battles lasting a day and a night. Some time had passed since they disengaged from the battle, so logically, the fight should have ended by now.

“They won’t be coming back. If nothing unexpected happened, they were all killed by Konoha Ninja,” Yagura Karatachi said coldly.

“You two were lucky; you escaped death because of your injuries,” Yagura Karatachi made no attempt to hide the sarcasm in his words.

He was truly infuriated. With such casualties, they didn’t even know who the enemy was who made the move. How were they supposed to fight like this?

The single piece of information, “Ice Release,” was completely insufficient to pinpoint any Konoha powerhouse, because among the currently known Konoha powerhouses, there was no one who used Ice Release.

Biwa Jūzō and Kuriarare Kushimaru exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other’s eyes.

They never expected that Haku and the others had actually died. What kind of strength would it take to kill them all? Had Orochimaru joined the battle later?

“Are there any other notable geniuses in that genius squad?” Yagura Karatachi asked.

Since Haku was dead, those genius Ninja likely survived. Yagura Karatachi needed to update their information and raise their priority.

“There’s also a Uchiha Ninja even younger than Uchiha Obito who is very talented,” Kuriarare Kushimaru quickly drew a sketch of Shisui from memory and handed it to Yagura Karatachi.

After taking the sketch, Yagura Karatachi asked a few more questions. Seeing that he couldn’t get much useful information from the two, he dismissed them to recuperate.

Yagura Karatachi quickly adjusted Hidden Mist Village’s layout while reporting the latest intelligence to Hidden Mist Village.

His forces were insufficient here. To continue to succeed on the East Bank Battlefield, he could only rely on support from Hidden Mist Village.

Otherwise, they would only be gradually squeezed out by the Konoha Ninja Force until they were driven out of the Land of Fire.

Yagura Karatachi believed that Hidden Mist Village needed to send reinforcements to continue fighting Konoha, because this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Normally, encountering a failure of this magnitude would mean preparing to retreat to their homeland, but Hidden Mist Village’s opponent was Konoha, which was being ganged up on.

Konoha was currently engaged in multi-front warfare. If Hidden Mist Village retreated, Konoha would not pursue, much less invade the Land of Water across the sea.

In other words, Hidden Mist Village could fight without any reservations. Even if they lost to Konoha, they wouldn’t have to worry about being demanded compensation.

If Konoha dared to demand it, Hidden Mist Village would just continue to wear them down. Let’s see if Konoha could outlast three great Ninja Villages.

…

Hokage Building, Conference Room.

At this moment, all four of Konoha’s top officials were gathered in the conference room.

“Hayate Mugetsu actually killed four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist while fighting Haku. I’m afraid even Minato couldn’t have done better,” Homura Mitokado praised.

They were discussing the latest battle report from the front lines.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his goatee with a chuckle. Although he knew Muzuki’s strength, he didn’t expect Muzuki to achieve such brilliant results in a short period of time.

“Hiruzen, if you had sent Muzuki to the battlefield earlier, as I said, the war situation would definitely be much better than it is now,” Danzo Shimura couldn’t help but retort to Hiruzen Sarutobi. He had long wanted Muzuki to help Orochimaru achieve merits, but Hiruzen Sarutobi had always refused.

“Muzuki is an excellent Root member I cultivated. I know very well where he can be effective,” Danzo Shimura emphasized.

Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu looked at Danzo Shimura with some surprise, not expecting Muzuki to have been cultivated by Danzo Shimura.

“Firstly, Muzuki wasn’t suitable for the battlefield at that time. Secondly, Muzuki’s current strength is mainly due to his own efforts, not your cultivation. Did Danzo, you teach him Combination Ninjutsu? Or did you teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique?” Hiruzen Sarutobi retorted.

He had taught Muzuki Ninjutsu, yet he didn’t claim Muzuki was cultivated by him. Danzo Shimura saying Muzuki was cultivated by him was purely giving himself undue credit.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi’s view, Muzuki’s current strength was mainly due to his excellent natural talent, his hard work, and the ample resources Hiruzen Sarutobi provided.

As for Root, it purely limited Muzuki’s development. Otherwise, why would Muzuki grow faster after leaving Root?

“Muzuki laid a solid foundation in Root!” Danzo Shimura stubbornly insisted.

He, of course, knew that Muzuki’s current strength had nothing to do with Root and that his power soared after Hiruzen Sarutobi cultivated him. However, he had to take some credit for cultivating Muzuki, after all, Muzuki was a Root Ninja, albeit one cultivated in violation of rules.

Seeing Danzo Shimura say this, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t retort. After all, when Muzuki first left Root, he was considered an elite among Jonin.

After a brief exchange of barbs, they continued their meeting, discussing whether to spread Muzuki’s deeds to boost morale or temporarily conceal them to keep Muzuki as a surprise weapon.