71-75

Chapter 71: I Really Don’t Like This (Please Recommend!)

Chojiro heard the loud shouts from both sides and quickly jumped back. Three flying needles shot past him. Though they didn’t hit directly, the force behind them shredded his clothes and even tore into the flesh underneath, leaving his body bloodied. Chojiro let out a muffled groan, the intense pain shooting through his nerves, causing cold sweat to pour from him.

“Damn it! If this is how powerful they are without a direct hit, what happens if I get hit straight on?”

Chojiro didn’t want to think about it any further, afraid that the thought alone would shatter his will to fight.

More flying needles kept coming. Chojiro twisted his body frantically, trying to dodge the next few.

One needle!

Two needles!

Three needles!

...

The needles flew past him one by one. Though none hit him directly, his body was already covered in blood, with several muscles torn and even white bone visible!

Boom!

The first few needles struck the ground, causing a violent explosion.

A half-meter-wide crater appeared, with electric arcs still crackling at the center.

Seeing the explosion behind him, Chojiro’s heart skipped a beat.

This was far more destructive than he had imagined.

If those needles had hit him directly, he wouldn't just be injured—he’d be dead on the spot!

"Chojiro, watch out!" Terumi Mei and Ao shouted in unison.

Chojiro turned his head, his heart racing. The needles were already right in front of him, leaving no room to dodge!

“Am I going to die?” Chojiro completely gave up resisting, closing his eyes as memories of his life flashed before him. A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

“Shiro! This is just a test—stop it now!” Terumi Mei shouted.

Chojiro was one of her trusted aides, and he had great potential.

If given a few more years, he could reach elite Jonin level.

With even more time, he could potentially reach Kage level.

The only one who could stop this was the one who cast the technique: Shiro.

Shiro frowned, quickly forming hand seals.

The spinning needles in mid-air began to slow down and eventually stopped.

However, the force behind them didn’t weaken.

The needle hit Chojiro and sent him flying through the air.

He crashed to the ground, groaning in pain.

Fortunately, the needle had lost its spinning and explosive power, otherwise, he wouldn’t have just been knocked back.

Terumi Mei and Ao rushed to Chojiro's side. When Terumi Mei checked his injuries, her face darkened.

“Where are the medical ninjas?! Call them now!”

A female ninja rushed over and placed her hands on Chojiro’s chest, desperately using healing techniques.

“The bleeding won’t stop! We need a more advanced technique, the Mystical Palm Technique!”

“But no one here knows that technique. Only Yagura’s men have a medical ninja capable of using it.”

The medical ninja’s words made Terumi Mei's face even darker. After a moment of hesitation, she stood up.

“I’ll go find Yagura!”

Just as she was about to leave, a trembling hand grabbed her.

She looked down to see Chojiro, hovering on the brink of death.

“We can’t go. Our meeting here is secret. If the Mizukage finds out, we’re all dead!”

Terumi Mei was filled with regret.

Why did I bring Shiro, this monster, back? Why didn’t I just explain things to him back then?

None of this would’ve happened!

Terumi Mei collapsed to the ground, resting her head on Chojiro’s chest, letting his blood soak her long hair.

“Why did it come to this? We agreed to overthrow Yagura’s tyranny, but now…”

Her tears started to fall uncontrollably.

“Move aside!”

Terumi Mei, already overwhelmed with grief, turned furiously toward Shiro's voice.

But when she saw the cold look in his eyes, the words caught in her throat.

“I’ll say it again. Move! If you don’t want him to die.”

Terumi Mei snapped out of it and quickly crawled aside, making room for Shiro.

“Can you really save him?”

She asked cautiously.

The Mystical Palm Technique was a highly advanced medical ninjutsu that even most medical ninjas couldn’t perform.

If Shiro, who already knew so many combat techniques, could also use this, Terumi Mei would seriously start questioning reality.

How could a twelve or thirteen-year-old master so many jutsu?

Most kids his age had just graduated from the ninja academy!

For the first time, Terumi Mei truly understood the significance of Konoha’s bounty notice.

A talent like Shiro? She’d pay a billion for him, let alone a hundred million.

And that was why she trusted him completely now.

No village would send such a genius to spy on another. Unless their Kage was out of his mind.

“Just shut up,” Shiro growled, his face filled with anger.

He placed his hand on Chojiro’s chest, and a bright light began to shine.

The wound on Chojiro’s chest started healing at a visible rate.

“It really is the Mystical Palm Technique! And he’s incredibly skilled with it! Chojiro’s going to make it!” the medical ninja exclaimed, clutching her chest in relief.

Terumi Mei and Ao both let out a sigh of relief, their eyes filled with gratitude for Shiro.

Chojiro, however, smiled bitterly at Shiro. Moments ago, they were fighting, and now his enemy was healing him.

What was more ironic was that his wounds were caused by Shiro in the first place.

After about ten minutes, the wound on Chojiro’s chest had mostly healed. Though it still looked terrifying, the internal injuries had closed up.

Chojiro was out of danger.

“The rest is up to you,” Shiro said to the female medical ninja.

Her face flushed as she hurried over.

“Your medical skills are amazing! Can you teach me sometime?” she asked.

“We’ll see,” Shiro replied dismissively.

The medical ninja looked a bit disappointed but quickly knelt down to continue treating Chojiro.

Shiro, still fuming, walked off and sat on a nearby rock.

Terumi Mei smiled bitterly and, after hesitating for a moment, approached him.

“Thank you for saving Chojiro. If it weren’t for you…”

Shiro cut her off with a cold laugh, his piercing eyes making her heart race with fear.

“I don’t like being tested like this. Not at all. I don’t want to see this happen again.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 72: Infiltrating the Ninja Academy (Seeking Votes)*

Shiro was furious, absolutely furious!

He had come with good intentions to help Terumi Mei, to help explain the "Bloody Mist" situation in Kirigakure.

But she kept testing him, again and again.

Even the most patient person would be about to explode at this point!

Terumi Mei lowered her head, her face full of regret.

"I'm sorry, Shiro, it was my fault for not stopping them sooner."

Shiro gave her a cold look.

Seeing the regret on her face, his anger subsided a little.

"So, do you trust me now?"

Terumi Mei smiled bitterly and looked seriously at Shiro.

"Would you still be willing to help Kirigakure and the Land of Water? I'm willing to pay any price!"

At this point, Terumi Mei no longer expected Shiro to help her for free.

No matter what he asked for, as long as she had it, she would give it to him!

This wasn't just about her becoming Mizukage; it concerned all the ninjas of Kirigakure!

"Fine! I'll trust you one last time. Just don’t go back on your word!"

Terumi Mei's face lit up with a hint of joy, and she reached out to embrace Shiro.

After struggling for a moment, she slowly let go.

"After the battle, it's no longer safe here! We need to move to another hideout immediately. We can discuss everything there."

Shiro looked at the several massive craters on the ground and couldn’t help but laugh.

With explosions this loud, if they weren’t in such a remote area, the ANBU from Kirigakure would have arrived long ago.

Staying here any longer would risk exposure. Moving locations was absolutely necessary!

"Alright, I'll go with you! But I’m warning you again—don’t test me anymore!"

Terumi Mei looked frustrated, hands on her hips.

"You're such a grudge holder, huh? Don't worry, you're my most trusted partner now!"

Shiro followed her skeptically.

This time, she took him to a hideout in Kirigakure itself. As soon as they stepped outside, they could see people bustling about.

And this hideout was much more luxurious than the last.

Though it couldn’t compare to modern luxury, it was one of the better houses in the ninja world.

Terumi Mei led Shiro into a small room. After confirming they weren’t being followed, she pressed a spot on the table.

Immediately, countless seals lit up, forming a transparent barrier around them.

"Alright, now no one can eavesdrop! Everything we talk about here will stay between us. Even my trusted aides, Chojuro and Ao, won’t know a word."

Shiro nodded slightly.

This was, after all, a matter of life and death, and he didn’t want too many external factors involved.

Plus, he didn’t want to be caught up in Kirigakure’s internal strife, risking his life before the final battle.

Terumi Mei’s expression turned serious.

"Every ninja is accounted for. No matter how you approach Yagura, you’ll be noticed. But there's a group of students about to graduate from the ninja academy. I can arrange for you to assume one of their identities!"

Shiro stroked his chin and nodded.

Suddenly adding a ninja to a village would definitely attract the attention of the ANBU.

But sneaking into the academy? That was far less risky.

As for getting him an identity, that was Terumi Mei’s job.

If she couldn’t even handle that, she wasn’t fit to be the Fifth Mizukage.

"Alright, let’s do it."

"Good. Stay here for the next few days and wait for my word."

Terumi Mei’s serious expression faded, replaced by a playful smile.

"By the way, what’s your request? If you want, I could stay here and keep you company."

Shiro rolled his eyes.

According to the storyline, Terumi Mei never got married.

But seeing how forward she was acting now, she certainly didn’t seem like someone who couldn’t find a husband!

"I'm still young, not thinking about that stuff for now."

Terumi Mei pouted, her face full of frustration.

"Fine, I’ll go for now. If you need me, just say the word. In the meantime, I'll send you some books to read."

After Terumi Mei left, she would come by daily to tease Shiro.

Every time, he impatiently chased her away.

However, under Shiro’s insistence, Terumi Mei sent over plenty of books—basic materials that were essential for any ninja.

Although she looked confused, these basic books were like treasures to Shiro.

Chakra and ninjutsu, which had once seemed mystical and incomprehensible, were now becoming clear to him.

One day, while Shiro was absorbed in reading, the barrier opened again.

He glanced up casually, and when he saw Terumi Mei, he returned his attention to the book.

"Shiro, you’re getting colder to me. What do I need to do to make you happy?"

Shiro’s eyelid twitched, but he pretended not to hear and continued reading.

Seeing that he was unmoved, Terumi Mei lowered her head, disappointed, and placed a file on the table.

"Sometimes, I really don’t think you’re a kid."

Shiro’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly hid his nervousness and grabbed the file.

"Momochi Rito?"

"Yes. This kid’s build is similar to yours, and he always wears a mask, barely interacts with anyone, and has no friends. He’s perfect for you."

Shiro looked through the file and realized that Momochi Rito was even more pitiful than Terumi Mei had described.

A member of the Momochi clan, he had become an orphan after losing both parents.

At school, he was an outcast—no friends, no conversations, barely any contact with others.

Even the students sitting next to him knew very little about him.

He was the perfect candidate!

As for what had happened to Momochi Rito, Shiro didn’t even want to ask.

In times of change, sacrifices were inevitable.

"Review the information carefully. Tomorrow is the graduation exam, and to pass, you must kill a classmate. That shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?"

Shiro nodded slightly.

Having been in the ninja world for some time, he was used to life-and-death situations.

Especially in Kirigakure, which held no sentimental value for him. Killing someone wouldn’t leave him feeling guilty at all.

"Got it. Is there anyone I should spare?"

Terumi Mei smiled and slid a photo across the table.

"Her name is Mizunuki Tachibana. Please make sure to spare her. If possible, help her out."

Shiro picked up the photo, showing a cute girl.

"Mizunuki Tachibana, got it."

---

*Chapter 73: The Ninja Exam (Please Vote)*

The next morning, Shiro arrived at the ninja academy.

Wearing a mask and a few bandages, Shiro looked like a smaller version of Zabuza Momochi, except for the hairstyle.

But when he saw his classmates, Shiro couldn’t help but frown.

The students of Kirigakure were completely different from those of Konohagakure. In Konoha, students were friends and could fully trust each other on the battlefield.

In Kirigakure, however, every student's eyes were filled with bloodlust. They treated their classmates as mortal enemies!

Because of this, Kirigakure ninjas were exceptionally strong individually.

Shiro lazily stretched. Facing some students who hadn’t fully graduated yet didn’t excite him in the slightest.

However, due to Shiro’s lack of enthusiasm, several eyes lingered on him.

“Looks like they’ve marked me as an easy target.”

After about half an hour, a Chunin with a murderous look on his face walked over.

He scanned the group, nodded in satisfaction, and announced, "From now on, groups of ten will compete! You only need to kill one person, and from today, you will be Kirigakure’s Genin!"

Originally, the Kirigakure graduation exam involved all students competing together.

But after Zabuza Momochi killed everyone in one go, they changed the rules.

Instead of having all students together, they split them into groups of ten.

This way, even if a particularly powerful ninja was in one group, at most only one group would be wiped out, minimizing the overall impact.

The exam began, and Shiro and the others were pushed into a small forest.

In the class, Shiro spotted Suigetsu’s figure.

“The Shuiwugetsu clan… I wonder if they’ve awakened their Ice Release.”

As soon as they entered the forest, everyone scattered to hide, but Shiro stood openly, showing no intention of hiding.

"Liren really is a fool. He doesn’t know how to hide at all. Watch me take his head!" one ninja sneered, pulling out a kunai and carefully approaching Shiro.

“This one’s mine! We’ve had a grudge for a long time—don’t steal my kill!”

“That’s nonsense. You never had any issues with him. He’s the one who always mocked me with his eyes. I’ve wanted to kill him for ages!”

“So you’re saying you want to fight me for it?”

“What, got a problem with that?”

With Shiro’s keen perception, he was fully aware of the movements of the people hiding in the forest.

What made Shiro laugh was that the group originally planning to kill him started fighting among themselves over who got to do it.

Just then, several shuriken flew toward Shiro.

He dodged effortlessly, and then someone came running at him with a short sword.

“Momochi Liren is mine!” The boy grinned when he saw Shiro not reacting. He swung his sword down faster.

Shiro raised his right hand and lightly pinched the blade between his index and middle fingers, stopping it instantly.

No matter how much the boy struggled, the blade didn’t move an inch.

“Your strength isn’t bad, but you’re too slow.”

The boy stared at Shiro in disbelief. He never expected this seemingly useless classmate to be so strong.

The power of those fingers holding the blade was far beyond what a twelve-year-old boy should have.

“Damn it! I fell for it! He’s been playing weak all along!”

The boy quickly abandoned his sword and retreated, but after a few steps, he felt like he had bumped into someone.

“Leaving so soon? Don’t you want to stay and chat?”

The boy’s eyes filled with fear as he looked at Shiro, and he collapsed to the ground, wetting his pants.

“Please don’t kill me! Liren, remember? We’re good friends!”

Shiro looked up thoughtfully, scratching his chin.

Seeing the chance, the boy pulled a kunai from his pouch and thrust it at Shiro’s chest.

“I did it! I’m going to be a ninja!”

Seeing the kunai pierce Shiro’s chest, the boy’s face lit up with disbelief, then joy.

But before he could celebrate, the Shiro in front of him turned into a puddle of water and splashed onto the ground.

“So that’s your last struggle, huh? You could’ve run.”

“No, I was wrong! Please give me another chance!”

“You already had your chance. Now comes the punishment.”

Without mercy, Shiro picked up the short sword and slashed downward.

“Life is so beautiful, but you insisted on throwing it away. I hope there are no ninja exams in heaven.”

Shiro tossed the short sword aside, grabbed the boy’s foot, and dragged him along the ground.

It wasn’t that Shiro was cruel.

It was just that by doing this, he could scare off those who lacked confidence, saving himself a lot of trouble.

After all, Shiro had no interest in one-sided slaughter.

“I guess I can leave now.”

Just as Shiro was about to head for the exit, he remembered Mei Terumi’s request. He shook his head in frustration and turned back.

Shiro calmly sat in the middle of the road, a corpse next to him still bleeding profusely.

For the moment, no one dared to bother him.

“Damn, that girl better not be dead already. She seemed too timid to act on her own.”

Shiro sighed, feeling troubled.

Though Mei Terumi had only asked him to watch out for her, knowing Mei’s personality, this was probably some sort of test.

If Suigetsu died, Mei might smile on the surface, but she’d definitely stab him in the back later.

Just then, a figure came running toward him, hiding by Shiro’s side and looking at him with pleading eyes.

“Please help me.”

Shiro chuckled, stroking his chin.

He had just been thinking about how to find Suigetsu, and now she’d come to him.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”

At his words, Suigetsu jumped back in fright, her face full of hesitation and inner conflict.

At that moment, a boy jumped out, carrying a small blood-soaked bag on his back.

“Cheng! If you agree to be with me, I’ll protect you and make sure you become a ninja too! But if you refuse, I won’t mind killing one more person!” The boy licked his kunai with a sinister smile.

Cheng’s face paled with fear, and she stepped back.

“Please help me!”

“Liren! Don’t get involved! Others may be afraid of you, but I’m not!”

Shiro sneered, jumping down from the rock and walking over to Suigetsu.

“Is your task complete?”

“Huh? Me? Not yet...” Suigetsu stammered, worried about angering him.

“Well, now it is.”

---

*Chapter 74: Suigetsu Orange (Seeking Recommendations)*

Just as Shiro finished speaking, Suigetsu Orange hadn’t reacted yet.

Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Itō Jirō, quietly stabbing him in the lower back with a kunai.

“You’re not qualified to threaten me!”

Itō Jirō looked at Shiro in terror and collapsed to the ground, crawling backward frantically.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong! I’ll give you my spot. Please don’t kill me!”

Itō Jirō spoke while reaching for his backpack.

Ding dong! Mission choice triggered!

1. Spare Itō Jirō! Reward: Ninjutsu—Water Substitution Technique!

2. Kill Itō Jirō! Reward: 1 synthesis chance!

3. Have Suigetsu Orange kill Itō Jirō! Reward: 2 synthesis chances!

I choose option three!

The reward for option three was undoubtedly the best. Getting Suigetsu Orange to kill Itō Jirō was easy—all it took was a bit of motivation.

“Watch me!”

Itō Jirō instinctively looked at Shiro, but when he saw Shiro’s blood-red eyes, his body froze.

No matter how hard he tried to struggle, he couldn’t move.

“Suigetsu Orange, if you want to become a Genin of Kirigakure, kill him!” Shiro said, throwing the kunai in his hand toward her.

Suigetsu Orange didn’t understand why the boy suddenly stopped moving. The kunai hit her head, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She picked up the kunai, walking toward Itō Jirō in confusion, her heart filled with internal conflict.

“Didn’t he kill two people? If I just take one life, won’t I become a ninja?”

At that moment, Itō Jirō’s face lit up with joy. He blinked at Suigetsu Orange, signaling her to grab something from his backpack.

“Right, if you take it, you can turn it in and be done,” Shiro said, a sly smile forming on his face.

“But today, only one of you will leave here alive!”

“Why?! We could have less bloodshed—why must someone die?”

The survival environment of Kirigakure was simple: survival of the fittest. If you, as a ninja, couldn’t even take down your enemy, you were doomed to die in the hands of another.

Better to die in the exam than to live a short life, and Shiro would only lose two synthesis chances!

Shiro slowly raised his hand, holding up three fingers.

“When I put down all three fingers, the illusion will break, and the terms will remain the same: one life, one death.”

He lowered one finger.

Suigetsu Orange’s heart raced as her gaze darted between Itō Jirō and Shiro.

“Can’t I not kill him?”

Shiro lowered another finger, his face emotionless.

At that moment, Itō Jirō’s expression became more intense, filled with dread.

He both hoped Shiro would lower the final finger and feared that his bloodlust would push Suigetsu Orange over the edge.

“I feel like killing him isn’t the best option…”

Shiro let out a cold laugh. “The ninja world is far more cruel than you imagine!”

He lowered the final finger.

Suddenly, Itō Jirō regained control of his body. He swiftly pulled out a kunai from his pouch and slashed at Suigetsu Orange.

She jumped back in fear but failed to dodge the attack entirely, a long gash appearing on her arm, blood streaming down.

“You fool! You had the perfect chance to kill me, and now it’s too late!”

Suddenly, cold air began to radiate from Suigetsu Orange, and the surrounding mist started to form ice flowers.

Shiro’s eyes lit up!

This was the sign of awakening her Ice Release!

Ice began to form on Itō Jirō’s body, and the kunai stopped just a centimeter from Suigetsu Orange’s chest.

“Why?! We both could’ve gotten out of here—why did you have to do this to me?!”

With a final roar, Itō Jirō was completely encased in ice, even his chakra flow frozen.

“So, this is Ice Release.”

Shiro was momentarily stunned. He had thought Ice Release would only be good for cooling off in the summer, but he hadn’t expected it to be so powerful.

It took Suigetsu Orange about three seconds to realize what had happened.

When she saw Itō Jirō, now turned into an ice sculpture, her face turned pale.

“You did well. You’re now a qualified ninja.”

Tears welled up in Suigetsu Orange’s eyes as she looked at Shiro, a mix of gratitude and fear.

“Alright, let’s head out. But first, let me deal with some pests.”

Shiro began forming hand seals.

Several spiral needles hovered in front of him.

“Go!”

With a series of explosions, there wasn’t even time for screams—the only sound was the splatter of blood.

Shiro had known from the start that some people were spying on them.

Initially, he hadn’t planned to kill them, but once he activated his Sharingan, their fates were sealed.

Because the existence of the Sharingan couldn’t be exposed.

To ensure this, they all had to die!

Shiro and Suigetsu Orange walked out of the exam area as if nothing had happened.

The cold-faced examiner glanced at them. “You’re out. Where’s your proof?”

Shiro stopped, turned around, and gave the examiner a cold stare.

The examiner shuddered, feeling an inexplicable fear from this mere Genin.

After all, every Kirigakure ninja had climbed their way out of a pile of corpses.

“You want proof? Go inside and see for yourself.”

The examiner trembled and hurriedly ran inside.

When he returned, his face was frozen stiff. Turning to a nearby ninja, he said seriously, “Notify Lord Mizukage at once! That situation has happened again!”

Shiro’s original goal was to get close to the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. He hadn’t expected that simply silencing witnesses would lead to a direct meeting.

Shiro wasn’t worried about Yagura causing trouble for him.

After all, Yagura was under Uchiha Obito’s control at this time, using the Mist Village for revenge.

A killing machine like “Momochi Rito” would be very much appreciated.

Soon, a petite figure appeared.

Standing at about Shiro’s height, if not for the Mizukage robes, Shiro wouldn’t have believed this was the Mizukage.

Yagura walked up to Shiro and examined him from head to toe, nodding with satisfaction.

“Impressive—strong physique and killer instinct in your eyes. With training, you’ll become an outstanding ninja!”

Yagura took the file on “Momochi Rito,” comparing it carefully.

“Momochi clan, huh… How pitiful, an orphan.” Yagura frowned at first, then smiled and waved to a ninja behind him.

“Kurasuke, you’ll be in charge of training these two. Make sure they grow into capable ninjas!”

Kurasuke nodded quickly, then moved toward Shiro. But Yagura grabbed his shoulder.

“Test them. If there’s a problem, kill them. If not, bring them to me.”

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 75: Rogue Ninja*

Cangzhu walked up to Shiro, his face devoid of any expression. However, his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Shiro's heart sank in fear, terrified that his true identity would be exposed. If it were revealed, death would be his only fate!

"You two, come with me."

Shiro hesitated for a moment but followed along reluctantly. Shui Wuyue Cheng, on the other hand, was too overwhelmed by happiness, calling out "Teacher" repeatedly.

The three of them arrived at a secluded corner, and Cangzhu stopped, looking seriously at the two youngsters before him.

"From today onward, you are officially ninja of Kirigakure. But right now, you're only ninja in name. To become real ninja, you must complete missions!"

As he spoke, Cangzhu tossed a mission scroll toward them.

"Mei Terumi!"

As expected, the two ninja killed on the beach were indeed spies, just as Mei Terumi had said.

Even though they were dead, the intel still got out.

"Your first mission is to assassinate the traitor Mei Terumi of Kirigakure! Do you need any help..."

"I refuse!" Shiro interrupted, throwing the scroll away, his face full of impatience.

"A ninja's duty is to obey orders and complete missions. If you refuse to do this, are you in league with the traitor Mei Terumi?"

Shiro sneered and walked up to Cangzhu with big strides.

"First of all, even though this is labeled as a C-rank mission, Mei Terumi is at least a B-rank ninja! Given her strength, dear teacher, you're sending us to our deaths!"

Cangzhu was taken aback.

He had only intended to use the words "traitor" and "Mei Terumi" to test "Momochi Liren." If successful, maybe they could even kill Mei Terumi.

But he hadn't expected "Momochi Liren" to react so strongly, and his words were so well-reasoned that Cangzhu couldn't find a way to argue back.

"You brat! These are orders from above. You're disobeying orders!"

Shiro's anger quickly subsided, and he wore a meaningful expression.

"When you say 'from above,' do you mean Lord Mizukage?"

Seeing that "Momochi Liren" had become more obedient, Cangzhu's confident smile returned.

"Yes, Lord Mizukage has his reasons for sending you. Are you really going to disobey?"

"Not at all. I despise traitors and would gladly kill them all."

"Good. This mission is yours."

Cangzhu was about to toss the scroll back to Shiro, but suddenly, a massive water dragon lunged at him, biting down and lifting him into the sky.

"Cheng, use your Ice Release!"

Cheng hesitated, but upon seeing Shiro's murderous look, he instinctively activated his Ice Release.

In seconds, the huge water dragon was frozen into a work of art.

"Damn it! Stop!"

Three ninja immediately jumped out, shattering the ice dragon and rescuing Cangzhu.

After being saved, Cangzhu's first reaction wasn’t gratitude. He pulled out a kunai and rushed toward Shiro.

"You want to kill me? Die!"

Shiro sneered, pulling out three shuriken and throwing them. He continued throwing until about twelve shuriken filled the air, clashing with each other and changing trajectories mid-air.

Cangzhu had never seen such an advanced shuriken technique. He cautiously wielded his kunai, watching his surroundings.

"Actually, I don't know any fancy shuriken techniques. I just threw them randomly. The real threat is this."

Suddenly, Shiro's voice came from behind Cangzhu, followed by a cold sensation in his back.

"How... how are you so fast?" Cangzhu felt his life slipping away as he collapsed.

"Stop!" Yagura, the Mizukage, shouted angrily, rushing toward Shiro.

But Shiro didn’t stop. He struck Cangzhu a few more times.

"Didn't you hear me say stop?" Yagura's face was full of rage, his hands trembling in anger.

Shiro showed no fear. Instead, he smiled and said seriously, "Lord Yagura, you're finally here. This man must be a rogue ninja! He tried to send rookies straight from the academy to assassinate a skilled ninja. Isn't that sending us to our deaths?"

Yagura’s lips twitched. In principle, students fresh out of the academy should only be assigned to simple tasks like retrieving lost cats or fighting bandits outside the village.

Shiro’s point was valid.

However, Yagura had sent Cangzhu to test their loyalty. Who knew that instead of testing loyalty, it would cost Cangzhu his life!

"Well done, Momochi Liren and Shui Wuyue Cheng. If you encounter situations like this again, you have permission to kill without hesitation!"

Yagura then whispered to a nearby ninja, "Matsuga, check this Momochi Liren’s bone age. If it’s consistent with his stated age, bring him to my office. If not, kill him."

"Yes, Lord Mizukage!"

Everyone else left, leaving only Matsuga to watch Shiro closely.

Matsuga knew full well that his own strength was about equal to Cangzhu’s—just an elite jonin. If he angered this "Momochi Liren," he was as good as dead.

"Liren, you heard Lord Mizukage. I’m just following his orders to check your bone age. Don’t think of me as a traitor!"

Shiro couldn’t help but laugh to himself.

The Kirigakure ninja were known for being ruthless and violent, yet they could also be so cowardly.

This also showed that Yagura had few capable people around him.

The ones he could send were at best chunin-level. The real experts were all within the major clans.

Yagura maintained his "Bloody Mist" rule by relying on large numbers of ninja. While their quality wasn’t great, their sheer quantity made up for it.

The second reason was that the major clans were selfish and refused to cooperate. By the time Yagura came knocking on their doors, it was too late for them to ask for outside help!

The third reason was Yagura’s overwhelming power. As one of the few ninja who could control a tailed beast perfectly, his chakra seemed limitless. Assassinating him was nearly impossible.

Matsuga conducted a simple test on Shiro’s bone age, confirming three times that Shiro was indeed twelve or thirteen years old.

Shui Wuyue Cheng’s age was even more certain.

After finishing, Matsuga wiped the sweat from his forehead and said seriously to Shiro, "Follow me. Lord Mizukage is waiting for you!"

In the Mizukage’s office, Yagura was handling paperwork. When he saw Shiro and the others enter, his eyes brightened.

"It seems you’ve passed the test. From now on, you two will join the Anbu, carrying out the village's secret missions!"

(End of Chapter)