Chapter 19 (Patreon)

After Kurenai left, the three members of Team 8 went their separate ways.

Hinata and Shino returned home to pack the supplies they would need, while Mihawk headed down one of Konoha’s busy streets.

Thanks to the self-cleaning properties of his kimono, he had no need to prepare any spare clothes. All he needed to bring was his wallet.

Mihawk moved calmly through the crowd.

Partway down the street, however, his footsteps slowed.

He stopped in front of a small stall selling umbrellas.

Among the umbrellas on display, a red paper parasol caught his eye.

After paying the stall owner, Mihawk continued toward the Hokage Building with the parasol resting against his shoulder.

Along the way, his appearance drew the attention of countless people.

Girls around his age glanced at him repeatedly, while young married women and even several older women watched him with either open admiration or quiet appreciation.

People were naturally drawn to beautiful things.

An attractive face alone was not particularly rare, but when it was paired with a unique and striking presence, that person naturally stood out wherever they went.

Mihawk was like a bright light moving through the crowd.

Fortunately, he had long since grown accustomed to being watched.

Without the slightest change in his expression, he continued onward and soon arrived at the Hokage Building.

Kurenai was already waiting near the entrance.

“You’re here already?”

Her red eyes briefly widened when she saw Mihawk standing there with the red paper parasol in hand. Dressed in his kimono, he looked like a young nobleman who had stepped straight out of a painting.

Then she noticed that he was not carrying any luggage.

“Didn’t you have anything to pack?”

Mihawk closed the parasol and replied calmly, “My clothes are somewhat special, so I don’t need to worry about washing or replacing them. I also asked Hinata to prepare the food for the journey.”

Kurenai did not press him about the strange properties of his clothing.

Instead, a curious smile appeared on her face.

“Speaking of Hinata, when exactly did the two of you become so close?”

“No comment.”

Mihawk rejected the question without hesitation.

Kurenai clicked her tongue.

“You’re both still children. What’s there to hide?”

When Mihawk did not respond, she gave up with a dismissive wave.

“Fine. Keep your secrets.”

Mihawk leaned against one of the pillars near the entrance, holding the closed parasol in one hand.

He shut his eyes and quietly rested while they waited.

Kurenai stared at him for a moment.

A trace of nostalgia appeared in her red eyes.

He really was similar.

When she had been younger, she had never properly understood it.

Now, however, she could not help wondering whether this was simply the kind of presence possessed by a true genius.

In Kurenai’s eyes, Mihawk resembled Kakashi when he was young.

Their talent, their detached temperaments, and even the overwhelming strength they possessed at such an early age were remarkably alike.

Kakashi had become a jōnin at the age of twelve.

Mihawk, meanwhile, had defeated her at that same age.

Admittedly, the sheer skill behind Mihawk’s swordsmanship had shaken her so deeply during their confrontation that both her awareness and reaction speed had fallen far below their usual level.

Even so, Mihawk had resisted her genjutsu.

Combined with the terrifying swordsmanship he had displayed, Kurenai understood that even if she had managed to hold out for several more exchanges, she still would not have defeated him.

When she later recalled the slash Mihawk had used against her—and the fact that he had struck her with the back of his blade—she realized something else.

He had been holding back during their close-range exchange.

Had it been a real battle, Mihawk could have taken advantage of the difference in their information and either killed her or left her permanently crippled before she understood what had happened.

Mihawk was unaware of what Kurenai was thinking.

Although his eyes were closed, he was not simply standing there idly.

Observation Haki spread silently through the surrounding area.

Before long, he sensed two familiar presences approaching the Hokage Building.

A few minutes later, Hinata and Shino appeared.

Both of them carried backpacks, though the bags were different colors.

Once all three members of Team 8 had gathered, Kurenai led them inside the Hokage Building.

They soon arrived at the Hokage’s office.

Kurenai stepped forward and formally requested a mission from the Third Hokage.

“A C-rank mission?”

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the three genin.

His gaze lingered on Mihawk for slightly longer than it did on the others before moving to Hinata and Shino.

After a moment, he nodded.

“It is about time they experienced what life as a ninja is truly like.”

Hiruzen reached beneath his desk and pulled out a large scroll.

Recorded inside were the missions that had recently been commissioned through Konoha.

Holding his pipe between his fingers, Hiruzen examined the scroll.

“As it happens, an escort mission was submitted yesterday. I believe it should be suitable for your team.”

“Yes, Lord Third,” Kurenai replied.

Hiruzen turned toward the shinobi standing near the door.

“Bring in Mr. Tazuna.”

The shinobi left to retrieve the client.

Silence settled over the office.

Mihawk’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Tazuna?

Was this the mission to the Land of Waves?

As Team 7’s first C-rank mission in the original story, Mihawk remembered it extremely well.

It had officially been registered as a C-rank escort mission.

In reality, however, the danger involved placed it at B-rank or even higher.

Had Team 8 somehow taken the mission that originally belonged to Team 7?

Even an event this important had already been altered.

Had the butterfly effect finally begun?

Mihawk’s mood grew slightly heavier at the thought.

At the same time, however, a hint of excitement appeared deep within his eyes.

Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, should be strong enough to help him test the limits of his current abilities.

More importantly, Mihawk was extremely interested in Zabuza’s sword.

The Kubikiribōchō could absorb the iron from the blood of those it cut and use it to repair any damage to its blade.

Mihawk could not help wondering what would happen if that sword were melted down and reforged into a different blade.

Would it retain its ability to absorb iron from blood and repair itself?

With those thoughts in mind, Mihawk remained silent.

He had no intention of exposing Tazuna’s lie.

An opportunity like this was far too rare to waste.

Not long afterward, a chūnin entered the office with a middle-aged man wearing a cloak.

The man was Tazuna, the bridge builder from the Land of Waves.

The client discussed the mission details with Kurenai.

Unlike in the original story, Tazuna did not complain about the ages of the genin assigned to protect him.

The reason was simple.

He had noticed Hinata’s eyes.

The Hyūga were one of Konoha’s most famous clans and were currently regarded as the village’s strongest noble family.

Much like the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, the Byakugan was an unmistakable feature.

Although the Land of Waves did not possess a hidden village of its own, Tazuna was not so uninformed that he would fail to recognize the Hyūga clan.

Shino’s reserved presence and Mihawk’s extraordinary bearing also made it obvious that neither of them was an ordinary child.

Although Tazuna still felt uneasy, he did not dare voice any complaints.

After all, he was the one who had lied about the mission’s true level of danger.

Once the discussion was complete, Kurenai, Mihawk, Hinata, Shino, and Tazuna left Konoha together.

Thus, the five of them began their journey toward the Land of Waves.