Yamanaka Kaze let out a cold laugh.
"You really have some self-awareness…"
And in the very next heartbeat—
his figure vanished.
Mizuki reacted instantly. His kunai shot up defensively, metal ringing against metal in rapid, sharp clanks.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
But Yamanaka was too fast.
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
Two shallow slashes appeared on Mizuki's body almost instantly.
But they were not gentle cuts.
They were deep—so deep that bone and muscle were visible beneath torn skin. Blood gushed out like a leaking faucet, staining the dirt beneath Mizuki's feet.
Yamanaka Kaze landed lightly on a thick branch overhead.
Although he was technically an auxiliary ninja in Root, he was still a weapon forged from childhood. Someone raised to be fast, merciless, and obedient.
Killing a Chūnin like Mizuki—
wasn't even a fight.
It was routine.
And he hadn't even needed to use his Yamanaka clan techniques yet.
This was a warm-up.
---
Mizuki Falls Back, Bleeding and Cornered
After a brief exchange of blows, Mizuki managed to use the force of a parried strike to stagger backward.
He fell to one knee, clutching a bleeding wound on his side.
Blood spilled from his lips.
He stared up at Yamanaka Kaze, gasping, refusing to let his guard drop.
Kaze calmly lifted his blade and flicked off droplets of Mizuki's blood.
His gaze was cold.
Indifferent.
Hungry.
The killing intent around him thickened—visibly, painfully—pressing down on Mizuki's already weakened body.
Mizuki tried to think.
What do I do now?
Run?
Fight?
Hide?
But he knew the truth.
Running would only make him die faster.
Because once a ninja's heart loses the will to resist, the body follows quickly after.
"I actually recommend you stop struggling," Kaze said flatly, looking down at him. "It will only make your final moments uglier."
He wasn't mocking.
He was bored.
A Root ninja had more important missions ahead.
Mizuki wasn't worth the time.
"If you give up, I'll make it quick. Death can be peaceful. A single moment."
His tone carried no sympathy.
Just efficient brutality.
---
Mizuki's Mind Begins to Break—and Reform
Mizuki slowly pushed himself up.
His legs shook violently.
Blood dripped from his arm, his chest, his mouth.
He could barely breathe, but still, he stood.
And something inside him whispered—
Death is already here.
He thought about Shinigami.
He could almost imagine Death holding a list in one hand.
His name was already crossed out.
And then, suddenly, he thought of Uchiha Souji.
Mizuki… if Souji were here… what would he do?
Souji had faced Orochimaru.
Souji had stood defiantly before overwhelming force.
Souji had chosen the worst possible option—but he chose it proudly.
Mizuki had once thought Souji was insane.
But now…
Now he understood something.
Souji wasn't crazy. Souji was clear.
Brave.
Free.
That realization struck Mizuki so hard he almost laughed.
"Lord Souji…" Mizuki whispered, "it seems I still have to rely on you to guide me."
Then he spoke louder, almost shouting at the forest.
"Live… to… die!!"
Yamanaka Kaze frowned.
"What did you say?"
He hadn't heard clearly.
But Mizuki didn't answer.
He lowered his head and began trembling—not with fear, but with awakening.
A second voice inside him screamed:
To obey silently is to die as a coward!
To stand still is to rot!
You are alive NOW—so fight NOW!
---
Mizuki Awakens His Own Resolve
Mizuki suddenly raised his head.
He wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth.
And he smiled.
An unruly, wild, fearless smile.
The air around him shifted.
If earlier he was a rat hiding in the gutter—
Now he was a wild dog baring its teeth.
No—
A wolf ready to leap.
"Ahh… Lord Souji," Mizuki chuckled. "Now I finally understand why those kids admire you so much."
He stepped forward.
"Even if a ninja has no glory…
glory alone is still very handsome!"
His hand whipped to his waist.
Four kunai appeared between his fingers.
"Shhh! Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!"
He threw them all at once.
His movements were faster—cleaner—sharper than before.
Kaze's eyes narrowed slightly.
But he still scoffed.
He raised his blade—
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
All four kunai were blocked perfectly.
"You tried to act cool," Kaze mocked. "And you messed up. A wild dog is just a wild dog."
But Mizuki didn't stop.
The moment his left hand finished throwing, his right hand moved like lightning.
Four shuriken shot out.
Their trajectory seemed sloppy—one even missed Kaze's head by inches.
"Heh. Pretending to be strong but missing so badly? Pathetic."
Kaze lifted his blade again.
He was ready to end Mizuki in one clean strike.
He raised the sword high—
---
A Flash of Silver Changes Everything
A faint, nearly invisible glint passed across his vision.
Thin.
Sharp.
Deadly.
Kaze stiffened.
He had seen this before.
No…
He had felt this before.
His instincts screamed danger.
"Is that… steel wire?" he whispered.
His eyes widened.
"No way—!
Uchiha Style: Shuriken Triple-Blade Technique!"
--------------------------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
----------------------------------------------------- .