Chapter 48: To Topple Stones
Body is from parents, they are one's heaven. Faith and conviction are one's earth.
Haku's ultimate wish was to know her own origins.
"Is it… too difficult?" Her eyes were red-rimmed now. The usual icy aloofness was gone, replaced by a profound, weary softness. She knew Liumu was a Konoha ninja. For him to investigate something buried decades deep in Kiri's secret history would be immensely challenging. Unearthing the past, long buried by time and design, would require immense effort and invite the constant danger of discovery by Kirigakure's watchful eyes.
Liumu looked at her resolute expression, then turned his gaze toward the distant, mist-wreathed village with a cold sneer.
"I don't enjoy being a bully," he said quietly. "But when it comes to defending my beliefs and protecting what I've decided to protect… I don't mind crushing any stones that stand in the way."
Ding. Hidden mission initiated. 'Dusty Letter from Home' quest connected. Please locate the corresponding item within three days.
The template system's voice echoed in his mind.
Glancing at the mission prompt, he saw the item name—"Dusty Letter from Home"—with a bright red [0/1] next to it. The final reward: +1 Random Selection Token. Meaning, upon completion, he could choose a category—Character Template, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, or Summoning Contract—and the system would randomly grant a reward from that pool.
"Random again!" Liumu mentally grumbled. But upon reflection, this was still more controllable than the roulette. At least he could pick the category, unlike ending up with a Kizaru template when he already had Saitama's.
"The village's Kekkei Genkai acquisition operations are handled by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. They answer directly to the Mizukage," Haku provided, her voice steadier now.
Liumu nodded. "I may have to send you back to that place for now."
At Haku's silent nod of consent, Liumu reopened the Time Chamber and ushered her inside. This was his second use of the chamber's limited accesses on her. It pained him to spend the precious time, but he didn't hesitate.
His knowledge of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was fragmented, but this was likely the era of the first generation of wielders. To uncover Haku's past, they were the key.
Within Kirigakure, Haku's disappearance for over half a month had not gone unnoticed. It had stirred unease among the higher echelons.
"Did she defect?" a man wearing a white fox mask asked, his voice a low murmur in the Mizukage's office.
"Perhaps." Seated in the center, a black-haired man with sharp eyes squinted slightly. "Mobilize the six of you to investigate. If found… she is not to be brought back alive."
"Third Mizukage-sama, what about the matter of the broken sword… Zabuzu?"
"I have sent ANBU to investigate the traitor, Momochi Zabuza. The consequences of his betrayal… I trust you understand."
Disguised with a Transformation Jutsu into an unremarkable adult man, his Konoha forehead protector carefully stored away, Liumu strode directly toward Kirigakure's main gate.
"Halt! Identify yourself!" a patrol squad barked.
Liumu didn't answer. He simply leaped high into the air.
"Yasakani no Magatama."
Brilliant particles of light coalesced around him. Under his will, they rained down upon the village gate like a storm of radiant bullets, each impact deafening.
The bombardment lasted nearly a full minute. Only when several powerful chakra signatures were detected rushing toward the commotion did Liumu cease, landing gracefully amidst the smoke and rubble.
"Brat! You have nerves of steel, attacking the gate of Kirigakure directly!" a voice snarled from the settling dust.
A black shadow, fast as lightning, shot past. Liumu looked down at the nearly invisible steel wire now wrapped around his chest and gave a slight smile. "Longsword: Sewing Needle. So, you're Kushimaru Kuriarare."
The swordsman's eyes behind his mask widened in shock. The man he had just ensnared showed no sign of injury, no strain. He was completely unaffected.
"You… you're unharmed?" Kuriarare's voice held newfound caution.
Liumu smiled faintly. "You know Haku, correct?"
"Haku?" The name made Kuriarare stiffen. "What is your relation to her?"
"I'm here for information," Liumu stated plainly. "I'll give you three hours. I want to know everything about her origins."
He made a show of turning to leave, then paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Of course, I could investigate on my own. But that would likely cause… considerably more noise."
The "Bloody Mist" of Kirigakure was indeed notorious, but Liumu knew that after the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumī, the village would eventually undergo reform. He had no desire to raze it to the ground over Haku's personal tragedy.
As enforcers for the Third Mizukage, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were known for their ruthlessness. Liumu didn't actually expect Kuriarare to obediently fetch the information. His true aim was to draw out all the Swordsmen. With them in the open, investigating would become much simpler.
And he was right.
Half an hour later, what awaited him wasn't a scroll delivered by Kuriarare, but an encirclement by six of the legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kuriarare among them.
"Why does it seem one is missing?" Liumu mused aloud, scanning the distinctive weapons pointed at him. Comparing them to his memories, he identified the absentee: the wielder of the Executioner's Blade: Kubikiribōchō, Zabuza Momochi. The Third Great Shinobi War hasn't erupted yet, so Zabuza shouldn't have been 'killed' by Might Dai's Eight Gates. He should still be in Kiri…
Before he could ponder further, Kuriarare attacked. His needle-like blade and trailing steel wires shot forward, attempting to pierce and then ensnare Liumu, weaving a razor-sharp trap around his feet.
"Ha!" Kuriarare yanked the wires taut, the deadly strands meant to slice through ankles. Instead, they passed through Liumu's form as if through light, severing nothing but air and scattering golden particles on the ground.
"…"
The Swordsmen stared, nonplussed. Seeing Liumu utterly unfazed, the wielder of the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari, Jinpachi Munashi, charged. He swung the massive blade/axe-hammer combination straight at Liumu's head.
"Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi (Heavenly Cloud Sword)."
Liumu didn't flinch. Light gathered between his palms as he brought them together, forging a blazing sword of pure energy that met Munashi's blow with a shower of sparks.
Munashi grunted, hefting the giant hammer-head of his weapon. "No blade is unbreakable under my Kabutowari!" he roared, bringing the hammer down with crushing force.
CLANG-SHRIEK!
A horrific screech of metal filled the air. Munashi's eyes bulged as he stared at his weapon. "Impossible! How is your sword intact?!"
Liumu paid his disbelief no mind. He sensed another attack coming from behind. The wielder of the Explosive Sword: Kiba, Ameyuri Ringo, had closed in silently, her twin blades crackling with lightning and studded with explosive tags, aiming for his back.
(End of Chapter)
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