CHAPTER 115
Not long after Might Guy and his two teammates walked out of the exchange office tent, Ebisu and Genma were already impatient to find a place to undo the seal and take a look at the replica twin swords: Hiramekarei. Just as the two were getting excited, they heard steady footsteps coming from behind them. The three subconsciously turned around and saw Homura Mitokado slowly approaching.
"Lord Homura Mitokado!"
The three immediately stopped and straightened their bodies to greet him.
Homura Mitokado walked up to Might Guy. His gaze fell directly on him as he asked straightforwardly, "Why didn't you exchange for Fire Walk, the technique that could directly enhance your strength?"
Might Guy was stunned for a moment. He had not expected Homura Mitokado to come over specifically for this matter. After hesitating briefly, he answered honestly.
"My talent for Ninjutsu is average, and my control over Nature Transformation isn't particularly strong. I exchanged for the sealing scroll because I wanted to use it together with the Water Sealing Method to store seawater or Water Release techniques from the Land of Waves. If I encounter special environments like deserts in the future, it might prove useful. Besides, no one in our team knows Water Release."
"I see."
Homura Mitokado nodded, his expression remaining unchanged.
Meanwhile, Ebisu and Genma were both stunned. They truly had not expected that Might Guy's decision to exchange for the sealing scroll carried such considerations behind it. For a moment, neither of them knew what to say.
Homura Mitokado remained silent briefly before taking out a deep blue scroll from within his robes. He handed it directly to Might Guy.
It was the scroll containing Fire Walk.
Might Guy froze again. Looking at the scroll in front of him, he hesitated before saying, "Lord Homura Mitokado, I don't have any war merit left. I can't afford to exchange for this."
Homura Mitokado waved his hand slightly and replied calmly, "This wasn't exchanged with war merit. This is a personal gift from me. It has nothing to do with the war merit system."
"A gift for me? Why?"
Might Guy did not immediately accept the scroll. Instead, he raised his head and looked at the frontline commander known throughout Konoha for his strictness and discipline. His eyes were filled with obvious confusion.
Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses, his voice as steady as ever.
"I acknowledge your performance on the battlefield. Not only your strength, but more importantly, the will you displayed to protect your comrades at critical moments. That was clearly demonstrated during the final battle in the Land of Waves."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the high-level sealing scroll that Might Guy had just exchanged for.
"With Fire Walk, your offensive methods will become more versatile in future battles. Perhaps at a crucial moment, you may be able to save even more people."
So that was his explanation.
Might Guy fell silent.
If Homura Mitokado's reason for gifting the scroll was genuinely recognition of his performance and goodwill toward a promising young ninja, it was understandable.
However, if Konoha truly wished to improve the survival chances and combat capabilities of its shinobi, it could simply make more practical Ninjutsu available for exchange or lower the requirements for certain techniques. As one of Konoha's senior advisors and the supreme commander of the Land of Waves front, Homura Mitokado had many methods with far greater influence to accomplish that goal.
Yet he had personally chosen to gift a valuable B-Rank technique to a Chunin.
There were likely other considerations involved.
"Is this some form of investment in my future potential?"
"Or is it because the Golden Bell Revolving Heaven Strike I displayed on the battlefield was too unique, drawing the attention of the higher-ups and making them want to observe me more closely?"
"Or perhaps it's because I donated most of my remaining money to the orphanage during the exchange, which happened to leave a favorable impression?"
Numerous thoughts flashed through Might Guy's mind, but none appeared on his face.
Since Homura Mitokado did not state his intentions openly, there was no reason for him to ask.
In the shinobi world, knowing too much was rarely a good thing.
Besides, when benefits were delivered directly to one's doorstep, there was little reason to refuse.
Fire Walk could indeed improve his combat style.
Even if the improvement was not revolutionary, it was still useful.
"Thank you, Lord Homura Mitokado."
Might Guy accepted the Fire Walk scroll and thanked him solemnly.
Standing nearby, Ebisu was so envious that he almost turned green.
He pushed up the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose as his eyes widened behind the lenses.
"This... this is a Ninjutsu worth 260 war merit points! And it was just... given away?"
He looked at the sealing scroll containing the replica twin swords: Hiramekarei in his own hands.
Although that weapon was worth 400 points, he and Genma had practically emptied all their war merit to obtain it.
Compared to that, Might Guy's situation truly looked like a pie falling from the sky.
Just as Homura Mitokado was preparing to leave, he suddenly paused.
It seemed as though he had remembered something.
After a brief hesitation, he pulled out another, thinner scroll from his robes and casually tossed it toward Ebisu and Genma.
"This is for you two."
Ebisu hurriedly caught it, and together with Genma, examined the scroll.
The exterior was plain dark gray without any distinctive markings.
Homura Mitokado looked at the pair and explained in a flat tone.
"This was compiled by Headquarters' Intelligence Analysis Team using battlefield records and previous intelligence reports. It contains research regarding the usage of the twin swords: Hiramekarei."
"It includes some basic swordsmanship force-delivery methods, concepts for Chakra conduction through special Ninja swords, and a few examples of combining Nature Transformation with swordsmanship."
"It's nothing particularly profound."
"But it's better than stumbling around blindly from the beginning."
He adjusted his glasses and looked at Ebisu and Genma with a faint smile.
"Study it carefully. Since you chose this pair of swords, make proper use of them."
"Perhaps one day, you'll have the opportunity to seize the real Hiramekarei from the Hidden Mist on the battlefield."
"Yes, Lord Homura Mitokado!"
Excitement instantly flooded the faces of Ebisu and Genma.
They answered loudly in near-perfect unison while gripping the scroll tightly.
Homura Mitokado's words had given them a clear and exhilarating goal.
Not merely wielding a replica.
But one day obtaining the genuine legendary blade of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Homura Mitokado gave the three young men one final glance.
"Continue cultivating diligently. New missions will be assigned within the next few days."
After speaking, he no longer lingered.
He turned around and departed.
Only after Homura Mitokado's figure completely disappeared from view did Ebisu finally let out a long breath before shouting excitedly:
"Quick! Let's get back!"
"This great genius can't wait to see these swords and this instruction manual!"
Although Genma remained silent, the anticipation in his eyes was no less intense than Ebisu's.
The two could barely contain themselves any longer.
They practically broke into a run as they rushed toward the temporary barracks assigned to Team 9.
Might Guy shook his head and looked toward the direction Homura Mitokado had left.
Regardless of what considerations lay behind the gifted scroll, the other party had shown no hostility so far.
Everything he had given was a genuine benefit.
Since that was the case, there was no point overthinking it.
Improving his strength and preparing for the upcoming missions remained the most important priorities.
Now that he possessed both Fire Walk and the sealing scrolls, he had even more matters to occupy his time.
Rather than dwelling on complicated possibilities, it was better to focus on preparing himself for whatever challenges awaited ahead.
With that thought, Might Guy strode forward and quickly caught up with Ebisu and Genma.