Chapter 125: Blood Debts Paid in Blood!
Kisame Hoshigaki.
He vaguely remembered that scene from the anime: a real man who, with the last of his strength, tore apart the Wood Release binding him and let the summoned sharks bite him to death, one chunk at a time.
“One against seven, sir. Maybe I’m not completely worthless after all.”
That single line summed up Kisame Hoshigaki’s entire life. Only at the moment of death had he finally understood what kind of person he was.
But right now, Kisame felt lost.
He had only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy and was still waiting for Kirigakure’s higher-ups to assign him a mission. Then, out of nowhere, the Mizukage summoned him and handed him an earth-shattering assignment.
Infiltrate Konoha. Gather every piece of information on a certain person. And in doing so, he would have to live as a member of Konoha and operate under that person’s command.
In short, his identity had changed.
Running his fingers across the newly issued Samehada, Kisame looked toward the kid chatting with the white-haired man in the distance. Was that his target? Even the reason behind Kirigakure’s reforms pointed back to this kid. Every ANBU around them, even the legendary Night Owl Team, served under him.
It was absurdly shocking.
Kisame’s strange pupils locked onto the boy as he lowered his head. Compared to the atmosphere of mutual trust around him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
“Hey, time to eat.”
A voice called out.
Kisame looked up, his shark-like cheeks twitching slightly. The kid’s name was Itachi Uchiha. Rumor had it he was Kenpachi’s closest friend in Konoha.
But frankly, Kisame still couldn’t figure out what made him so special that he got to stand at the center of the Night Owl Team. He was just a kid.
“I brought my own ration pills. Thanks.”
He glanced at the dry food in Itachi’s hand, shook his head, and pulled out a ration pill from his pack, taking a bite. He still couldn’t blend in.
Itachi didn’t press him. He set the food down and turned to leave. For now, this shark-faced man only sparked the slightest bit of curiosity in him.
…
“You’re going to find Tsunade?”
From a distance, Jiraiya stared at Hakken in disbelief. He had just heard something outrageous come out of this kid’s mouth.
Go find Tsunade. If she refused, beat her up and drag her back.
Did he think Tsunade was someone you could just beat up?
Rolling his eyes, Jiraiya let out a sigh.
“I know what’s going on with Konoha Hospital. When it comes to Medical Ninjutsu, Tsunade’s skill is absurdly high.”
“But Hakken, Tsunade leaving the village isn’t something that can be explained with a few sentences.”
“I’m telling you, drop this idea.”
Tsunade hadn’t been gone from Konoha for long. You could tell from the fact that Shizune and Yūhi Kurenai graduated in the same year. After graduating, Shizune left Konoha with Tsunade.
Judging by the timeline, she’d only been away a few years at most.
That wasn’t enough time to heal wounds that deep. So Jiraiya was certain Tsunade would never agree to return.
“I have my own way.”
Hakken stood up, unwilling to explain further.
The reason Tsunade left Konoha was easy to grasp. Dan Katō’s death wasn’t the real issue. The real blow was losing Nawaki, followed by the Senju clan gradually fading away.
Loneliness, helplessness, and her inability to understand Konoha anymore were what pushed her out.
As for the true reason the Senju clan disappeared, she probably knew it all too well. After seeing how cold the world could be, her respect for Hiruzen faded, and she went from calling him “Sarutobi-sensei” to simply “old man.”
But things in Konoha had changed dramatically. Hiruzen Sarutobi had completely stepped down. Danzō was long dead.
Her resentment toward Konoha didn’t need to exist anymore.
As Konoha’s Tsunade-hime, the position of Medical Corps Chief had always been hers.
He had to try.
And Hakken’s next stage of revenge required time to prepare. Using this gap to find Tsunade was perfectly reasonable.
Ignoring Jiraiya, Hakken called over Kakashi and Shisui.
“Infiltrate the Land of Earth. Investigate every mission source from Iwagakure, their travel methods, and their peak mission periods.”
“Most importantly, map out every possible route they might use to leave the village.”
“And until I get there, do not act on your own.”
The Land of Earth. Iwagakure.
So that was the next target?
Kakashi nodded, and he and Shisui departed to spread the orders.
Jiraiya, however, was even more confused.
Reforming Kirigakure made sense. Kirigakure had been choking in a blood-soaked fog for years and desperately needed someone to step up and restore vitality. And during the missions, they had secured plenty of benefits for Konoha.
But Iwagakure was not Kirigakure. Ōnoki’s authority was unmatched, and that old man’s Dust Release: Kekkei Tōta was frightening.
And unlike Kirigakure…
Its high-ranking officials were unified. Even Jinchūriki who disagreed with Ōnoki’s policies had already left the village.
Under circumstances like that… what exactly was Hakken planning to do?
Before Jiraiya could ask, Hakken lifted his Zanpakutō toward the sky as a black-red blade aura shot upward.
It was the signal to assemble.
Don’t ask why he had to use Getsuga Tenshō—spiritual pressure demanded it.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
In just a few seconds, two hundred ANBU gathered. The speed made Kisame Hoshigaki, watching from afar, freeze in shock.
Standing awkwardly at the side of the formation with no idea where to go, he was eventually dragged by Itachi to the far left of the Night Owls.
“Remember why we came out here?”
Resting his Zanpakutō on his shoulder, Hakken grabbed Kurama by the ear and slapped him against his chest.
Thump. Thump. Kurama saw stars.
“Blood debt!”
“Blood repayment!”
The roar made Jiraiya jump.
Blood debt and blood repayment?
Was the purpose of going to the Land of Earth simply to kill?
“Disperse!”
At his command, the ANBU vanished into the jungle. Soon, only Hakken and Jiraiya remained.
“Let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.”
Hakken didn’t know where Tsunade was—Tanzaku Quarters or the Land of Hot Water.
But Jiraiya had spent years traveling and knew all the major gambling dens.
And Tsunade, being a seasoned gambler, would definitely appear in those places.
So having Jiraiya lead him was the smartest option.
…
They split up.
The ANBU headed for the Land of Earth, while Hakken and Jiraiya set off to find the legendary gambler.
Three days later, in a town bordering the Land of Water…
Hakken and Jiraiya, both carrying swords, instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Glancing at Jiraiya beside him, Hakken sighed and sat down on a bench by the road.
“Instead of guessing what I’m thinking, wouldn’t writing more erotic novels be better? And if that isn’t enough, go visit a club.”
“Does overthinking not exhaust you?”